When did a simple repair on your vehicle turn into a complete nightmare?

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Nearly every day .

^^^This - Whatever the task is be it automotive, household - I've come to expect every unforseen problem that could possibly present itself in the course of repairs. Or more simply put: its not 'if' but 'when' along with ' how painful' the end result will be......

I've become completely conditioned to it....

[flatbutt]

maybe not a simple repair but...

We had to deal with this:




so we could get to this:




and deal with this:



which was inside this:




so we could do this:




and finally this:

[nzporsche944s2]

Changing the thermostat on my 944S2 - should be super simple but getting that old rubber gasket out, the one that sits under the thermostat and has the metal cage under the rubber...
Wow! the only way was to completely destroy it with a screwdriver while at the same time not damaging the alloy around it..

Looks like I'm not alone - thats the seal on the bottom left in the pic from someone elses project..

[jcommin]

I'm probably in denial about being OCD when it comes to doing anything. I tend to get carried away when I fix things. I'm guilty of the " while I'm in there" disease. In 2006 I tore my 944 apart - inside and out. It is who I am Try rehabbing a house- that I won't do anymore.

[beepbeep]

Once I swapped out the fuel pump by cutting through sheet metal under the back seat (couldn't bother to drop the tank). Except that it didn't help. Then (!) I remembered that I had one of those fancy immobilizer thingies that cut power to pumps unless I press the fob twice

Old pump worked nice...

[legion]

There was this one time I decided to change the fuel injectors...

One Less 'S'

Originally Posted by legion

I expect this to be a total loss.

[RANDY P]

I threw off the VANOS timing once on my BMW resealing the top end, first time I ever got defeated on a car. Had to hire a pro.Car ran but had CEL I couldn't shake.

Other than that, I just fight, cuss and fight some more until it's done, then swear off ever doing that job ever again- until the next time.

As far as bad jobs, it's always PO butchery that creates work. I typically don't band-aid my fixes, I return whatever I touch to book spec- all bolts, torque values observed, clean area, thread chase everything, loctite, washers, stainless steel fasteners if possible, etc. etc.

rjp

[sand_man]

All the time. It makes wrenching exciting. You never know what you're gonna get into. I do lots and lots of planning before I get into a project, and this helps with smooth execution, but if it can go wrong, it will.

Maybe not a "simple repair", but currently doing a clutch job on my fiance's 2005 Jeep Wrangler TJ. When we test drove it, we knew that the clutch would need some attention, so no suprises there, despite the Jeep only having 96K on it. No biggie, I have done several clutches on many makes/models. I did my research, acquired any tools I was missing, and dove in. I knew that the top two bell-housing bolts required an E12 socket, which I had. This was a terrible fastener spec from Jeep!!!! TERRIBLE! These are very hard to reach. They are also delicate and torqued tight! Not to mention all of the other bell-house fasteners are "normal"!!! When I got into it, I realized that the previous owner attempted to remove them!!!! There were other signs that someone attempted to remove the transmission. Anyway, yep, the heads were stripped/rounded on both of these bolts, one more so than the other. So I used a grinder and got one of the bolts to take a smaller hex socket, which I hammered on tight. Then working from inside (on top) of the Jeep, through the transmission tunnel, where the shift lever goes, was able to get good leverage and purchase. Finally it broke loose! Using care, I was able to get the other one using the E12 socket, hammered on, working from inside the Jeep. I had backup plans in case I was unable to get these fasteners out the traditional way, but luckly it didn't come to that. Anyway, these E12s will be replaced with a socket head!!!!

Happy wrenching...

[Deschodt]

Hey Luccia,
Just curious (and meaning no disrespect, a caveat that rarely works but is factual)

When you start posts like these (there are others) with open ended questions under a "pelican employee" handle like you do, it seems like you are you doing it in an official capacity as part of your job ("we are interested...") Is it to drum up traffic in OT or collect answers for a book or something else ?

I don't mind either way, just a guest here, simply wondering what the deal is with those random post "seeds", if there is an ultimate goal in mind ;-)

[Rick Lee]

I don't have a photo, but I went to start a valve adjustment on my '83 SC and two head studs came tumbling out. That lead to a top end rebuild over the next few weeks I hadn't been planning on.

[oldE]

F150 with the six. Noticed the coolant dropping. Took it in to my guy.
Coolant low and now the oil is milky. Hmm. Manifold gasket. Well let'ssee what else we can find.
Yep. The rear spring hangers are cracked and it looks like the frame is in need of major work here too.
Boneyard. Problem solved.

Best
Les

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by sand_man

All the time. It makes wrenching exciting. You never know what you're gonna get into.

That is a great attitude. Don't you ever worry that you will disable the car, and it will not be movable, and your life is over? haha

[wdfifteen]

A series of unfortunate events