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Air Gun Home Forum Index » The BS Topic » Sometimes you just have to laugh (or cry) Goto page 1, 2  Next    View previous topic :: View next topic  Sometimes you just have to laugh (or cry)   Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:39 pm AirGunEric Site Admin Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 6930 Location: "Out There" "Stupid automotive repair stories" Earlier this week, I get the winter beater out, and on it's first trip it farts, SES light comes on, engine starts bogging and lurching. I'm halfway to my house- and fairly close to the garage I have do work on my car when I don't have time (or the tools) to do it myself. Anyways, after a few days of pissing me off playing "guess which part is bad" the shop finally settles on it being the ECM. I ask what the error code that was thrown out was. Turns out after analyzing the conditions to cause the code, I suggest an ECM is the wrong course of action (as were changing the wires and plugs before checking the code) and the ignition module is the culprit. So, after another couple days of delays and I don't know how much fiddling that was done to the car, they ultimately arrive at the same conclusion I did (and informed the of)- ignition module is flakey. This wouldn't bother me so much except I don't know if they're going to try to charge me for chasing their own tail, installing parts that just weren't the problem, and then finally agreeing with me. What is particularly disturbing is that the shop owner and main mechanic was a dealer-employed technician for over 10 years, with the bulk of this experience in the same time period this particular car model was being built/serviced as 'new'. I think their own experience with "commonly bad GM ECMs" caused a jump to conclusions after already wasting hours of their time (and possibly my money) mis-diagnosing things. We'll see how this turns out. Second stupid auto repair story of the day- I sprouted an exhaust leak on my other car. Where the catalytic converter joins up to an intermediate pipe, the flange has rusted and the bolts have pulled out, leaving a gaping hole. Prior to this I had on/off SES lights because in Ford's infinite wisdom, the 02 sensors are located behind the cats, 3" away from the flange. Any leak at the flange and on deceleration, air gets drawn in, messing up the sensor reading and flagging a code. Anyways, so I don't have to replace the whole exhaust system for one stupid flange, I get two split collars and a factory-style Ford gasket to make a customized repair. Put it all back together, still leaks out one corner. Pull it apart again, throw away the Ford gasket and use a tapered GM-style fiber gasket. Leak sealed. So, as I'm listening to the engine run and looking under the car- what do I see? The other catalytic converter-to-intermediate-pipe flange spitting water- it's leaking now too! Arrgh- what a giant pain in the a$$! Guess I shouldn't have assumed that the other side was fine just because there was no leak beforehand. And why Ford has two 2" pipes leading into one single 2" intermediate pipe is absurd- it's almost like they've designed it so those flanges, once they've rusted a bit, will pop due to excessive back pressure. Now I'm starting to remember why I stopped working on cars a few years back... _________________ ` I'd say "I care." But I'd be lying. Canadian Airgun Supplier: http://www.scopesandammo.com/storefront   Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 4:39 pm Alstone Moderator & Site Supporter Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 4139 Location: Linconshire, ENGLAND Go on you know you love it! Al _________________   Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 5:01 pm AirGunEric Site Admin Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 6930 Location: "Out There" It wouldn't bother me so much if I had a shop setup- i.e. a hoist indoors. Cold and crawling around on concrete really irks me these days... _________________ ` I'd say "I care." But I'd be lying. Canadian Airgun Supplier: http://www.scopesandammo.com/storefront   Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:15 am Alstone Moderator & Site Supporter Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 4139 Location: Linconshire, ENGLAND Yes I know what you mean Eric, before I retired I had the use of a heated workshop crane’s and jacks etc, but since then I’m afraid I take the car to the main dealers for repairs now, the thought of laying down under a car in the cold and wet trying to undo a rusty bolt gives me the shivers. Al _________________   Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:56 am billandbeaufort Senior Member Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 563 Location: Florida Repair exhaust systems? Nah, I just hacksaw off the offending part and toss it away! Engine light worries? Nah, My Toyota Tacoma 4WD has had the engine light on for 4 years or so, runs fine! ZEN MECHANICS = Everything works if you let it.   Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:52 am broommaster2000 Moderator Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 5714 Location: City of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands But Toyota's don't even die when you park them in the sea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uc4Ksz3nHM&feature=related This one's also fun though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXZSIuk5rCM&feature=related Man oh meter, das heisst ja Grundigkeit. _________________ BIG GAP   Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:36 pm Alstone Moderator & Site Supporter Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 4139 Location: Linconshire, ENGLAND Top Gear the best auto show in the world. PART 3 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk With the complements of AL _________________   Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:20 pm Slavia Moderator Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 4382 Location: Waseca, Minnesota, USA Quote: Top Gear the best auto show in the world. Oh yes, yes, yes! There's an Americanized version slated to come out, but they're just going to wreck it. _________________ ¡Listo! ¡Apunte! ¡Fuego!   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:08 am broommaster2000 Moderator Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 5714 Location: City of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Alstone wrote: Top Gear the best auto show in the world. PART 3 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk With the complements of AL Ah, thanks a bunch, I couldn't find that one. The BBC has a lot of good shows in general! Let's not forget Doctor Who! _________________ BIG GAP   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:08 am Alstone Moderator & Site Supporter Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 4139 Location: Linconshire, ENGLAND What everyone needs when working on a car is a "Sonic Screwdriver", but where do you find these things? Al _________________   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:36 am broommaster2000 Moderator Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 5714 Location: City of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands At the BBC of course! _________________ BIG GAP   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:12 am billandbeaufort Senior Member Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 563 Location: Florida Broom, That could not have been a REAL Toyota! It had a diesel which we all know is not available and the steering wheel was on the WRONG SIDE!   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:48 am cw Banned Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 1771 Great videos! Thanks for sharing. They have a great mechanic. I like how he uses the hand maul to attach the battery terminals. Very professional.   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:51 pm Slavia Moderator Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 4382 Location: Waseca, Minnesota, USA Quote: What everyone needs when working on a car is a "Sonic Screwdriver", but where do you find these things? You make your own. _________________ ¡Listo! ¡Apunte! ¡Fuego!   Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:01 pm Alstone Moderator & Site Supporter Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 4139 Location: Linconshire, ENGLAND Very nice slavia until the wife cleans her teeth, then your dead! But there again you could come back as someone else. Al _________________ Sometimes you just have to laugh (or cry)     Air Gun Home Forum Index » The BS Topic You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 5 Hours   Page 1 of 2   Goto page 1, 2  Next All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Main Forums----------------AirGunHome Q&AGeneral Air Gun Questions and TopicsPicture GalleryTarget Shooting: Casual, Fun and CompetitionHunting, Pest Control, Varminting People/Events/Airgun Issue Discussion----------------Introduce YourselfThe BS TopicClubs/Events/Regional/Political Airgun Issues Maintenance, Modification and Reviews----------------RiflesPistolsAntique, Collector and Novelty AirgunsBB GunsPellets/AmmoOpticsAccessoriesAirgun Smithing Buy, Sell or Trade Forums----------------For SaleWant to Buy   Note: If you are seeing "Please enter your username and password to log in." 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