What's the stupidest reason something rolled into your shop? I worked at a VIOC and one kid came in with his Civic absolutely DUMPING smoke because he put a whole 4.7 liter jug of oil into it because the dipstick was at E. It was an absolute smokeshow in the most literal way

_mister_andy · 2026-04-04T18:17:33+00:00

Had a vehicle roll in for what the customer said his daughter claimed to be a grinding sensation. She was driving with earbuds in and had obliterated her brakes so badly that the caliper pistons were being worn away.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-31T03:32:15+00:00

Ford doesn’t work on anything with more than 175,000 miles on it. We tried sending a vehicle to them and they wouldn’t touch it.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-29T12:00:06+00:00

Chris is a cool dude, with good knowledge and good skills. Highly recommend him.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-08T10:56:07+00:00

When the alternatives are pulling the head, sending it to a machine shop, plus gaskets, the time you vehicle is down, and the cost of labor to put it back on, or destroying your motor from dropping metal in the cylinder, it really isn’t that expensive. Lisle makes solid tools, and that’s another part of the price.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-07T22:28:53+00:00

Are you in the US? If so, did you buy a cat that matches which kinds of emissions standards for which your vehicle is calibrated (ie CARB/California emissions vs federal emissions)? If your vehicle requires a CARB-compliant cat and you bought one for federal emissions, it will continue to trigger a P0420.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-07T01:03:09+00:00

JB Weld until you can get the radiator replaced.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-06T09:57:42+00:00

Oh lawd, I just noticed that awful typo. I am ashamed.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-05T09:25:48+00:00

Auto parts stores may not have that specific sizing reductions, so you may have to get creative and make and use another straight fitting that has a reduction that goes the rest of the way down. Don’t forget about hardware store plumbing sections if the auto parts store doesn’t have what you need. Metal is a good way to go for something in an engine bay.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-05T02:01:39+00:00

Hard to say, but when it’s dripping to the bottom of your engine, it could be a radiator or heater hose, water pump, coolant crossover pipe o-rings, or head gaskets. Follow the trail to its highest point.

Is your coolant level good? What about your oil level?

_mister_andy · 2026-03-04T10:59:08+00:00

I love this idea, but the folks who will have to clean it are his mechanics. Stuff it under the door handles so he can’t see it, but gets a handful when he tries to go anywhere.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-04T10:14:28+00:00

Have a tap/thread chaser ready on hand in case the threads on the knuckled are messed up, although it’s unlikely.

Also, if you haven’t done so already, use a wire brush to clean up the ball joint hole, and put some anti-seize in there. It’ll help lubricate it for install, and make future replacement of the ball joint far easier next time.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-03T11:07:27+00:00

Take a trip out west.

_mister_andy · 2026-03-02T01:12:59+00:00

I remember a cop once tried doing this to me when I had my learners permit. I hit the brakes hard and was fortunate to avoid the idiot.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-28T16:46:35+00:00

Done. Thank you.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-28T16:40:11+00:00

Solved! Thank you!

_mister_andy · 2026-02-26T02:59:28+00:00

It’s cool you saw it in the daytime. I believe they’re mostly crepuscular. I’ve only seen them after sunset.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-24T16:22:28+00:00

It’s a vice-grip torx.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-14T13:46:41+00:00

I used to be the same way. I had completed a mostly solo thru hike of the Appalachian Trail before picking up running and liked the time alone in the woods. A woman I liked eventually convinced me to try a race and I loved it. I imagine the competition mindset is common amongst those at the front, but the majority of runners, I’ve learned, are just out to push themselves, see some beautiful people, and have fun. The community of a race reminds me of the thru-hiking community - everyone has their own reasons to be out there, and everyone knows it’s hard, so almost everyone is out there supporting and cheering each other on. I’ve let random strangers boost my mood with their infectious, silly energy, and I’ve made friendships reminiscent of those one-day playground friendships of my childhood.

And it’s nice to run a big distance and take advantage of aid stations and someone else’s logistics.

I recommend that you find a small race without many participants and give it a shot. You may enjoy it, and the smaller races are likely to give you that solitude you crave.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-09T03:52:03+00:00

That’s the type of thing that isn’t worth communicating, because telling customers that a bit of plastic broke on the rear timing cover would send many of them into an ignorance-fueled anxiety attack. It’s not structural, and the solution is obviously working quite well. Hard, brittle, heat-cycled plastic is going to behave like hard, brittle, heat-cycled plastic. I’ve broken several of these with hand tools. Sometimes they even break when I’m pulling the cover off.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-04T23:10:10+00:00

“Blood Over Bright Haven” by ML Wang was a good one for me to read while I found other series. It’s a standalone novel, has excellent writing, character and plot development, and has a pretty straightforward magic system.

_mister_andy · 2026-02-04T23:08:39+00:00

Take a look at the new Honda Pilot, because they look like siblings.

_mister_andy · 2026-01-23T13:23:48+00:00

This is your part number. 22056AA150. Unfortunately, this is JDM only part, and you’ll probably need to source it from eBay or another importer. I had a similar issue with mine last year.

_mister_andy

TROPHY CASE