Stupid Things You've Done Modifying/Maintaining Your Ride

[MazdaSpeeder]

i did that on my mazda too

what is that 303 aerospace stuff anyways?

303 Aerospace is what the detailing guys on the forum recommeded to me as the best stuff for dashes, plastics, etc. It doesn't dry out plastics or leave nasty residue like Armor-All and like products, and you can use it on the interior or exterior. It's commonly used for marine applications. It's not cheap, but well worth it. You can often find it at marine stores, but online is an option, though it is pretty expensive.

 

[0nsp]

I overtightened the bolts when installing my BOV. actually ripped the head right off one of them. It was a b**** to try and dig out. The kicker is I was installing an elliptical in the basement 2 days later and did the exact same thing.(hand)

 

[speed3guy]

I always underestimate the amount of oil thats in the oil pan. So Ill put a bucket under the car and undo the oil pan plug and go inside to wash my hands. Ill come out to oil being everywhere. Ive done that a couple different times. Now I find the biggest bucket I can possibily find and put it under there. And Ive down a valve cover bolt off in the head before on my old P5 that I used to have.

 

[magnumP5]

While we're on the topic of overtightening things...

Back in late Aug/early Sept I had just finished installing my new exhaust manifold along with a bunch of other stuff. One thing in particular is that I made sure the studs/nuts on the turbo flange on the exhaust manifold were nice and tight. Well I guess I exceeded the tensile limit of those studs because less than three days later three of them sheared completely off while I was driving. The fourth stud broke as I was removing the nut. I went and got some new (stronger) studs and made sure I followed torque specs. 3 months later and everything is still holding up.

 

[lestat13]

Worst stupid thing to do to the inside of the car.....

PAINT EVERYTHING!! Dyed the seats and carpet, vinyl spray painted ******* everything. Black Integra with tan interior -> black Integra with black interior... kind of. Mistake, big mistake

 

[StealthWyvern]

Worst stupid thing to do to the inside of the car.....

PAINT EVERYTHING!! Dyed the seats and carpet, vinyl spray painted ******* everything. Black Integra with tan interior -> black Integra with black interior... kind of. Mistake, big mistake

Why was it a big mistake? Did you forget to prep everything right?

 

[lestat13]

I prepped, but after the pull out stuff like the armrest (clean, sand, clean, prime, sand, clean, prime, sand, clean, paint, tack, paint, and so on) I decided to just clean and paint the rest of the car with the interior intact. Through winter it was fine, but then the heat came and sections started melting...............

 

[lanny709]

Muffed up a few times while cleaning up my P5 stock alloys. Used a Dremel tool to remove some of the corrosion and it got a little out of hand. Better off just taking the time to use some good ol sand paper and rough up the hands a little bit

 

[Dom 2.0L]

stripped a million screws and broke a thousand bolts, even dropped one while rewiring the fogs, it's stuck between metal and plastic, so the magnet doesn't help at all! But it started rattling so now I need to find a way to get it out. I thought about filling the car with water so it will float and get out by the moonroof... I also had my ratchet working the wrong way, so I tightened a bolt until the head popped out while trying to remove it... Wasn't too proud of that one (doh)

 

[jeremyfl]

Was changing brake pads and decided to put new fluid in. Broke the bleeder valve while it was in the caliper. Auto parts stores were all closed already, this was done on a sunday evening. car was my wifes at the time and she had to work for the rest of the week as did I. Had to rent a car from mon-fri. Then come sat buy a screw extractor and new bleeder valve. Most expensive brake job in history.

 

[shadowncs]

Doesn't really fit the thread, but I have to tell someone about it

Today when parking the car nose first in the subway parking lot, I slowly got in the parking spot and then pushed the brakes. Since the car didn't slow down, I pushed the breaks a little more. Turned out that I was pushing the throttle instead...
So yeah, I ended up eating a ton of snow before stopping in the rail. No damage to the car just a lot of embarrassment.
This goes to show that autos cause brain damage.

1st time I'm actually grateful for the snow.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

So, I love this thread and I am sad that people aren't willing to reveal their stupid mistakes, so here's your chance...BUMP.

 

[protegericky]

thread is old but heres mine

when i replaced my spark pulgs a while back two of the plugs have these box looking attachments that screw in (dont know what there called and i have a 1.6l protege if anyone is wondering) well i get every thing in place and on the last screw i overtighten and *snap* broke the bolt in two..easy fix and only mistake ive done so far

 

[mountjonas]

^^^coil packs?

 

[hornsfan10609]

I was tightening my valve cover bolts which were all completely loose and snapped one in half, I was lucky because I got it out in one piece and then it broke. But i've got new bolts now and the vc gasket leak is gone.

 

[Alamo1]

Didn't listen to another member about the saggy ass of the P5 with MSP springs on it and ended up having to do my suspension twice in one day.... I was so pissed off by the end of it that I wanted to drive it into a bus!(gah)

 

[protegericky]

^^^coil packs?

is that what there called lol well now i know but it was only the bolt i broke nothing else, srry for late reply i havent been on in a while

 

[Magik Skool Bus]

Ive got one for ya.

I was going to paint the calipers as a just something to do on the weekend. Jacked up the car got the car completly in the air and got all the tires off. Then I got lazy, instead of taking the calipers off which i highly recommend doing instead of what I did. I made a make shift paint booth in the wheel well out of carboard and plastic bags. I cut a whole in the cardboard so that I could put the shopvac hose into the hole to suck away any excess spray. So before I started I took the filter out of the shopvac cause I didn't want to clog it up with paint. So I turned on the shopvac and started painting the front right caliper, put a few coats on it and it looked good. Finished the front and then moved the makeshift paint booth to the right rear and did the same. Couple coats later it was looking good. The whole time I neglected to notice where the other end of shopvac was pointing. This was the bad part. All that excess spray that got sucked up by the shopvac was sprayed all over my tool box. My tool box is about chest high for me being six feet and has two doors that swing open and now all that paint from the calipers is all over the tool box and about $3000 worth of tools. Luckily none got on the car.

 

[iracemine]

thats a good one (bang)

 

[dtre83]

when i was 16 i backed my ford egt out of the garage with the rear hatch up and tore off the spoiler(that was 10 years ago) also left lugnuts loose on that car. but that car is what got me addicted to mazda. when i bought my p5 the lugnuts were loose and dint think to check them, thought i had a bad wheel bearing. left the oil cap off my 91 integra and went racing on westheimer( big street racing spot in houston) the whole engine was covered in oil. dont smoke illegal pot while workin on cars, beer doesnt hurt though. just dont drink too much. all i can say is take your time and double check everything