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

FastShark85 · 08-21-2003, 07:04 AM

I'm sure the do-it-yourself-ers out there have all made some dumb mistakes....let's hear about them.

Mine has to be intentionally short-circuiting a timing belt tension warning light. When I was changing the timing belt on my 928, I noticed that the previous owner has spliced a wire in to keep the loose belt warning from occurring. I assumed that he must have done so because the warning light was faulty. The old belt wasn't loose.

I removed the short-circuit splice, finished installing the new belt, tensioned it, etc. Two days of driving and no warning lights. The third day the light came on. Being stupid, I figured there was no way the belt could be loose already since it was so recently-installed. I put the short-circuit wire back on.

After 2,500 miles, I decided to check the belt's tension. It was loose....really loose. For those that aren't familiar with Porsche 928s, they have intereference engines....the valves and pistons move in and out of the same physical space. So....a slipped or broken belt will pretty much destroy the engine......and I had been ignoring a legitimate warning.

The belt is properly tensioned again (it had stretched, which is normal), and the warning light is now operating properly.

Flirted with disaster there.

What bone-head moves have you guys made????

08-21-2003, 07:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
FastShark85 Psycho Location: In the garage, under the car.	What the dumbest car repair mistake you've made? I'm sure the do-it-yourself-ers out there have all made some dumb mistakes....let's hear about them. Mine has to be intentionally short-circuiting a timing belt tension warning light. When I was changing the timing belt on my 928, I noticed that the previous owner has spliced a wire in to keep the loose belt warning from occurring. I assumed that he must have done so because the warning light was faulty. The old belt wasn't loose. I removed the short-circuit splice, finished installing the new belt, tensioned it, etc. Two days of driving and no warning lights. The third day the light came on. Being stupid, I figured there was no way the belt could be loose already since it was so recently-installed. I put the short-circuit wire back on. After 2,500 miles, I decided to check the belt's tension. It was loose....really loose. For those that aren't familiar with Porsche 928s, they have intereference engines....the valves and pistons move in and out of the same physical space. So....a slipped or broken belt will pretty much destroy the engine......and I had been ignoring a legitimate warning. The belt is properly tensioned again (it had stretched, which is normal), and the warning light is now operating properly. Flirted with disaster there. What bone-head moves have you guys made????