A stupid day working behind the parts counter has given me this idea, post some dumb repair myths you have heard....such as:

"I took the battery cables off my car while it was running to test the alternator, the car died so that means it's bad right?" DUHHHH now it is! Voltage spikes shouldnt be covered under lifetime warranties.

"My car is overheating, so should I run straight anti-freeze?"
Go right ahead buddy.......

------------------
$$$$$$$$$$

 

I have a code 44 and I have put 3 oxygen sensors in it and it keeps coming back. Why do I keep getting bad O2 sensors???? Duh....

------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

[This message has been edited by GMTech (edited December 02, 2001).]

 

When you hook it up to the computer it tells you what wrong with it dont it?? luv that one. Makes it sound like all I do is hook it up and change whatever part it says.

 

"Modern computerized car need to 'sense' some exhaust backpressure to function properly. Not enough backpressure and the computer gets 'confused' and the car runs like crap." --told to me by someone who fixes multi-million dollar computers on CF-18's

Yup, guess I'll go down to the parts store tomorrow and get me one of them 'backpressure sensors'. Or maybe a computer with more education, so it don't get confused so easily.


"If you put uncooked rice in the combustion chamber it'll scrub the cylinder walls and combustion chamber clean." --- told to me by a repair shop owner

Might wanna hook a can up to the exhaust tip. That way you'll have some rice krispies when you get where you're going.

 

LOL @ rice Krispies. I want some too....



------------------
86',88',89' IROC-Z, 350 TPI, 700-R4

94' Formula, LT1, 6spd

 

Isn't this how the term rice burner came around? motorcycle guys putting rice in the engines to clean them (supposibly)?


------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 88IROCs:
[B]"Modern computerized car need to 'sense' some exhaust backpressure to function properly. Not enough backpressure and the computer gets 'confused' and the car runs like crap." --told to me by someone who fixes multi-million dollar computers on CF-18's[QUOTE]

Those F-18 computers are actually built with 70's technology so he's probably a little behind the times anyway.

------------------
85T/A 305/QJ work in progress.

 

So where does the voltage spike come from when disconnecting the battery? The voltage regulator will keep the alternator output at 14 volts.

Granted there are better ways to see if the alternator is charging (volt meter being the easiest, even the screwdriver on back of the alternator - magnetic field test).

 

you remove the power to the regulator when you disconnect the battery, therefore the voltage spikes before the alternator shuts down

 

I dont know about myths, but I can tell yall I still get a kick out of the lady at the gas station who bought 12 quarts of oil because after she dumped each one in she couldn't see it filling up yet, after the 12th and it was finally covering the rockers she was good to go!!!!



------------------
1985 Iroc-z, 14 second 305, new engine in the works.

 

I've seen that, and I saw a guy dump a few gallons of water in his engine on his BMW cause his coolant light came on and the oil cap was the only cap he could find. And he didn't stop till he could see it.

------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

 

Holy crap, and the same to the one above that.


------------------
2 Tickets to game= $250
Gas= $20
Sitting 20ft. from MJ= Priceless
'86 IROC T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK HEADERS Hooker CatBack
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

ROFLMAO! ~wipes tears from eyes~ This is just too funny. once in a blue moon it's nice to have some funny post
just be warned that a moderator might not be in a non-tech mood and so expect this to be closed

 

nah, our moderators here are way to nice

plus there is alot of tech stuff here
i learned where i should and shouldn't put water



------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

I don't know if this actually falls under repair myths but the other day a kid I was talking to told me about his '97 v6 firebirds'performance mod he did. He told me he is getting a good performance increase because he upped the idle screw on his car and now everytime he puts it in gear it just wants to take off! I told him that would do nothing for performance but he insisted it sounds so much meaner at idle! I've got another one . How about those that think tuning and cleaning a carb involves just getting an entire can of carb cleaner and spraying it in the carb . That should magically rejet the carb,adjust the mixture screws, repair torn gaskets,adjust the fuel bowls, and somehow lower or raise the secondary diaphragm spring tension.


------------------
383 86 Camaro Z28 ---1/4 mile e.t>12.89@108.8mph,,
10.5:1compression Dart Pro 1 Aluminum heads 215cc>2.05/1.60 valves,400 steel crank,cam specs:224/234 at 050 525/525 lift,3500 stall converter,shift kit,4.10 gears,770 Holley Avenger,Victor Jr. Intake,true dual exh,Hooker headers with 40 series Flowmasters,MSD Coil and Module.ALSO SECOND GEN Z28---mods:454 BBC,.546 max lift(doug herbert cam ) 750 Holley vac sec. ,Edelbrock Performer manifold,Holley electric fuel pump,Hooker headers,Flowmaster mufflers,beefed up 700r4 tranny, 3.90 gears, powertrax unit, B&M console shifter.

 

Repair shop janitor answering an elderly woman's question about her non-functioning turn signals:
"Add a little blinker fluid and that SHOULD do the trick."

 

If I ever get my 572 International running again, I'm going to take it to a Quickie Loob place for an oil change and see how long it takes 'em to figure out that the big SOB takes 18 qts. of Oil. Friggin truck motors

 

certain egr valves installed on general motors vehicles require positive backpressure to initiate operation. sometimes a reduction in backpressure can cause problems(ck.engine light and\or driveability)

------------------
1985 IROC Original Owner. Roller 406-4 bolt superram,p600b,1LE brakes,art carr,1 3/4 slp,blablabla-only 26k original miles and aint never been driven in the rain-swappin to SD as soon as burner gets here.

 

I used to work at AutoZone part-time. We had a guy come in 'cause his truck would not start. He had just bought a new Duralast Gold, and so was SURE that it was not the battery. So, he spent about 4 hours changing his starter. This was a BIG truck, like dump-truck size, not merely a full-size pickup. He had to carry out the starter in both hands 'cause it was so heavy. Anyway, after the 4 hours to replace the starter, the truck STILL would not start! So, one of the guys from the store goes out to take a look. Turns out, when the guy installed his new battery, he neglected to remove the little black terminal cover on the positive terminal. When he connected the battery, it melted onto the terminal! He was out there for another hour with a terminal cleaner scrubbing enough of it off to get a good connection!

 

Here's all that I can think of right now, its been a long day...

When I was talking to my girlfriends 14 year old brother who is now having a hard on over buying an integra:

"I'll do all of the performance mods to it, add a K&N and put an exhaust tip on, maybe a stripe. What did you do to your car?"

-=-Mike

------------------
1989 RS.. 355, Hypereutectic pistons, double roller cam, double roller timing chain, accel wires, blue streak cap and rotor, rapidfire plugs, chevy caprice 350 chip, 200* fan switch, 3 angle valve job, 3 inch cat-back exhaust, 3 core radiator, 3.73 gearing with POSI.

 

yes, i had that case on an old 86 chrysler labarron i had. back pressure transducer. i could tell ya all about that trying to get it fixed.



------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

Dont forget the unobtainium piston return springs.

Deffinatly an overlooked item.

------------------
1985 Iroc-z, 14 second 305, new engine in the works.

 

How bout the lady that ran a red light and nailed someone doing a U-turn then claimed it wasn't her fault, because the person wasn't using their U-turn signal.

I used to change oil and tires at Wal-Mart, and we'd get all sorts of idiots:
If you use synthetic you never have to change it again right?

My car burns oil so put an extra 4 qts in so I don't have to fill it again for a while?

My tire has a slow leak. Can you fix it? (Tire has 9" slash in the sidewall, golf ball sized hole in tread, or badly corded)

Many many more, but those were the best and sadly common.

------------------
Feel free to donate to the Matt Needs An Engine That Runs fund
82 Camaroead 350
TH350 tranny with 2500 stall, Eibach Pro Kit, SLP 1 3/4" headers with 3" Flowmaster exhaust

 

all u people with automotive related jobs are depressing me, stupid autozone not giving me a job yet

------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

Damn, I almost forgot. I gotta go fix my gay *** car with a NOPI sticker and a Akimoto Racing Sports liscense plate. That'll do the trick. Add some ponies too.
bsa

------------------
"If they do not run, Then they will die." - Stonewall Jackson
#3
'87 IROC, 355 TPI, Converted to SD, 700R4, B&M Megashifter, 3.42, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge Heads, Edelbrock Intake, Accel Runners, Comp Cam, Crane Gold rockers, Lucas 24# injectors, Edelbrock headers, Flowmaster 3'' exhaust, Mallory Ignition, Shift Kit, Corvette Servo, 2,000 Stall Torque Converter

1991 RS, 305 TBI, T-5, Bone stock daily driver.

 

I wanna be a mechanic that way i can give some tips lol, im only 16...grrrrr

Here is a great tech tip
DONT EVER BUY A CAMARO FROM A SPANISH MAN NAMED PEDRO THAT SELLS HOTDOGS FROM A TRUCK
I did and im screwed...=)

 

HA HA HA PEDRO.. I used to work in Kragen and I saw some good ones.. There was the time that a lady pulled up and her serpentine belt had snapped, her engine was still running. She asked how long she could drive it before THE BATTERY DIED.

Then there was the time that some guy came in a bought a gallon of blue windshield wash, popped his hood and poured it into his radiator and drove off.

The guy that bought twelve feet of flex pipe, a cat and a muffler and sat under his van in the parking lot installing it for four hours.

I had a friend tell me to bore my 305 so it was a 350 once. Funny thing is he was a very good mechanic and was serious about it.

The kid who wanted to change his oil to mobil 1 in his new mustang and bought six quarts of synthetic gear oil. "Need some limited slip additive? Huh? Oh, nothing."

 

i know this kid who thinks that boring out the camshaft will give you performance, and that 350 camaros and mustangs only run above 16 @ the track, and his friends blown cutlass could ony run low 15's, the sad thing is he is a mechanic, and cannot be told that he is wrong. he also told me that you needed a special machine to take out the cam, and always talks about boring the crank

------------------
90 RS 305 tbi, 4 3/4" cowl Hood, Edelbrock TES headers, Flowmaster exhaust, Crane roller cam, comp roller rockers, vortec heads/intake, ported tbi, w/new injectors, MSD probillet Distributer/ coil, 1 inch tbi spacer, air foil, 14x4 k&n flat base air cleaner, Rebuilt 700r4 w/ B&M shift kit, B&M Megashifter, 3.23 posi, 2 12 RF's with mtx amp, top of line alpine cd player,autometer phantom gauges, soon to have 91-92 gfx, z-28 wing, new paintjob, rims, all new suspension, and new inteior

 

im at school and i started laughing so hard... i dunno why... but hehehehehe..... being HS is funny, you can act like your on crak and get away with it....

killer305, you always bore your crank to get more performance...


------------------
91 FireBird 305 V-8
Edelbrock Catback, Custom Alarm. Fourth Gen Console. i have six cupholders. all for starbucks!
Go|)Created The Earth, And Then Turned Up The Bass.
Here's My Audio Install!

"Honda's FOR ME TO POOP ON!" -Triumph...

 

LOL

Don't laugh, my buddies 28 year old sister thought this and didn't change the oil for 30,000 miles, at which time the engine died. I was supprised it lasted that long!

Here's one that my friend told me:
"I need to fix the timing belt on my Taurus, it broke 3000 miles ago."

And another he told me,regarding those rings around Chevy rims that I took off:
"You better put them back on, they support the sturctual integraty of the rim, without them, the rim will crack."

And the best part of this: He's a fellow third year Mechanical Engineer!


[This message has been edited by Truckman (edited December 05, 2001).]

 

that is so...... true

 

when i got my new flowmaster exhaust put on, my friend was listening to it, and when i would rev it, it would pop, like most exhaust systems do, and he told me that it would continue to pop because it was clamped on and not welded, after i got it welded on and it still poped he never said anything about it again. i guess he was jelous over my having a 350 and him a 2.8L

------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

yeah i know that you can bore the crank, i just dont see how it would add power, but i am 100% possitive that boring the cam is not a good thing to do


------------------
90 RS 305 tbi, 4 3/4" cowl Hood, Edelbrock TES headers, Flowmaster exhaust, Crane roller cam, comp roller rockers, vortec heads/intake, ported tbi, w/new injectors, MSD probillet Distributer/ coil, 1 inch tbi spacer, air foil, 14x4 k&n flat base air cleaner, Rebuilt 700r4 w/ B&M shift kit, B&M Megashifter, 3.23 posi, 2 12 RF's with mtx amp, top of line alpine cd player,autometer phantom gauges, soon to have 91-92 gfx, z-28 wing, new paintjob, rims, all new suspension, and new inteior

 

Don't forget the "My computer told me this was bad..."

I wish my computer could tell me exactly what was all wrong w/ my car. Make my job so much easier.

Then to make it worse, then they are mad cause they replaced what the computer "said" was bad and it still sets a code...

------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

 

some of the moderators here are pretty cool, but the others are more of the richard noggin type. for the old timers do you remember 3/4 and full race cams? i never quite understood that one, but lot of people had them in their cars. moth ***** in the gas tank?

------------------
ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

I hadn't heard "Richard Noggin" in years!!

A close friend used to work in the tech dept. at Comp Cams years ago; they would rotate among them the privilege of talking to those special people, you know, who call up and already know it all and just want somebody at Comp to bow down and worship their all-powerful wisdom... I'd be over there hanging out, and I'd hear one of the techs shout "Richard Noggin, line 7" and everybody would go cluster around the lucky tech of the day's phone and listen to the idiot make a fool of himself and try not to laugh so loud enough the tool on the other end would hear us...

Yeah I remember the ¾ race cams, that was what came right after a Stage 2 but before a Stage 3. Then you stepped up to a full race cam. Those were actual specs. Right???? So my car has a Stage 2 cam and it has no nads at all ever, so I need to put a Full Race cam in it? That'll wake it up? Thanks! {as we all ROTFL}

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

killer305
----------------------------------
<Quote>he also told me that you needed a special machine to take out the cam, and always talks about boring the crank</Quote>
----------------------------------

Look what I found in the new Jegs... apparently for the mechanic who has everything...

http://www.jegs.com/photos/77866897.jpg

Thats right, the camshaft removal tool...

[This message has been edited by burntblues (edited December 05, 2001).]

 

I dunno, my favorite has to be when my friend, who happens to own a 96 camaro, said has was going to 'make his v6 a v10'...lol

 

GMTech----I get the same thing. Everybody comes to me and tells me how to troubleshoot the problem. If they knew, why did they come to me? Job security my friend!

 

I used to work in a local shop and one day some guy brought in a porsche (sp) 911 that had been in storage and not started for 8 years. After cleaning the tank the mech told another guy to go get some more gas so they could run the engine and make sure everything was clean. After getting gas the guy went over and decided to put gas in the car (while smoking a cig) and about 3/4 of the way gas started to come out from under the hood. The idiot filled up not only the hood/trunk area but also the windsheild wiper resovior. How the shop didn't blow up I will never know.

 

That camshaft removal tool still isn't exactly a special machine, just a bolt on handle

------------------
'82 Z28
LG4 305 .030 over, performer intake, holley street avenger 670, xe 256 cam, tes headers, 3 inch single exhaust, spintech muffler, 14 x 3 inch drop base k&n.

 

The sad part is, is that people are going to start thinking that is a required tool to a rebuild. You wait, next mag with an engine rebuild will use it...

-=-Mike

 

doh sorry

[This message has been edited by CamaroZ_85 (edited December 05, 2001).]

 

back in High school ... [not a myth but just pure ignorance]

Auto shop ....Kid gets a F***ing briliant Idea to WELD brackets on the full tanks he was using to weld!!!

Auto teacher nearly beat the Living Sh*t out of him..

Ohh ya ..
Putting ANY! type of Exhaust mod on a 305 SD will make it run like crap and give you codes

------------------
Hecubus
Check out my site http://www.geocities.com/hecubus91
91-Z28 305 Tpi "G92" mods-- K$N/Foil/Cat Back 3" Flowmaster/3" High Flow Cat/B&M shifter/ Intrax Springs/ Kyb Shock's-Struts's/Poly Bushings/Hotchkis Strut Tower Brace/Nos Wet Plate System currently ~ 175-200hp shot/ 255lph Fuel Pump/ Holly Adj. Fuel Press. Regulator/Digital Fuel,Air-fuel, voltage & Oil Press Guage's/MSD 6al/ Blaster coil/ Optima,Yellow top batt./Pro-Built stage 3 700 R4/ACT 2400 stall converter/Trans-Go shift kit

"I spent all my money on race cars, beer, and Broads... The Rest I wasted"

 

the tool has been around, havent seen it become popular though, if you really need a tool a long bolt helps. hey look its my first hot post!

------------------
Rob
85 Z28: 350 w/ Comp Xtreme 262 cam, Edelbrock Performer intake and 600 CFM carb
Edelbrock/Magnaflow Exhaust, Accel HEI distributor
JVC/MTX/Polk/Pioneer/Phoenix Gold/Planet Audio stereo system




[This message has been edited by CamaroZ_85 (edited December 05, 2001).]

 

k, me and my friend garage on his 81 v4 mercedes which didnt want to start so to chech if there was a spark he unscrewed all the plugs ,(while the ignition key was on,) and told me to turn the key, there i was sitting in there and the second i turn the key about a gallon of gas comes flying out of the cilinders trough the sparkplug holes all over my friend,
at first i started rolling on the floor laughing my *** off, then after wiping the tears i thanked *** there was no spark at the time the fuel was flying out ......

 

Please.... we can't forget the "Muffler Bearing" !!!!

------------------
89 T-Top Firebird 305 TBI Project Car (with approval from my wife!)

 

how about that one....
the guy i bought my camaro from told me how much work has been done to it and one of them was "just a week ago i replaced the tire gasket"
the price of the car suddenly droped from 1500 to 800 for which i bought it

 

no he ment a hydrolic tool, like a puller of some sort, and i dont mean the cam bearings the cam

------------------
90 RS 305 tbi, 4 3/4" cowl Hood, Edelbrock TES headers, Flowmaster exhaust, Crane roller cam, comp roller rockers, vortec heads/intake, ported tbi, w/new injectors, MSD probillet Distributer/ coil, 1 inch tbi spacer, air foil, 14x4 k&n flat base air cleaner, Rebuilt 700r4 w/ B&M shift kit, B&M Megashifter, 3.23 posi, 2 12 RF's with mtx amp, top of line alpine cd player,autometer phantom gauges, soon to have 91-92 gfx, z-28 wing, new paintjob, rims, all new suspension, and new inteior

 

hey, i remembered another one , my friends iroc mains were spun, so it knocked like hell, guess what his dad told him to do , which he did , he told him to put some metal shavings in there to patchup the bearings ( rebuilt the engine a couple of days after )