Tercel log #4: TheHondaBro saved my life

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 12/20/2016 at 20:58 • Filed to: gas out the a-- OH MY GOODNESS, tercel log, tercel

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It’s days like this I am thankful for Oppositelock.

Harold had some advice for me today:

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I thought to myself, “Well, why the fuck not?” My wife and doggo were out and about, and I had a few hours to be productive. As I mentioned before I had recently developed an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I replaced the fuel filter the other day which, as I suspected, improved nothing. Okay, time for further troubleshooting. I went and grabbed some starter fluid and sought out any potential vacuum leaks that might have developed. I looked down at the garage floor at the usual oil drips, and saw an unusual hue of oil. It looked like a little bit of oil mixed with gas. Smelled like it, too. Better check for gas leaks under there while I’m at it, I thought.

I went back to the garage to start the search for leaks (vacuum or gas). Whilst squirting around, I discovered... this:

That is some kind of joiner piece on the fuel line coming from the fuel pump. It is was hanging on by maybe 1/16". I carefully grabbed it, at which point the slightest bit of pressure caused gas to pour down my hand. Not only was it leaking at both ends, it was leaking in the center. The entire part had failed (as shown in the lede image). Off to the auto parts store I went.

I have to say, fumbling with gas lines over a hot engine was about as extreme as I’m willing to live. After some quintuple-checking and some kung-fu-grip clampage, I am alive and the gas is properly contained.

It is not pretty, but it works. I plan to replace that entire line once I figure out what to do with this aftermarket fuel regulator the previous owner felt necessary to slap on. I’m not sure any of this had much to do with the idling issue (though I hope so), but I’m happy that I found it in time.

Think about that... I was maybe one drive, one speedbump away from that entire line slipping off and spraying gas all over my engine with me inside a rolling deathbox. Life is funny like that...

I’m going to have a beer now and not dwell on that. Cheers! :)

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 21:01

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Woo A beer earned sir. Cheers

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 21:06

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Bro with honda saves space crab from pending death.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 12/20/2016 at 21:08

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More at 9:30

TheHondaBro > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 12/20/2016 at 21:09

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Area bro saves local crustaceans from delicious fiery demise.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 12/20/2016 at 21:09

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After the hit new kids tv show Shitposting with Scoob the Poo.

TheHondaBro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 21:12

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unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > TheHondaBro 12/20/2016 at 21:13

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Shitposting employment up 26.95% resulting in 0 gains to society. Meme economy up by two dingleberries.

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 21:17

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Nice! I’ll drink the beer you owe him.

TheHondaBro > Spaceball-Two 12/20/2016 at 21:41

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NINE MORE MONTHS UNTIL I CAN SMOKE BEER AND DRINK WEED

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > TheHondaBro 12/20/2016 at 21:43

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RULES ARE FOR POOS

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 21:51

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Nice save!

Urambo Tauro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 21:56

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Nice save! That coulda sucked big time.

Have you thought about what kind of material you want to replace it with when the time comes? I’ve grown pretty fond of using nylon tubing for fuel lines, but that NiCopp stuff for brake lines wouldn’t be a bad way to go, either.

(Fun fact: NHRA allows a maximum of 12" of rubber fuel line for the entire car. Still a good rule of thumb even if you’re not drag racing.)

Spaceball-Two > TheHondaBro 12/20/2016 at 22:17

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Paseos are a gateway drug. Be careful!

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/20/2016 at 22:33

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After the stock market crashed in 1987 there were quite a few Corvettes that met their untimely end thanks to lose fuel lines spraying fuel into a hot engine bay. Chevy was alerted to it because the insurance industry assumed it was a manufacturing issue. Apparently there is a small hose near the back of the motor that when loosened to this state and then left to idle the car will imolate very nicely and very completely.

I learned this from a guy who lived through it, so not firsthand knowledge. My firsthand stuff is knowing which fuse the GM dealers pulled from their GMT900 trucks so that people would stop stealing the trucks at night.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Urambo Tauro 12/20/2016 at 22:33

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The short answer is if I end up keeping this thing, I’m going to do a 4A swap, so there will be pretty much new rubber everywhere.

The long answer is BEEEER

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 12/20/2016 at 23:10

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Jesus.

vondon302 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/21/2016 at 06:43

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Wow thats scary.

vicali > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/21/2016 at 11:35

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Good save, your Tercel almost turned into a Beetle..