Results 1 to 20 of 27
Thread: Always disconnect the battery...
-
08-31-2011 #1
Registered User
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Posts
- 337
Always disconnect the battery...
One of the most basic safety precautions. This guy ignored it. While underneath a van replacing a starter, it started unexpectedly, drove through his backyard, and off a boat ramp. Broken ribs, but he's lucky to have his life.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story/253874
You can't be slick to a can of oil
-
09-01-2011 #2
Registered User
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Silver Spring, MD
- Posts
- 92
So....he was replacing a starter.....with the battery connected.....and the ignition on.....and in gear.....with the van pointed towards a boat ramp..... Now that's an ambitious way to fail. Wow.
09-01-2011 #3
-Moderator/Sponsor-
- Join Date
- Apr 2001
- Location
- The City of Fountains
- Posts
- 16,119
If he had managed to kill himself he would have been a perfect nominee for the Darwin Awards.
Originally Posted by Hambone!
Andrew1970 GTO Version 3.0
1967 Cougar build
GM High-Tech Performance feature
My YouTube Channel Please Subscribe!
Instagram @dr__efi
I deliver what EFI promises.
Remote Holley EFI tuning.
Please get in touch if I can be of service.
"You were the gun, your voice was the trigger, your bravery was the barrel, your eyes were the bullets." ~ Her
09-01-2011 #4
Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
- Location
- oshawa ontario
- Posts
- 1,607
1001 Ways To Die.......
Nascar 69 Chevelle project, 1999 Hutch Pagan Nascar chassis, 69 Chevelle body,700hp, Penske's, slicks, roadrace track day https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...le-Cup-project
89 Iroc 406 Fitech 5 spd
01 chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1 Allison
31 Scarab 2 x 454
09-01-2011 #5
Registered User
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Location
- Ventura, ca
- Posts
- 763
It doesnt even seem possible that you could screw up that bad! But there is the wet van to prove you can!
I am not useless, I can still be used as a bad example!
-Bob
09-01-2011 #6
Registered User
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Posts
- 337
You can't be slick to a can of oil
09-01-2011 #7
Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Posts
- 952
unless i missed it, the story didn't say anything about what he was doing to the starter.. he might have been under there whacking it with a wrench to get it to work- and it worked.. still doesn't explain why it started and why the van took off..
and i don't know about the newer Ford stuff, but you can change the starter on the older Fords with the solenoid mounted up by the battery without unhooking anything since there is no power to the starter until the solenoid is energized.
and i wonder how much the "environmental cleanup fee" will be for removing a few gallons of gas and a couple of quarts of oil out of a canal that holds billions of gallons of water..
09-02-2011 #8
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2004
- Posts
- 2,624
Maybe the van was suicidal?
Red Forman: "The Mustang's front end is problematic; get yourself a Firebird."
09-02-2011 #9
Registered User
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Tallahassee
- Posts
- 295
Was this man a congressman? Sounds like a complete clusterF.
09-02-2011 #10
Registered User
- Join Date
- Feb 2005
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
- Posts
- 1,797
Insurance job!!!! lol...
Regards,
Leigh
Sydney, Australia
1971 Firebird 455
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...Project/page27
09-03-2011 #11
Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2004
- Location
- Dunwoody, GA
- Posts
- 4,984
lol, I'm calling BS on it just taking off. Then again, it never ceases to amaze me how stupid people can be.
Trey
"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
~ Jon Hammond
1979 WS6 Trans Am stock LT1/T56 drive train out of my Formula. BMW M-parallel rims. C5/C6 brakes
build thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=begins
09-03-2011 #12
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- McKinney, TX
- Posts
- 899
When I was a dumb 16 year old, I made the mistake of forgetting to disconnect my batt. and when I grounded out the starter against the oil pan, it let me know really fast that it was a DUMB move. A fire shot right up the pos. cable and I almost did some serious damage to myself just trying to get out from underneath the car.
Believe me when I say the very first thing I do in ANY repair situation is disconnect the battery!Confucius says, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life"
My build Beast
09-03-2011 #13
Registered User
- Join Date
- Apr 2006
- Location
- Huntington Beach, CA
- Posts
- 2,420
What modern vehicle will even start in gear? Something is missing from this story
Please Subscribe to the AutoXandTrack YouTube Channel
Autocross and track blog about running autocross and track events with pro touring cars
09-03-2011 #14
Registered User
- Join Date
- Jul 2003
- Location
- Anaheim Hills, CA
- Posts
- 11,967
One that has been modded where the neutral safety switch isn't working.. seen it happen.. bad starter solenoid, jump it with a screwdriver.. voila! car in motion.. oops.. Originally Posted by Chad-1stGen
"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."
1968 Track Rat Camaro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGHJ5c1yLIo&t=2s
1971 Chevelle Wagon with a few mods:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBVPR3sRgyU
09-04-2011 #15
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2004
- Posts
- 2,624
Bad starter solenoid, inoperable neutral safety switch, truck in gear, facing a boat ramp - that's a lot of fail at the same tiem. Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2
Red Forman: "The Mustang's front end is problematic; get yourself a Firebird."
09-07-2011 #16
Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Posts
- 189
I instantly thought of this!
09-07-2011 #17
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2004
- Posts
- 2,624
That down by the river. Not down in the river. Originally Posted by HELLCAMINO
I instantly thought of this!
Red Forman: "The Mustang's front end is problematic; get yourself a Firebird."
09-07-2011 #18
Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2004
- Location
- Holmes Hollow, Ontario Canada
- Posts
- 991
I think the gf wanted to get rid of the van and the boyfriend.
____________________________________________
Scott
09-07-2011 #19
Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2004
- Location
- Rustburg, Virginia
- Posts
- 3,436
Anybody remember the 1977 or 1978 Ford LTDs that would diesel and run for a few minutes after you turned off the ignition and also had sloppy shifter linkage? My Dad had a friend whose car backed itself into a wall while he was ordering food. He had the keys in his pocket and it somehow managed to fall out of park and into reverse, and dieseled enough to back itself into a cinderblock wall that was behind his car. I don't remember if he said it hurt anything or not. I was in HS when I heard him talk about this.
1970 RS/SS350 139K on the clock:
89 TPI motor w/ 1pc rear seal coupled to a Viper T56 via Mcleod's modular bellhousing w/ hydraulic T/O bearing from the Viper, 12 bolt rear w/ 3.73 gearing, SC&C upper control arms, factory lowers with Delalums, C5 brakes at all four corners, Front Wheels 17x8's with Sumi 255/40/17 and Rear Wheels 17x9's with Sumi 275/40/17.
Brief description of the work done so far can be found here: http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112454
09-07-2011 #20
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Carlsbad, CA
- Posts
- 744
And one pissed-off girlfriend to make sure he never forgets! Originally Posted by moreHP
Reply With Quote
