Another thread got me to thinking about memorable "repairs" I've been involved in -- specifically, mystery noises with unexpected causes.
My first was before I really started working on cars. I was driving an old Ford Crown Vic, and one morning it began "backfiring" -- emitting a rather faint thump when I let off the throttle. Lucky me, before I could even make plans to visit a mechanic (which I couldn't afford), I happened to let off the throttle while looking over my shoulder. The timing was just right that I spotted an empty cardboard box rocking forward as the car slowed, hitting the back of the passenger seat with a faint "thump". Crisis averted by (finally) cleaning out the car.
The next was during my brief stint pretending to be a mechanic, a customer brought back a VW New Beetle with less than 1000 miles on it, complaining of a clicking noise going over bumps. Two of us were stumped, but a third mechanic riding in the back seat spotted the stack of CD cases rattling around in the map pocket.
Anyone else care to share?
My first was before I really started working on cars. I was driving an old Ford Crown Vic, and one morning it began "backfiring" -- emitting a rather faint thump when I let off the throttle. Lucky me, before I could even make plans to visit a mechanic (which I couldn't afford), I happened to let off the throttle while looking over my shoulder. The timing was just right that I spotted an empty cardboard box rocking forward as the car slowed, hitting the back of the passenger seat with a faint "thump". Crisis averted by (finally) cleaning out the car.
The next was during my brief stint pretending to be a mechanic, a customer brought back a VW New Beetle with less than 1000 miles on it, complaining of a clicking noise going over bumps. Two of us were stumped, but a third mechanic riding in the back seat spotted the stack of CD cases rattling around in the map pocket.
Anyone else care to share?