Broken Axle

Puzzler time. An automotive puzzler this time. Here we go.

Years ago a customer of ours was driving her car on vacation, about 50 miles from her home. And while she was driving along she heard this awful crashing, crunching, thudding sound and she realized her car was no longer moving forward, though the engine was running, and the car was in gear. So she coasts to the side of the road to await the tow truck.

So the tow truck comes and tows the car to the gas station. So the mechanic at the gas station puts the car up on the lift and says, "Oh, you have a broken axle. That's why the car won't go and that explains the noises you heard on the road."

And she says, "Oh, what is that going to cost me?"

So, he looks it up and then tells her, "It is going to cost between $500 and $600 to replace that axle."

And she says, "Kind sir, take that estimate and stick it back on your shelf! I'm going to find a way home without replacing it!"

Then she leaves the garage and goes back to the car. She opens her truck where she has no tools at all. She has what people typically have in the truck. A couple of empty pizza boxes with a few slices left over. Tire iron. A jack for jacking up the car. A blanket. A broken bicycle chain. Spare tire. Six pack of beer. Stuff like that.

Anyway, she managed to drive that 50 miles back home without fixing or replacing that broken axle.

How does she do it?

Remember she does not repair or replace the broken axle. And here is a hint. It is a front wheel drive car. And another hint, it is not a four wheel drive car.

How does she do this?

Good luck.

Answer the Puzzler »

Remember last week's puzzler?

The Night Watchman

Okay, the new puzzler is here.

There is a night watchman who works at a large automotive company.

One Tuesday morning, he runs into the fancy offices upstairs looking for the president of the company. He demands to see the president of the company immediately. The secretary tries to turn him away, but the night watchman will not take no for an answer.

He finally gets into the president's office and he says, "I had a horrible dream last night that you were flying on an airplane that crashed and everyone on board was killed. It was so real that I had to come here and tell you immediately."

The president in fact did plan to fly to Los Angeles that very same day for a business meeting. He decides to cancel that flight based on what the night watchman told him because he is a very superstitious guy.

That night, on the 11pm news hour, the president learns that the airplane he was supposed to be on had crashed killing everyone on board.

The next morning he summons the watchman to his office and fires him on the spot.

Why did he fire the night watchman?