The "I can't believe this part broke" thread

[deermagnet]

edit

[nfpgasmask]

Wow, pretty crazy that this stuff broke. The PCV grommet isn't that surprising, because of the heat and stuff, but the dipstick? I would never think that would snap. And the intake tube? Wow. Must all be heat related. Is you VX garage kept? Just curious.

Bart

[VX KAT]

Years ago I had the PCV valve grommet fail. Others have seen this also. You pull out the valve and the upper half is on the valve and the lower half has fallen in your engine. If you're lucky it's sitting right there in view and you grab it with hemostats. You can get a replacement at Pep Boys.
I used #42340 and it fits perfect. Others have also used #42330.

Excellent thread idea Mark!!!

My 4 month old Purolator PCV valve broke into two pieces just this week when I was changing it ....luckily my grommet stayed in place...the Kilbys caught the lower half of the PCV valve once we finally wrangled it out....but you have to be disjointed to reach anything there. Dave used our grabbers to scrape around and knock it out.

[etlsport]

dipsticks actually break fairly often. id say i see 4-5 a month that are broken in our shop..

my strange ones are..

headlights on warning chime (130 from merlin)

antenna base

drivers side door lock actuator

Edit:

forgot! the grommet for the IAT sensor in my intake tube tore in half.. that ones kind of annoying, ive been looking for a good replacement, so far no luck, so i think what i am going to do is move the sensor closer to the filter anyway and get a grommet that fits well then drill a new hole for the grommet

[vt_maverick]

Excellent thread idea Mark!!!

My 4 month old Purolator PCV valve broke into two pieces just this week when I was changing it ....luckily my grommet stayed in place...the Kilbys caught the lower half of the PCV valve once we finally wrangled it out....but you have to be disjointed to reach anything there. Dave used our grabbers to scrape around and knock it out.

Yeah I dropped my oil cap down there a few weeks ago. I tried everything I could think of, from adjustable wrenches to magnetic pick-ups (not so helpful on a plastic cap, duh) to filter wrenches without result. After probably 45 minutes or so I finally just jammed my hand between the bottom of the engine and the skid plate and felt around for it until I was almost up to my shoulder. Good thing I'm not the bodybuilding type.

[tom4bren]

Mark,

The air intake tube on the TLC split a few years back. It ran terrible that way but it was ONLY $107 to replace.

Ash,

Your story reminded me how I was having a hard time positioning the water pump on the Eclipse to line up the bolt holes. I really had to snake my arm into an awkward position. I realized that my hand was stuck just as my wife was pulling out of the driveway. Luckly she happened to notice the look of panic on my face and came back. All it took was to jack the engine up about an inch & my hand came free. Shade tree mechanics can be SOOOO much fun.

[VX KAT]

Yeah I dropped my oil cap down there a few weeks ago. I tried everything I could think of, from adjustable wrenches to magnetic pick-ups (not so helpful on a plastic cap, duh) to filter wrenches without result. After probably 45 minutes or so I finally just jammed my hand between the bottom of the engine and the skid plate and felt around for it until I was almost up to my shoulder. Good thing I'm not the bodybuilding type.

Well my other thought was to blast up the hill as fast as I could, try to get it to bounce around and fly out the back...or may be better to blast down it and slam on the brakes.... (OK, OK, I'm done muckin' up this thread)

hill in background, second pic is going down it.

[Ascinder]

How about the front drivers door thingy that holds it open and the same on the rear hatch. Also, the exhaust manifold downpipe.

[ZEUS]

I was amazed the inner door handle cracked where the seam was. I also remember thinking I can't believe the ABS speed sensor pigtail pulled out long ago!

[Bob Barker]

Here is a nice one...

I took my niece to an aquarium today while on vacation and the exterior door handle pulled up but no action inside the door to open it. She had to crawl across and open it from the inside. I don't even have any tools here with me to try to take the door cover off and look to see what might have come loose or broken or fallen off or whatever... The interior door handle still operates normally and the locks work fine. It's odd.

[nfpgasmask]

Here is a nice one...

I took my niece to an aquarium today while on vacation and the exterior door handle pulled up but no action inside the door to open it. She had to crawl across and open it from the inside. I don't even have any tools here with me to try to take the door cover off and look to see what might have come loose or broken or fallen off or whatever... The interior door handle still operates normally and the locks work fine. It's odd.

Bob, there is a little plastic clip that is broken. This happened to mine a coupel years ago. I fixed it with a zip tie. The little plastic clips are available from Merlin for under a buck...or at least they were.

Bart

[Bob Barker]

I found it. My dad happened to have a little multi tool with a phillips head on it and I got the door off and found the broken plastic piece. I was able to get the plastic piece reattached to the door and the metal rod back into it, but it's only a temporary fix as I'm sure it will fall out again soon with only half the plastic still there. I will probably go ahead and order a new set of two and wait for the other door piece to break!

[alanbradley]

I forgot about my magically disappearing front lower bump stops.


I guess the rubber parts were just glued in. Check to see if yours are still there. If ya wanna keep 'em there, remove 'em and drill a hole thru each side of the metal and a small pilot hole in the rubber. Then use two sheet metal screws to keep the rubber from falling out. If ya need new bolts, M10 x 1.25 x 25 or 20.

Mark

I remember when I found mine like that - Trooper ones fit as replacements.

[PHO2GR4]

My rearview mirror just FELL OFF yesterday. In fairness it was over 100 degrees in Austin.

My heat shields are completely gone. Rust and corrosion did them in.

My interior drivers side door handle is split, but functional.

Windows, of course, but those have been fixed with the aftermarket metal clips.

[Bob Barker]

The little blue light that comes on when I push the a/c button on the dash burned out the other day... wonder how hard it is to get in there and replace? Everything else still works fine, I just can't leave it alone, it's bugging me not having that blue light on!