DIY Mechanics Fail Stories
Discussion
Well, I've just had a disaster, was changing a window regulator on my daughters 1 series and nearly had everything buttoned up except that the window wasn't quite raising enough when closing the door (pillarless doors). No problem I thought, I'll slacken off the clamps and push it up a bit, except that the window didn't fancy being pushed up a bit as when I nipped everything back up the glass shattered..... b
d...
And then, whilst sweeping up, I noticed a considerable car park ding on the rear quarter that definitely wasn't there before. So as well as a glass fitter (there's no way I'm having another go at it!!) we also now need a pdr guy...
Did I also mention that she doesn't have glass cover on her insurance...??
d...And then, whilst sweeping up, I noticed a considerable car park ding on the rear quarter that definitely wasn't there before. So as well as a glass fitter (there's no way I'm having another go at it!!) we also now need a pdr guy...
Did I also mention that she doesn't have glass cover on her insurance...??
Many years ago, our Snap On man arrived when we had a stuck disk screw. He sold me one of these type of impact driver:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shake-Break-Impact-Screw-...
It goes in an air hammer and you rattle the screw while putting some pressure on to rotate it. It works like magic, everyone I have shown it to doubt it and then are amazed when it works
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shake-Break-Impact-Screw-...
It goes in an air hammer and you rattle the screw while putting some pressure on to rotate it. It works like magic, everyone I have shown it to doubt it and then are amazed when it works
njw1 said:
Well, I've just had a disaster, was changing a window regulator on my daughters 1 series and nearly had everything buttoned up except that the window wasn't quite raising enough when closing the door (pillarless doors). No problem I thought, I'll slacken off the clamps and push it up a bit, except that the window didn't fancy being pushed up a bit as when I nipped everything back up the glass shattered..... bd...
And then, whilst sweeping up, I noticed a considerable car park ding on the rear quarter that definitely wasn't there before. So as well as a glass fitter (there's no way I'm having another go at it!!) we also now need a pdr guy...
Did I also mention that she doesn't have glass cover on her insurance...??
I always feel like with glass, it seems to be one of those things you know you have to proceed with trepidation but some of us take the risk anyway and it always gets us (shatters) by surprise and when we least expect it.d...And then, whilst sweeping up, I noticed a considerable car park ding on the rear quarter that definitely wasn't there before. So as well as a glass fitter (there's no way I'm having another go at it!!) we also now need a pdr guy...
Did I also mention that she doesn't have glass cover on her insurance...??
I was at a household waste site last month disposing of a couple of old heavy shower screens and as I finally arrived at the skip, one of the screens that I had been carrying under strain beneath the other had enough and shattered into balls. Totally avoidable schoolboy error.
Fortunately it wasn't peak time and I swept up the broken glass myself until a member of staff came to assist and said it was alright. For the faff I gave him a can of chilled pop I had brought with me as I had little else to offer besides apologies and sweeping up!
A fail and a win rolled into one for me this evening....
Did the air filter and an oil and filter change on the daily a few weekends ago.
Had the pollen filter, spark plugs and coilpacks "in stock" but it was nearly lunchtime so I sacked it off thinking I'd do it before winter properly kicked in.
Felt ill last weekend so never got around to it.
On the way home this evening car starts juddering, throws cel.....bks....
Pulled into a carpark, under a lit canopy (!), new coilpacks were in the boot, swapped all four, and back on my way in a few minutes.... Get in!
Did the air filter and an oil and filter change on the daily a few weekends ago.
Had the pollen filter, spark plugs and coilpacks "in stock" but it was nearly lunchtime so I sacked it off thinking I'd do it before winter properly kicked in.
Felt ill last weekend so never got around to it.
On the way home this evening car starts juddering, throws cel.....b
ks....Pulled into a carpark, under a lit canopy (!), new coilpacks were in the boot, swapped all four, and back on my way in a few minutes.... Get in!
Nah, VW.
Bought the coilpacks shortly after buying the car about 18months ago, knowing full well it'd need them at somepoint in the near future.
They've been in the boot ever since, thankfully.
To add to the "fail".... I put two old coilpacks each in the two boxes the new ones were in, so I don't know which was the actual duff one.
Bought the coilpacks shortly after buying the car about 18months ago, knowing full well it'd need them at somepoint in the near future.
They've been in the boot ever since, thankfully.
To add to the "fail".... I put two old coilpacks each in the two boxes the new ones were in, so I don't know which was the actual duff one.
Arnold Cunningham said:
I can tell it's not, but with diagnosis and fix like that, it could well have been a Petrol Saab 9-5. Lots of owners drive with a spare coil pack in the boot (myself included when I used to own one)
With the 2.0 turbo GM engine? Mrs D had a 9-3 with that engine and it once started running as if it wasn't getting spark in one cylinder. I started running through a mental checklist of what I was going to load into the parts cannon when we got home (including trying a new coil pack on each cylinder). She turned it off and on again, problem wasn't there anymore. She had the car for a couple of years before and after that, never saw the issue apart from that one time. Odd.No, the 2.3 litre Saab B235, which I believe is Saab engine, not GM.
I had two of them, they were good cars - the first one we had had 180K on it when I sold it and gave no indication of being worn or tired.
The 2nd one had a stage one remap and despite being an auto, would wheelspin in first any time, and in 2nd, sometimes even 3rd, if there was even a hint of dampness on the road.
Both needed new coil-packs though. One of them, twice. First sign of any misfire under load, just change the coil-pack (and ideally plugs too)
I had two of them, they were good cars - the first one we had had 180K on it when I sold it and gave no indication of being worn or tired.
The 2nd one had a stage one remap and despite being an auto, would wheelspin in first any time, and in 2nd, sometimes even 3rd, if there was even a hint of dampness on the road.
Both needed new coil-packs though. One of them, twice. First sign of any misfire under load, just change the coil-pack (and ideally plugs too)
Arnold Cunningham said:
No, the 2.3 litre Saab B235, which I believe is Saab engine, not GM.
Ah, the old Triumph engine 
They're good, I know that much. Whenever I've seen one it's putting out mind boggling levels of power. Plus, it's a development that started with half a Staaaaaaag V8 so gets my approval.
CaptainScarlet1967 said:
I always feel like with glass, it seems to be one of those things you know you have to proceed with trepidation but some of us take the risk anyway and it always gets us (shatters) by surprise and when we least expect it.
I was at a household waste site last month disposing of a couple of old heavy shower screens and as I finally arrived at the skip, one of the screens that I had been carrying under strain beneath the other had enough and shattered into balls. Totally avoidable schoolboy error.
Fortunately it wasn't peak time and I swept up the broken glass myself until a member of staff came to assist and said it was alright. For the faff I gave him a can of chilled pop I had brought with me as I had little else to offer besides apologies and sweeping up!
I carefully transported our old cooker on my sack trolley to put it in the car for the trip to the tip. As I lowered the sack trolley, a tiny stone was trapped between the door and the driveway and BANG the glass door shattered!I was at a household waste site last month disposing of a couple of old heavy shower screens and as I finally arrived at the skip, one of the screens that I had been carrying under strain beneath the other had enough and shattered into balls. Totally avoidable schoolboy error.
Fortunately it wasn't peak time and I swept up the broken glass myself until a member of staff came to assist and said it was alright. For the faff I gave him a can of chilled pop I had brought with me as I had little else to offer besides apologies and sweeping up!
I had forgotten about this thread, but I'll contribute. I was changing the plugs and leads on my AX in September as a nice to do before it got too cold.
I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
darkyoung1000 said:
I had forgotten about this thread, but I'll contribute. I was changing the plugs and leads on my AX in September as a nice to do before it got too cold.
I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
Saw that on your AX thread, I think I'd have scrapped the car if that happened to me. I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
darkyoung1000 said:
I had forgotten about this thread, but I'll contribute. I was changing the plugs and leads on my AX in September as a nice to do before it got too cold.
I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
That’s gotta hurt!I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
Easier than taking the gearbox off my 3000GT though, I’ve still no idea how I’m going to get it back in!
darkyoung1000 said:
I had forgotten about this thread, but I'll contribute. I was changing the plugs and leads on my AX in September as a nice to do before it got too cold.
I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
I did something similar (although the car was already in bits so less of an issue). Dropped one of the flywheel bolts inside the bellhousing... many hours wasted trying to get it out but not possible. Had to pull the gearbox back off to get it out. Not happy!I caught the jubilee clip on the hose on top of the crank-case with my cuff as I was reaching forward which took it off the hose and down the back of the engine block where it lodged between the starter motor and the engine block. I couldn't find my magnetic tool, so chose to 'tickle' it from below to get it out.
In the way of an almost circular clip it rolled....into the back of the flywheel through the gap by the starter motor. No amount of magnets on sticks would retrieve it, so I have had to pull the gearbox, clutch and flywheel off to retrieve a 2p part. In the process, I have changed the flywheel, clutch, crankshaft and driveshaft oil seals and wishbones. However, it's likely to snow tomorrow and it's still not back together.
A trashed locking wheel bolt in daughters car..
Mobile tyre fitted must have done it as nobody else touched it.
I got a new wheelnut key from ebay, that got the 3 half decent ones off (replaced with normal bolts), but the worst one was totally trashed.
The type with a spinning ring.
So me & engineer neighbour first tried bashing a socket onto the inner part. Gripped but wouldn t budge with a long wheelbar, then socket slipped.
Round 2, ground the head off to remove the spinning ring. Again a socket bashed on, slipped.
Comitted, all in.
Bought a tool, but not enough to get a good grip on.
Given up!, a man is coming out tomorrow, guaranteed removal for £100 with no damage!
Mobile tyre fitted must have done it as nobody else touched it.
I got a new wheelnut key from ebay, that got the 3 half decent ones off (replaced with normal bolts), but the worst one was totally trashed.
The type with a spinning ring.
So me & engineer neighbour first tried bashing a socket onto the inner part. Gripped but wouldn t budge with a long wheelbar, then socket slipped.
Round 2, ground the head off to remove the spinning ring. Again a socket bashed on, slipped.
Comitted, all in.
Bought a tool, but not enough to get a good grip on.
Given up!, a man is coming out tomorrow, guaranteed removal for £100 with no damage!
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