Top car DIY tip
Discussion
Strudul said:
Make sure your sidelight bulbs are a snug fit so they don't fall out inside your headlight housing.
If you do lose them inside, don't f
k about for an hour trying to fish them out with a cable tie, just remove the headlight and shake it out, even if that requires removing the front bumper.
Happened to me, then was told to fashion a noose out of a sturdy drinking straw, some tape and some cord. Stick one end of the cord to outside of the straw, leave a loop and pull the cord through the straw. When you have the loop around the lost item (also sidelight bulb in my case) pull cord tight and retrieve !If you do lose them inside, don't f
k about for an hour trying to fish them out with a cable tie, just remove the headlight and shake it out, even if that requires removing the front bumper.
Always have a contingency should that two hour job that will immobilise your vehicle take more than double the half day you set aside for it. If that contingency is another vehicle I can guarantee that you will be disappointed with yourself if you leave it on the drive blocked in by the vehicle undergoing maintenance.
Try to avoid letting the battery die on a 2.4 (or, I expect, any) Honda accord where you are confident your jump leads are in the (full) boot under the floor while the load cover and dog nets are in place.
On a related note, misplaced confidence in the location of said jump leads will lead to further disappointment in ones self and a visit by the yellow van of shame.
Great thread 
When doing an oil change on your rally car with a high pressure, high capacity oil pump make sure that you remove the old oil filter o-ring before fitting the new oil filter, otherwise you'll be surprised how quickly it can empty a gallon of premium Valvoline Racing Oil all over your parent's drive.
When doing an oil change on your rally car with a high pressure, high capacity oil pump make sure that you remove the old oil filter o-ring before fitting the new oil filter, otherwise you'll be surprised how quickly it can empty a gallon of premium Valvoline Racing Oil all over your parent's drive.
I reckon angle grinders are by far the most dangerous tool in the box.
I’ve twice wound up in A&E with shards stuck in my eyeballs and once caused a pretty spectacular explosion when the sparks blew up a battery.
The worst was a very close shave when grinding off a seized shock absorber top nut in the boot of an Austin Mini.
Those old enough will recall that a Mini’s petrol tank is also located in the boot. I’d unstrapped the tank and pulled it to one side so I could access the offending nut.
In doing so, I’d inadvertently split the fuel hose, so the spare wheel well was gradually filling up with petrol whilst I was leaning into the boot with my angle grinder.
Fortunately I smelled the petrol before sparking up the grinder, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be here now.
I was seventeen years old at the time, and, plainly, a total nobhead.
Thirty two years later and I still get the heebee geebies when I think about it.
I bloody hate angle grinders.
I’ve twice wound up in A&E with shards stuck in my eyeballs and once caused a pretty spectacular explosion when the sparks blew up a battery.
The worst was a very close shave when grinding off a seized shock absorber top nut in the boot of an Austin Mini.
Those old enough will recall that a Mini’s petrol tank is also located in the boot. I’d unstrapped the tank and pulled it to one side so I could access the offending nut.
In doing so, I’d inadvertently split the fuel hose, so the spare wheel well was gradually filling up with petrol whilst I was leaning into the boot with my angle grinder.
Fortunately I smelled the petrol before sparking up the grinder, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be here now.
I was seventeen years old at the time, and, plainly, a total nobhead.
Thirty two years later and I still get the heebee geebies when I think about it.
I bloody hate angle grinders.
Zooks said:
67Dino said:
When replacing windscreen wipers on a Golf Gti Mk V, don’t leave the wiper stems up without blades. Because if you do, and they spontaneously snap back down, they smash the windscreen (and don’t leave your credibility as a mechanic in particularly good shape either).
Not just me then. Its also embarrassing when your selling the car and a potentials buyers arrival is imminent. 
If you intend to do a serious amount of DIY maintenance, or own a car that isn’t all sensors and engine covers, buy the biggest socket set you can afford. My Halfords Professional 170 piece socket set was my best Christmas present in 64 years on this Earth. Every socket you can imagine, tork drivers, six sided sockets, Alan key drivers etc etc. Owning it has been such a joy with grandchildren’s bikes and toys to fix and an engine bay like this
arguti said:
Plate spinner said:
Never let the battery go flat on a 986 Porsche Boxster. Ever.
The key will open the door to let you in. But the battery is in the boot, which needs the electrics to open. So to get to it you’ll have to take the whole mechanism apart along with most of the drivers side door sill.
Madness, utter madness.
Depends on whether your cigarette lighter socket is live when ignition off - if you could buy a CTEK charger and adapter and charge through that. The key will open the door to let you in. But the battery is in the boot, which needs the electrics to open. So to get to it you’ll have to take the whole mechanism apart along with most of the drivers side door sill.
Madness, utter madness.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-CTE-56263-Cigarette-...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff