Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - What the dumbest car repair mistake you've made?

NoSoup · 06-25-2004, 11:18 AM

I owned a 1988 Chrystler LeBaron for a period when I was 17ish.
I figured there was something wrong when power steering fluid was quite literally spewing out of the bottom of my car.

Now, at the time, I don't think I had even changed my oil, but a friend of mine told me that it was likely that it was the rack & pinion. I call around and get some estimates, and it is in the $1500+ range, and it's only $180 for the actual part. I figure, ah, screw it, I'll fix the damn thing myself....

I bought this book that explained how to replace it on that type of car. Two weeks later, probably working 40+ hours a week on that damn car, I finally got everything back together and working. The biggest pain in the ass was lowering the bottom with the jack, and every time I lowered it, I lowered it too far and the "D" shaped joint got disconnected from the steering column. The most frustrating part was trying to align it correctly and jack the damn thing back up without it slipping.

Anyway, the dumbest mistake that I made was trying to fix that damn thing...

06-25-2004, 11:18 AM	#84 (permalink)
NoSoup Non-Rookie Location: Green Bay, WI	I owned a 1988 Chrystler LeBaron for a period when I was 17ish. I figured there was something wrong when power steering fluid was quite literally spewing out of the bottom of my car. Now, at the time, I don't think I had even changed my oil, but a friend of mine told me that it was likely that it was the rack & pinion. I call around and get some estimates, and it is in the $1500+ range, and it's only $180 for the actual part. I figure, ah, screw it, I'll fix the damn thing myself.... I bought this book that explained how to replace it on that type of car. Two weeks later, probably working 40+ hours a week on that damn car, I finally got everything back together and working. The biggest pain in the ass was lowering the bottom with the jack, and every time I lowered it, I lowered it too far and the "D" shaped joint got disconnected from the steering column. The most frustrating part was trying to align it correctly and jack the damn thing back up without it slipping. Anyway, the dumbest mistake that I made was trying to fix that damn thing... __________________ I have an aura of reliability and good judgement. Just in case you were wondering...