Vehicle Repair Safety

In our first installment on car-repair safety, we focused on the person doing the repairs, both their mindset and proper apparel. Now we'll get down to the nitty-gritty list of flagrant, bone-headed, and all too common car-repair mistakes. What makes these errors especially egregious is that people who call themselves professionals committed them! We encourage you to use your powers of perception to conjure up the appropriate disaster scenario in each case.

Ten Top Mistakes
In keeping with the reverse order employed by TV comedian David Letterman in his late-night list, here goes (drumroll please):


10) Failing to disconnect the battery negative cable before attempting to repair the starting/charging system.


9) Using the top of a "top-post" battery for storing wrenches, drive handles, or socket extensions.


8) "Bleeding-off" fuel-injection line pressure while the engine is still hot.