Whats your biggest mistake you ever made while DIY?
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,308
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From: Long Island, New York, US
Rep Power: 397 
On my civic the only problem I ever had while doing a DIY was when I cleared my lights...I took some of the chrome off one of the lights...but it wasnt really noticeable
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 349
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From: Civic Nation
Rep Power: 0 tried 2 DIYs..
both not satisfied..
even with pretty striaght-forward guides provided.. sigh..
1. Removin' emblems ("H" & "CIVIC") at rear..
The removal process was good with no scratches..
but when removin' the residues (glue) had damaged ma biatch..
i rubbed it too hard with Goo-Gone and took away some paint..
not obvious.. only when look closely.. still.. FAILED~
2. Black-housin' headlights..
All da procedures were successful until when i reached the 'sealing-back' part..
i thought i didn't put enough silicone to seal them back up..
so moistures tended to rape ma headlights during hot/humid days..
then.. i re-sealed them again with heavy dose of silicone this time..
but still.. my headlights fogged up inside with lot of condensations..
oh well.. now i am waitin' for a new pair of tyc headlights from a GB here..
so.. this DIY marked a "FAIL"~
well.. overall.. i guess i just sucked in hand-made sheit..
if you buy me some plastic models to build/paint..
i rather get one which is nicely done already from a store..
both not satisfied..
even with pretty striaght-forward guides provided.. sigh..
1. Removin' emblems ("H" & "CIVIC") at rear..
The removal process was good with no scratches..
but when removin' the residues (glue) had damaged ma biatch..
i rubbed it too hard with Goo-Gone and took away some paint..
not obvious.. only when look closely.. still.. FAILED~
2. Black-housin' headlights..
All da procedures were successful until when i reached the 'sealing-back' part..
i thought i didn't put enough silicone to seal them back up..
so moistures tended to rape ma headlights during hot/humid days..
then.. i re-sealed them again with heavy dose of silicone this time..
but still.. my headlights fogged up inside with lot of condensations..
oh well.. now i am waitin' for a new pair of tyc headlights from a GB here..
so.. this DIY marked a "FAIL"~
well.. overall.. i guess i just sucked in hand-made sheit..
if you buy me some plastic models to build/paint..
i rather get one which is nicely done already from a store..
while working on electricals (installing power windows and doorlocks), I accidentally drained my car battery. My allarm went off and I couldn't get it to stop because it was too weak to pickup the remote's signal but yet it had enough power to whine and bitch. I disconnected the battery and jump started it with a portable jumper and turned off the alarm. I tried to recharge by driving, but my battery was shot. I went and bought a better battery from Autozone.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 74
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From: Kansas City, MO
Rep Power: 0 My only automotive screw up was when I tightened a bolt too much and broke the screw. I did it while switching out my tail lights. The trunk doesn't leak or anything so it's okay with me.
Off topic in terms of auto DIY mistakes another screwed DIY was of the computer type. I was putting a new fan on my computer's processor and ended up shaving an edge off of the processor's core. The processor was effectively killed.
Off topic in terms of auto DIY mistakes another screwed DIY was of the computer type. I was putting a new fan on my computer's processor and ended up shaving an edge off of the processor's core. The processor was effectively killed.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,501
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Rep Power: 297 making door sills!!!
the make of door sill part is fine but I use duplicolor chrome paint to coat it later on.
the paint is a total ****!! after it dries, it will be soft and anything can leave permanant mark on it!!
do not use chrome paint!! be careful!
the make of door sill part is fine but I use duplicolor chrome paint to coat it later on.
the paint is a total ****!! after it dries, it will be soft and anything can leave permanant mark on it!!
do not use chrome paint!! be careful!
Reppin Stage 7
when you're doing headlights don't scrape off the black tar stuff honda put on and do new silicone ... just use that black stuff. It se seals itself pertfectly. I've done mine a couple times with that exact same black stuff and I never have a single problem
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,101
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 when painting my interior trim pieces... i was doing the piece on the driver door handle and when you take it out, there is this spring and it fell into the door... i had to take off the whole door panel and remove the factory sound deadening material to get it and broke a plastic piece on the door lock...
so now everytime i turn my radio up a bit my driver side door rattles... also, when i start my car, the door locks even if its open (its not supposed to lock if the door is open) and i locked myself out one time with the car running...
so now everytime i turn my radio up a bit my driver side door rattles... also, when i start my car, the door locks even if its open (its not supposed to lock if the door is open) and i locked myself out one time with the car running...
A descendant of 2k1civic.com
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 5,619
Likes: 3
From: Nebraska
Rep Power: 360 
Well. . When i was clearing my headlights, I touched the chrome. . Took off a spot of the chrome when I tried to clean it. Plus. I got the black crap that it was sealed with all over. ..
Then, if that wasn't enough I scratched my rear bumper when I removed my emblems. . grrrr..
Then, yes there is more. . I broke some plastic peices when I removed my panels. .
Oh well. . you learn from your mistakes. I'll never jack those up again.
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iTrader: (4)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 0
From: 562/909, California, US
Rep Power: 0 scratch my window tint when i took my front chair out to setup my audio
I dent and scratch my left fender when installing Neuspeed Front Upper
i cracked my OEM filter Box when i want to clean up my K&N
replacement filter now i use RacerDesign Intake
I dent and scratch my left fender when installing Neuspeed Front Upper
i cracked my OEM filter Box when i want to clean up my K&N
replacement filter
now i use RacerDesign Intake 
I sure wish my car was newer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,448
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis, Mo
Rep Power: 365 I never had a problem. Well, I broke a few clips when I was putting my altezza grille on. I had my dad run to the store, and after he left, I realized I didn't need them. That's the worst that ever happened.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 253
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From: , Georgia, US
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by JumpingBean
Well When I was changing my rear brakes I had a pair of neednose pliers pulling on one of the springs....and pulling toward me(like a dumbass) to release the tension. Well they slipped off the spring and i managed to stab myself on the inside of my nose almost completely going through my septum(that part that separates your nostrils) Talk about ouch. Nearly knocked my *** out and bled like a b*tch.
Well When I was changing my rear brakes I had a pair of neednose pliers pulling on one of the springs....and pulling toward me(like a dumbass) to release the tension. Well they slipped off the spring and i managed to stab myself on the inside of my nose almost completely going through my septum(that part that separates your nostrils) Talk about ouch. Nearly knocked my *** out and bled like a b*tch.
i painted my trim pieces with an enamel...then used a laquer clearcoat....not good. They were all white and wrinkly and ****. Had to rub them hard as *** with MEK to get it off. Definitely bought some ENAMEL clearcoat after that. They look pretty good now though.
when I tried to put my center console back in after installing mydeck, (it was dark) I kept feeling resistance and just thought I was doing it at a wrong angle. Well, I finished it later that evening, and when I woke up the next morning, the soft trim stuff under the ac/radio plastic part had scratches and gashes in it...
I was trimming my bumper today for an intercooler. The exacto knife slipped and sliced my finger BIG TIME. I bled all over my bumper and almost passed out. Then I went, got stitches and mcdonalds. Came home and finished my install 
.
. I bled all over my bumper and almost passed out. Then I went, got stitches and mcdonalds. Came home and finished my install . 
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iTrader: (13)
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,176
Likes: 3
From: Miami (Pembroke Pines), Florida
Rep Power: 453 after I got done installing my injen race division cold air intake, I put my battery on backwards and put the positive cable on the negative and the negative cable on the positive, blew about half my fuses.
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iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,739
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From: Orange County, CA
Rep Power: 0 fixing my shocks, because they were turned backwards its not a DIY but I really fvcked up my car, I jacked it up in the wrong place, right underneith the radiator and I bend the core support, lifted up my hood like 1 foot and I had to hammer it back down, now my hood moves and wiggles, its not that noticeble only when you look at it closely. Oh and I lost a bolt while I was at it, I only have 1 bolt holding the shock/strut down in the rear right of the car.
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iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,868
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From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Rep Power: 348 when putting my black painted lense of my headlight back into the clear outer housing, I got some black sealent on the black paint.....had to sand down and paint again
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,501
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Rep Power: 297 hehe
Originally posted by jwalker87
i painted my trim pieces with an enamel...then used a laquer clearcoat....not good. They were all white and wrinkly and ****. Had to rub them hard as *** with MEK to get it off. Definitely bought some ENAMEL clearcoat after that. They look pretty good now though.
i painted my trim pieces with an enamel...then used a laquer clearcoat....not good. They were all white and wrinkly and ****. Had to rub them hard as *** with MEK to get it off. Definitely bought some ENAMEL clearcoat after that. They look pretty good now though.
I thought I posted way too many repost about painting on plastics.
in one post I said never do what you did...hehe guess you didn't have chance to see my verious repost about paining on plastic in general? ^_^
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iTrader: (6)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,754
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From: chicago, Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 305 i was putting on a injen sri. i accidently forgot to angle one of the clamps that hold down the plastic sleeves to the throttle body. when i started my car and tried to back up the accelerator was stuck so i pushed down hard on it. next thing you know, the throttle body was stuck at WOT the rpm needle bounces like 6 times. i freaked out and turned off the car... damnit
Using wd-40 on my chrome headlight , just a little spot had some glue, ate right through the crome. This was a brand new 200 buck headlight.
Pissed me off cause it was posted on here that it worked.
Jeff
Pissed me off cause it was posted on here that it worked.
Jeff
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21,620
Likes: 1,252
From: Las Vegas, NV
Rep Power: 512 went to go jump start my friend's car, hooked up the right ones to his battery terminal, but put the neg on positive on mine, and when i tried to put on the positive one on my car, sparks were flying... good thing i didnt blow any fuses or anything doing that..
oh, and this was after i was explaining on how to jump a car to my friend...
oh, and this was after i was explaining on how to jump a car to my friend...
