The NEW (2018) BLOOPERS AND BLUNDERS THREAD

[j-dawg]

fixed valve stem seals, bought a Mercedes project, realized it wasn't just the seals but the piston rings too. in that order. now I have no time to work on the Volvo while I try to get the Mercedes in shape.

on the other hand, the Volvo hasn't given me any trouble for six months! still burns oil, still blows out the dipstick, and will probably blow out another seal soon, but it pulls hard under boost and carries anything with a minimum dimension under 30".

[PS78]

Not long after purchasing my Volvo, I tried to familiarize myself as much as possible with the nuances and issues of the p80 cars. But I overlooked an item that is universal across all car lines. The infamous battery hold down. Small in stature but very important as we all know. I found myself lost one day when I was out on an adventure in the middle of nowhere with my phone offering me no help. Dirt Pennsylvania back road built like a washboard, and as subtle as a cinder block slamming into an old freezer. Anyway, the battery got trounced to the point that the b+ cable snapped off of the terminal and the car stopped dead. I knew it was something electrical when the car conked out, since all power was gone. As soon as I has the hood up I saw the pull and peel twizzler (b+ cable) laying there indignant with its metal end snapped. I had nothing with me in the way of tools, or even duct tape, and no reception to call anyone. I looked around the engine bay for something, anything to cinch or rig the cable up to get me back. I settled on a length of electrical tape from a wire loom, just enough to hold the ends and keep contact and it worked. The moral of the story is, if something is missing replace it as soon as possible, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might appear. And yes, I did get a hold down and replaced the 90° cable lug the next day. Ooops...

[wizechatmgr]

Not long after purchasing my Volvo, I tried to familiarize myself as much as possible with the nuances and issues of the p80 cars. But I overlooked an item that is universal across all car lines. The infamous battery hold down. Small in stature but very important as we all know. I found myself lost one day when I was out on an adventure in the middle of nowhere with my phone offering me no help. Dirt Pennsylvania back road built like a washboard, and as subtle as a cinder block slamming into an old freezer. Anyway, the battery got trounced to the point that the b+ cable snapped off of the terminal and the car stopped dead. I knew it was something electrical when the car conked out, since all power was gone. As soon as I has the hood up I saw the pull and peel twizzler (b+ cable) laying there indignant with its metal end snapped. I had nothing with me in the way of tools, or even duct tape, and no reception to call anyone. I looked around the engine bay for something, anything to cinch or rig the cable up to get me back. I settled on a length of electrical tape from a wire loom, just enough to hold the ends and keep contact and it worked. The moral of the story is, if something is missing replace it as soon as possible, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might appear. And yes, I did get a hold down and replaced the 90° cable lug the next day. Ooops...

I hear you on this one. I had a seemingly random cut out of the engine & etc for a while. No codes, no telemetry to indicate any issues. Threw an ignition switch at it but the old one tested fine and the new one made little difference. Turns out the B+ wire was loose and I too didn't have a battery hold down clamp. Tightened the nut and finally purchased the $3 part. Installed and I've had no issues since. I guess occasionally the engineers get it right

[bmdubya1198]

I made the mistake of leaving my battery connected while "adjusting" my alternator. Everything was going quite smoothly until the socket and extension grounded out the B+ terminal after I slipped off the bottom alternator bolt. It made some pretty lights and a nice little burn mark on my socket. And somehow I didn't damage anything electrically.
Remember kids, always disconnect your battery BEFORE working on electrical systems!

[June]

Yes...get all that dirty laundry out of those dark closets and post those dark times you messed up your Volvo through idiocy, neglect, stupidity, or even just bad luck

Special note to June - letting your full synthetic oil change go for 3005 miles DOES NOT COUNT

All bloopers and blunders should be ended with the infamous..


DOH!!

Awww, you thought of me! Sweet, June

[PS78]

Glad I'm not the only one overlooking the simple stuff. Haha. I should've noticed it wasn't secure when I was in there replacing the crumbling evap lines. I carry tools in the trunk now so I'm better prepared for the mishaps that might come along.

[FLXC90]

The list would be long and not distinguished. But the two that come to mind most readily, had the tire change/jack slip like cuhfs, but at home, so I found another jack, learned how simply the door sill cover comes off, and how easily the rocker bends-doh!

Driving to the bank last year, pulled too close to the parking curb, whoosh and a green cloud at the front of the car. Ghostbusters couldn't help. Upper mount for the A/C accumulator came loose, accumulator dropped on the hose, got crushed between front of subframe and curb. Doh! A year plus later, saw to the old accumulator to remove frozen line, still haven't gotten it all reassembled. (Have all parts and system is sealed, just haven't changed O-rings and recharged it. Starting to need it for defrost now, so yeah, whenever!

[wizechatmgr]

The list would be long and not distinguished. But the two that come to mind most readily, had the tire change/jack slip like cuhfs, but at home, so I found another jack, learned how simply the door sill cover comes off, and how easily the rocker bends-doh!

Driving to the bank last year, pulled too close to the parking curb, whoosh and a green cloud at the front of the car. Ghostbusters couldn't help. Upper mount for the A/C accumulator came loose, accumulator dropped on the hose, got crushed between front of subframe and curb. Doh! A year plus later, saw to the old accumulator to remove frozen line, still haven't gotten it all reassembled. (Have all parts and system is sealed, just haven't changed O-rings and recharged it. Starting to need it for defrost now, so yeah, whenever!

I had heard this rumor that you folks in the Orange state (next to the peach state) never used said function of cars =)
(At least you'd prefer not if the weather would stabilize just a tad more...)

[brunocerous]

Where to begin?

My first car was a stick 1982 Toyota Corolla Tercel (some kind of hybrid model). Driving it in heavy Long Island Expressway traffic one summer, I popped the hood like the cabbies did to increase air flow and reduce the likelihood of overheating, or so I thought. Traffic eventually cleared when I noticed the hood was now rattling at highway speed. I slowed down and figured I'd shut it at the Midtown Tunnel toll booths. Once I get in a lane and queue up, I hop out and shut the hood ... only I forgotten to put the parking brake on and the car started to roll toward the fancy sports car in front of me. Hands on the front quarter panel didn't stop it, so I jammed my foot in front of the front driver-side tire, and the car rolled right over it.

Thankfully, I had left the window open, so I leaned in the window as it was about to roll past me and pulled up the parking brake before it rear-ended the car in front of me. My foot was fine. It was, after all, a Toyota.

DOH!!

PS: To address a coolant leak years later, I poured in "stop leak" pellets into the radiator, eventually clogging it and overheating the engine to its demise. RIP. And DOUBLE-DOH!!!

[bmdubya1198]

Yeah, after my cousin's Durango began knocking from never getting up to temperature (decided it would put a ring on the intake... a piston ring... in many pieces...), I made my final decision that stop leaks are no good!
Only place I'd use them is power steering or A/C. Only Lucas for power steering.