The Unofficial "Ask a Stupid Question" Thread

[theterminator93]

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.

 

[Grog6]

View attachment 10229

I agree; mine is now a wideband.
Matt, I was the one that mentioned 4v over a pi engine swap.
I agree, pi cams in npi engine is easier and better than 4v heads on a 2v shortblock.

 

[Kenz]

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...

 

[theterminator93]

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).

 

[Kenz]

Hoping the rack isn't bad and it's just a tie rod end.

Guess it's time to pull it back into the garage and figure it out. It has been out for 20 days now; resetting counter ....

 

[XR7-4.6]

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.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

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?

 

[XR7-4.6]

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?

Yes the spring has to be removed to get the pin out(the spring is what tensions the pin to roll up the belt)

 

[Grog6]

You can wash the belts, the pieces of metal that don't come off, you put in socks,iirc. NO bleach.

 

[Zep5.0]

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?

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.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Yes, agreed. I was just curious about the removal procedure, cleaning or otherwise.

 

[White Lincoln]

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...

Just a thought, but how are the wheel bearings?

 

[White Lincoln]

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.

What color where / are your belts? And how bad were the stains?

 

[Kenz]

Just a thought, but how are the wheel bearings?

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
We need a mullet emoji here!

 

[XR7-4.6]

My Firebird will be happy to get more drive time now
We need a mullet emoji here!

 

[Zep5.0]

What color where / are your belts? And how bad were the stains?

They were just darkened from years of touching them. No stains per se. My interior is dark red.

 

[Derphound01]

What resistor do I need to disable the passenger airbag and not get a fault code?

 

[Grog6]

2.2 ohm, is what I was told to use, prior to hooking up the airbag, after blowing them,to make sure it wouldn't blow the new ones.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Yep I used a 2.2 on mine.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Can't see what you posted.

 

[White Lincoln]

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.

This is the post I recall reading. Thanks for the reminder Zep.

 

[Grog6]

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.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I don't know why you can't but you can lol

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

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.]



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.