History Main / PercussiveMaintenance

* {{Filmation}}'s 1960's ''GreenLantern'' cartoon. In the episode "Evil Is As Evil Does", the title character's power battery has stopped working.

* The title character of ''JudgeDredd'' used this to get a Mark 4 Lawmaster (flying motorcycle) to work.

* In ''[[LegoCrossoverGame Lego Indiana Jones]]'', one of the random animations when using a wrench to fix something is hitting it with the wrench.

In other words, DontTryThisAtHome. Repeatedly whacking your DVD player is highly unlikely to make the picture any clearer, although [[PercussiveTherapy 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.]] Soon-to-be-extinct exception: CRT screens (apply fist to casing, not glass).

Also known as "Technical Tap", "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]].

* ''TheWhiteboard'': Doc demonstrates the procedure, in [[http://www.the-whiteboard.com/autotwb1373.html the June 1, 2011 strip]].

** Elliott's sorority sister hits a Jukebox and after it turn on, she says [[IPulledAWeirdAl "Hey, I'm the Fonz!"]]

* ''SchlockMercenary'' has 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. It then agrees to perform illegal biomodifications.

** Also attempted in the sixth episode, where Koushiro's computer is acting up. Typically, both Taichi and Agumon say that all it needs is a good whack and charge at Koushiro, who then moves out of the way causing Tai and Agumon to CrossCounter one another.
** Subverted nicely in ''[[ShortAnimeFilmOurWarGame]]'', where Taichi hits his father's computer ([[ComputerEqualsMonitor the monitor, not the main system]]) when [=WarGreymon=] and [=MetalGarurumon=] on the internet slow down. The computer promptly does a BSOD... [[ItGotWorse completely paralysing their Digimon]].

* ''Digimon''
** A running gag in an early episode, and used with some success when Tai fixes Andromon.
** Subverted in the Movie, where Tai hits a computer ([[ComputerEqualsMonitor the monitor, not the main system]]) causing it to BSOD.
** Also attempted in "Togemon in Toy Town", where Izzy's computer is acting up. Both Tai and Agumon say that all it needs is a good whack and charge at Izzy, who then moves out of the way causing Tai and Agumon to CrossCounter one another.

* In a ''TheTransformersMarvel'' comic, a two-bit crook finds Megatron, whose cyboneural circuits have been knocked loose in an earlier issue. The result is that Megatron has no free will, and will simply do whatever anyone else tells him. The crook embarks on a crime spree, but when he goes to confront his old boss, he drops Megatron -- conveniently reconnecting his circuits, allowing him to {{take over the world}} once again.

* Again from ''TransformersGeneration1'', this time the cartoon episode "Cosmic Rust". After trying to get the matter duplicator to work to replicate more Corrorstop to cure the Autobots of said disease, it's '''Perceptor''' who resorts to this.

** The current incarnation of the TARDIS actually has a hammer attached with the console with a chain for on-the-fly percussive maintenance.
** At one point in the new series, the Doctor attempts to kick the TARDIS back into working order. The exchange goes something like this: "Did that work?" "(defensively) Yes!" "Did it hurt?" "Yes..."
** Of course, the TARDIS ''is' alive, so this might be a combination of MachineEmpathy and Time-Lord technology.

*** Best way to deal with step 7 is: "START WORKING YOU PIECE OF MOTEHRFUCKING SHIT OR I SHOVE A AXE IN TO YOU AND BURN YOU ON A CROSS!!!!" Usualy works. At least when you stand up to pick the said axe.

* Lampshaded in ''GoodOmens'', in which one of the Bikers of the Apocalypse takes up the name "Things That Don't Work Even After You've Given Them A Good Thumping".

Also known as "Technical Tap", "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]].

* Also used many times by the Doctor in ''DoctorWho'', often on the TARDIS controls. Some notable instances:

* ''{{Farscape}}''

* On an early episode of ''SesameStreet'', a [[DoctorWho Dalek-like]] robot named S.A.M. arrives on Sesame Street (he meant to go to Mulberry Street), asserting repeatedly that "machines never make mistakes; machines are perfect -- are perfect -- are perfect." The humans have to thump him hard to make him stop repeating the phrase, for which he thanks them.

* In ''Time Lord'', a ''DoctorWho'' tie-in RPG released in the 1990s, it was possible to equip characters with this ability (called "Bench-Thumping" in the game).

* In ''{{Commando}}'', Cindy couldn't get the seaplane to start. Then John Matrix pounds the controls to get it running. "Works every time."

* Back when Apple was not only called Apple Computer but they made computers besides Macintoshes, their big, expensive Apple III models originally left the factory with some improperly-fit pieces inside. The official tech support solution was "raise the CPU three to four inches off the desk and release it," which usually re-seated the faulty components.

* Any British geek of late 70s/early 80s vintage worth his or her salt can tell you what a balky piece of equipment the typical Sinclair computer was. The fact that the most common storage device was a common or garden domestic tape recorder didn't help matters in the least. The tinkering that ZX-80/ZX-81/Spectrum owners would engage in with azimuth adjustment screws, volume and tone knobs, cabling position, tape recorder position, computer position and a dozen other things became almost ritualistic. But when all that failed, just whacking the tape recorder, or the computer, or the power supply brick would actually work on a disturbingly regular basis. This troper remembers actually having to keep his feet on the power brick otherwise the dreaded R: Tape Loading Error message would pop up.

There's also [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percussive_maintenance an odd article]] on the subject at TheOtherWiki. See also [[TroperTales/PercussiveMaintenance Tropers' Tales]].