Worst (most retarded) mistake working on a car??

David-Ti · Post by **David-Ti** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:08 pm

Today I did something really stupid and I was lucky to rectify my mistake without too much hassle. I knocked a M6 stainless allen bolt down into no3 cylinder .... through the spark plug hole!!

Which is by FAR the worst thing I've ever done!!

Anyway what is the worst thing you have done while working on a car??

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:11 pm

Was changing a driveshaft on a ZR, rushed it, got it done, put the wheels on, went for a spin up the road and it was knocking like mad.... Forgot to tighten up the hub nut

Post by **Marty** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:23 pm

Changing the side engine mount on a focus and little did I know they had changed the design in the newer ones as I unbolted the mount from side of engine heard a clonk that was a cambelt idler dropping down behind the casing the mount bolt went through the bloody idler so then had to strip all the casing of and re-time it and fit belt the joys

Dave_ZS · Post by **Dave_ZS** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:26 pm

Was changing my front pads on my old SEi, done the wheel nuts up finger tight, dropped it back down, went a drive to check the brakes worked. Then heard a random thumping sound.....didn't torque the nuts up, just left them finger tight

Where's dommiboi's input?

InB4Mike · Post by **InB4Mike** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:28 pm

Same as above lowered cav and finger tight went for spin bang Bang then realised what I did and sheered two studs off

Post by **Marty** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:34 pm

Dave_214_SEi wrote:Where's dommiboi's input?

Does the site have enough bandwidth for his post

InB4Mike · Post by **InB4Mike** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:57 pm

Now now play nicely

pengy_666 · Post by **pengy_666** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:29 pm

Become a mechanic....

mike88 · Post by **mike88** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:36 pm

Marty wrote:
Dave_214_SEi wrote:Where's dommiboi's input?
Does the site have enough bandwidth for his post

He's typing, its just taking a while to get it all.

rovermadman4825 · Post by **rovermadman4825** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:52 pm

When I put my brm together i hadnt tightened up my pas pully so when i was running it in it came loose in the middle of know where. I had a bolt to put in but the socket set i took with me one went down 10mm and i needed a 8mm

Thank fully my mate came to the rescue with a 8mm spanner

mike88 · Post by **mike88** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:54 pm

And on-topic, I can't really think of anything really bad, rounded off and snapped my fair share of things, but nothing important. Done the wheel bolt thing on a TI I stripped (crash damage)..

BMW fell off an emergency jack (twice) today when I had a flat if that counts..

Post by **< KEVIN >** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:21 pm

I was recently trying to change a rear hub bearing on a ZR passenger side, and would the hub nut come off, would it hell. figured it out after many broken tools and a sore back.

.......Left hand thread dumbass.

Post by **Marty** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:41 pm

< KEVIN > wrote:I was recently trying to change a rear hub bearing on a ZR passenger side, and would the hub nut come off, would it hell. figured it out after many broken tools and a sore back.

.......Left hand thread dumbass.

Legend

jase · Post by **jase** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:19 pm

Was changing a driveshaft on a ZR, rushed it, got it done, put the wheels on, went for a spin up the road and it was knocking like mad.... Forgot to tighten up the hub nut

I did this to, then did a track day

Needless to say it ended with a red face and a slight driving adaptation driving home

d1ng27 · Post by **d1ng27** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:46 pm

When I first had my metro I lent it to the missus, and she burnt the clutch out. So I fitted a new clutch kit, hopped in the car and spotted the thrust bearing sitting up on the scuttle panel

So had to split the box again to fit the fooker

Deckz · Post by **Deckz** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:54 pm

d1ng27 wrote:When I first had my metro I lent it to the missus, and she burnt the clutch out. So I fitted a new clutch kit, hopped in the car and spotted the thrust bearing sitting up on the scuttle panel So had to split the box again to fit the fooker

Did the same on a clutch change on my ZR T16. C*** of a thing lol

E_T_V · Post by **E_T_V** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:02 pm

In a very absent minded moment I lowered the car from the jack that was used to lift it up. I wondered why I couldn't release it from the sill for a good 10 seconds. Until I realised I'd forgotten to put the wheel back on!

After my maestro turbo rebuild I wondered why it wasn't running right. (Whenever I leave any pipes open I wedge blue roll into it to stop anything falling in. Sadly my assistant didn't realise when he helped replace some pipes). It was weeks later when I started stripping the plenum to resolve the running issue that I found about 3ft of blue roll in the plenum chamber.

I once manhandled a gearbox onto my chest doing a clutch change on the 220. Sadly it wasn't jacked quite as high as usual and I couldn't wriggle out from under the car with it on my chest. Cue lots of breathless swearing and trying not to drop a gearbox on my head as I tried to wriggle out from under it.

I also once had a leaky trolley jack. I was working under the car in a very tight squeeze. When it came time to wriggle out I was stuck fast (The jack had lowered the weight onto the axle stands lowering the car just enough to pin me in place). Cue much laughter from my missus when I had to call her to get me out.

I've done the wheelnut thing too.

When helping a mate in the garage we were pushing a car about. I managed to let the car roll onto my foot unnoticed (I wear steel toecap boots). I didn't realise until I tried to walk off and almost fell over.

I really sound like a disaster area don't I. Thankfully most of my jobs aren't as bad as that.

Post by **Marty** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:07 pm

E_T_V wrote:I also once had a leaky trolley jack. I was working under the car in a very tight squeeze. When it came time to wriggle out I was stuck fast (The jack had lowered the weight onto the axle stands lowering the car just enough to pin me in place). Cue much laughter from my missus when I had to call her to get me out.

Classic that one like a sketch from chuckle vision

petrol-head16v · Post by **petrol-head16v** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:43 pm

I think loads of people have done this.....I was changing the oil & filter on a audi A4 1.8T dropped the oil out fitted a new filter topped up the oil started it up went back to the car 5min later and noticed a big f**king puddle on the floor

i only forgot to put the sump plug back in

but it was o.k thats garman cars for ya lol

james3990 · Post by **james3990** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:35 am

Fitted the wrong clutch to a ZR, bolted everything back together then realised......

Post by **Punx0r** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:00 pm

Nothing too bad.

A couple of times I've forgotten to pull out the bowl of old oil from under the sump, lowered the car and split the bowl, spilling the manky oil everywhere.

Tried to put the SD1 onto four axle stands and it toppled over... No wheels on the back, diff casing was about 2mm off the floor, big dent in the spare wheel well where one of the stands fell over.

InB4Mike · Post by **InB4Mike** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:03 pm

Punx0r wrote:Nothing too bad.

A couple of times I've forgotten to pull out the bowl of old oil from under the sump, lowered the car and split the bowl, spilling the manky oil everywhere.

Tried to put the SD1 onto four axle stands and it toppled over... No wheels on the back, diff casing was about 2mm off the floor, big dent in the spare wheel well where one of the stands fell over.

That made me chuckle

IBM

Vard66 · Post by **Vard66** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:33 pm

E_T_V wrote:After my maestro turbo rebuild I wondered why it wasn't running right. (Whenever I leave any pipes open I wedge blue roll into it to stop anything falling in. Sadly my assistant didn't realise when he helped replace some pipes). It was weeks later when I started stripping the plenum to resolve the running issue that I found about 3ft of blue roll in the plenum chamber.

E_T_V wrote:I once manhandled a gearbox onto my chest doing a clutch change on the 220. Sadly it wasn't jacked quite as high as usual and I couldn't wriggle out from under the car with it on my chest. Cue lots of breathless swearing and trying not to drop a gearbox on my head as I tried to wriggle out from under it.

Sort of had that. Was up in Yorkshire working on V79 with Daniel before it came home with him, I was under the car lifting the box back up into place, while Daniel tried to get it jiggled back onto the dowels. Dan told me it was on, so I let go. Half a second later, back down on my chest it came. UUUUUHHHHHHHRRRRRRRrrrrrffffffffffffff.

Went to Milton Keynes to pick up a gearbox for a guy in America not so long ago.

Topped up the oil in the Volvo while I was there as I hadn't done the PCV yet and she was blowing so was low.

First couple of miles out of MK I'm thinking 'By god that smells oily. Mind you, she's probably got enough oil pressure back to be blowing a little out of the dipstick again, the smell will wear off in a couple of miles.'

Couple of miles later it hit me, I hadn't put the cap back on after topping up.

Thankfully it was sitting on the top of the spark plug cover where I left it. Hell of a mess, but I had some rags, so I just took some and buffed some of it into the rub strips while she cooled down and settled so I could top her up again.

There's always the standard holding onto the plug/screwdriver while testing for spark - thanks to Rich for mishearing me and turning her over while I was still hanging onto it on his 220 turbo.

And probably the most facepalm worthy moment was when I was lifting the engine out of my red Vitty after she blew.

Disconnected everything, went over it twice to be sure, started to lift and went 'Ooop!' I'd forgotten to disconnect the reversing light wiring. Turned to my mate and said 'wouldn't that have been silly!', then proceded to lift the entire car with the crane because I hadn't so much as thought about disconnecting the gear linkage. Bent it to buggery and had to go fish one out of an 820 in a yard.

On the up side, I somehow got out of the yard carrying a whole gear linkage without anyone questioning me, so it didn't cost me much...

Never done the wheelnut thing, but I did once leave the locking nut key on one of the bolts, then go hooning off for a shakedown drive. Spotted it when I got back and was both confused that it hadn't come off at 90mph, and thankful that it was still there...

Post by **Din** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:43 pm

Vard66 wrote: Sort of had that. Was up in Yorkshire working on V79 with Daniel before it came home with him, I was under the car lifting the box back up into place, while Daniel tried to get it jiggled back onto the dowels. Dan told me it was on, so I let go. Half a second later, back down on my chest it came. UUUUUHHHHHHHRRRRRRRrrrrrffffffffffffff.

Though Vard does make a useful floor mounted transmission jack

Vard66 · Post by **Vard66** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:00 pm

S'just a good job it didn't want another couple of seconds until my bonce was under it tbh.

Dave_ZS · Post by **Dave_ZS** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:53 am

Din wrote:
Vard66 wrote: Sort of had that. Was up in Yorkshire working on V79 with Daniel before it came home with him, I was under the car lifting the box back up into place, while Daniel tried to get it jiggled back onto the dowels. Dan told me it was on, so I let go. Half a second later, back down on my chest it came. UUUUUHHHHHHHRRRRRRRrrrrrffffffffffffff.

Though Vard does make a useful floor mounted transmission jack

Patented VardJack

procta · Post by **procta** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:38 pm

I have dropped sockets down the back of the HDi engine bay, with it been so bloody tight, you cannot see or get at them!
Also checking why my metro wouldn't settle, I put my hand down next to the cam side, and my other hand next to the spark plug cover, what I didn't realise that, one of the spark plugs had a nick in the wire, and me having a metal watch strap on, I earthed my self against engine! I got a tinky winky belt off it. The car did settle after that, in fact I am sure that the car was laughing at me, the way the engine was idling!

PJW · Post by **PJW** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:27 pm

I've had a wheel come off by going on a test drive with loose nuts. Rolled down the street into a neighbours garden and I had to get the scissor jack out.

Changed a cat on a 400 a long time ago and did the above, blanked the cat inlet side off with blue roll for some reason. Left it in. Car wouldn't run, got it running and had to rag it to bits until I presume it set on fire and came out the back..

Drilled a hole in a battery once by accident.

Put a trailing arm bush on a 220gti backwards.

Put a battery on back to front and wondered why the wires started smoking.

Had a civic come off axel stands while i was under the back disk, a friend caught it and had to hold it from toppling while i put the wheel on loose. Since then I have a massive fear of getting under a car. I ways use two stands and put the wheels under the sills.

All of these were in my younger years tbh. More recently i have tried not to buy as many sheds!

Dave_ZS · Post by **Dave_ZS** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:49 pm

epic.

jase · Post by **jase** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:53 pm

Put a battery on back to front and wondered why the wires started smoking.

I like that one, thats class!

mar-TI-n · Post by **mar-TI-n** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:00 pm

I forgot to tighten the triple clamp on my WR450 while doing lots of other jobs, once it was time for test I was confused why it wandered all over the place and had no precision while steering

Steve220 · Post by **Steve220** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:14 pm

Not me, but when I was working with a mate on his car, he was SO adamant to get it back on the road, through the car back together, suspension back on, wheels back on, engine started, massive grins! Put it in gears, tried to drive it off.... Car didn't move at all. He didn't put the driveshafts in the gearbox

southside · Post by **southside** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:58 pm

I once put a rag in the end of a ZR TD intercooler pipe to catch any dripping oil.

Forgot it was there and started the car. It ran for a few seconds then died. After a few moments of head scratching i realised what i'd done and then spent the next few hours removing the inlet manifold and pulling bits of rag from out the valves.

Helped a mate replace an altenator on his metro once, We removed the oil filter for easier access. Fitted the new altenator and started the engine to test it not realising we hadn't refitted the filter. Shot a nice jet of black oil across his driveway.

Also done the fingertight wheel nut thing when replacing the brakes on my SEi, couldnt for the life of me work out what was knocking everytime i went round a bend. Only realised when the nuts had wound that far out they started pushing the centre cap out of the wheel.

BlueRover · Post by **BlueRover** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:02 pm

Not bolting up the inlet manifold on the Hunter GLs properly after changing an exhaust valve so idle was fine, open throttle..... nowt.

Probably the worst thing was when asked how long the job's going to take and I said "not long".

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:53 pm

I upgraded my old R25 to vented 262mm disks/calipers etc.

Everything went really well, all went back together great.

Then it was time to bleed them.

I tried every way possible, and the brake pedal would still basically go down to the floor, couldn't get the air out at all.

Eventually, i gave up, and got a garage to pick the car up on a transporter, and let them fix it.

Got a call a couple of hours later, telling me that they had fixed the problem, and the brakes got bled.

They also told me what the problem was...................

I had fitted the brakes on the wrong wheels, the left was on the right, right on the left!!!!

That was a very expensive mistake!!

Cheers
Dave

Rovertech 2.0

Worst (most retarded) mistake working on a car??

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