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DIY Car Repairs Gone Wrong: Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them Before They Break You

DIY Car Repairs Gone Wrong: Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them Before They Break You

Wrench Nation Nov 26, 2025
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About this episode

Exploring the pitfalls of DIY car repairs, this episode dives into common mistakes and how to avoid them. From brake jobs to spark plug replacements, the hosts share essential tips to ensure your repairs don't lead to bigger problems. They also discuss the importance of quality parts and proper techniques, emphasizing the need for accountability in both automotive and restaurant service. With insights from the restaurant industry, the episode highlights the parallels between service sectors and the necessity of teamwork and communication.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Part

battery

"you might want to do your battery"

A car battery gives power to start the engine and run lights, radio, and other electronics.

Part

four cylinder engine

"a yellow four cylinder fair enough"

A four-cylinder engine is a type of car engine with four cylinders that make the car move.

Part

brakes

"you want to do your breaks"

Brakes are what you press to slow down or stop the car.

Part

shocks

"suspension works I mean you want to do your own shocks and some of the basic electric fixes"

Shocks help your car stay smooth when you hit bumps. They absorb the jolt so you don’t feel every bump in the road.

Brand

Tesla

"coming with Tesla Susie we mentioned the rebates money is going away the incentives yes what just happened with Tesla"

Tesla makes cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline. They’re famous for their fast acceleration and large touchscreens.

Concept

legacy brands

"tesla owners are defecting to legacy brands"

Legacy brands are the older car makers like Ford, GM, Toyota, etc., that have been around for a long time and still make gasoline cars.

Term

EV

"do you think they're loyal because it's an ev"

An EV is a car that runs on electricity, so it doesn’t use gasoline and produces no tailpipe emissions.

Term

rebates

"what rebates i'm gonna get"

A rebate is like a cash back offer that lowers how much you pay for a car.

Concept

charging stations

"when you go to a parking lot and you see those charging stations"

Charging stations are places where you can plug in an electric car to get more power, similar to a gas station for gasoline cars.

Concept

lifecycle of an EV

"if you did the lifecycle of an ev how much did it really cost"

It looks at everything that happens to an electric car from the factory, through its use, and when it’s retired or recycled.

Term

wheel alignment geometry

"you're gonna replace tires uh a little more frequent uh frequent regarding geometry and i'm not the authority on it i've had folks like tex got brown out of claremont mesa who's just a tesla underhood guru um but you're gonna go through the tires you're gonna go through the control arms you will go to breaks i in fact i joke around you won't see me for an old change"

Wheel alignment geometry is how the wheels are set up on a car so they point in the right direction, which helps the car drive straight and use tires evenly.

Part

control arms

"you will go to breaks i in fact i joke around you won't see me for an old change one old service i should say but you may see me because your tires are worn because the geometry in the weight of the battery okay but they dropped to the number two and to answer your question i i don't know for sure but i do believe um remember this is loyalty it doesn't tell me if this is new or existing it says tesla owners are defecting to legacy brands in greater numbers"

Control arms are parts of a car’s suspension that help keep the wheels in the right place as the car moves over bumps.

Car

Model 3

"you’re driving your model three you've been driving you love it"

The Model 3 is a small electric car from Tesla that many people like because it’s not too expensive and can go a good distance on one charge.

Term

Plaid

"i'm gonna get a plaid what a really good cyber truck but you're a cyber truck"

Plaid is a special version of the Model 3 that can go very fast because it has extra power from three electric motors.

Car

Cybertruck

"you either love it or you hate it everybody i mean what are you thinking now i gotta ask because you"

The Cybertruck is a big electric truck from Tesla that looks very different from other trucks and can haul heavy loads.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...sagree a lot of you tesla drivers allow that emak mustang no no no no but that emak mustang for a while wa..."

The Mustang is a classic American sports car that people love for its fast engine and cool look. It’s been made for many years, so it’s a well-known name in car culture.

Term

Movia S

"the company microvision has a new lidar system out called the movia s it's a small affordable solid state lidar system"

Movia S is a small sensor that helps cars see their surroundings using light, and it’s cheaper than many other options.

Term

solid state LiDAR

"it's a small affordable solid state lidar system using a tri lidar setup"

Solid-state LiDAR is a type of sensor that doesn’t have moving parts, so it’s more reliable and cheaper to make.

Car

Ford Expedition

"turn your average car like maybe a uh ford expedition into a driverless vehicle"

It’s a big, family‑friendly pickup truck from Ford that can carry people and cargo.

Term

driverless vehicle

"turn your average car like maybe a uh ford expedition into a driverless vehicle that"

It’s a car that can drive itself, using computers and sensors instead of a person behind the wheel.

Company

Parts Authority

"Wrench Nation support comes from Parts Authority, providing automotive parts and supplies for both professional mechanics and automotive enthusiasts."

Parts Authority sells car parts like brakes, batteries, and other components that people use to fix or upgrade their vehicles.

Company

Wrench Nation

"Just get on a wrench nation and put in the search bar. Just type in brakes."

Wrench Nation is a store where mechanics and DIYers can buy tools like wrenches, sockets, and other gear needed for car repairs.

Part

snorkel

"You went too fast and you left a snorkel, the air induction hose or what."

A snorkel is a tube that brings in fresh air from outside the car, helping the engine run better. It’s usually added to make the car faster or to keep it running cleanly.

Company

Aysen

"Denso, Aysen, typically Japanese, European is Bosch."

Aysen sells car parts that can replace the original ones, usually at a lower price.

Company

Denso

"Denso, Aysen, typically Japanese, European is Bosch."

Denso makes parts for cars, like the small pieces that help your engine start and run smoothly.

Part

spark plugs

"I'm not going to mention the spark plugs."

Spark plugs are tiny parts that help your car’s engine start by creating a spark in the cylinders.

Concept

tune up

"So if you're not ready for the tune up financially, just save your money..."

A tune up is when a mechanic checks parts that help your car start and run well, like spark plugs and filters.

Car

Chevrolet Spark

"There's some special tooling. Spark plug tools have come a long way. It used to be j..."

The Spark is a tiny, cheap car that’s easy to park and doesn’t use much gas. It’s good for city driving.

Car

Chrysler Pacific

"...ome of them are in some of the old... Well, like Chrysler Pacific, it's in the fender well, and your mechanic is t..."

The Pacifica is a large family van that can seat many people and has nice features like a built‑in screen. It’s designed to be comfortable for long trips.

Term

diesel

"I did it with a diesel."

Diesel is a kind of engine that runs on diesel fuel, which gives more pulling power and uses less gas than regular gasoline engines.

Concept

jump start

"[2614.9s] And you should be able to jump start. [2616.3s] And that's what you're talking about."

If your car won’t start because the battery is dead, you can use another car’s battery to give it a boost. You connect the batteries with cables and let the good battery power up the bad one.

Brand

Volvo

"[2618.3s] Which vehicle? [2619.1s] Volvo?"

Volvo makes cars that are famous for being safe and reliable. They’re a well-known brand from Sweden.

Term

memory saver

"you connect the memory saver to the data link connector"

When a car’s battery dies, the car can lose settings like radio stations or seat positions. A memory saver keeps those settings saved so you don’t have to re‑set them every time the battery is replaced.

Term

data link connector

"you connect the memory saver to the data link connector"

It’s a small plug‑in spot in the car where you can connect tools or gadgets to talk to the car’s computer, like a USB port but for cars.

6 cars featured

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