Stupid problems with weird or simple solutions

[Tamworthbay]

I bought an MGB GT a few years ago that wouldn’t run for more than half an hour, but leave it a while and it was ok again. I thought it was fuel vaporisation/ vapour lock so took a punt on it, after all how complicated can it be on an MGB? But checking all the fuel lines revealed nothing running close to anything hot. Then the first time I filled it up there was a whoosh as I opened the nice and shiny cap recently fitted by the previous owner. £7 for a vented cap and no problem in the next 40,000 miles. Got that car for a song as well due to the problem. Anyone else had any stupid problems that have you scratching your head?

[Rocket88]

Had similar thing with a Bedford CF camper..............inadvertently solved it by losing the filler cap in a service station...........

[Isaac Hunt]

Had a Honda SS50 that kept partially seizing, busting the rings and shagging the piston ring grooves.

 

Turned out to be a loose baffle in the exhaust that was causing it.

 

Rebuild it for the 4th time ( rebore and piston) fitted new exhaust, right as rain after that.

 

Worked it out myself at the age of 16 because the Honda Dealer couldn't and refused to do the job under warranty a third time.

 

I went out and bought a couple of Honda C50's, took engines apart and put them back together to practice, learnt a lot that summer, the lesson on cause and effect with mechanical problems turned out to be one of those 'life defining moments'

[xtriple]

Bought a 635 BMW, mint condition apart from 'the head gaskets gone' as it had been professionally diagnosed. I thought differently... New radiator cap and the car was fine and ran for several thousand miles before I flogged it to a trader for a quick £2K profit