Surviving in Project Zomboid without a car is nearly impossible, so sooner or later, you'll need to learn how to break into cars, repair, and refuel them. Finding a working car in the game is not difficult, but gaining access to the vehicle is much harder. In this guide, we'll answer all your questions about cars in the game and give you several useful tips on leveling up the «mechanics» skill.
Cars in Project Zomboid can be found almost everywhere: on highways, near residential houses, on farms, and in cities. Cars are most commonly found in settlements and public parking lots.
There are three types of cars:
These categories differ not only in trunk capacity and maximum speed but also in basic auto parts. Parts are not interchangeable, so parts and body elements from one type of car cannot be installed on another type. Using any car, be prepared to attract the attention of nearby zombies.
Standard and heavy cars can be found in the city, while sport cars are mostly hidden in «wealthy» suburban homes or parked nearby.
To check if the doors of a car are unlocked, approach any door and press the «E» key. If the doors are locked, you will hear a characteristic sound (unless, of course, your character is deaf). In this case, you can enter the cabin in two ways.
Once inside the car, press the «V» key and select «Unlock all doors» from the menu that appears. If you dismantled a window, you can then reinstall it to protect yourself while driving, as windows protect you from scratches and zombie bites.
A locked trunk cannot be opened without a key, even if you have unlocked all the doors. In this case, you will have to dismantle the trunk lid or the rear doors (in the case of heavy vehicles).
First, when looking for a vehicle, pay attention to the condition of the car's components. To do this, approach the hood, face it, and press the «E» key. While near the car, you can also press the «V» button and select the «Mechanics» section in the menu that appears.
Now you can track the condition of all car parts in percentages. Finding a nearly undamaged car is difficult, most often such transport can be found at homes, in parking lots in front of supermarkets or other stores.
The engine will start under the following conditions:
Other parts, such as «brakes», «suspension», and «muffler» do not affect the engine start but can negatively impact the car during driving.
If you've found a car with working parts and a filled gas tank, the only thing left is to find the key or pick the ignition lock.
Where to Find Ignition Keys
Car keys can be found in various places, and for some cars, you might not be able to find the key at all. When searching for ignition keys, always check the following places:
How to Start a Car Without a Key
This can be done in several ways, but it's worth noting that this is not the best way to acquire a vehicle in the game. Here are a few obvious reasons:
Burglar
When creating a character, choose the «Burglar» profession. In this case, you will be able to start cars without a key and without improving any external skills. To do this, simply:
In some cases, the character may not be able to pick the lock on the first try. Keep trying until two wires appear in the ignition lock, like those shown in the screenshot below.
If you are playing in co-op with friends, we recommend choosing the «Burglar» specialty for at least one of the players.
Picking the Ignition Lock Using «Mechanics» and «Electronics» Skills
Even if your character does not know how to pick locks, with certain skill upgrades, they can learn to do so. For this, you need to upgrade the «mechanics“ skill to level two and the ”electronics» skill to level one.
How to Upgrade the «Mechanics» Skill
The «mechanics» skill can be upgraded in several ways:
To gain more experience from installing and removing parts, read «Mechanics Courses». If your basic skill is zero, you must first read «Mechanics Courses. Volume 1». After reading, the skill accumulation multiplier for levels 1 and 2 will be increased by 5 times.
All mechanics textbooks:
You can find textbooks and instructional videotapes in auto repair shops, in the garages of private homes, and in car trunks. Often, manuals can be found in bookstores and «garage cooperatives».
It's worth noting that installing and removing car parts at a low «mechanics» level will inevitably lead to a decrease in the quality of these parts. Therefore, we recommend upgrading the skill on damaged vehicles that can be found in cities and on highways.
How to Increase the «Mechanics» Skill When Creating a Character
First and foremost, to get a character with an upgraded «mechanics» skill, you can choose the corresponding profession.
Mechanic:
In the available traits, you can also choose the «Gearhead» trait, which adds +1 level to «mechanics», but subtracts 1 point from the overall traits.
Additionally, in the traits section, you can find two skills that will affect your character's driving style:
How to Upgrade the «Electronics» Skill
To gain the first level of «electronics», you will definitely need a screwdriver. With this tool, you can disassemble various electronic devices.
You can refuel a car in several ways:
Refueling from the pump is only possible if there is electricity. If electricity in your world has already been cut off, you will need to find a generator, install it near the pump, and supply power to refuel the car.
There are times when the battery in a good car is discharged. It can be charged in several ways:
If you already have a working car, any discharged battery can be charged using the car's generator and a jump starter. In the early versions of the game, it was possible to remove the battery with the engine running, but now this is not an option. Therefore, first, you need to find a jump starter, connect it to the discharged car battery, and plug it into a power source (the device must be within an electricity supply area). While the engine is running, the battery will be charging. A regular screwdriver is required for the installation and removal of the battery.
To save gasoline and avoid attracting zombies with engine noise, the battery can be charged at your shelter if there is electricity. Set the jump starter on the ground, and place the discharged battery next to it. Over the course of a sleep cycle, it will charge sufficiently to start your car's engine.
In addition to your shelter, you can charge the battery at power stations and using a portable generator. Set up the jump starter next to an electronic converter at the power station or next to a generator, place the battery nearby, and charge it.
Previously, we noted that parts for different types of vehicles are not interchangeable. Thus, a part from a regular car will not fit an elite or heavy vehicle.
With adequate «mechanics» skills, you can dismantle the necessary parts from other cars and install them on yours. But in the game, you can also find new parts with a 100% condition. New parts are usually found on shelves in auto repair shops or in «garage cooperatives“.
Auto repair shops can be found on the interactive map using the filter ”Auto repair shop». Most often, next to auto repair shops, you will also find «garage cooperatives“, which can be tracked using the filter ”Self-Storage buildings».
To inflate the tires, find a car pump. This item can often be found in trunks and at auto repair shops. The pressure in the tires directly affects the car's coasting movement, as well as tire wear.
To dismantle a specific part, tools and a certain level of «mechanics» skill are required. Here is the complete list:
If your skill does not meet the recommended requirements, the chance of success will be small. During unsuccessful dismantling and installation, you will definitely severely damage the part. An experienced mechanic will cause minor damage to the part. Therefore, we recommend first leveling up your «mechanics» skill on broken cars, and only then proceed to repair your vehicle.
If you often travel the same road, wrecked cars on the highway can become an obstacle for you. After all, you might collide with such vehicles at high speed and damage your own car. Besides, towing can be used to transport cars with good parts to your shelter for further disassembly.
To hitch the desired car to your vehicle, park your car rear-end near it, approach the back of your car, and in the car menu select «Attach». If your car has enough power to tow another vehicle, then you will be able to drive it away without any problems.