Listen to this story...

[bullittandy]

I've been working on my new 99 Q45 and have run into some stumbling blocks getting it inspected and titled which has made me neurotic thinking that I may have an "undrivable" car. As a result of this, every little thing that goes wrong on the car makes me catastrophize-latest example.

I'm sitting in the car with the ignition on, not running and hear a soft rythmic sound in the dash that sounds exactly like a CD changer changing discs or a ABS module failing or the world coming to an end!

I'm tracking the sound from drivers seat to passenger's seat then to engine bay-getting closer-next the ABS module-getting hot-its, its, its THE WIPER MOTOR. The lowest intermittent speed was on and why didn't I know? Because I removed the wipers and trim in prep for a new windshield! I'm such an idiot!!

[oldmako]

Don't beat yourself up.

When I was a kid I completely rebuilt the engine on a 74 VW Bus. 1800cc with the dual webers, tons of smog crud etc.

I finally got all the parts cobbled together but it would NOT run worth a damn. It would start right up, but the idle was horrible and it sputtered and spat. Went over everything several times and convinced myself I had the distributor gear installed incorrectly. Reinstalled it twice....no change.

After a full day of cussing and unbelievable frustration I remembered that I had neglected to reconnect the vacuum hose to the brake booster located up near the drivers feet. It was easy to miss as it was the ONLY thing not located under the hood where I spent all my time. Oh well.

I got the hose back on and the thing ran great for the next 8 years and 120K.

ps..The vent looks great and was a snap to replace. I have not yet gotten to the springs. Do you have a drivers side fog lamp??

[qship96]

Reminds me of the time I barely felt/heard an intermittant vibration in the center driveshaft tunnel area while driving freaking me out as to what was wrong with the car...turned out to be cell phone set to vibrate left in center console, vibrating once every 60 seconds or so,alerting me to a missed call!!!!

[TBrack]

On my 94 sentra I was driving home from Statics (only class of the day woohoo college) and I heard this horrible grinding noise coming from the front of the car. Then to my surprise it suddenly just went away and the car rolled to a stop. Called my dad and told him I think I wasted the transmission, so we brought it home and took it out and opened that transmission all the way up and saw nothing wrong! A week later I was just poking around and saw a nice looking marble on the ground beside the passenger tire, turns out it was the cv joint that ground itself down to nothing

[Kiven422]

[QUOTE=oldmako]Don't beat yourself up.

After a full day of cussing and unbelievable frustration I remembered that I had neglected to reconnect the vacuum hose[QUOTE]

Hahaha Its always a silly vacuum hose

Don't beat yourself up for it... besides your ONLY choice is to figure whats wrong no matter how long it takes... might as well make it a positive learning experience.