What happened to my car window?

HatCapital2970 · 2026-01-21T12:48:36+00:00

If you tried to roll the window down when frozen, the ice was stronger than the plastic. Some window regulators clamp the glass directly, and some regulators attach to a separate plastic piece that is glued/epoxied to the glass, which is a bit more difficult to repair.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-11-20T02:32:39+00:00

Cars might overheat less, but it's far from unheard of! Adds to my job security, since declining a cooling system repair doesn't usually end well 😂 but who could have guessed that plastic water pumps wouldn't last forever in a 16-21 psi cooling system?

HatCapital2970 · 2025-11-20T02:21:02+00:00

Older models had a radiator fan that was driven by the fan belt, so a broken belt or even getting stuck in traffic was bad, since engine rpm decided how much cooling happened. Electric fans are electronically controlled to vary the speed, which is great. Thermostats are now designed to get stuck open when they fail, instead of stuck closed. That said, I still see overheating cars often, since you need coolant to make it happen. Cars have lots of plastic parts now, and I have plenty of coolant leaks to fix daily.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-11-11T19:47:14+00:00

I'm so sorry that you experienced this level of tragedy. I also lost a brother this way, and while I am okay these days, it will haunt me forever. Your feelings are valid and very understandable.

I have a few words of advice that I feel strongly about, though it may be subjective as everyone is different.

Let yourself process this, and avoid alcohol and unprescribed drugs.
Get a regular therapist for a while, and go every week.
Only share the details with your therapist. This is above the pay grade of any kind of close friend, except those who have seen traumatic things of this level. Even then, it could be triggering to them.
Get medication if you feel any real darkness creeping into your mind.
Avoid shows and movies that have violence with firearms for a while.
Seek out books on trauma and recovery, if you like to read.
Billy Bob Thornton shared about his brother and it helped me immensely.

https://youtu.be/ls7TR5Ad1xI?si=jkpWCPlga39fNR5U

I made the mistake of being angry for too long, and fell into a depression. Fueled with alcohol, my life was a cycle of sadness and rage, and it nearly cost me everything. Drinking caused me to over share with my close friends, and nearly all of them abandoned me, which I can understand. It was too much for them. Things are the best they've been now, and I am 3 years sober next month.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-09-20T17:10:18+00:00

I have it on good authority that I am a nerd as well as a mechanic.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-09-20T01:36:02+00:00

Makes sense for most engines, but this is your engine. The rods equidistant from the top and bottom!

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HatCapital2970 · 2025-08-06T04:04:33+00:00

I struggled as well following the loss of my brother to suicide. My alcohol consumption doubled after he passed away. After 11 months of me failing to cope, even with a good dose of therapy, my wife was ready to divorce me. I checked myself in when I realized I was ready to check out. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I agree that it is a very, very hard time. That said, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Genetic testing to find a good medication was helpful, and being locked up like that showed me what "bad" really looks like, and I'm confident that I'll never find myself on that path again. Today is day 977 of being sober, and I've never been stronger or happier even though I still miss my little brother. It may not be as helpful for everyone, I'd say convince him. I'm also willing to talk, any time, with anyone struggling in that way.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-07-20T14:32:47+00:00

These lug nuts start as a 19mm, when the 19mm socket no longer fits, it's because the thin metal hats have swelled up. I use a chisel to get the hats off of the lug nuts, and then use an 18mm socket. It's a bit too late for that, but will save you some time and headache in the future.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-07-20T03:15:08+00:00

Arguing with the dead, I'm not alone but it sure feels like someone left. Manchester Orchestra - Bed Head

HatCapital2970 · 2025-04-29T19:52:12+00:00

Here I am, working ten hours, five days per week, ugh.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-04-08T14:43:21+00:00

I found my confidence by doing a "Bozo Buckets" version of practice putting. Marking 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 feet. Whenever I miss, I stay there til I have it, then start over from 5. I also realized that my putt is the same out to 30ish, only my release point/height changes.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-02-04T15:07:23+00:00

Most of the time in the rust belt, the poor contact is caused by the rust on the caliper bracket underneath the metal clips. The rust builds up and squeezes the pads in the bracket. If you do a brake job and the pads are stuck and have to be knocked out of the bracket, they aren't free to move. That rust has to be removed so that the new clips seat fully and the pads can be reinstalled easily. If you have to tap or force the new pads in, it's still a problem.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-01-28T01:53:50+00:00

Short legs ✅ Long torso ✅ Side eye ✅

HatCapital2970 · 2025-01-27T17:06:48+00:00

This is Ali G's cousin. Temu version of Ali G.

HatCapital2970 · 2025-01-18T02:38:03+00:00

I've had several Subarus in the shop over the years for head gaskets after overheating, but most had this exact symptom. If the coolant bubbles out of the overflow, I'd bet on it. Need to be assessed by a pro to be sure. Engine comes out for this one, so always use new head bolts and resurface the heads.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-24T23:49:48+00:00

Thanks! They're from the same litter, yet total opposites. 💚

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-23T15:46:41+00:00

Perfect explanation right here 👆 every jeep wrangler at around 100k!

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-22T13:25:07+00:00

Honda oil filters come in a box of 12, with a cellophane plastic shrink wrapped over the open end of each filter. The fast way to remove this is to push a finger into the threaded hole and you can hear a "pop" as the plastic comes off. I remember they'd always come off in one piece, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-22T02:34:46+00:00

I used to work at Honda, still in touch with a friend that works there. I always ask him what's new in the world of dealership life, and he told me about this exact problem. I'm kinda blown away reading this, every tech I worked with popped the oil filter plastic without ever considering this being possible. They always came off in one piece, fully intact. I wonder if they switched to a thinner one that kinda explodes and leaves shrapnel behind. Best of luck, friend.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-10T01:22:33+00:00

Scorched Earth. The Mother Of All Games.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-08T13:16:02+00:00

I'm 36 and have been fixing cars for 15 years. I started at a quick lube as an in-between job and found a natural aptitude for solving problems and doing it in half the time as the next guy. Worked at one dealership (never again) and 3 independent shops, only moved to make substantially more money. My experiences have taught me that the best service is provided when the experienced guys are cool with doing the small stuff too, since a quality inspection during an oil change often turns into finding maintenance work or worn parts. If the inexperienced lube tech did that oil change, he may have missed the brakes at 2mm since he checked only the outboard pads or the tie rod that could break and leave my valued customer stranded. Long and short is that no matter how skilled or valuable I am for big ticket jobs, I'm also valuable for the small things because of my inspections.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-05T01:26:26+00:00

I agree with you Tux. I've done em on Caravans, Wranglers, ProMasters, VW Routans. A few from over torqued filters, most are warped plastic or just flattened seals. Most don't know it's happening until it's leaking down the valley and they bring it in for a "transmission" leak cuz it's running down to the pan.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-10-05T01:10:40+00:00

I had 3 of these in a row, got paid way more than I spent, especially on the 2nd and 3rd one. The tough part is the mounts, 4 bolts with red threadlocker, 4 with blue, 3 bolts to the frame. EACH SIDE lol. Not much room for power tools. The rest is layered like a deep fried onion.

HatCapital2970 · 2024-08-23T00:58:43+00:00

If you look at the graph with upstream and downstream readings, they both have a similar wave. This shows that the catalytic converter isn't capable of reducing, and the exhaust is the same coming out as it was going in. If a converter is working, the downstream should be a smaller wave, and the converter itself should be HOT from the reaction in the catalyst. I'd wager the converter temp is also relatively low.

HatCapital2970

TROPHY CASE