Your biggest DIY screwups

gurneyeagle · 10-28-2011, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Surprised I didn't see this thread earlier. It's a shame. So, here's the story of my six hundred dollar pedal upgrade...

I have a base, and I bought Jeffblue's touring pedals. Now, I've run into a problem numerous times. Whoever assembled my car emptied the barrel of loctite into it. My shift knob didn't come off without a fight (channel lock, strap wrench, couldn't budge it without torquing too hard), but that's another story and an easy fix.

But they also used too much loctite on the bolts holding my accelerator pedal down. I went to unscrew them and snapped the heads off of them both. "Problem", I thought, so I decided to save myself the exorbitant costs of using a garage and go buy myself a screw removal kit and new drill bits.

Ok, so after trying out the kit on some old wood screws to understand the method behind the madness, I tried a few times to get the suckers to bite the bolts. The screw remover snapped off inside the bolt. I tried another bit on the other one and same result.

I had the car towed to AAM, where they assured me they could get any bolt out. They've got a machine shop ffs, should be no problem.

After failing to remove the bolts, they had to order new bolts and drill new holes.

And that, the370z.com community, is how you can spend 600+ dollars on a slight aesthetic upgrade in the pedal region.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

you're welcome

Both you guys get repped for that one!

USMCASA · 10-28-2011, 08:34 AM

most recently bought led reverse light bulbs to do a swap. went to remove the rear facia panel in the trunk with the 4 clips. heard a loud pop and figured it was loose, but one side had come undone while i managed to put a 4 inch tear in the other side and it still secured. luckily i have a buddy who owns a bodyshop so he is ordering me the part wholesale to soften the blow. $16 upgrade turns into a $75 one lol

RedBullRR · 10-28-2011, 08:47 AM

Was installing camber arms in the rear with toe bolts. Drilled the hole for the camber arms by mistake, then realized and drilled the holes in the rite place for Toe Adjustment. Got the car aligned and all is well, but **** the metal shavings were embedding in my skin for at least a month.

JARblue · 12-03-2013, 04:12 PM

This is too good of a thread to let die. In two years, there should be some more good stories

And since I somehow found this searching for something completely unrelated, I'll go ahead and bump it with a story from my first DIY maintenance on the Z.

I was changing the transmission and differential fluids to Redline early in the life of the Z. I hadn't yet accumulated enough tools to do much work on the car myself, so I was at a buddy's house, where we put the front wheels of the Z up on ramps (the surface was slightly downhill, so the car actually sat very level on the ramps). The clearance was just enough to get access to the transmission but made the differential very difficult to get to. So we turned the car around after the transmission fluid change and backed the rear wheels onto the ramp for the differential fluid change. While the Z was up on the ramps, we put jack stands under the suspension in case the ramps failed or something (just being cautious). When we were done with the transmission fluid, I started to back the car off the ramp before I heard a nasty metal crunch as the car caught on the jack stands that we moronically left under the car - one of the stands was inches away from causing some major damage. Luckily, no harm done as I carefully drove the Z back up onto the ramps so we could remove the jack stands. That was pretty dumb. But what was really fucking dumb was we did the same damn thing after turning the car around and finishing up the differential fluid

onzedge · 12-03-2013, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

This is too good of a thread to let die. In two years, there should be some more good stories

And since I somehow found this searching for something completely unrelated, I'll go ahead and bump it with a story from my first DIY maintenance on the Z.

I was changing the transmission and differential fluids to Redline early in the life of the Z. I hadn't yet accumulated enough tools to do much work on the car myself, so I was at a buddy's house, where we put the front wheels of the Z up on ramps (the surface was slightly downhill, so the car actually sat very level on the ramps). The clearance was just enough to get access to the transmission but made the differential very difficult to get to. So we turned the car around after the transmission fluid change and backed the rear wheels onto the ramp for the differential fluid change. While the Z was up on the ramps, we put jack stands under the suspension in case the ramps failed or something (just being cautious). When we were done with the transmission fluid, I started to back the car off the ramp before I heard a nasty metal crunch as the car caught on the jack stands that we moronically left under the car - one of the stands was inches away from causing some major damage. Luckily, no harm done as I carefully drove the Z back up onto the ramps so we could remove the jack stands. That was pretty dumb. But what was really fucking dumb was we did the same damn thing after turning the car around and finishing up the differential fluid

b15 · 12-03-2013, 09:51 PM

I have a small makeshift wood ramp to lift the front end slightly so I can get my jack to the front jack point. Well the last oil change I didnt pull the Z in as far into the garage as a normally do and also shut the garage about 3/4 ofbthe way since it was chilly. Drained the oil and let the car back down.

In a lapse of sanity, I got in and released the parking brake so itd roll off the small ramp and be level to check/fill the oil, however, I forgot that 1.) I didnt pull as far I as I normally do and 2.) That the garage door was only partially open. As soon as the car started to roll I regained sanity and stepped on what I thought was the brake.....it was the clutch. As the car rolled I thought ****! Damaged Z and damaged door. I quickly ripped up the ebrake and smashed the brake down but it was too late. I heard a "crunch". I ran out and looked and the bumper was against the hinge. I pulled forward and luckily there was just a minor scratch and the garage door was not bent. Man I felt so stupid.

OldFart · 12-04-2013, 12:21 AM

The one that comes to mind here was way long ago, I had just gotten a 79 Trans Am with a 4 speed. Now at that time our driveway bordered a sharp dip (hill) in our yard. I had backed the car out of the garage after working on it, turned it off and went to do something, came back out, started the car, and immediately let out the clutch thinking I wasn't in gear. Turned out I was in reverse, the car launched backwards and before I knew it the car was teetering at the peak of the hill with the rear tires not touching the ground. I can't quite remember what we did to get the car back up onto the driveway except for my father and a friend pushing down on the rear of the car to get the tires back on the ground.

Another time - same car, always had a hell of a time backing down our driveway, father just had the driveway paved and there was fresh dirt on the sides of pavement about 2 feet wide along with grass seed, had a heavy rain the previous night. I had on wide tires on the back, the next morning I head off to work and missed the driveway backing down, car ending up sinking on the one side in the fresh dirt (now mud). Of course I tried to get out and just made matters worse spinning grass seed and mud everywhere, eventually I had no choice but to continue backing down the driveway with half the car in the mud. By the time it was all said and done I had totally destroyed all the work he did, damn did I get a chewing out when he got home that evening.

falconfixer · 12-04-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

This is too good of a thread to let die. In two years, there should be some more good stories

And since I somehow found this searching for something completely unrelated, I'll go ahead and bump it with a story from my first DIY maintenance on the Z.

I was changing the transmission and differential fluids to Redline early in the life of the Z. I hadn't yet accumulated enough tools to do much work on the car myself, so I was at a buddy's house, where we put the front wheels of the Z up on ramps (the surface was slightly downhill, so the car actually sat very level on the ramps). The clearance was just enough to get access to the transmission but made the differential very difficult to get to. So we turned the car around after the transmission fluid change and backed the rear wheels onto the ramp for the differential fluid change. While the Z was up on the ramps, we put jack stands under the suspension in case the ramps failed or something (just being cautious). When we were done with the transmission fluid, I started to back the car off the ramp before I heard a nasty metal crunch as the car caught on the jack stands that we moronically left under the car - one of the stands was inches away from causing some major damage. Luckily, no harm done as I carefully drove the Z back up onto the ramps so we could remove the jack stands. That was pretty dumb. But what was really fucking dumb was we did the same damn thing after turning the car around and finishing up the differential fluid

Ok JAR I'm not the only one to do this. First oil change I put the car on ramps and jack stands underneath just for safety reasons. Once I was all done I was backing the car off and heard the ungodly sound you heard. Drove it back up and looked everything over and felt lucky I didn't screw anything up. Worst part is feeling like the biggest jackass in the world.

kenchan · 12-04-2013, 04:03 PM

i was adding brake fluid when i sneezed...

had to spend time washing the engine bay.

Haboob · 12-04-2013, 04:11 PM

I forgot to clean off my dome light lenses before I sprayed them, in the dark.

Then we started sanding it off and I was thinking that this was waaayyyy too difficult. Found online that brake cleaner will remove spray tint from plastics with ease.

Then we sanded and one of these days I'll spray them after I clean them.

Haboob · 12-04-2013, 04:13 PM

OH, and I had some friends help me with the spacer install, and the DIY called for bungie cords to hold the calipers while you did everything.

Well, we got everything back on and I drove around for a few weeks and every now and then I'd hear a thud in the rear...

Figured I'd check it out, and sure enough, a bungie cord was left up in there on the pass. rear. Luckily it wasn't wrapped around anything and did no noticeable damage.

critical · 12-04-2013, 07:32 PM

BMW X5 oil change. over torqued the oil drain bolt and stripped it. got myself a CDI torque wrench now. i'm done w/ harbor freight

Tempestz · 12-04-2013, 07:56 PM

I can honestly say this is the only screw up i have had…

Putting in my bumper intake ducts, i cut the holes in the bumper perfectly, went to put them in and there is a small screw in the way, and instead of getting a dremel to shave a quarter inch off the tiny bolt, i used my small bolt cutters so i wouldn't have to get up and go to my storage to look for the dremel… i did the passenger side perfectly, then got to the drivers side, and cut what i thought was the bolt, come to find out… it was the Cable to pop my hood...

had to buy a new cable and took out the dremel anyway, so lesson learned, be patient.

Redglare · 12-04-2013, 08:04 PM

I have a couple from a while ago,

Purchased a nismo s-tune exhaust and had it shipped to my dads place so I could use his collection of tools.... got stuck with a bolt on the oem exhaust, couldn't get it off, yelled for dad to come help. He gets under there, asks for a socket, apparently I didn't look and gave him 1 size too big, he ends up stripping the bolt slightly. Needles to say he was more pissed then I was lol...

Another time I was using his tools while he was gone, but I had a bright idea of using some Rhino ramps instead of jacking the car up, made a quick trip to harborg freight for some good quality ramps...... . Since he wasn't home I lined them up on the garage floor, each time I would try to drive on the ramps they would slide back a bit, I figured I would put them against the garage wall and drive on them right?.. WRONG. As I try to drive on the ramps with them firm against the washer/dryer (bottom part), I heard a pretty nasty cracking sound, ended up doing some damage to both the washer and the dryer.

Back in 08 with my s2000, me and my buddy decided to put on some coilovers, after about 5 trips to harbor freight we ended up stripping the large bolt holding the struts inplace.

Glambutang · 12-04-2013, 08:44 PM

Not the z but on my old car 2002 s500 i did something that was a great life lesson. One of the front struts got a leak so i decided to replace it on my own and being a highschool kid who thinks he knows everything i screw up big time. So long story short after 16 hours of struggle, and locking only set of keys in the trunk i took it on 400 mile road trip next day. Right in the middle of the trip at 3 am car displays error saying that brakes need immediate service and air pump for suspension stops working. So im in the middle of nowhere, no AAA, its pouring, car is all the way to the ground, and the worst part there is no service. Man that was scary. Eventually after towing it back home and receiving estimate for the repairs I just sold the car as is. From this i learned
1- let professionals deal with it.
2- never buy benz without warranty.

10-28-2011, 08:47 AM	#78 (permalink)
RedBullRR Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 336 Drives: 2010 370Z Red Rep Power: 15	Was installing camber arms in the rear with toe bolts. Drilled the hole for the camber arms by mistake, then realized and drilled the holes in the rite place for Toe Adjustment. Got the car aligned and all is well, but **** the metal shavings were embedding in my skin for at least a month. __________________ 2010 Solid Red Z: Mods: Stillen G3 Intakes \| BC Coilovers \| H&R 20/25 Spacers \| Stillen Splitter \| Stillen LW Pullie TBI \| Red GTR Start \| LED Interior \| Kenwood Double Din

12-03-2013, 04:12 PM	#79 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	This is too good of a thread to let die. In two years, there should be some more good stories And since I somehow found this searching for something completely unrelated, I'll go ahead and bump it with a story from my first DIY maintenance on the Z. I was changing the transmission and differential fluids to Redline early in the life of the Z. I hadn't yet accumulated enough tools to do much work on the car myself, so I was at a buddy's house, where we put the front wheels of the Z up on ramps (the surface was slightly downhill, so the car actually sat very level on the ramps). The clearance was just enough to get access to the transmission but made the differential very difficult to get to. So we turned the car around after the transmission fluid change and backed the rear wheels onto the ramp for the differential fluid change. While the Z was up on the ramps, we put jack stands under the suspension in case the ramps failed or something (just being cautious). When we were done with the transmission fluid, I started to back the car off the ramp before I heard a nasty metal crunch as the car caught on the jack stands that we moronically left under the car - one of the stands was inches away from causing some major damage. Luckily, no harm done as I carefully drove the Z back up onto the ramps so we could remove the jack stands. That was pretty dumb. But what was really fucking dumb was we did the same damn thing after turning the car around and finishing up the differential fluid cv129 and falconfixer like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

12-04-2013, 04:03 PM	#84 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i was adding brake fluid when i sneezed... had to spend time washing the engine bay. TerribleONE and falconfixer like this.

12-04-2013, 04:13 PM	#86 (permalink)
Haboob A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Surface of the sun. Posts: 13,159 Drives: '18 GTI Autobahn DSG Rep Power: 1387	OH, and I had some friends help me with the spacer install, and the DIY called for bungie cords to hold the calipers while you did everything. Well, we got everything back on and I drove around for a few weeks and every now and then I'd hear a thud in the rear... Figured I'd check it out, and sure enough, a bungie cord was left up in there on the pass. rear. Luckily it wasn't wrapped around anything and did no noticeable damage. ZMan8 likes this.

12-04-2013, 07:32 PM	#87 (permalink)
critical A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 1,252 Drives: 09' 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	BMW X5 oil change. over torqued the oil drain bolt and stripped it. got myself a CDI torque wrench now. i'm done w/ harbor freight __________________ Quaife w/ gears \|Stillen Gen 3\|SOLD FI Resonated Test Pipes \|SOLD FI 18'' \| 25row Stillen Race \| Progress 35mm/25mm sways \| Swifts/Koni\|Volk G25's\| Stoptech SS lines\|\|SPL Front/Rear Arms\|

10-28-2011, 08:34 AM	#77 (permalink)
USMCASA A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,152 Drives: 09 370z CY M6 Rep Power: 17	most recently bought led reverse light bulbs to do a swap. went to remove the rear facia panel in the trunk with the 4 clips. heard a loud pop and figured it was loose, but one side had come undone while i managed to put a 4 inch tear in the other side and it still secured. luckily i have a buddy who owns a bodyshop so he is ordering me the part wholesale to soften the blow. $16 upgrade turns into a $75 one lol

12-03-2013, 09:51 PM	#81 (permalink)
b15 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,229 Drives: 4drz Rep Power: 36571	I have a small makeshift wood ramp to lift the front end slightly so I can get my jack to the front jack point. Well the last oil change I didnt pull the Z in as far into the garage as a normally do and also shut the garage about 3/4 ofbthe way since it was chilly. Drained the oil and let the car back down. In a lapse of sanity, I got in and released the parking brake so itd roll off the small ramp and be level to check/fill the oil, however, I forgot that 1.) I didnt pull as far I as I normally do and 2.) That the garage door was only partially open. As soon as the car started to roll I regained sanity and stepped on what I thought was the brake.....it was the clutch. As the car rolled I thought ****! Damaged Z and damaged door. I quickly ripped up the ebrake and smashed the brake down but it was too late. I heard a "crunch". I ran out and looked and the bumper was against the hinge. I pulled forward and luckily there was just a minor scratch and the garage door was not bent. Man I felt so stupid.

12-04-2013, 12:21 AM	#82 (permalink)
OldFart Track Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Carlisle, PA Age: 61 Posts: 682 Drives: 2011 Wannabe Nismo Rep Power: 960	The one that comes to mind here was way long ago, I had just gotten a 79 Trans Am with a 4 speed. Now at that time our driveway bordered a sharp dip (hill) in our yard. I had backed the car out of the garage after working on it, turned it off and went to do something, came back out, started the car, and immediately let out the clutch thinking I wasn't in gear. Turned out I was in reverse, the car launched backwards and before I knew it the car was teetering at the peak of the hill with the rear tires not touching the ground. I can't quite remember what we did to get the car back up onto the driveway except for my father and a friend pushing down on the rear of the car to get the tires back on the ground. Another time - same car, always had a hell of a time backing down our driveway, father just had the driveway paved and there was fresh dirt on the sides of pavement about 2 feet wide along with grass seed, had a heavy rain the previous night. I had on wide tires on the back, the next morning I head off to work and missed the driveway backing down, car ending up sinking on the one side in the fresh dirt (now mud). Of course I tried to get out and just made matters worse spinning grass seed and mud everywhere, eventually I had no choice but to continue backing down the driveway with half the car in the mud. By the time it was all said and done I had totally destroyed all the work he did, damn did I get a chewing out when he got home that evening.

12-04-2013, 04:11 PM	#85 (permalink)
Haboob A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Surface of the sun. Posts: 13,159 Drives: '18 GTI Autobahn DSG Rep Power: 1387	I forgot to clean off my dome light lenses before I sprayed them, in the dark. Then we started sanding it off and I was thinking that this was waaayyyy too difficult. Found online that brake cleaner will remove spray tint from plastics with ease. Then we sanded and one of these days I'll spray them after I clean them.

12-04-2013, 07:56 PM	#88 (permalink)
Tempestz Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ewa Beach, HI Posts: 346 Drives: 10-370Z-MB-7AT Rep Power: 12	I can honestly say this is the only screw up i have had… Putting in my bumper intake ducts, i cut the holes in the bumper perfectly, went to put them in and there is a small screw in the way, and instead of getting a dremel to shave a quarter inch off the tiny bolt, i used my small bolt cutters so i wouldn't have to get up and go to my storage to look for the dremel… i did the passenger side perfectly, then got to the drivers side, and cut what i thought was the bolt, come to find out… it was the Cable to pop my hood... had to buy a new cable and took out the dremel anyway, so lesson learned, be patient. osbornsm likes this. __________________ Certified Exhaust Whore

12-04-2013, 08:04 PM	#89 (permalink)
Redglare Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: FL Posts: 387 Drives: C172 Skyhawk GIII Rep Power: 175	I have a couple from a while ago, Purchased a nismo s-tune exhaust and had it shipped to my dads place so I could use his collection of tools.... got stuck with a bolt on the oem exhaust, couldn't get it off, yelled for dad to come help. He gets under there, asks for a socket, apparently I didn't look and gave him 1 size too big, he ends up stripping the bolt slightly. Needles to say he was more pissed then I was lol... Another time I was using his tools while he was gone, but I had a bright idea of using some Rhino ramps instead of jacking the car up, made a quick trip to harborg freight for some good quality ramps...... . Since he wasn't home I lined them up on the garage floor, each time I would try to drive on the ramps they would slide back a bit, I figured I would put them against the garage wall and drive on them right?.. WRONG. As I try to drive on the ramps with them firm against the washer/dryer (bottom part), I heard a pretty nasty cracking sound, ended up doing some damage to both the washer and the dryer. Back in 08 with my s2000, me and my buddy decided to put on some coilovers, after about 5 trips to harbor freight we ended up stripping the large bolt holding the struts inplace.

12-04-2013, 08:44 PM	#90 (permalink)
Glambutang Base Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New York Posts: 86 Drives: Honda, im a ricer Rep Power: 12	Not the z but on my old car 2002 s500 i did something that was a great life lesson. One of the front struts got a leak so i decided to replace it on my own and being a highschool kid who thinks he knows everything i screw up big time. So long story short after 16 hours of struggle, and locking only set of keys in the trunk i took it on 400 mile road trip next day. Right in the middle of the trip at 3 am car displays error saying that brakes need immediate service and air pump for suspension stops working. So im in the middle of nowhere, no AAA, its pouring, car is all the way to the ground, and the worst part there is no service. Man that was scary. Eventually after towing it back home and receiving estimate for the repairs I just sold the car as is. From this i learned 1- let professionals deal with it. 2- never buy benz without warranty.

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