Your dumbest DIY experiences - Printable Version
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Your dumbest DIY experiences - Scott Collins - 12-14-2008
OK, besides the time I just finished installing a new head and belts on my 944 and started her up without torquing down the timing belt tensioner to the motor... that one really hurt...but I learned a lot about valve lapping after that and now know how to do that job... but here is my most recent lapse of sheer stupidity-
installed a new cap and rotor this afternoon and mixed up the plug wires. I accidentally switched the wires for 1 and 3 cylinders and somehow did not even notice the wires crossing over each other. How do you miss that? The resultant noise and vibration made me think the motor was going to bounce right out of the car, not to mention the smell of air and fuel not being ignited. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Thankfully she did not catch and actually start! I don't even want to think about that.
That's just the tip of the iceberg of the really dumb things I have done under or around a car but thankfully today's idiocy did not do any real damage, other than to my pride....
Cheers to all my fellow idiots out there. You now have another member of the stupid club!
-Scott
Your dumbest DIY experiences - xrad - 12-14-2008
Do you have time to work on my car next? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Your dumbest DIY experiences - Cloud9...68 - 12-14-2008
Scott,
Glad it didn't do any damage. It it's any consolation, I also find it difficult to tell which wire is going to which cylinder, because of the shape of the distributor cap. I have to do them one at a time, making sure I don't get distracted. But anyway, welcome to the stupid club! It's good to know there's strength in numbers!
Your dumbest DIY experiences - Scott Collins - 12-14-2008
[quote name='xrad' post='64224' date='Dec 14 2008, 06:37 PM']Do you have time to work on my car next? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]
Yep, sure. I'm the right "tool" for the job.... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Your dumbest DIY experiences - DaveN - 12-28-2008
The Christmas gemlims got me yesterday and I hate to admit it, it's been a long time.
My 968 is in pieces in the garage get a zillion upgrades and tweaks for spring but my S2 is sitting outside burried in snow <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
I bought a 20 * 10 shelter to put it in until it sells but before I got it moved in there we received the biggest dump of snow we have had in 20 years.
I have been dutifully starting it and running the heat to keep the inside dry. Yesterday was one of those days to do this as the rain finally cleared room to the drivers door. I tried to start the car but the cold battery and the constant drain from the electrics had done its worst so I had to get out the new charger I had just bought. Hooked it up and put the hood down for a 1/2 hour. Came back and figured I would start the car to warm up the interior, all went fine.
About 20 minutes later I was working on the 968 a few feet away and I hear ZAP! ZAP! I go the raise the hood of the S2 and there are sparks flying and my hand is buzzing with 120 VAC. What dumbass! I had forgotten to move the extension and charger cord away from the engine and they slumped down onto the exhaust manifold and melted to the frame. I managed to get the cord unplugged with a few more ZAPs and retrieve my charger. My first thoughts were the DME on the S2 but all seems fine. Next I thought I had probably toasted my new charger but I cut off the cord and replaced it an it appears to work ok still.
I blame it all on flash, if I only had a heat sheild for my S2 this could all have been avoided, well, for another 20 minutes anyway :~)
Your dumbest DIY experiences - flash - 12-28-2008
lol - missed it by that much