The NEW (2018) BLOOPERS AND BLUNDERS THREAD

[FitBMX]

This was on my 1981 Chevy C30 with a 292 inline 6 engine,
My brother and I were going to a farm auction, and we always take a trailer to these sells, this time we had our heavily built 14' tandem. Before we left we did our normal fluid check and added some oil and anti-freeze, drove 50 miles in 100f weather both ways. Coming home with a load we were about 6 miles from home when the pickup just quit, we opened the hood and the radiator cap was setting on top of the battery! Neither my brother or I put it back on, we bother thought the other had done it! LOL
It got so hot the engine died, but we managed to get some fluid into it and it fired right up. Needless to say, we had to put a new head gasket in it a few weeks later, but no cracks or warping. You can't beat the old cast iron blocks and heads!!!

[abscate]

Replacing parts on my. New beetle...air bag sensors.

Thoughtfully given to me free by VWOA, but requiring declipping the front of the car.

So far I’ve lost a 10mm socket, a T25 bit , the battery clamp, and 3 of the 74 assortedfasteners that hold the clip , all into the engine room jungle. Squeezing a 1.8T into that space is a marvel.

On the plus side, my T4 popped a purge valve code which I was able to positively diagnose by substituting good known part since the beetle valve was accessible and an exact replacement!

[bmdubya1198]

It's amazing how such a small engine could be so huge. That's like the 2.0T in my 9-3, it's incredible how Saab squeezes these engines into their cars. Such a ridiculously small engine bay and such a huge little engine.
The PCV replacement on my 2.3 9-5 was a major pain... exhaust had to be dropped because there was so little room.

[leftyref56]

My biggest mistake was trying to repair a crack in a 1996 850 GLT. I used JB Weld and used a product to help with cracks in cooling system. BIG MISTAKE. The radiator split wide open, the car overheated and before I could stop the engine seized.
NEVER try to fix a radiator, buy a new one.
I loved that car. i did strip it and had the carcass recycled. Used many of the parts on other cars

[abscate]

Updated for the new year..

This is what happens when quality control fails and critical parts try to kill you….(or maybe I didn’t torque the caliper bracket bolts correctly!

May 2021 RaceManBeetle

At 70 mph destroyed the caliper, bracket, rotor , one alloy, and two tires with one big BOOM!

I had to rosebud the axle carrier to get it back into shape. Luckily parts were all FreeCP and I got 75% coverage on hazard on my tires. Used alloy wheel $75

Humility, priceless. Ride home with Caitlin

[RickHaleParker]

This is what happens when quality control fails and critical parts try to kill you….(or maybe I didn’t torque the caliper bracket bolts correctly!

That is what happens when a MBA is put in charge of a technical department.

[abscate]

This is what happens when quality control fails and critical parts try to kill you….(or maybe I didn’t torque the caliper bracket bolts correctly!

That is what happens when a MBA is put in charge of a technical department.

Masters in Bad Attachment - yeah, this one was on me.

No cats were harmed in the making of this thread.

[BlackBart]

^ wow.....

In sort of related news... How do you do THIS? Random garage injuries # 137. Bled all over the place.

IMG_9211.JPG (193.34 KiB) Viewed 5143 times

[bmdubya1198]

Hmm... cutoff wheel fragment?

[BlackBart]

I was tired and bent over a Shopmate outside in the dark, putting it away. It folded suddenly and jumped into my head with sharp metal edges. Little niece EEEKed at blood running down face. Little kid bandaid saved the day.