For those who work on cars for a living or as a hobby, what is the biggest screw up you ever made?
Here's mine: I accidentally dropped a piece of old gasket maker down the hole where the distributor shaft goes. didn't screw it up too much, but I felt like an idiot since I took so much care stuffing paper towels in all the valves so nothing could fall in........ what a day.....
2007-05-20 02:45:44 · 10 answers · asked by fireturd_owner88 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I was spending a long time welding in a new frame member to the bottom of an almost new Escort.When I finally finished I got up from the creeper and noticed an orange glow at the bottom of the windshield.I opened the driver's door and poof! there were flames coming from the carpet,dash,and headliner.I ran for the water hose and turned it on,it didn't work because it was kinked.Finally,I put out the fire.Then I had to fix all that damage[for free] and the collision damage too.My mistake in all this was in smoking some weed beforehand and not being aware of the danger of using a mig welder.
2007-05-20 04:13:45 · answer #1 · answered by wildmanny2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my early years of wrenching, I was repairing a radiator on a heavy truck. Flushed out the radiator & engine block with water. Parked the truck in an uninsulated building over the weekend. The temperature dropped into the teens over the weekend. Well, needless to say once the engine thawed there was a puddle of water under the truck. The Big Cam III Cummins couldn't withstand the pressure of the ice. Needless to say that was an expensive mistake!
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2007-05-20 03:44:38 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lawyer up, by allowing you to leave the vehicle there(first person who sold you the vehicle) they take all responsibility for the vehicle. Even if it was a verbal promises or what ever, judges love to hear why the sales man left the company as well. If the sales man was inappropriate in other deals is the dealerships responsibility to make sure that any one involved be advised and either rewrite the deal or simply give the money back. Even if you had nothing written is the sales men(representing the dealership) word against yours, since he is no longer there that is something the dealership will have to explain to whom ever sees your case. Get a good lawyer, bet you it won't even go to court the dealership knows they will loose, and will settle. Otherwise there will be other customers waiting to follow your lead, driving them out of business. Think of it logically if you invite a friend over your house, and he brakes his leg in your back yard, your parents house insurance will have to pay for any damages cause to your friend. Yet your parents did not invite your friend over you did, so why do they have to call their insurance company to pay for your friends negligent behavior that led to his broken leg. Simple if he is there with permission by anyone who lives in the home or has permission to invite someone to the home, he or she is covered, and no contract is required simply common sense. Same goes for your car the sales man was your negligent friend who broke his leg. GOOD LUCK ... hope this helps.........
2016-05-21 23:53:33 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once troubleshot a fulty fuel pump on a 95 GMC pick-up. When I put the new one in it was the wrong one(they had two different fuel systems that year) I spent the next 14 hours trying to figure out what the problem could be. Then I found out I put the wrong fuel pump in, I was so mad I almost quit. Once I put the right on in it fired right up. I only got paid for the origonal 2 hours. It was my first week on the job.
2007-05-20 03:16:34 · answer #4 · answered by porterc2133 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I'll be honest. The worst mistake made is I left a rag in the intake port. Sucked into the cylinder, chewed it up and spit it into the converter where I found it later, lol. It was pretty funny actually.
2007-05-20 03:10:25 · answer #5 · answered by sr_master_tech 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Putting a water pump in my '70 Blazer. Got all finished up, tightening the last hose clamp on the upper radiator hose, the screwdriver slipped and went, yep, right through the radiator!
DOH!
This one's on me and my buddy. Back in the 80's we put about 11" of lift on his truck in his garage. When we got finished he climbed in, started it up, then shut it back off and said, "Awww, Sh*t!".
It was too tall to go through the garage door! We put the wheels and tires from his brother's stock Toyota 4X4 on it, let all the air out of 'em and it just barely scraped the roof coming out!
2007-05-20 04:26:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listening to my X when I was 17 and trying to get a 67 CUDA w/dual straight pipes ( illegal I found out ) and reversed shackles.i took steel wool balls & jammed them up the pipes w/a broom before I got up to the machine, my X didnt tell me that I had to goose it while the inspection guy had his hose & head under there, shouting'' floor it , step on it harder''unfortunatey he got a faceful of black muck and I almost got a jail cell if it hadnt been for my babies and my crocodile tears!!
2007-05-20 03:11:55 · answer #7 · answered by krrockon alias Jersey Beamer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did not tighten my lug nuts when I rotated the tires.
Some days later the tire came off the car
Embarrased and expensive to repair.
2007-05-20 02:50:14 · answer #8 · answered by Michael M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once installed a different and heavier transmission in my truck then discovered I had them in throw out bearing in the box it came in.
2007-05-20 02:58:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Letting my wife drive after fixing I't.
2007-05-20 02:52:26 · answer #10 · answered by mlhdad 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋