Dumbest thing you've done while working on your vehicle...

  • HTML tutorial

pl626

Rank V
Founder 500
Launch Member

Pathfinder II

1,997
McLean, VA
First Name
Peter
Last Name
Chen
Member #

0211

When I was 18 I rotated the tires on my truck, and forgot to torque one of them down. I went for a drive, and was across town when I felt and heard something terrible. I parked and found all my lugs being held on by one thread...
LOL! I did something similar when I was 16, which is why I now check the torque a week or two later after I do it initially...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

9Mike2

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

2,741
Garden Grove, California
Member #

2706

One of the big jokes we use to pull on the newbies, was telling them to rotate the tires to match the valve stems to match, and then ask why they didn't match after the test drive. The other was not telling them about grounding a vehicles in a substation because of static electricity, which will knock you flat.....
 

boehml

Rank VI
Launch Member

Member III

3,316
British Columbia
First Name
Liam
Last Name
-
Member #

2489

The other week I had a friend of mine help install some remote reservoir shocks. I asked him to hold the clamp which secures the reservoir to the shock body... as I took my hands off the clamp, which is solid aluminum, the thing drops flat onto my face... turns out he never had a "good grip". A black eye and cut eyebrow later....

Also, during the same install he accidentally knocked a big ass washer off the top of the shock and it landed on my tooth.. thankfully that one was already fake, so no big damage besides the crack. Honestly, when I came back into the house it looked like I had got into a gnarly bar fight, lol.
 

TOMB

Local Expert Central Valley CA
Member
Member

Explorer I

3,575
Clovis Ca
First Name
Tom
Last Name
Butler
Member #

3129

Ham/GMRS Callsign
K6STB
Using a timing light on my Ranchero and got too close to the fan. Tore the bulb out of housing went past my head and landed in neighbors yard. Picked it up put it back together (changed my shorts) and it still worked. I'm talking about the light.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Winterpeg

Mademan925

Rank V
Launch Member

Pathfinder I

2,055
discovery bay, ca 94505
Member #

1069

I installed a locking tailgate handle on my truck with a bedcover on the truck. I had the keys, packaging, and my tools in the bed of the truck when I shut the tailgate for the first time to test it out. Turns out the handle came in the locked position.... fml
 
  • Like
Reactions: cosmoblu and boehml

maktruk

Rank V
Launch Member

Pathfinder I

2,741
95046
Member #

0912

I installed a locking tailgate handle on my truck with a bedcover on the truck. I had the keys, packaging, and my tools in the bed of the truck when I shut the tailgate for the first time to test it out. Turns out the handle came in the locked position.... fml
To go along with this, I repaired the latching mechanism in my tailgate recently, and after buttoning up the plastic on the inner tailgate and closing it, I heard my keyring (house, truck, truck toolbox, toolshed, barn, camper, everything) hit the bottom of the tailgate. Inside. Yanked on the latch to open the gate and my fresh repair failed. FMLx2
 

Loup407

Rank II
Launch Member

Enthusiast I

434
Fruita, CO, USA
First Name
Lou
Last Name
Patterson
Member #

2693

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KE0LHP
While in the process of upgrading my rear suspension on my FJC in a buddy's garage, I left the rear door open. After a bit, I was trying to jack the truck up higher, no matter how much I ratchet on the jack, the truck didn't lift. Finally, I looked up to see the top of the open rear door was hitting the door frame of the garage. The door of the FJ had a big crease , and the beam across the garage needed replacing. That was an expensive suspension.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Winterpeg

boehml

Rank VI
Launch Member

Member III

3,316
British Columbia
First Name
Liam
Last Name
-
Member #

2489

While in the process of upgrading my rear suspension on my FJC in a buddy's garage, I left the rear door open. After a bit, I was trying to jack the truck up higher, no matter how much I ratchet on the jack, the truck didn't lift. Finally, I looked up to see the top of the open rear door was hitting the door frame of the garage. The door of the FJ had a big crease , and the beam across the garage needed replacing. That was an expensive suspension.
When something won't budge you FIRST try harder, if it still won't budge you look to see what you did wrong.. Male logic haha
 

pl626

Rank V
Founder 500
Launch Member

Pathfinder II

1,997
McLean, VA
First Name
Peter
Last Name
Chen
Member #

0211

I was out camping w/ friends in the GWNF, when I locked myself out of my 91 Blazer. I broke the small panel window on the rear passenger door thinking, it was the smallest piece, therefore the cheapest. Turns out it was the most expensive.
Another stupid thing I've done was to leave the car running with my dog inside. She jumped in the drivers seat, then jumped up so her front paws were on top of the door card with her left paw landing on the locking stem. This was in a P38 RR, so it was still relatively easy to break in. I have never left my dog in any running vehicle sine that time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

IanC83

Rank VI
Launch Member

Influencer I

4,887
Cambridge, NY
First Name
Ian
Last Name
Creitz
Member #

3245

Not so much a stupid mistake as just constantly dealing with my old rig breaking down and needing repair. In and out of the shop. I only had her for two years and was just getting into building her. Two things that don't get along. Ripped cv boot flinging axel grease and a seized caliper. End result....


Literally just finished extending the roof rack and having aluminum mesh installed on top the previous day. O and having the entire top of the motor rebuilt 10 days earlier and timing belt, water pump and all the pulleys replaced two months earlier.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zargon

pl626

Rank V
Founder 500
Launch Member

Pathfinder II

1,997
McLean, VA
First Name
Peter
Last Name
Chen
Member #

0211

Not so much a stupid mistake as just constantly dealing with my old rig breaking down and needing repair. In and out of the shop. I only had her for two years and was just getting into building her. Two things that don't get along. Ripped cv boot flinging axel grease and a seized caliper. End result....


Literally just finished extending the roof rack and having aluminum mesh installed on top the previous day. O and having the entire top of the motor rebuilt 10 days earlier and timing belt, water pump and all the pulleys replaced two months earlier.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Wow! Glad your ok. That really sucks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zargon

Scott

Rank VI
Launch Member

Influencer II

3,921
Bates City, MO, USA
First Name
Scott
Last Name
Heiser
Member #

2486

Not so much a stupid mistake as just constantly dealing with my old rig breaking down and needing repair. In and out of the shop. I only had her for two years and was just getting into building her. Two things that don't get along. Ripped cv boot flinging axel grease and a seized caliper. End result....


Literally just finished extending the roof rack and having aluminum mesh installed on top the previous day. O and having the entire top of the motor rebuilt 10 days earlier and timing belt, water pump and all the pulleys replaced two months earlier.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Ok not really a dumb thing to do to your vehicle because it wasn't really your fault.. But I think you win. That sucks :(

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zargon

IanC83

Rank VI
Launch Member

Influencer I

4,887
Cambridge, NY
First Name
Ian
Last Name
Creitz
Member #

3245

Ok not really a dumb thing to do to your vehicle because it wasn't really your fault.. But I think you win. That sucks :(

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk
Ya I was pretty much crying as I watched her burn.



Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zargon

IanC83

Rank VI
Launch Member

Influencer I

4,887
Cambridge, NY
First Name
Ian
Last Name
Creitz
Member #

3245

And pearl as she was called was going in the following week to fix the cv boot and caliper. Never ending repair. Each time I wanted to get something overlanding something else broke. Practically ever three weeks to a month something was breaking.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zargon

pl626

Rank V
Founder 500
Launch Member

Pathfinder II

1,997
McLean, VA
First Name
Peter
Last Name
Chen
Member #

0211

And pearl as she was called was going in the following week to fix the cv boot and caliper. Never ending repair. Each time I wanted to get something overlanding something else broke. Practically ever three weeks to a month something was breaking.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Sounds like she really wanted to be a LR...I know that never ending project cycle all too well...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

IanC83

Rank VI
Launch Member

Influencer I

4,887
Cambridge, NY
First Name
Ian
Last Name
Creitz
Member #

3245

Sounds like she really wanted to be a LR...I know that never ending project cycle all too well...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think it was more like her giving me subtle clues that she wanted to die that I was not picking up on. She finally made it abundantly clear it was time to head to the scrap yard.
 

scott mcfarland

Rank I
Launch Member

Contributor I

233
Member #

TN

Lifting my 4runner by myself. While putting the front all back together I got the sway bar bound up on the driver side. 3 floor jacks in play to get the arms and links all lined up. After dropping the arm and it not easily going back into place I thought it just needed a little more persuasion. Being on the passenger side at the time I didn't realize the entire front end was sitting on that link on the driver side. When I pushed the link down the front suspension "fell" and luckily only caught my thumb for a second and kept moving, otherwise I may have had to gnaw my thumb off to get free. Lesson learned.