What a Day!!!

PKRWUD · 08-24-2002, 10:06 PM

What a Day!!!

Today was quite a day. It started with a trip to Cigarettes Cheaper to get a couple cartons, only to find out that they still haven't stocked up on my brand. I then went to the auto parts store to return my smog pump core, and pick up a set of Champion Truck plugs. I just installed a new set of NGK's on Thursday, but the truck feels heavy, and I knew it was the plugs.

Once home, I let the engine cool for a bit, and read some inane replies in a thread I had replied to. I then went back out and set up the truck in the garage. The truck doesn't quite fit, so when I work on it, the back 3 or 4 feet go into the alley, and I roll down the garage door, and let it rest on the diamond plate bed rails. I then took each new plug, trimmed the ground electrode, and gapped them. I swapped in the Champions for the NGK's, and went for a test drive.

Now then, some people say that a spark plug is a spark plug, and they don't really affect performance, as long as they're new. Bullshiit. I couldn't believe how much snappier it was, and how much more responsive! It was as if I had taken 500 pounds out of the bed.

This inspired me.

I decided it was time to clean all the electrical connectors in the ECM & TFI circuits, hoping to solve whatever it was that gave me problems with my JET chip, and put the chip back in! It's been about 6 months, and I really, really miss the effect that chip had on my truck.

So I pulled out the e-brake pedal assembly to get to the access door on my ECM, cleaned the contacts, and put the chip back in. I then cleaned up the connectors under the hood, re-connected the battery, and went about performing the re-learn process for the ECM.

This is where it get's dumb.

After the relearn was finished, I wanted to go for a test drive. I was going to wait on the e-brake assembly until after I knew I was going to leave the chip in. I got out and closed the hood, and suddenly, but very slowly, the truck started to roll backwards. I had left it in neutral during the re-learn, and I hadn't hooked up the e-brake. Still, it didn't really hit me, what was happening, until I heard the sounds of metal bending and wood splintering. It was then that I realized my truck was not only headed out into the alley, where it would have careened right into my neighbors garage door, but it was taking my garage door with it. It started rolling faster, and I realized there was no way I was going to be able to get around the side in time, so I grabbed the bumper and dug in. The truck stopped rolling, but every ounce of strength in my body couldn't get that 6000 pound truck to roll back up into the garage. I thought quickly, and grabbed a toolbox that was on the floor, and slid it behind the front tire. I got in the truck, started it, and pulled it forward.

The less-than-a-year-old roll up garage door was bent pretty bad in the middle, and a couple of the rollers were pulled from their channel. An hour later, after some banging, and prying, and hammering, and screwing, I finally got the door almost as good as new.

I then took the truck out to see if the chip was okay. It seems to be doing fine.

I'll know for sure over the next week or two, but she-it howdy! It was sooo nice to have that feeling again. In one day, that truck went from feeling like a heavy supercab with a slow engine, to feeling like a light reg cab with a V8. Amazing!

So, lessons learned today:

NGK plugs suck eggs.
Champion Truck plugs ROCK!
JET makes an awesome chip for my truck.
ALWAYS block the tires when taking the e-brake assembly out!!!

Wow. What a day.

Take care,
~Chris

Shelby428cj · 08-24-2002, 10:40 PM

Well Chris at least you learned 3 good things out of today's events and only one bad!!!!!!!!

See Ya,
Karen

Topless In Texas · 08-24-2002, 10:51 PM

ive taken outmore than my fair share of garages..To every catasrtophy, there is an answer!

Crazy Horse GT · 08-24-2002, 11:29 PM

rotflmao, im gonna let you slide on this one, because, a trip to indy & back in 2 day's - really one, im burnt out, no comment required-lol. marty

PKRWUD · 08-24-2002, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Topless In Texas
ive taken outmore than my fair share of garages..To every catasrtophy, there is an answer!

LOL. Yeah, well, this would have been my first. It's really kind of amazing how many thoughts went through my mind while I was trying to keep the truck from rolling down into the alley! The one thought that really gave me chills, was if the truck ripped the door out, I'd be camping in my garage until I got it replaced! You've seen it. There's no way I'd leave all my tools and parts open like that, and my garage is packed! I couldn't move half of it inside.

But, it worked out in the end.

Take care,
~Chris

95mustanggt · 08-25-2002, 12:05 AM

I guess we never do stop learning, even the best of us.

1969Mach1 · 08-25-2002, 12:25 AM

Don't worry Chris we all got those days, I usually have days that consist of nothing but bad days. I backed into my garage the 2 weeks ago and man was I pissed, then my dad caught me racing later that night and there were a series of bad **** during that day too. But it gets better so meh'

Quote:

Originally posted by Crazy Horse GT
im burnt out, no comment required-lol. marty

Ok I'll let you off easy on this one man....

1969Mach1 · 08-25-2002, 12:30 AM

I'm curious on why the word l-u-c-k was banned. lol I know it's close to another word starting with a F but will duck (d-u-c-k) be banned too?

Crazy Horse GT · 08-25-2002, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1969Mach1
Don't worry Chris we all got those days, I usually have days that consist of nothing but bad days. I backed into my garage the 2 weeks ago and man was I pissed, then my dad caught me racing later that night and there were a series of bad **** during that day too. But it gets better so meh'

Ok I'll let you off easy on this one man....

hey bud drive 1600 miles in one day, you would be burnt out too, i was never so happy to get the h---- out of my car, & smoked aricer too on the way home, just joking, see ya. marty.

HellRaiser92 · 08-25-2002, 02:22 AM

Hey PKRWUD you wouldn't happen to know if they make an awesome chip for my stang would you? Actualy I've been thinking about getting one for a while now but at over $300 I've been hesitating a little.

The Deuce · 08-25-2002, 02:35 AM

LMAO, now I don't feel so bad. I've had my fair share of things roll away, but I've never taken out a door. Why do you put the door down halfway in the first place? I guess it helped keep the truck from just bailing on you totally.

PKRWUD · 08-25-2002, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HellRaiser92
Hey PKRWUD you wouldn't happen to know if they make an awesome chip for my stang would you? Actualy I've been thinking about getting one for a while now but at over $300 I've been hesitating a little.

JET Performance Module #79208

Take care,
~Chris

joe4speed · 08-25-2002, 04:33 AM

OUCH!!! That sucks dude!

PKRWUD · 08-25-2002, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by joe4speed
OUCH!!! That sucks dude!

Actually, Joe, it was a great day overall! Thanks, though!

Take care,
~Chris

08-24-2002, 10:06 PM	#1
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	What a Day!!! What a Day!!! Today was quite a day. It started with a trip to Cigarettes Cheaper to get a couple cartons, only to find out that they still haven't stocked up on my brand. I then went to the auto parts store to return my smog pump core, and pick up a set of Champion Truck plugs. I just installed a new set of NGK's on Thursday, but the truck feels heavy, and I knew it was the plugs. Once home, I let the engine cool for a bit, and read some inane replies in a thread I had replied to. I then went back out and set up the truck in the garage. The truck doesn't quite fit, so when I work on it, the back 3 or 4 feet go into the alley, and I roll down the garage door, and let it rest on the diamond plate bed rails. I then took each new plug, trimmed the ground electrode, and gapped them. I swapped in the Champions for the NGK's, and went for a test drive. Now then, some people say that a spark plug is a spark plug, and they don't really affect performance, as long as they're new. Bullshiit. I couldn't believe how much snappier it was, and how much more responsive! It was as if I had taken 500 pounds out of the bed. This inspired me. I decided it was time to clean all the electrical connectors in the ECM & TFI circuits, hoping to solve whatever it was that gave me problems with my JET chip, and put the chip back in! It's been about 6 months, and I really, really miss the effect that chip had on my truck. So I pulled out the e-brake pedal assembly to get to the access door on my ECM, cleaned the contacts, and put the chip back in. I then cleaned up the connectors under the hood, re-connected the battery, and went about performing the re-learn process for the ECM. This is where it get's dumb. After the relearn was finished, I wanted to go for a test drive. I was going to wait on the e-brake assembly until after I knew I was going to leave the chip in. I got out and closed the hood, and suddenly, but very slowly, the truck started to roll backwards. I had left it in neutral during the re-learn, and I hadn't hooked up the e-brake. Still, it didn't really hit me, what was happening, until I heard the sounds of metal bending and wood splintering. It was then that I realized my truck was not only headed out into the alley, where it would have careened right into my neighbors garage door, but it was taking my garage door with it. It started rolling faster, and I realized there was no way I was going to be able to get around the side in time, so I grabbed the bumper and dug in. The truck stopped rolling, but every ounce of strength in my body couldn't get that 6000 pound truck to roll back up into the garage. I thought quickly, and grabbed a toolbox that was on the floor, and slid it behind the front tire. I got in the truck, started it, and pulled it forward. The less-than-a-year-old roll up garage door was bent pretty bad in the middle, and a couple of the rollers were pulled from their channel. An hour later, after some banging, and prying, and hammering, and screwing, I finally got the door almost as good as new. I then took the truck out to see if the chip was okay. It seems to be doing fine. I'll know for sure over the next week or two, but she-it howdy! It was sooo nice to have that feeling again. In one day, that truck went from feeling like a heavy supercab with a slow engine, to feeling like a light reg cab with a V8. Amazing! So, lessons learned today: NGK plugs suck eggs. Champion Truck plugs ROCK! JET makes an awesome chip for my truck. ALWAYS block the tires when taking the e-brake assembly out!!! Wow. What a day. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

08-24-2002, 10:40 PM	#2
Shelby428cj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 510	Well Chris at least you learned 3 good things out of today's events and only one bad!!!!!!!! See Ya, Karen __________________ Karen Wells, Moderator The Mustang Works Magazine http://www.mustangworks.com 1969 Mustang (Project Rice Eater) 1999 Silver Mustang Saleen S281 (SQ car for stereo contests) SQ Goddess My Stereo Bro "tireburner163"

08-24-2002, 10:51 PM	#3
Topless In Texas Not broken anymore! Join Date: May 2001 Location: La Porte, TEXASS :) Posts: 1,963	garages suck! ive taken outmore than my fair share of garages..To every catasrtophy, there is an answer! __________________ R.I.P. my Kinde..Jan. 19,1992-Aug. 22, 2003. Shes Cruisin' doggie heaven in a Blown Verte or a GTO!!! 2005 ROUSH GT Verte SuperStallions of the Net Feature, May 2002 RICE HATERS CLUB MEMBER #38!! O.B.C #5..thank you!! I feel so priveledged!! BONE STOCK~ Hell, its a ROUSH!

08-24-2002, 11:29 PM	#4
Crazy Horse GT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sale Creek, TN. C. S. A. Posts: 4,652	rotflmao, im gonna let you slide on this one, because, a trip to indy & back in 2 day's - really one, im burnt out, no comment required-lol. marty __________________ 95 gt vert, lot's of stuff, it aint slow. 04 sonic blue v - six my beater 89 rs camaro iroc turbo hood, other stuff, my wifes ride 84 lx stang cammed up 289 hi po, etc 65 falcon, maybe by the year 2020. black 00gt, gone but never forgotten. R H C- member # 1 o.b.c. da prez- member # 1 if your under 40 dont ask. goodbye for now odie,r.i.p. 11-27-03

08-25-2002, 12:05 AM	#6
95mustanggt Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Kamloops, BC Posts: 2,875	I guess we never do stop learning, even the best of us. __________________ 1995 Mustang GT 20016 F150 Lariat Super Crew

08-25-2002, 12:30 AM	#8
1969Mach1 HEY I CAN SET A NAME NOW! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,556	I'm curious on why the word l-u-c-k was banned. lol I know it's close to another word starting with a F but will duck (d-u-c-k) be banned too? __________________ 1969 Mustang Mach 1Sold 351-4V Windsor, 4 Speed MACH 1 - Moving At The Speed Of Sound. 1979 Mustang Indianapolis 500 Pace Car For Sale - Email me for Info 302-2V, 3-Speed Auto One of 2,106 made One of 405 sent to Canada. Yes those are caution lights, and No you can't pass me when there on. Ricer Hater's Club - Member #4

08-25-2002, 02:22 AM	#10
HellRaiser92 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 104	Hey PKRWUD you wouldn't happen to know if they make an awesome chip for my stang would you? Actualy I've been thinking about getting one for a while now but at over $300 I've been hesitating a little. __________________ 92LX 2.3ltr 5 speed Air Silencer removed, K&N Filter, Straight Pipe

08-25-2002, 02:35 AM	#11
The Deuce Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,325	LMAO, now I don't feel so bad. I've had my fair share of things roll away, but I've never taken out a door. Why do you put the door down halfway in the first place? I guess it helped keep the truck from just bailing on you totally. __________________ 1997 Mustang GT "The Freak" - 13.80 @ 101.70, 2.07 60' 1995 Honda VFR750 - not much @ really fast (actual data pending.) 1964.5 Mustang 289 Rice Haters Club Member #13

08-25-2002, 04:33 AM	#13
joe4speed He said Member...heh, heh Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Jupiter, Florida U.S.A. Posts: 3,718	OUCH!!! That sucks dude! __________________ *Joe!* 1988 GT, 13.58@101mph Check out my listing! Click here! Or my website:www.joe4speed.com