Oops; The Mistake/Fail Thread
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Delaware, OH
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
so I was doing some work and had to remove the valve cover. When I went to put it back on, I check the repair manual to see how tight to torque the bolts. The manual said 55 in-lbs but I thought it said 55 ft-lbs. I thought 55ft-lbs was alot but why would I argue with the book. So there I was with the torque wrench, and it was taking forever to click and then snap the bolt brakes. I felt like such an idiot and to this day my family won't let me forget it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Im real ashamed of this.
A week after buying mine, I, while attempting to change my oil at a late hour, drained my transmission fluid.

And then put ATF +4 in it...
double
A week after buying mine, I, while attempting to change my oil at a late hour, drained my transmission fluid.

And then put ATF +4 in it...
double
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 972
Likes: 12
From: south bend indiana
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0 i six H.O.
so I was doing some work and had to remove the valve cover. When I went to put it back on, I check the repair manual to see how tight to torque the bolts. The manual said 55 in-lbs but I thought it said 55 ft-lbs. I thought 55ft-lbs was alot but why would I argue with the book. So there I was with the torque wrench, and it was taking forever to click and then snap the bolt brakes. I felt like such an idiot and to this day my family won't let me forget it.
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 972
Likes: 12
From: south bend indiana
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0 i six H.O.
and when i did my headliner i drilled into that back bracket for the rear cargo light and went too far thru the roof. put some kind of rtv sealant on top of the hole and its still holding.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 0
From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
Originally Posted by redmuck
and when i did my headliner i drilled into that back bracket for the rear cargo light and went too far thru the roof. put some kind of rtv sealant on top of the hole and its still holding.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: jackson nj
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
From: Kremmling, CO
Year: 2007
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK)
Engine: 3.7l V6
I did the exact same thing... but I still have the screw poking through lol... thought about just sliding a bolt through it lol.
Originally Posted by GMTURBO
It wasn't on the XJ but I was upgrading the rear brakes from drums to disks on my GMC Typhoon. In order to do so, both axles need to be removed. I parked just close enough to the garage wall for the axle to not come all the way out.
Any sane person would move the offending piece of drywall - what are the chances that it'd be right on a stud...(sigh)
Any sane person would move the offending piece of drywall - what are the chances that it'd be right on a stud...(sigh)
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 602
Likes: 3
From: LARRYVILLE
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I was working on greasing my hood latch release and the cable one day. I didn't wanna slam the hood back down bc my wife and daughter were sleeping in the room above me so i just closed the hood w/o latching. Few hours later i ran out to grab a pizza and forgot all about the hood. Got down the road about 1/2 a mile and the hood flys up and im blind!!! Very minor damage but i felt like an idiot!
Sent from my iPhone because web wheeling is cheaper...
Sent from my iPhone because web wheeling is cheaper...
CF Veteran

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,612
Likes: 0
From: West Valley
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I decided since I was such a "smart guy" to install my Powertrax locker myself. Misaligned it, broke one of the active spacers, could'nt get the C-clip back out (I spent hours) to even confirm what I already knew. I ended up throwing Four wheel parts $200 plus spent $80 on new parts to fix my mishap. I have no business inside a diff, I know that now.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 888
Likes: 2
From: Wekiva, FL
Year: 99 sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 i6
When I finished cutting the holes in my hood for hood vents, I used some blsck ceramic heat coat on the bare metal. Everything went great until I lowered my hood after I let it dry. Yup, black paint all over the front windshield.
Let me tell u removing it once it's dry was no fun. It's still there real hazy. Looks like a turd and to make it worse the black silicone I used bubbled up in the heat.
so knoe the vents look like a turd. If I wasn't at work i'd put up pics so all of you could laugh.
Let me tell u removing it once it's dry was no fun. It's still there real hazy. Looks like a turd and to make it worse the black silicone I used bubbled up in the heat.
so knoe the vents look like a turd. If I wasn't at work i'd put up pics so all of you could laugh.


