History Main / PercussiveMaintenance

** And again in the DiscWorld novel ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', where Archchancellor Ridcully asks if the term "Reboot" means to kick the computer. Ridcully also gets surprisingly good results by ''threatening'' to hit HEX if it doesn't start doing what it's told.

* Subverted in one episode of ''YumeiroPatissiere'', Ichigo tries to fix a oven by karate-chopping it. The oven starts functioning... but explodes in less than fifteen seconds

** And again in the DiscWorld novel ''Hogfather'', where Archchancellor Ridcully asks if the term "Reboot" means to kick the computer.

In other words, DontTryThisAtHome. Repeatedly whacking your DVD player is highly unlikely to make the picture any clearer, although it may still make you feel better. [[hottip:* : Though a tight squeeze or press could help, because the contacts in some electronics might come loose, or for whatever reason fail to connect properly.]]

For use on life forms, see the DopeSlap, GetAHoldOfYourselfMan, SpankTheCutie or DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff.

* A recent ESPN ad features Landon Donovan with an acting-up copier. He kicks the copier...and it produces a yellow card.

* [[CPRCleanPrettyReliable: CPR is another example, effectively meaning "compress heart repeatedly (with good rhythm) and forcefully (it frequently breaks ribs) to make it go".]] Similarly if someone is choking the procedure is "encourage to cough" > bash them in the back (back-slaps) > bash them in the front (chest-thrust, a.k.a. heimlich manoeuvre), which can also do some damage, but better than suffocating.

* CPR is another example, effectively meaning "compress heart repeatedly (with good rhythm) and forcefully (it frequently breaks ribs) to make it go". Similarly if someone is choking the procedure is "encourage to cough" > bash them in the back (back-slaps) > bash them in the front (chest-thrust, a.k.a. heimlich manoeuvre), which can also do some damage, but better than suffocating.

* CPR is another example, effectively meaning "compress heart repeatedly (with good rhythm) and forcefully (it frequently breaks ribs) to make it go". Similarly if someone is choking the procedure is "encourage to cough" > bash them in the back (back-slaps) > bash them in the front (chest-thrust, a.k.a. heimlich manoeuvre), which can also do some damage, but better than suffocating.

Also known as "Ape Mechanics," "Fonzarelli Fix", "[[CowboyBebop Spike Spiegel]] School Of Repair, or "Emergency Repair procedure #1." This is a case of TruthInTelevision, as many people will often do this with malfunctioning machinery - with mixed results. In real life, it works best (where it works at all) when dealing with machines with moving parts capable of being physically jammed or temporarily impeded (gears or switches), hydraulic systems suffering particular kinds of plugs or clogs (fuel lines or sump pumps), or internal components whose function depends on precise alignment and which have become misaligned somehow (vacuum tubes, early transistors, and connection interfaces) -- all hallmarks of pulp-era storytelling where technology was still a hands-on art. Realistically, it is almost impossible to work with modern delicate electronics or futuristic solid-state circuitry/machinery (cf. Drake's camera-bash from ''Aliens'', below), but the appeal of a highly emotive and easy-to-show repair technique often [[RuleOfFunny wins out over boring technical accuracy]].

For the carbon-based version, see the DopeSlap, GetAHoldOfYourselfMan, SpankTheCutie or DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ngNuXiwGnI This]] advertisement features a man running through a delightfully old-fashioned area (Kastelruth/Castelrotto, Italy) in order to fix a delightful old-fashioned mechanical clock as the townspeople wait. Unable to find fault with the machine, he attempts PercussiveMaintenance in desperation (perhaps by accident), and the clock strikes three, allowing everyone to perform their scheduled activities on time.

* Apart from CPR, another technique used in emergency medicine is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precordial_thump precordial thump]], which involves laying a carefully aimed blow to the chest at just the right time to convert a witnessed cardiac arrest.

* SchlockMercenary had Tagon asking a medical computer whether it ''couldn't'' do illegal biomodifications or ''wouldn't''. The computer asked the difference, and Tagon explained that hardware that ''can't'' do something gets replaced. Hardware that ''won't'' do something gets abused until it will, or until it can't.