Whats your biggest mistake you ever made while DIY?

[sicma99ot]

Originally Posted by brettf looked at the window and bang! window exploded in my face. yess..stong with the force you are...

To remove this ad, register today for free or log in if already registered!

[lordhelmet]

Originally Posted by BigVic4545

While installing lowering springs on my car i forgot to support the cv joint, and that sucker broke...so now im driving with a messed up cv joint on the right side....i also lost 2 nuts that go on the top strut mount...so each strut is being supported by only 2 nuts....can i get those at the honda dealer?

Yeah, get those nuts at the dealer. Should be pretty cheap.


My biggest fuck up so far is getting fed up with the tie rod end when I was replacing my struts. I ended up beating the crap out of it with a hammer which resulted in screwed up threads. I still had to get the tie rod end puller

[BigVic4545]

Originally Posted by lordhelmet

Yeah, get those nuts at the dealer. Should be pretty cheap.


My biggest fuck up so far is getting fed up with the tie rod end when I was replacing my struts. I ended up beating the crap out of it with a hammer which resulted in screwed up threads. I still had to get the tie rod end puller

Lmao..thats hilarious..i just pictured myself doing the same thiing...the trick to that is hitting it in different areas instead of just pounding away at one spot..So where u able to put the nut back in being that you screwed up ur threads?

[lordhelmet]

Originally Posted by BigVic4545

Lmao..thats hilarious..i just pictured myself doing the same thiing...the trick to that is hitting it in different areas instead of just pounding away at one spot..So where u able to put the nut back in being that you screwed up ur threads?

It hilarious after the fact. The passenger side tie rod end pop right off with one whack of the hammer to the strut. The ease of the first side lulled me into a false sense of security. I beat on the damn strut for what must have been 15 minutes. I threaded the nut on and smacked the bolt a couple of times using a piece of wood but it still wouldn't budge. So I got fed up and just started hammering the shit out of everything. End result: threads fucked up and nut would not go on past the first two or three threads. Had to buy a new tie rod end.

[BigVic4545]

Originally Posted by lordhelmet

It hilarious after the fact. The passenger side tie rod end pop right off with one whack of the hammer to the strut. The ease of the first side lulled me into a false sense of security. I beat on the damn strut for what must have been 15 minutes. I threaded the nut on and smacked the bolt a couple of times using a piece of wood but it still wouldn't budge. So I got fed up and just started hammering the shit out of everything. End result: threads fucked up and nut would not go on past the first two or three threads. Had to buy a new tie rod end.

Wow that sucks....but practice makes perfect...It took me 4 days to replace all 4 springs due to problems like that and not having the right tools...but now i can do all 4 springs in an hour or two.

[lordhelmet]

The key is to borrow the spring compressors and tie rod end pullers from autozone. Those two things made the job a lot easier.

[zen_master]

I tried scrapping some rust on rear wheel wells without really knowing how to repaint it properly. Doh!

I used a spray paint that supposedly does not require a base, unfortunately, rocks kept chipping the paint away...

[DeX]

I just removed the starting motor from my girlfriend's car and had to take out the distributor in order to get at it. I didn't realize the distributor was connected to the camshaft housing so all the oil spilled out everywhere when I removed it.

[cwo715]

oh i thought biggest mistake with the Civic... anyways, not knowing that it was an SOHC, and that the D17A2 has no potential with bolt ons or that it was a pure economy car.

[africanoboomer]

i failed to install an aftermarket radio it did not turn on and i ended up paying money to get it fixed properly

[xKEVINx]

oh and when I did a glow guage DIY ... well my speedo won't go past 78.

Cop: Son you were going 110 in a 65
Me: But sir, my speedo only said 78
Cop: tough $hit, off to jail!

Ahhah, niceee try.

[westcali_playa]

measurements where off on the template i got with an oem style spoiler off ebay..drill holes to far apart, had to drill a new set. now i have an extra set of holes drilled in my trunk lid, you cant see with it on atleast.
also when installing my aem short ram intake, screwed on a bolt w/o a washer and it got jammed so i cant take the intake off.. you live and learn

[conarl]

Tryed doing my rear drums and could'nt get them in. Had to put the drum and tire back and have it towed to get it put back. Mech blew out my cylinder and blamed me. But I did do my timing belt diy perfect and that's why I tryed doing my drums. Oh well I still saved money.

[vsTerminus]

Set my car on fire.

Installing an amplifier.

Rather, my friend set my car on fire while installing the amp with me.
It's my own fault though.
a) When I bought more power wire to add the second amp I got a new fuse with it, but I didn't even think when the guy handed me a 150A fuse. That's too big for 4AWG wire and so grounding it out by accident didn't blow the fuse.
b) I didn't strap the power wire down to anything, I just let it run loose under the floor trim, and when my friend was putting the seat belt bar back in (The last bolt of the day!) he pinched the power wire between the bolt and the body, grounding it.

So We're putting the last of the panels and trim back on, my friend is putting the last bolt in and suddenly I hear my friend shouting "Uh guys? fire fire fire FIRE FIRE FIRE!" and he starts stomping at it with his foot. I grabbed some pliers and popped the hood to get at the battery.
While I'm pulling the terminals off he was taking the bolt out so we would pull the panel off again.

Luckily the only damage was the hole in the trim around the seat belt bolt is now maybe half an inch wider :P

Could have lost the car. Took it all apart and used more zap straps ><

[ADMCivic]

So far...broke most of the bolts hold the stock intake. One of them still remains.