Going off #3 in this article

"CB" (jrcb) 07/17/2015 at 12:39 • Filed to: AOTD

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From the recent !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ( Attack of the DeLoreans Answers of the Day), #3 (improperly diagnosing issues) reminded me of a work story.

So, I work in automotive parts at a large chain store, which means that when people are grabbing parts to fix their own car or for their mechanic, they come see me. Since I am not psychic, I usually expect people to come in and know what they’re looking for, otherwise I have to guess.

Anyway, a man came in with a Toyota Sienna, asking for a battery. Great, I can hook you up with that. I go through all the different batteries that fit his car, and he picks one. Groovy. Then he says it should help clear the codes for his cylinder issues.

Hold on a second, let’s back this up.

I ask him exactly what is going on. He said that he ran the codes for his CEL, and that he checked what they meant on the internet. Apparently there were misfires on two of his cylinders, and that the internet told him that it was most likely an issue with the battery causing it. Now, I am not a mechanic, but that did not sound right to me. I told him to pop his battery out of his van and bring it in.

He complies, and I run the tested on the battery: fully charged, holding more CCAs than it should, roughly 12-12.5 volts from what I remember. In other words, a perfectly good battery. I explain this to him, and had to hammer it home a little that no, this should not be causing misfires, and that he should probably go to a mechanic, rather than listen to the internet. He thanked me, took his battery, and walked out.

Now, I can’t quite imagine how a bad battery would even cause this issue. If the battery was bad, wouldn’t it affect all the cylinders and the lights in the vehicle? I’m really curious as to where he found out his “solution” from.

Anyway, with that out of the way, anyone have any stories to share related to today’s AOTD? It’s Friday, no one is really working, so why not?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CB 07/17/2015 at 12:52

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Novice mechanic errors? Being insufficiently careful around a radiator. A couple wrench impacts later...
In my defense, I was 12.

CB > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/17/2015 at 13:08

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That sounds awful.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CB 07/17/2015 at 13:09

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Water pump failure on a GM 6.2 diesel. My first big mechanic’ing job.

Aaron Brown > CB 07/17/2015 at 13:52

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that aotd represents some of my least favorable experiences I've ever had with cars

CB > Aaron Brown 07/17/2015 at 13:53

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How many on the list have you done?

Aaron Brown > CB 07/19/2015 at 18:55

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heh

just about all of them