So yesterday my wife was telling me about some weird problem where the engine stops when she turns on the air conditioner.

 

I had driven the car the afternoon before she told me about this. So I couldn't understand what turning on the AC could possible have to do with stalling the engine.

 

I opened the hood today in preparation for a transmission fluid change and found the yellow hood prop clip was broken and the rod had fallen in between the AC clutch pulley and the coolant reservoir.

 

Judging by the chew marks on the rod and the dings on the little circles on the AC clutch it appears that they were in contact at one point or another.

 

Lucky that the prop rod didn't punch the coolant reservoir and make MORE fun for me.

Hm that's interesting. Yes good thing it didn't do more damage. There's lots of stray objedts when gone amis in the engine compartment can cause engine stalling, including small animals.