Miata List Archive

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Mail From: berck (Berck E. Nash)

Anyone else run around for a couple hundred miles with an 8mm wrench sitting
on the clutch slave cylinder bleeder valve? Twice? Didn't think so. I
swear, I could get some sort of award for all the stupid mistakes I've
pulled. you know, forgetting to tighten belts... forgetting to tighten LUG
NUTS... knocking a car off jackstands... Perhaps I should just stay paying
someone else to do stuff for me:) Nah, wouldn't be as exciting.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: bonni (Bonni Weatherwax)

You know that little space between your windshield and the engine bay? I
use that little shelf for my tools. I left a wrench in there once -- while
at the racetrack. Hehe. Thank God it didn't find it's way into the bay. I
also have the reputation of leaving the hood unlatched -- on the track.
ARGH. So if you ever see me out there -- be sure and check my dang hood for
me. This stuff might not be as bad as your DIY, whatever that is, but at
least I might have made ya feel better. Oh -- ever left a socket on a lug
nut? Me either. ;o)

BW

----- Original Message -----
From: "Berck E. Nash" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 2:09 PM
Subject: [Miata] the dunce of DIY'ers?


> charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Anyone else run around for a couple hundred miles with an 8mm wrench
sitting
> on the clutch slave cylinder bleeder valve? Twice? Didn't think so. I
> swear, I could get some sort of award for all the stupid mistakes I've
> pulled. you know, forgetting to tighten belts... forgetting to tighten
LUG
> NUTS... knocking a car off jackstands... Perhaps I should just stay
paying
> someone else to do stuff for me:) Nah, wouldn't be as exciting.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: nramsey (nramsey)

Humm, the things I can remember:
-Forgetting to tighten lug nuts
-Forgetting to install brake pads the correct direction (IE I
installed the inside pad on the right front backwards and DROVE the
car...ruined the rotor)
-Forgetting to plug the AFM back in when working on intake
-Forgetting to install paper gaskets on top of front shocks
-Leaving tools in the "valley" on the valve cover for 200 miles
(suprised they didn't go flying!)
-Forgetting to connect the plug behind the light/hazard switch in the
center console (several times) before completely assembling center
console
-Forgetting to tighten coolant hose behind block when replacing
coolant temp sensor gasket
-Forgetting to remove tools from the plastic tray by the wipers
before attempting to close hood (luck it didn't bend or break
anything)
-Forgetting to lower wipers which I had placed in the raised position
before opening the hood (luck it didn't scratch any paint!)

And that's just what I can remember off the top of my head. Guess
it's a right of passage for DIYers...almost like honor badges for
boyscouts or whatever :)

Nate


---- Original Message ----
From: (email redacted)
To: (email redacted)
Subject: RE: [Miata] the dunce of DIY'ers?
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2001 17:09:40 -0500

>Anyone else run around for a couple hundred miles with an 8mm wrench
>sitting
>on the clutch slave cylinder bleeder valve? Twice? Didn't think
>so. I
>swear, I could get some sort of award for all the stupid mistakes
>I've
>pulled. you know, forgetting to tighten belts... forgetting to
>tighten LUG
>NUTS... knocking a car off jackstands... Perhaps I should just stay
>paying
>someone else to do stuff for me:) Nah, wouldn't be as exciting.
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Miata mailing list
>(email redacted)
>realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Jon Etkins" <eccles (Jon Etkins)

On Tue, 4 Dec 2001 14:40:05 -0800, Bonni Weatherwax wrote:

>You know that little space between your windshield and the engine bay? I
>use that little shelf for my tools. I left a wrench in there once -- while
>at the racetrack. Hehe. Thank God it didn't find it's way into the bay. I
>also have the reputation of leaving the hood unlatched -- on the track.
>ARGH. So if you ever see me out there -- be sure and check my dang hood for
>me. This stuff might not be as bad as your DIY, whatever that is, but at
>least I might have made ya feel better. Oh -- ever left a socket on a lug
>nut? Me either. ;o)

I once drove several race laps with a full 20-litre jerry can of gas in the
trunk of my RX-3. It was about 3am during a 24-hour relay event, and I had
gassed up the car and the can on the way back to the track from our motel
room after grabbing a couple of hours' shuteye. When I got to the track,
the team manager rushed me to the dummy grid to fill in for one of our
other members who's car had broken, and I completely forgot about the can
until I went through turns one and two and heard/felt a
slide-thump-slide-thump from the rear. I immediately signalled the crew
that I needed to come back in NOW, but had to stay out for a couple of laps
until they got the next car ready to roll.

Needless to say, I reduced my pace and paid very close attention for the
first signs of any gas fumes during those few laps. Happily, the can
survived intact and the fuel stayed away from the hot rotary exhaust.
Earned me the nickname "Jerry" for a few weeks. :D

Cheers,
Jon Etkins
Miata 10AE #1407 BS38 "BLU TOY" (His)
'95 M Edition TBS88 "KITJER" (Hers)
Texas Spokes & Tejas Miata clubs

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: berck (Berck E. Nash)

> -Forgetting to tighten lug nuts

So I'm not the only one.

> -Forgetting to install brake pads the correct direction (IE I
> installed the inside pad on the right front backwards and DROVE the
> car...ruined the rotor)

Wow, I don't feel so bad now!

> -Forgetting to plug the AFM back in when working on intake

Done that.

> -Forgetting to install paper gaskets on top of front shocks

Never done a shock install, must keep this in mind.

> -Leaving tools in the "valley" on the valve cover for 200 miles
> (suprised they didn't go flying!)

Oh yeah, done that..

> -Forgetting to connect the plug behind the light/hazard switch in the
> center console (several times) before completely assembling center
> console

Oh, I'm so good at that one, I quit reinstalling the screws behind the air
vents... So much easier to take apart.

> -Forgetting to tighten coolant hose behind block when replacing
> coolant temp sensor gasket

Did that on the lower radiator hose.

> -Forgetting to lower wipers which I had placed in the raised position
> before opening the hood (luck it didn't scratch any paint!)

That's an easy one... I can think of quite a few times I've done that one.
Raise wipers to clean windshield at gas station. Raise hood to check oil.
DOH!

Once left a socket on the fuse box and closed the hood.. Got a nice
dent/crack in the cover of the box now, but luckily the hood seems fine.

> And that's just what I can remember off the top of my head. Guess
> it's a right of passage for DIYers...almost like honor badges for
> boyscouts or whatever :)

Excellent way of looking at it! I like that...

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: keith (Keith Tanner)

> > -Forgetting to install paper gaskets on top of front shocks
>
>Never done a shock install, must keep this in mind.

Don't worry about it. I've never experienced a bad side effect from not
having them.

Keith

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: mhagerla (Michael Hagerla)

How about flying down the straightaway at Laguna Seca, with faster traffic
coming up the rear and suddenly a rag that was logded under your pax seat
whips out of the open convertible top- DOH! What was that? I know
NU-THING!!!

I got another one, and this one is a doozy, but it's not about me. I was
running with the GG Lotus club at TH last year, with my brand spanking new
BMW. I was in the slower group and was constantly on this beautiful Lotus
Elise's rear bumper in every turn(lamo driver- breaking WAY too much and
taking an absurd line), but he his pwr/weight ration must have been same as
me because he would not let me pass. This moron did this for a full lap. I
almost passed him on the straight- I gave him plenty of room on T14 and
hammered it through T15, but we were side by side heading into T1 and the
stupid guy thought he was in a race- would not let me pass. So, I let off
and while cussing under my breath I laid back and decided to pull into the
pits on the next lap so I could get some distance between us, but on the
back straight, right after the S's my entire front end got sprayed with a
clear fluid. I immediately got off his line and pulled into the paddock
area to rinse off what I thought was just radiator fluid. I did so, then
hopped back on track and got a couple more laps in(after telling the flag
marshall what a moron that guy was and that he was spraying the track with
water). Anyhow, after the session ended I pulled in the paddock next to
"speed racer" and unloaded on the guy. The funny thing was he was decked
out in a full race suit, gloves, and shoes- what a moron. Now to the point
of the story- about 10 minutes later he walks over to me and says "the fluid
that I sprayed on your car was battery acid. My BAT-RY broke cuz I forgot
to tie it down before coming up here and now I have to go buy a new one."

At least he told me, but holy crap I wanted to punch this guy in the neck.

-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted) [mailto:(email redacted)]On Behalf
Of Berck E. Nash
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 3:18 PM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: Re: [Miata] the dunce of DIY'ers?


charset="iso-8859-1"

> -Forgetting to tighten lug nuts

So I'm not the only one.

> -Forgetting to install brake pads the correct direction (IE I
> installed the inside pad on the right front backwards and DROVE the
> car...ruined the rotor)

Wow, I don't feel so bad now!

> -Forgetting to plug the AFM back in when working on intake

Done that.

> -Forgetting to install paper gaskets on top of front shocks

Never done a shock install, must keep this in mind.

> -Leaving tools in the "valley" on the valve cover for 200 miles
> (suprised they didn't go flying!)

Oh yeah, done that..

> -Forgetting to connect the plug behind the light/hazard switch in the
> center console (several times) before completely assembling center
> console

Oh, I'm so good at that one, I quit reinstalling the screws behind the air
vents... So much easier to take apart.

> -Forgetting to tighten coolant hose behind block when replacing
> coolant temp sensor gasket

Did that on the lower radiator hose.

> -Forgetting to lower wipers which I had placed in the raised position
> before opening the hood (luck it didn't scratch any paint!)

That's an easy one... I can think of quite a few times I've done that one.
Raise wipers to clean windshield at gas station. Raise hood to check oil.
DOH!

Once left a socket on the fuse box and closed the hood.. Got a nice
dent/crack in the cover of the box now, but luckily the hood seems fine.

> And that's just what I can remember off the top of my head. Guess
> it's a right of passage for DIYers...almost like honor badges for
> boyscouts or whatever :)

Excellent way of looking at it! I like that...


_______________________________________________
Miata mailing list
(email redacted)
realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: VDeAngelis (Vinnie DeAngelis)

I've forgotten to put the oil filler cap back on after an oil change.
Makes you feel great--you meticulously make sure you don't spill a drop,
then start the engine and watch in horror as you slop oil EVERYWHERE!

At least I caught it quickly. I was given a car for free from my
father-in-law who did the same thing but drove it around until the
engine seized.

Vinnie

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Scot Zediker" <roadsterboy (Scot Zediker)

I once topped off the fluid in the clutch master cylinder and forgot to
replace the cap. Didn't find out until the following morning, when the tech
inspectors pointed it out to me!

I borrowed a cap off a guy running his car in CSP and completed the event.
I also learned that the master cylinder cap is one of those notorious
"dealer only" parts. Fortunately it isn't expensive.

Scot & the still-incapacitated Kate

----------------------------------------------------------------
We make attorneys affordable.
prepaidlegal.com/go/szediker
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vinnie DeAngelis" <(email redacted)>
To: "miata-list.miata.net" <(email redacted)>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 4:56 AM
Subject: RE: [Miata] the dunce of DIY'ers?charset="us-ascii"


> I've forgotten to put the oil filler cap back on after an oil change.
> Makes you feel great--you meticulously make sure you don't spill a drop,
> then start the engine and watch in horror as you slop oil EVERYWHERE!
>
> At least I caught it quickly. I was given a car for free from my
> father-in-law who did the same thing but drove it around until the
> engine seized.
>
> Vinnie
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata