DIY Experience, Your Stories

[aVex]

I thought I'd start a thread for people to post up their experience performing their own DIY modifications.

I myself had a tale to tell, this happened two nights ago. I received my 9W7 Bluetooth module, so I got a mate, some tools and headed down the garage to begin the install. This was after dusk, so it's dark.

Equipped with a fluorescent light plugged into the cars lighter socket we began the installation. I tried to be as careful as I can but I broke one of the clips while removing the dash panels to the RCD510. But the worst part was....we noticed the light we had started dimming. Then only I realised what an idiot I was, the cars cabin lights was turned on, the cars headlights was set to Auto which was one and we kept turning on the RCD510 to test the wiring connection which of course also turned on the amplifier.

The cars battery went flat, but fortunately my car is a manual so we could push and jump start the car. So the whole of yesterday I had to go into each and every controller module in my car via my VCDS cable to clear the fault codes. Every single module had a fault for low power voltage.

I'm telling myself to not be so excited anymore when installing things so that this doesnt happen again.

[Corey_R]

Hey aVex. I'd prefer that people put their "DIY" or "HowTo" stuff in the actual threads for that topic.

i.e. There is 9W7 installation threads in the electronics forum. There are VCDS threads in the related model forums. Lucas_R did a Golf R changing brake pads thread, etc.
If this thread is not to post anything about what was involved in a DIY project but rather just funny/interesting anecdote related to DIY, then that would be ok I guess.

But in that case, it should really be in the general forum. Let me know, so I can edit/move the thread appropriately.

[aVex]

Yeah I think move this to the geneal forum. Thanks Corey

[maca]

I've done all of the cosmetic modifications for my car myself (with the help of friends). It's much more satisfying and I'd rather do it this way, although I've got two scars to remind myself of the satisfactions

[dylan8]

Bleeding for the scene Alex?
I do a lot of my mods myself too (mainly for being poor when i started). I've learnt a lot and as maca said, I get a fair bit of satisfaction from it even though mine normally look ghetto as

So many times have I ended up with flat batteries, massive electrical hickups (always before requiring the car that night of coarse), the usual walk of shame to mum to ask her if i can borrow the spare car because mines not drivable and getting the whole 'i told you just to leave the car alone'

[noone]

Tried painting the rear skirt on my Polo to have it colour coded / the R32 shape.

When removing some tape, a section of the paint lifted, revealing the undercoat / textured finish of the stock plastic...

I gave up and went back to black. Mechanicals are more my thing, I get impatient waiting for paint to dry...

[johnw]

Years ago when trying to take the gearbox off on my Datsun, I thought I'll listen to the radio while removing the starter motor. CRACK as the spanner touched the chasis and a small chunk burnt off the tool (along with a bit of wee in my pants LOL)

Learnt to disconnect battery when the service manual says so Good think I made all the mistake on the Datsun not my A3.

[Spyda]

How many mk1-2-3 guys are having a larf right now?

It so much more satisfying doing things yourself and you learn heeps along the way
Ive done just about everything on my cars myself so the stroies could go forever. This is mainly because i can't justify forking out over $100 for 30min of a mechanics or even worse an autosparkys time when in most cases its someting so simple. The only things i dont do is things i dont have the tools for (hydraulic press for example).
Some stories include installing the DVD player in the mk1 and using rusty pliers to cut the power and earth at the same time. The pliers got stuck, connecting the earth and power and burining the whole loom LOL....remember to disconnect your battery :p


LOL at the mods post btw.

[rayray086]

How many mk1-2-3 guys are having a larf right now?

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[Peter Jones]

I sometimes build my own VWs from parts.

[GRN_VAGN]

I sometimes build my own VWs from parts.

LOL think all Early VW's are made from atleast 4 other cars

[Ben J]

I too have cut wires and blown fuses with the battery still attached -.- thank god for fuses though haha.

Do love doing everything myself though. The fact that you are probably making the car worth less with every expensive modification, the countless hours you'll never get back and the physical and emotional pain are all very worthwhile.

[dubbed]

Ah the joys of being an amateur DIY mechanic! I've had countless things break, not go back together, blown fuses etc but it was all part of the fun and learning how things work. One memorable moment was putting a gearbox back together in my Falcon only to find I hadn't installed my brand new $400 clutch properly.. That quickly smoked and died a quick death. Fortunately the next time I installed it I knew the process inside out and did it about 10 times quicker.

[huss]

Fortunately the next time I installed it I knew the process inside out and did it about 10 times quicker.

Agreed with that. Replacing the brake calipers and dics and bleeding them took me an entire day in the past. Now I can do it all blind folded and without any hassles.

[GRN_VAGN]

Ah the joys of being an amateur DIY mechanic! I've had countless things break, not go back together, blown fuses etc but it was all part of the fun and learning how things work. One memorable moment was putting a gearbox back together in my Falcon only to find I hadn't installed my brand new $400 clutch properly.. That quickly smoked and died a quick death. Fortunately the next time I installed it I knew the process inside out and did it about 10 times quicker.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt

Downside to mine is it was a on corolla, and it ate the flywheel bolts was a bad son-of-a-bitch to fix