How often do your "small,quick" fixes turn into a massive, expensive headache?
Posted by Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 65 comments
Hoping someone can make me feel a little better, or even a little worse about this, but it seems to happen more often than I'd like to admit. I somehow always manage to turn an extremely simple fix into a rabbit hole and I'm wondering if it's just me. The most recent one is swapping out a tiny, 10 dollar bushing on a clutch pedal spring. The bushing was 8 bucks or so, and the interwebs told me it takes about 15 minutes to change.....
Well that didn't happen. It's still not even finished a month later. Not only did I have to remove the entire pedal assembly from the car, I ended up breaking the bushing 4 separate times I believe, which led to going back to the dealer each time for a special order(doubled up the last trip), then had to buy a new spring, new pedal,new hardware and having an absolutely impossible time getting everything put back together. As I type this, the clutch pedal assembly is sitting on a table waiting for a new, different bushing so I can install it and hopefully install the assembly back in the car. My 15 minutes and 10 dollars has turned into about a month and almost 200 dollars.
I definitely don't claim to be the handiest guy, but I wonder if this is a unique problem to me, or just the nature of fixing a car.
lillpers@reddit
"I need to clean or replace my PCV system"
"Hmmm, the intake needs to come out"
"Hmmm, I should really clean out the engine bay while I have all this access"
"Hmmm, the transmission is really accessible now. And I always wanted to manual swap this thing"
It's been on jackstanda for 4 years now
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
I think I've had an identical thought process.
tacobellmysterymeat@reddit
When I find the real cause instead of the symptom...
Flushing-Frank@reddit
Almost every quick fix or minor adjustment turns into an all day issue. I can’t tell you how many times that has happened.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
I'm glad I'm not alone
Flushing-Frank@reddit
Nope you are one of millions of us.
MDTashley@reddit
I've had a few, but my poor mate seems to have this endlessly. A spark plug change turned into 4 spark plugs snapped off into the head and a 8 week saga and hundreds of dollars to remove em.
Big_Gouf@reddit
1967 mustang with a 1970 302 swapped in at some point. Ran great when I bought the car, started to get a vacuum leak soon after. Found out the intake manifold bolts were stripped out in the heads. During that fix we found 6 bent pushrods, and that it was equipped with low compression truck heads. Then we realized the ignition was wired to catch fire, chased it back under the dash to a rats nest of wiring work.
Fast forward a year later. Half the interior is out, the engine is stripped down to the short block, new bumper-to bumper wiring harness kit, and then the "might as well" bug kicked in. So the brakes are getting swapped to power disc fronts. Oh! And the c4 transmission has puked out all fluid from sitting.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Nice
AlabamaPanda777@reddit
Tomorrow I'll be picking up a hydraulic press to try and get the old wheel hub removed from my girl's Ford Taurus.
I was so sure it'd be a quick change, I've done wheel hubs plenty of times and maybe set my personal record time doing one on this same vehicle.
But PB Blaster, prybar, PB Blaster, hammering, PB Blaster, whacking with the back end of a splitting maw, PB Blaster, and wrapping a tow strap around this thing and some light tugs from my car, all failed to get the hub unseated.
I think the knuckle and hub are different metals and fuse as they corrode. I think her wheels did the same some years ago, before I knew the importance of hammers in mechanic work.
Before giving up on the last attempt, I watched a YouTube video of someone trying to free a hub stuck the same way. I watched them try a torch, putting a bolt through the hub, a slide hammer... Those failed and they had to resort to taking the knuckle out and putting it in a press. And commented on the video how they could've saved time if they skipped the tricks and went straight for the press.
Figured my luck ain't gonna be better than theirs...
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Thanks. I've learned my lesson with anything to do with suspension or inside the engine, I just take it to a shop because I know what it would turn into otherwise
RuinAccomplished6681@reddit
Not doing it myself, but at the moment I am looking into having the exhaust manifold gasket replaced for my convertible. Gasket is like what, $10? But I know that there’s a broken stud in there, maybe more than one as well and that the previous owner chose to ghetto-fix it instead of putting a helicoil in with a new stud… so I’m pretty sure it will turn out that the head will need to be removed to mill out at least one stud…
And if we’re doing that anyway, why not have the head ported with bigger exhaust valves right?
…right? 🙈
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
I believe that's literally exactly how it goes.
Klo187@reddit
My plan the last time I worked on my project ute was to tidy up the wiring under the dash and install a viscous coupler for the engine fan, I ended up repainting the water pump pulley, buying a new battery, taking it for a test drive and absolutely thrashing it through some mud like it was the general lee, and I still didn’t fix the wiring under the dash.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
I love it.
spotdishotdish@reddit
Basically every time something strips out or seizes. Maybe 5% of maintenance and projects?
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Only 5? I'm probably right around 75%. Honestly.
FindingUsernamesSuck@reddit
Dude what are you working on?
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Stuff that isn't even complete junk, That's the worst part, so it's probably a lack of skill Currently it's a 3rd gen4Runner
qkdsm7@reddit
HAH. Now I see what it was on. Good grief, yeah toyota, WTF.
90% of the time I see some Toyota stuff apart and it seems really logical but this clutch pedal stuff. WOW......
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah... There are lots of videos on YouTube of how to change the design too.
qkdsm7@reddit
I had already pictured how I'd easily improve on this one... I'll have to go searching for what others have done.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Lots of 4runner guys use a brake ( I think) spring. Costa almost nothing is a 10 times easier fix, but I'm stubborn I guess. Although I don't know if the Scion uses the same stupid design.
qkdsm7@reddit
Looked at the photos---- it's 99% the same design.
There was a scary amount of metal filings stuck to any grease that was further down on my clutch pedal arm. All came from the end of the pedal where it is grinding on the coil spring.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
That's why I had to buy a new pedal. The metal "arm" was so worn that it was breaking every single new bushing. I put in almost instantly.
grease_monkey@reddit
I might not be the typical /r/projectcar guy but I'm a mechanic by profession so I've got a pretty got idea of the services and work I'm going to do. When I go in to do a repair, I just do everything. Doing timing belt and water pump? Cooling system is empty, time to replace all the hoses. Got my fuel tank cleaned out? Let's do a fuel overhaul and replace all hoses and injectors. Installing new coilovers, it's suspension weekend, replace everything. I do like one system a year. Exhaust is this year. Diff and transmission rebuild is next then I'm pretty much done. Until it does the project car thing and we start all over lol
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
So you literally just have every part, and possible part pee job beforehand? That's not sarcasm btw.
grease_monkey@reddit
I do an inspection and shake down at the start of every season but yeah, pretty much. We restore old VWs at my shop and the full blown approach is what works best for us and our customers. It can be a big up front expense but it prevents a lot of chasing your tail around trying to solve problems. I'm up north so the car is stored all winter, during which I'll source everything for whatever system I wanted to work on. It helps my brain to spend the money in winter and by the time summer rolls around, hey, free parts!
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
That makes sense. And since you already know which clips and other annoying small parts you'll need, you're able to pre order them.
WildKarrdesEmporium@reddit
Every single time.
TheCubanBaron@reddit
The story of my whole ass project. The initial idea was to just drop an engine in that hoe. Now 6 months later we're preparing a bodykit with a completely custom front and rear suspension.
Hapenyo12@reddit
Almost every time for me it's character building
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Anger inducing too though
Hapenyo12@reddit
The anger will build your patience for further endeavours
Nathan_reynolds@reddit
Wait your implying there are times when your "quick fixes" dont turn into bigger problems
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
True, unfortunately
Hey_Allen@reddit
A leaky steering rack just turned into a new rack, power steering hoses, tie rod ends, ball joints, sway bar end links brakes and a wheel bearing.
I thought I was just going to be changing a set of steering rack boots...
Whitworth_73@reddit
I love a good case of “while you’re in there you might as well fix…”
Hey_Allen@reddit
In this case, it turned into finding a lot of stuff prior owners had neglected.
I still have a set of shocks to install as well, that haven't gotten that far yet.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
This exact thing happened to me probably 6 years ago while fixing my ex's car I think I ended up putting new front brakes on as well.
fmlyjwls@reddit
Might as well while I’m here….
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Exactly! $$. I always tell if I don't want to have to come back and do it again
qkdsm7@reddit
What car was the clutch pedal meyhem on? Pulled it all down from our scion tC last weekend to see what it needed for bushings and... WTF was Toyota thinking.....
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
2000 4Runner. I think they admitted that they made a very poor design on that clutch spring, And have upgraded it since then. The best part is, I could have changed it to a normal spring for around 20 bucks and it would have been a hundred times easier. But I was trying to say OEM. The bushing will probably wear out in a year anyway
Reddit_reader_2206@reddit
I still have the very first car I ever bought back in highschool. It's a project car now... someday it will be a finished time-attack car. It's not that I am sentimental about my old car from 1991, it's that it has taken me 34 years to get it 65% done.
No-Enthusiasm3579@reddit
All the time, thats wrenching, 2 years ago my old truck was stumbing bad occasionally on acceleration, so I pull the carb, do a rebuild on it, in the process of tossing it back on I dropped a washer down the intake and didn't realize, got it started..... tick...... tick........ tick. Tick tick tick. Ended up having to take the top end apart, pull a head, fish the smashed washer out, lap the valves, got lucky no damage, new head gasket, toss it all back together. Runs pretty good now for a 53 year old truck
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Luckily if I have to take anything major out of the engine I take it to a shop because I know this would be me every single time and I would probably have to replace a few engines.
petflunky@reddit
Oh lord. I did this when I was a teenager. I was flipping the air cleaner lid over, and dropped a washer down the carb. I couldn't see it, so I hoped I misses. Nope. Had to get a new engine. Lessons learned, LOL
RBuilds916@reddit
https://youtu.be/AbSehcT19u0?si=2PJsbIpycN3mEHOR
This seems to be how things go for me.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Legit lol at the engine hoist And that is honestly way too close to home . That's almost exactly how it goes for me.
Whitworth_73@reddit
I just needed to move my car out of the driveway to get the tree trimmed. Admittedly, it's sat a while. On the way to firing it up, I discovered problems that lead to a new starter, new fuel line, a new carburettor, and rebuilding the power steering. Knocked all of that out no problem. Once I got it fired up I discovered I needed new valve covers due to corrosion. Got those sealed up and then I made the mistake of thinking I'd just slap a new set of exhaust gaskets on to fix those exhaust leaks. LOL, Well that didn't work out too good...a bunch of bolts snapped. Been staring at it a month and a half, trying different things out, no dice. Exhaust manifold is the final boss I hope! Tree will be trimmed next year.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
I love it, honestly. I snapped a few exhaust manifold bolts on a Jeep, broken off nice and deep inside too. That one was fun. The initial project was also changing a valve cover gasket
pw76360@reddit
I once blew rhe headgaskets in my subaru, and spent the next 15 years and about $50k swapping several diffenent motors, drivetrains, and at least 3 ecus in it....
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Lol. Luckily if it's anything involved I just take it to a shop. Otherwise my cars would never ever run
FindingUsernamesSuck@reddit
Enough over the years to put some fear in me, that's for sure. I make sure to keep at least half a day open when working on my car in case things go sideways.
Snapped a bolt on an aftermarket rear lower control arm at my buddy's farm in BFN. 4 hour job turned into 5 days of part hunting.
Clutch master cylinder: the clutch line was attached in an unusual way and there was a wrench flat where apparently I wasn't supposed to turn a wrench. Another few days of rabid part hunting. I learned it's easy to pop a clutch fork loose, less easy to diagnose it and drop the transmission to pop it back in place.
Halfway through a timing belt job, I discovered my car's engine had a balance shaft system. It was an unbalance shaft system for a few days. I went through more than one socket trying to remove that crank pulley bolt.
I once put a jack stand on the gas tank. I've got at least 4 excuses for that one. Technically this one wasnt a headache cause I was too dumb to realize what I'd done. Just dented the tank though, no puncture fortunately.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Nice. Pretty much sounds like something I would do, each and every time I even open the hood.
hazard2k@reddit
Job: replace the interior carpet on my 85 Monte Carlo SS
So.. yeah. I guess that lol
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Outstanding. This is me, But pretty much break every single clip along the way and have to buy those.
unclestasiu@reddit
Every. Fucking. Time. Once, changing the oil end up with a new distributor and plug wires.
RiftHunter4@reddit
I haven't had this happen yet for my car, but I know it happens in my other projects. I feel like it gets a little better with experience but only in the sense that you at least see the disaster coming lol. Like I'll break something but already have a backup in case.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
True, I've done a few projects and usually I'll try to "prep" by checking what's likely to break when I remove it. It definitely didn't work this time though
trailrun1980@reddit
I mean, I feel like historically, 25% of my projects go way long.
Sometimes my fault (skill or stupid), sometimes the car (rust or other), sometimes poor planing and waiting for more stuff
I no longer say "it's just a 15 minute quickie".....
Themissing10@reddit
I was just replacing the clutch man.
Ok-Rabbit-3335@reddit (OP)
Story of my life
rudbri93@reddit
yea some projects just seem to be cursed. sometimes it takes walking away for a bit, and they can still be a bitch to finish.