c/deep-dive-requests

The week I chased a ghost in a 1998 Dodge Ram that just kept dying on the same hill

So I drive a beater '98 Ram with 230k miles, runs fine most days. But last Tuesday, every single time I hit that steep grade near the old grain mill on Route 9, the engine just cut out. No sputter, no warning, just dead. Coast down, crank it up, fires right back. Happened four times in three days. Mechanic buddy laughed and said fuel pump or vapor lock. Turned out the fuel tank had a dent right where the pickup sits, only starving for gas on a steep incline. Cost me $80 at a junkyard for a used tank. Has anyone else had a car do something silly like that, where it only breaks in one specific spot?

3 comments

murray.robert•1d ago

Had to choose between a gas stove and induction when I redid my kitchen last fall

After 40 years cooking on gas, I went with induction because the electric company offered a $500 rebate and my old gas line was rusted out anyway. Took about a month to get used to the instant heat changes, but the pans heat up faster and the kitchen stays way cooler in summer. Anyone else made this switch and ended up regretting it or loving it more than you expected?

3 comments

stella_scott96•3d ago

Tried a $7 UV flashlight on my car AC and got a nasty surprise

So I had this idea to check for refrigerant leaks in my 2015 Honda Civic using one of those little UV flashlights... figured it would be quick and easy. I sprayed some dye in the system, ran the AC for about 10 minutes, then shined the light around the engine bay. Instead of spotting a tiny leak, I found this massive green glow all over the compressor seal - it was basically spraying out every time the clutch engaged. What I learned is that these cheap lights work way too well sometimes, you might find a bigger problem than you expected. Has anyone else had a simple leak check turn into a whole compressor replacement?

3 comments

the_emma•3d ago

The day I realized I was opening boxes wrong my whole life

I always just ripped into packages like a normal person, cutting straight down the middle. Then my buddy who works at a UPS hub pointed out I was basically asking for the contents to get damaged. He showed me this trick of cutting the tape seam on the bottom flap instead - takes like 5 extra seconds but keeps everything safe. Now I'm wondering how many people still do it the fast way versus the smart way. Has anyone else had that moment where you found out a basic thing you did for 30 years was actually dumb?

3 comments