A few notes on how to "rebuild" a vehicle without an engine (it is easier than you think)

[daw593server]

I have passed by many vehicles without an engine because I thought it would be really difficult to restore by pushing it to a mechanic to buy one. Sure, I will sometimes salvage parts for another vehicle or for a quest, but until yesterday I had never thought about bringing one back to life.

Full disclosure: I wrecked my Rager two days ago while heading back to base by driving it into the ocean next to the Z2 bridge. I know the road well but was distracted for a moment when I glanced at my metabolism tab. Yes, mistakes were made.

I decided to rebuild an incomplete Rager that I spotted a while back at the lighthouse near the B2 trader. I chose this particular vehicle because it only needed two wheels before I could push it, and because it was close to a mechanic. It was not as difficult to get the Rager up and running as I believed, and I thought I would share the process for others that have never done this before. It is a workable solution for servers where there is a shortage of complete vehicle spawns, where vehicles are not available through traders, or to save some money.

Quick Notes

You must have all 4 wheels installed on a vehicle to push it.

A car jack will obviously be needed to install the tires. Remember, the jack must be on the same side of the vehicle that you are installing tires on.

A drivers seat is not required to push the vehicle, but will be necessary when you drive it away from the mechanic. You can loot one from garages, grab one from another vehicle, or buy one from the trader

The total cost for a new Rager engine at the mechanic is about $12,100. This may vary depending on your server settings.

The new engine does not include a battery or alternator.

A hiking backpack can hold two tires, a car jack, an alternator, and a battery (28kg):

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426166523

Thus, assuming the worst starting vehicle, if you loot a car battery, alternator, the needed tires, and a drivers (left) seat, the out-of-pocket cost for a vehicle will be about $12,100, plus gasoline to get home from the mechanic. With the exception of gasoline (looted containers are usually near empty), all of these items can be found in garages; wheels can also be looted at the junkyard in B0. You may find an alternator and/or battery in some cargo drops (I only seem to find Liaka alternators though). Finally, you can combine parts from one or more engine-less vehicles to build up another.

General Practices

I am using a Rager as an example; however, the process is the same for any vehicle.

Keep a notebook handy and jot down the location of incomplete vehicles you find around the map. Be sure to write down the major parts that are available.

Consider nudging an incomplete vehicle into a more concealed location if it only needs a few parts.

With regard to the target vehicle, you may want to place as many parts as possible into its inventory to make it look like a hopeless wreck. It is less likely that another player will take the time to check if items are there (they usually open the hood or press <TAB> to see if there is a fuel indicator to check if the vehicle has an engine).

Locking incomplete vehicles is prohibited on the server I play on, but if it is allowed on your server you could consider doing so. Remember that locks can be picked and that a locked vehicle with no engine is going to raise curiosity as to what might be inside...

Selecting a vehicle

Try to select a target vehicle that is relatively close to a trader. If you have to recover a vehicle that is far away from a trader, try to pick one that will require the least amount of uphill pushing to bring it to the mechanic. This is where knowledge of the map comes in really handy.

Getting the Vehicle Ready to Roll

If the vehicle is not on level ground, be sure to nudge it into a level spot

Hold the car jack and long-press F while facing the side of the vehicle on which you are installing tires (close to the vehicle), then select "Service Vehicle on Car Jack".

Place a tire into your hands and approach the first missing wheel. Press F when "Install Rager Wheel _____". If there is another wheel requiring installation on the same side just repeat the process.

To install a wheel on the other side of the vehicle, you must move the jack to that side. Long-press F while facing the side of the vehicle, then select "End Service". Pick up the jack ("take jack into hands"), move to the other side of the vehicle, and repeat the above process.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426091637

Pushing the Vehicle
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426088817

It is very helpful to have a squad mate with you while pushing to provide security. It takes a bit of time to cancel the push, enough for a quick puppet to cause injury. One must also be aware of PVP situations (if applicable).

Approach the driver door and hover your mouse on any area other than the driver door (such as the fender or roof). When you see a prompt for "Push", click F. Pretty much everyone that has driven a vehicle in SCUM has mistakenly pushed it rather than "Drive" but this time it is what you want!

Use W to push forward, A and D to turn left/right, and S to slow down/stop/reverse. When reversing with S, W will slow down/stop the vehicle.

Pressing F will end the push, but there is a delay of several seconds. I suggest stopping the vehicle (S) before ending the push.

The vehicle will not get away from you on downhill slopes. It seems to have a maximum speed of about 20kph.

Do not hold the S key down while going downhill - you will only waste stamina. Instead, let the car roll on its own (you will build stamina instead!)

Things will be easier if you stay on the roads, but you do not have to.

Uphill sections, especially steep ones, can be an issue. If you slow down to a literal crawl on an upward slope (or come to a complete stop) the best thing is to look for an upward zig-zag course through the trees. If this is not possible you can usually turn from one side of the road going forward and backward to the other - but this takes forever. Try to plan your route to avoid really steep upward slopes!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426092630
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426093333

At the Mechanic

Position the vehicle so it is centred over the vehicle lift.

Long-press F while facing the the vehicle (close to the vehicle) and select "Service Vehicle on vehicle Lift".

Long-press F while your mouse (hand) is over the engine compartment (close to the vehicle) and select "Buy Rager Engine".

Unfortunately, the engine does not come with fuel, so you will have to buy a canister or two to get the vehicle moving.

There is no need to have the mechanic install other parts while the vehicle is on his lift. Long-press F while facing the the vehicle (close to the vehicle) and select "End Service". Remove the vehicle from the garage, put it up on a jack and install items such as the alternator, battery, etc. on your own.

That is pretty much it. It may sound complicated but it really is not. The only real challenges are finding wheels and pushing the vehicle to the mechanic.

Sarah

[hortensia]

[Smoked]

One crucial point is fame setting or vehicle cap. Theres nothing worse then a long push and no option for an engine.

Also is suicidal on high pop pvp servers. Also wouldnt do it on offical due to high influx of cheaters and toxic players.

Theres also a likely chance, if you miss or leave that door open, that an other player pushes your vehicle if you get a dc or taking a break.

Ive played on a pve server, wich only features engineless cars. Quite taxing, if you need to push it far over mountain terrain.

In your example, wich should be B4 lighthouse, i wouldve pushed around the east coast onto the airstrip. Way less incline.

[marktkm]

Originally posted by daw593server:

Things will be easier if you stay on the roads, but you do not have to.

My PTSD from pushing / nudging (and at times screaming) a WW down the western (rocky and wildly hilly)shoreline to the A0 trader is flaring up right now. XD

Originally posted by daw593server:

Uphill sections, especially steep ones, can be an issue. If you slow down to a literal crawl on an upward slope (or come to a complete stop) the best thing is to look for an upward zig-zag course through the trees. If this is not possible you can usually turn from one side of the road going forward and backward to the other - but this takes forever. Try to plan your route to avoid really steep upward slopes!

You can also use the 'nudge forward' comand in spots like this. I'd test which one was faster, if either, but I value my sanity too much.

[what?]

Sometimes you really just have to appreciate the simplicity of the bicycle, nice detailed post Sarah.