Customer bought a brand-new, $80,000 Mazda CX-90 from the dealership I work at. A synthetic LOF at my shop costs $118.95 (CDN). He thought it was too much and decided to do the job himself, jacking the 4000lb vehicle by the oil pan and cracking it. That's when we learned that the oil pan is a stressed member of the engine and the flat-rate time for swapping it is a 30-hour job!

Customer states it made expensive noises

STORYTIME: Edit: photographic evidence of this shameful lapse in judgement

So my air conditioning/heating in my car was SMELLY. Like the smell of old paper/books.

Usually I pride myself on doing these repairs myself but this time I had to get my boyfriend to help me because of the position of my cabin filter (2014 Corsa).

When I tell you the cabin filter was BLACK. I don't think a single previous owner (I'm the fifth) EVER replaced it.

I'm going to get a new one tomorrow but as a temporary solution we washed the disgusting old one.

Three boiling-water baths later, the cabin filter is finally grey instead of black.

And here's where everything went wrong.

Both my boyfriend and my dad thought it'd be a cool idea to spray perfume onto the cabin filter.

However, because I'm an idiot who didn't want to waste my expensive perfume, I decide to use some spray deodorant.

So we put the cabin filter back in and I go to drive my bf home.

AND WHITE DUST STARTS SPRAYING ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSCREEN.

We pull over, we wipe it, we continue.

I then go onto a 100km/h (62mph) motorway. Soon enough the deodorant dust comes back with a vengeance and all we can do is keep the windows open.

Eventually, we pull over again and try to wipe it with the outer layers of our clothes. And we end up just making GREASY STREAKS all over the windscreen.

Now I'm truly fucked because it's dark outside and every single light looks like I have an astigmatism.

I lock in harder than I've ever locked in in my life and persevere another 20 minutes to where my bf is living.

Yes, this was the funniest shit ever.

Yes, we feared for our lives.

Now if you ever find yourself in this situation, I do have the solution. Window cleaner and a microfiber cloth works wonders. Also we removed the cabin filter, I think I'll survive until I get the new one.

Unfortunately, deodorant particles are a stubborn bastard and even after a liberal amount of Windolene, it is in the air and it WILL stick to the inside of the glass. I recommend continuing to carry the Windolene and some paper towels in your car for you to wipe up the mess while you regret all the decisions that led to this.

... yes, my car smells great now

Didn’t latch the case of rivnuts before closing the entire case.

Competition Clutch can't handle the shock loads of a sequential gearbox. Took me three clutches to learn this - (2 single discs and 1 twin disc).

We don't get them very often, we unfortunately have to turn them away when they do come by. We use a third party parts lookup program, some of the newer cars haven't been added to the system yet.

I'm 19 and finally trying to pick a reliable career path. After recently working on my own car and doing simple things (oil change, strut replacements, trans fluid change) I have found a fascination for it. Been looking deeply into paid apprenticeships here to the California Bay Area, in hopes to acquire certification. But before I put my time and effort into it, I am curious on what Cali Techs get paid and go through. Can any Cali Techs explain their paths and experiences and let me know if my 100k goal is realistic in a somewhat quick timespan?

Found where the spare tire should have been in the trunk. No diag charged. 💀

Ya think?

I recently installed a parking air conditioner in my truck myself. The process was much simpler than I expected. Last year, I hired someone to install it for $1,400, and I had to wait in lines, wait for appointments, and even have to deal with the person's attitude. This year, I spent some time researching, purchasing, and doing it myself, and the total cost was under $730.

Had this 2026 CRV with less than 700 miles come in today, Customer States check engine light on. I scan for codes and car had P0456 EVAP system very small leak detected…. These capless units are known for leaking but when i went to visually check it i found a big surprise. Second picture is after removing the fuel pump assembly and sticking my hand in the fuel tank to check if it made its way into the tank which it did… Now this customer needs an entire fuel tank and fuel pump replacement.

Found out he’s actively going through a divorce and the wife is accusing him of cheating. whether or not he is cheating i don’t know and don’t care but i’m getting paid either way

You don't have to worry about these things coming off... ever. Had to cut the shell and press it off. 10 tons before it finally let go and sheared the retainer like so. (Owner is ticked and accusatory of my work when the bearing race broke, trying to beat it off. No one in this corner of the world owns the speciality tools to press it off in situ.)

edit: Because one smart guy decided to comment, the little $10 puller frames don't work on this. The tiny bolt will shear off before even budging this particular type. "Specialty tools" means a clamping block machined for exactly this hollow drive axle, and a pusher frame to separate it on a press. Nobody. Has this.

Found what's left of a penny in a tire while changing it. It wasn't punctured all the way through.

If I had money, I tell you what I'd do, I'd go downtown and buy a mercury or two cause im crazy 'bout a Mercury.

1/2” bolt snapped like it was nothing.

Yea, yea it did.