Checkthe Obvious First

fregienewbee · Mar 24, 2009

I wouldn't make a pimple on a good mechanic's behind. I thought I had a radiator leak at the top near the goosneck. While cleaning the area before applying J.B.Weld,I looked at the hose clamp.Wondered if it might be loose.Tightened it up a couple of turns; problem solved.

Larry in Michigan

rrlund · Mar 24, 2009

Did the same thing yesterday with a hydraulic fitting on the loader. An albow with an O-ring fitting in the cylinder to pipe thread on the hose. Leaking bad. I went and took one off another cylinder since I didn't have another new one and didn't want to go get one. Went to take the one off the loader and it was loose. Tightened it up,and that was all there was to that. Except putting the other one back on the cylinder I took it off of.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2009

Put a timing chain and sprockets in a 1971 Chevy 350 pickup. When I got done, it ran the same. (miss/backfire, etc.) Then I put on a dist. cap and rotor, ran great..

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2009

A week ago last Sunday, I went out and put the battery back in my Case S and filled the tank with gas. hit the starter and it fired right up but died after less than a minute. After having this happen 3 or 4 time I looked to see if the gas was turned on and, lo and behold, it was not.

Bill Shafer · Mar 24, 2009

I changed the battery in my truck. Would not start. Got out the meter to check voltage. Saw plastic cap still on negative post.

noncompos · Mar 24, 2009

Noticed dash lights flickering at idle on the Saturn; 60k+ miles, figured alternator going (they had alternator problems). Decided to run it till it quits (live in city, have AAA).
After couple weeks headlights lightly flickering; went out one morning, battery dead: just knew alternator went out, drained battery overnight.
Went to put charger on side post battery to get it to shop: BATTERY CABLE LOOSE!! Tightened it, everything perfect! (Wonder I didn't ruin the alternator!).
Talk about feeling stupid...

Jim in Ma. · Mar 24, 2009

Don't feel bad - I did that too. The cap was silver colored. I'm just glad no one was looking over my shoulder LOL

Dave H. (CO) · Mar 24, 2009

Replaced the main bearings on a 1966 cadillac because it was knocking. Turned out the flywheel bolts were loose.

Replaced a starter on 2 different cars when all it needed was a new battery.

Mike (WA) · Mar 24, 2009

1. If diesel fuel is getting into your crankcase, check the lift pump first, before taking off the injector pump.

2. If your gas tractor requires choke to run, check for an inlet filter on the carb (and clean it) before removing carb, and discovering that filter when you take it apart to rebuild.

As always in these threads, "Don't ask me how I know."

Two Dogs · Mar 24, 2009

I ran dozens of quarts of oil through a 350 Nova because I didn't want to replace the rear crank seal. When I finally did decide to I removed the bottom of the bell housing and found everything inside dry. So I wisely replaced the leaking oil sending unit above instead. TDF

patiolant · Mar 24, 2009

Replaced the thermostat on our overheating Cavalier. Didn't fix the problem. New water pump, took radiator out and cleaned throughly, bypassed heater core in case that was the problem, pressure tested cooling system. Still overheating. Was convinced it must be a head gasket leak or head crack. Last ditch attempt was taking the thermostat back out and then it ran just fine. Turned out they sold me a 195 degree thermostat instead of the 180 degree. What a waste of time on a problem where my original diagnosis was the correct one. If only I had checked the number on the thermostat before putting it in!

RAW in IA · Mar 24, 2009

I thought everyone used 195 deg. thermostats anymore. Engines runing too cool don't run as clean or as long as a hotter running one, as long as they are not boiling the coolant away.

Dutchman · Mar 24, 2009

Replace the starter , outside in thirty degree weather in my Suburban ... Still didn't start.. BAD Battery..
Live and Learn...
Mark

noncompos · Mar 24, 2009

Geez, the wrong thermostat reminded me...30+ yrs ago, slowly overheating little Fairlane...did EVERYTHING, incl pulling rad, water pump, new belts, stat, finally decided must have bad water dist tube.
Took rad cap off to drain rad to pull again, dropped cap on street---rust flakes fell out!!! Cap looked fine but had rusted enough was losing pressure.
New pressure cap: problem solved.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2009

Did the exact same thing, thought the battery on my H was good, replaced the starter. Still nothing, replaced the battery and off she went.
Live and learn, at least know the starter should be good for another 60 years.

Fawteen · Mar 24, 2009

Now THAT'S a good one!

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2009

To fix the obvious first would go against all the laws of mankind! that fix should have took you at least three days,four skinned knuckles,two six packs,and at least two days of working till 3 in the morning.I SWEAR some folks just cant get this mechanicin down!I could tell you about my $600 condenser but I wont show you up in front of these guys..LOL.. just be glad it was that simple!

fixerupper · Mar 24, 2009

'98 Dodge Cummins overheated in the middle of the Saskatchewan prairie. Two of us were running together so we parked the Dodge in an abandoned farm place and took the other pickup 75 miles to get a waterpump. Next morn went back to the Dodge, replaced the water pump and it still overheated, so I took out the stuck thremostat and away we went. If I would have pulled the thermostat in the first place we might have lost a half hour max., just enough time to stretch our legs a bit. Jim

730 virgil · Mar 24, 2009

tall kid and i were trying to pull a tractor to get it started no go. finally tall kid said dad did you turn the gas on? no.
after turning gas on it started in 10 feet

patiolant · Mar 25, 2009

(quoted from post at 14:30:14 03/24/09) I thought everyone used 195 deg. thermostats anymore. Engines runing too cool don't run as clean or as long as a hotter running one, as long as they are not boiling the coolant away.

Nope. This is a '96 cavalier with the 2.2 litre. Anyone I have ever heard of who runs one with a 195 degree thermostat has nothing but problems. The 180 was original equipment. I imagine the newer ones use a 195.

Checkthe Obvious First

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