The Unofficial "Ask a Stupid Question" Thread

Also check your main ground and connections at the battery. Mine did something a little more enthusiastic than that (it was like the whole car was "rebooting") a number of weeks ago as I was going down the interstate - ended up being the dork at Walmart who replaced they battery didn't tighten the negative terminal. :facepalm:
 
Is it common for the inner tie rod ends to go bad on MN12s?

Noticed a rattle in the front end the other day. I can reproduce the noise it if I tug on the drivers side tie rod. Pretty sure I already replaced both outer ends several years ago and the car has under 100k miles... :unsure:
 
I wouldn't say so, IME they usually go 150k+ before they need any attention. I replaced them on the T-bird proactively at like 160k and they were fine; the 98 I replaced them a few months ago and the driver's side was a bit worn (at 225k).
 
I think the inners are worth doing proactively since even the name brand ones are pretty cheap and you’re already going to need an alignment anyway.
 
Didn't someone once state on here that you could remove the seat belts from the retractors (e.g., for washing)? If so, does that require release of the spring, or is there another way?
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
Didn't someone once state on here that you could remove the seat belts from the retractors (e.g., for washing)? If so, does that require release of the spring, or is there another way?
Click to expand...

Yes the spring has to be removed to get the pin out(the spring is what tensions the pin to roll up the belt)
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
Didn't someone once state on here that you could remove the seat belts from the retractors (e.g., for washing)? If so, does that require release of the spring, or is there another way?
Click to expand...
Pull them all the way out and then clamp right at the retractor. You'll get 99% of them washed that way. I did it in a tote with a laundry detergent and purple power solution. Let them soak for a few hours and then brushed them really good. Hosed them off and they looked like new.
 
Kenz said:
Is it common for the inner tie rod ends to go bad on MN12s?

Noticed a rattle in the front end the other day. I can reproduce the noise it if I tug on the drivers side tie rod. Pretty sure I already replaced both outer ends several years ago and the car has under 100k miles... :unsure:
Click to expand...
Just a thought, but how are the wheel bearings?
 
Zep5.0 said:
Pull them all the way out and then clamp right at the retractor. You'll get 99% of them washed that way. I did it in a tote with a laundry detergent and purple power solution. Let them soak for a few hours and then brushed them really good. Hosed them off and they looked like new.
Click to expand...
What color where / are your belts? And how bad were the stains?
 
White Lincoln said:
Just a thought, but how are the wheel bearings?
Click to expand...
I'll check it out when I get it in the air, but 99% sure it's in the tierod. Cougar is back in the shop bay sitting for now. I don't think it's unsafe to drive but it can stay in time out for a bit until I get time to figure it out.

My Firebird will be happy to get more drive time now :headbang:
We need a mullet emoji here!
 
What resistor do I need to disable the passenger airbag and not get a fault code?
 
Zep5.0 said:
Pull them all the way out and then clamp right at the retractor. You'll get 99% of them washed that way. I did it in a tote with a laundry detergent and purple power solution. Let them soak for a few hours and then brushed them really good. Hosed them off and they looked like new.
Click to expand...
This is the post I recall reading. Thanks for the reminder Zep.
 
I disassembled the ones in Lazarus, put the metal ends in socks, with rubber bands, threw them in the commercial washer at the laundromat with some rugs, and they looked new. No bleach, no fabric softener.
 
This post from the Facebook group has me scratching my head.

[Poster, if you're on here, too, I hope you don't object to me using this screenshot.]

Screenshot_20250228_070914_Samsung Internet.jpg

The post is followed by some comments worrying about a potentially bent rod due to a hydrolocked cylinder.


So my question: do head gaskets really suddenly and catastrophically blow like that? Remember, I'm completely new to working on engines with the exception of the handful of things I've done with your all's help.

I always assumed, for no specific reason, that a head gasket issue would announce itself gradually, e.g., loss of coolant, creamy coating under the oil filler cap.
 
Sometimes yes. But probably not. A coolant passage leak in an head gasket isn't going to suck enough coolant into the cylinder at such a volume that the engine fails in that manner. And if it was that bad of a hole, it would likely push back out through the hole or the exhaust port on the piston's upstroke while trying to crank the engine over (edited for clarity).

Ask him when the last time he checked his oil was. If he can't remember, he's starved it.
 
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I've blown headgaskets on 2 cars, a firebird 3.8 and an olds 4 cylinder, and both failed while driving; I felt a power loss, and when I looked in the rearview mirror, I was fogging the whole interstate behind me.
 
They can go either way. I remember when the head gaskets on my old '92 3.8 went. I drove 40 miles home with no issue, but I could tell the engine wasn't running right. When I got home to do some investigation I pulled the plugs. I think when I pulled the rear passenger side plug,. antifreeze just came pouring out. I did have warning signs prior to that though like coolant loss. No white smoke show though.
 
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