99_XC600 Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 It's been bad for me in the world of mechanics over the past 24 hours. Some of it self inflicted with the remaining just bad luck I guess. Actually it started on Thursday but continuing into the New Year. Started the day yesterday with needing to change the oil in my car. Had everything ready to go and I've changed the oil on this car since I've bought it. Crawl underneath the car and the drain plug strips the head off. This is a known issue with the Chevy Cruze. GM uses a 10MM drain plug on the pan and is known for stripping. So I had to use vice grips to get it off. I'm home by myself with my daughter with no means of getting a new plug so I had to reinstall the stripped bolt. I fill it and put the fill cap back on the valve cover. My daughter and I go down to the Polaris dealer to grab some parts for her sled. As I'm on the highway, I can smell burning oil and then the check engine light comes on. I pull over and open the hood to find the majority of the engine compartment covered in oil. The fill cap didn't seal correctly and oil spewed everywhere. So we had to find a self serve car wash bay to clean it up before we both choked to death on fumes. Check engine light is still on from it registering a massive vacuum leak. I get the parts for her sled and we then head home. Spend the rest of the day installing the parts. Once done, I go and start her sled only to find out that it's low on compression on the magneto side and running on one cylinder. Somehow the sled went from running absolutely great in August when I moved it around in the garage to being on life support in 4 months. I need a beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmikez Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 Dude u need a 12pack! I'm sorry to hear about the bad day bro.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 murphy's law.....sorry to hear of your crappy 24 hours.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 Sorry dude that sucksJimboSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Glassey Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 Sorry to hear your pain brother. A few beers and a new day hopefully will bring better results. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR99 Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 That sounds like one of those days were you just want to crawl back in bed and beg for a do over!! Hope tomorrow is better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I just walked away from it and crashed on the couch and fell asleep to the ongoing Mythbusters marathon. lol 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Love mythbustersJimboSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Me too. Love the show, hate the channel. They play the same 4 commercials that promote upcoming new segments. It's very maddening 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMack37 Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Days like that are the worst, hope tomorrow is a better day...if not there are plenty of other days in the new year to make up for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Sam Adams. White Christmas. And you might need two Good luck dude, sorry to hear about the misfortune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 After thinking about it. I have a theory on what may be causing the dropped cylinder on the sled. Going out to the garage to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 fuel issue, stator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I believe that either the choke plunger or the needle and seat is hanging up. All signs point to that the cylinder was suffering from flooding. I just removed the magneto side drain plug from the case and a bunch of fuel came out. I pulled the pipe and plugs and I'm going to let it dry out and then try it again with the fuel shut off and see if it clears up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 The root issue on the sled was a hanging choke plunger on the magneto side carb. It was pulling excess gas into the mix and causing it to choke itself off. Fixed that and slapped everything back together and it's running like a champ again. Now all we need now is some snow! Check engine light went off on the car today too. Well what a difference 24 hours make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicholasShetley Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 You didn't run the car out if oil when the cap didn't seal did you? Glad to hear everything is better though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 You didn't run the car out if oil when the cap didn't seal did you? Glad to hear everything is better though. No, it probably sprayed about 1/4 of a quart out. I checked the level and it was still within spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Jass Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Just so you know it's very illegal to do what you did at the carwash. I had a guy threaten me legally because I was using engine degreaser at his carwash. Apparently they get tested for contaminant runoff and can be fined by the EPA, and according to him they're very serious on the subject. He took down my LP and told me to skedaddle. Could make a shit day a whole lot worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99_XC600 Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Interesting, The car wash that I went to had a setting on the dial marked as engine degreaser. Not sure what else you would use it for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicholasShetley Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Interesting,The car wash that I went to had a setting on the dial marked as engine degreaser. Not sure what else you would use it for.That's what I was thinking but I see where Hugh is coming from though. The epa has some very strict regulations when it comes to automotive fluids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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