Does anybody know why the 4C has this grill hole?

"Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready" (hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready) 11/04/2014 at 19:28 • Filed to: Alfa Romeo 4C

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In the righthand(from the driver's point of view) section of the grill. Sorry if this has been asked before, I couldn't find anything on the Web.

EDIT: Mystery solved, Turbo666 said that his friend who had one for a weekend said it was a tow hook. Thanks to all who helped regardless.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:29

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Tow hook?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:30

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Tow hook attachment location is my guess.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/04/2014 at 19:31

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That's what I thought, it just doesn't quite look write.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:31

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yeah, this is the first time I've actually noticed that.

CAR_IS_MI > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:31

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pitot tubes...

jkm7680 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:32

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A tow hook attachment point sounds reasonable.

Travis, Senna of The High Seas > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:32

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I would guess that its for mounting a tow hook for the track.

Like this:

Saracen > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:32

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it's probably the eye for the tow hook. Not sure where else in the front it could be..

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/04/2014 at 19:33

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Yeah, that's what it probably is. It just looks a bit wrong.

AthomSfere > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:33

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Isn't that a dipstick location? Since the hood isn't removable...?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:33

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Knowing Alfa it's probably the button to release the filler cap

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > CAR_IS_MI 11/04/2014 at 19:33

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What are those? I'm not that mechanically versed.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Travis, Senna of The High Seas 11/04/2014 at 19:34

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Interesting. How is that specifically used?

CAR_IS_MI > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:35

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https://www.google.com/search?q=pitot…

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Saracen 11/04/2014 at 19:35

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Probably.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > AthomSfere 11/04/2014 at 19:35

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I thought the 4C was mid-engined.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/04/2014 at 19:37

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But in a Saab it would be a removable port to get at the left rear turn signal connection.

ZiptieMcBumper > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:37

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Fluid flow (and thus, air speed) indicators:

Pitot Tube

Toby F., Manager > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:40

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radar? Cruise? Sonar?

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Toby F., Manager 11/04/2014 at 19:40

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I didn't think the 4C had any of those.

lone_liberal > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:41

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The hole for the hand starter crank. Has to be.

AthomSfere > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:44

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It is.

Wiper fluid. Blinker fluid... Not sure. But it really seems like it was a dipstick for some reason.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:45

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You get pulled by it when you crash.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 11/04/2014 at 19:46

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Ok.

Turbo666 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:48

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Tow Hook

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 11/04/2014 at 19:48

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Thanks.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Turbo666 11/04/2014 at 19:49

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Yeah, that's what everyone seems to be saying.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > ZiptieMcBumper 11/04/2014 at 19:50

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Though wouldn't that very quickly become clogged with grit?

JGrabowMSt > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:54

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It's either the tow hook or a place for the front plate bracket for such aggravating states such as New Jersey and New York, among others.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:55

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No problem. Glad I could be of service.

ZiptieMcBumper > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:55

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At ground level, possibly. It's not actually used for that on the 4C. Pitot tubes are used in aircraft and industrial applications where contamination isn't really a big concern. MrTheEngineer was just being silly. It's actually a tow hook hole on the car.

Turbo666 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 19:56

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My buddy had one for a weekend and I got to ride shotgun in it for a few hours. That is what he said it was.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > JGrabowMSt 11/04/2014 at 19:57

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That seems a bit big and circular for a plate bracket, but could be.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Turbo666 11/04/2014 at 19:59

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Ok. I was kind of waiting for someone who actually knew, not to say that other commenters' comments weren't helpful.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > ZiptieMcBumper 11/04/2014 at 20:00

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Right.

Turbo666 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 20:00

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I know what you mean.

Milky > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 20:03

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Obvious answer.

Not so obvious answer.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Turbo666 11/04/2014 at 20:19

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How did he get one for a weekend, if you don't mind me asking?

Bandit > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 20:28

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Obviously a hole for the starting crank so that when the electrics become Italian you can still get the car running.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Bandit 11/04/2014 at 20:46

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To reach the engine? It's gotta be realllly loooonnngg.

Bandit > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 20:48

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Shhh... it has a fancy overly complex linkage that allows the motion to be transmitted through the passenger cabin to the engine.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Bandit 11/04/2014 at 20:51

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Oh yes, of course, I forgot about how it sends that cable through the firewall, up by the steering shaft, through those weird funky shapes in the steering wheel, then into the headrest by way of the ceiling.

samssun > ZiptieMcBumper 11/04/2014 at 20:53

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"Pitot tubes are used in aircraft applications where contamination isn't really a big concern"...unless you've seen Mayday/Air Disasters:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birgenair…

Bandit > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 20:53

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It's all in the stitching.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Bandit 11/04/2014 at 20:54

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Yeah, exactly.

Turbo666 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 20:58

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He is an auto journalist. Gets all kinds of cool cars. We took the Alfa out on some nice twisty roads for 5 hrs. Most fun I've ever had not driving haha. Great little car and very well sorted.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Turbo666 11/04/2014 at 21:00

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Nice photos!

Turbo666 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 21:01

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Thanks!

ZiptieMcBumper > samssun 11/04/2014 at 21:02

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I have a hard time believing that a competent ground crew and external pre-flight check (along with the recommended precautions; re: Pitot tube covers) could have failed to reveal or prevent that particular problem.

JGrabowMSt > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/04/2014 at 21:40

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It is for 100% certain the tow hook:

There's a company that makes a front plate bracket that " is a precisely machined aluminum post to screw into the the tow hook threads "

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > JGrabowMSt 11/05/2014 at 06:52

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Interesting.