So.... ya'll think getting old sucks? Got a better alternative??? Every day above ground is a good day. Not too sure my attitude would be the same if I had the nasty winters some of our forum members have.

Frustrated from working on your diesel? Put some time in working on the V-12 Italian tin. Or the 12 cylinder MB. Maybe a few days of working on 911 & 930 Porsches will make you look at our old smudgepots in a different light.

"Never strike a blow in anger, neither by hand nor by word."
An old Shaulin teaching.

You could have some of the nasty summers some of us have.




As for people throwing tools, it's kind of funny. I've gotten mad enough to slam one down on my tray every now and then, but never to throw one. I have know those that do and it's pretty funny to watch them have to walk to go pick them up (sometimes, they have to find them). I make fun of them while they're on their "walk and find" mission, and if it continues to be an ongoing issue, I let them know that their job is in jeporady if they can't change their ways.

A good friend of mine worked for his dad at a towing service/garage in my hometown-he used to wind up and wing Snap-On sockets across the street into the fish hatchery's ponds across the street every time he got PO'd-I chalked up to reckless youth and Dad's credit line-it was pretty funny to see it happen when you drove bt,though.

__________________
1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

I dropped a 10mm wrench between the radiator and the a/c condensor. At first it was no big deal but after 1/2 hour of fishing I was pretty upset. "longer to get the wrench than fix the problem" I thought to myself. I was about ready to take my 11mm wrench and throw it as far as I could [wouldn't want to toss my 13mm as that is needed to change the oil ] when I realized just how silly this dillema was. Then it dawned on me-start the motor and see if the vibration helps me out any. Sure enough, the vibes made the wrench drop to the bottom near the edge where I could get to it. So sometimes frustration can cause irrational thinking but the humor can bring back the logic.

Man I'm glad I didn't lose my 11mm!!!

Cheers,

Bill

Might be the other way around.


My frustration is mostly with those "smart" designers
who think these cars up.

They don't take into account that one has to work on
these engines/cars.
Fitting a wrench into some area's can be challenging, if
not impossible.
If you do manage to fit a wrench, then it is not a sure
thing that you'll have room to actually turn it.

Although the older cars have more room to work on,
you still need to remove some parts to remove other parts.
Just try to remove the fuel injection pump on a w123.
Or change an oil cooler line.

I know that the new cars are even worse.
On our 94 Camry I had to take the whole front
of the engine apart just to change the water pump.
I changed the timing belt while I had the old one off.

Louis.

To the contrary, on newer cars I sometimes think they do it on purpose. Make the cost of fixing it (labor and parts) high enough and eventually the owner may just replace it with a new car instead of paying high repair bills.


A tool that everybody should have in their box is an expandable magnet. You can get a pretty strong magnet with a small head now days and they are invaluable.

Gosh, golly, better you than me, low tolerances for stupid.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

My Moms late model Chrysler Sebrings' battery is located behind the front wheel on the drivers side. what brain surgeon dreamed up that mechanical marvel???

I do have several types of magnets but the wrench I happened to drop is aluminum. I was going to r/r my air filter when the mishap occured. Aluminum metric wrenches came with jap motorcycles and I've collected a few tool kits over the years.

And yes i have several sets of "good" wrenches too and only use the aluminum wrenches for light duty jobs.

cheers,

Bill

Put a trans in a 99 2.5. Sebring Convertible today. It was actually a pretty nice car, but it did have the usual noises associated with convertibles.


Dropped a 8mm wrench between the IP and block on a car I was looking at. Was tightening a couple glow plug nuts that were loose. Fished it out a few days later after it had been driven a few times.

My Moms sebring convertible is a nice car, but I hope the tranny was easier to get out than the battery!

cheers,

Bill

I know on my 93 I always cut myself working on that *(&^%* thing. I had the 4 banger a V6 would be hell.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

And to think I almost bought a Camry wagon before I "discovered" the Benz. I'm pretty sure it was the v6. My knuckles hurt just thinking about working on it!!

Cheers,

Bill

Took my wifes Nissan Quest in for a 60K service. 2 weeks later she is complaining about a rattle. Pop the hood and look around. I am the owner of two nice new wrenches. I just wonder what they forgot to tighten if they forget their tools.

__________________
Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

Nice find. My Uncle bought a '56 Chevy, new, and had a rattle in the passenger door. Took door panel off and discovered an impact driver!! He still uses it.

Cheers,

Bill

Which one the Chevy or the impact driver?

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012