My Worst F-up as a Mechanic - Hurt Myself, Damaged Customer's Car - Vibrating Vibe

This 2004 Pontiac Vibe has a wicked vibration at idle in gear. I try to fix it, but instead give it plenty of other problems...
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[@lewisgeyer1440]

You could have easily never let this see the light of day. Takes a real man to admit his mistakes. You’ve earned, and deserve, all of the respect coming your way.

[@jeffdrake3224]

something so small could've ended it all. imagine getting killed by a sunbird/saturn/junky Chrysler car. If I die by car I want it to be something cool. Thank God Wes is ok! Best mechanic east of the Mississippi!

[@572Btriode]

I concur.

[@greaniebeaniez3070]

@@jeffdrake3224 I'd hate myself by getting killed by of all things one of Pontiacs ugliest cars

[@Steve_Just_Steve]

@@jeffdrake3224 This ain't a mustang guys.

[@Bear-pu2qo]

@@greaniebeaniez3070 This is probably why they quit making Pontiacs.

[@robertkeime4907]

Glad you’re ok …. Not everyone would have had the guts to share your mistake like you have. Hats off.

[@zephyrold2478]

I second that. Thank God you are ok.

[@Guitarhero1000]

Absolutely. The man doesn't have an ego. I respect that.

[@camberwellcarrot420]

Hopefully sharing this video will give pause to anyone who works on cars, and makes them think twice about what might go wrong. Very happy that you weren't seriously injured, except maybe your pride, which will recover.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Agreed. Wes is honest.

[@Thebowzer221]

I agree, not everyone would show what you did to the channel. I hope you are okay. None of us is a perfect person. Use caution, because this channel is kaput... without you.

[@brianwalker1933]

Anyone that's never made a mistake, has never made anything. Lucky you weren't badly injured and lucky your dog wasn't between the wall and the car. It takes a real man to own up to his mistakes. You have my admiration 💯%.

[@VIC00-ir2bb]

Its just a matter of time, weve a made em

[@scottamy6496]

Retired Marine and Industrial Mechanic here and I’ve seen some very scary things happen to men that simply didn’t pay attention for a split second or were complacent about what they had done hundreds or thousands of times and just that once it can bite you in the ass! Always remember to pay attention, wear your PPE and don’t ever take a piece of machinery for granted, they can and will make you feel and look like a fool…or kill you!

[@mtmadigan82]

I learned that in the Marines also. Second you stop respecting anything dangerous from an assortment of directions, is when incidents happen. They're often life changing or life ending injuries.

[@runyourprogram]

I highly respect you guys sharing knowledge like this 🙏🏽

[@KenFullman]

I think he should reposition the cameras and do it again. I didn't see it the first time.

[@rbyledbal]

Thirty-seven years ago, a brief brainless moment on an All-Terrain Cycle at the age of 22 broke my back and left me paralyzed from the waist down. It happens to all of us at some point. I'm just so happy you weren't hurt. I admire the way you handled it Wes.

[@jamesmedina2062]

Can I join your club? Off road dummies...you have a good spirit about you. I made multiple mistakes setting up a mountain bike and took a bad jump and messed up my hip which then got surgery and harmful meds. I live a different life now. No sports. My friend said what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. At least smarter thats for sure eh?! Take care

[@bumlookercheekymonkey3985]

Nobody can understand the amount of physical pain you both went thru. In my experience the physical pain leads to mental pain. Good luck to you both!

[@MrTarzan2day]

I paralyzed myself at 22 also!! I did a swan dive off a cliff into rocks... "well that was dumb" was my literal first thought after regaining consciousness and seeing what I had done to myself.

[@yohanathandowns9057]

​@MrTarzan2day you and a million others. Swan diving into rocks and old rebar is so common. Sorry for the misfortune, could have just as easily been me jumping off at Cherokee

[@shabbos-goy9407]

That's pretty heavy. You seem to have accepted this brief act if stupidity.

[@randyirons1058]

As a technician with almost 40 years of experience, I can say any tradesman has had their share of close calls. The good ones are the ones we can walk away from. Whats the old saying...."Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment". Glad you shared your bad judgement so others can learn from it. Which reminds me of another quote: "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself". Best wishes Wes, I'm looking forward to your next video.

[@calholli]

"A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others" --- he just made us all a bit wiser by showing this video.

[@richardford4570]

As a retired mechanic I wholehearted agree . We can't afford to loose our Wes or anybody else ! Cheers from Rick in Australia 🇦🇺 👍

[@LeakSprungGarage]

@@calholli very well said!

[@firesurfer]

I istalled elevator entrances for a living. One day I hopped off the platform like I have a million times before, and was off balance a little bit. I wobbled backwards towards the open shaft almost falling in. Another inch or so and that would have been it for me. NEVER take safety for granted.

[@sharonnicholson3393]

Are you sure about that I don't think I'm dumb but I definitely think I'm accident prone I might be able to live long enough to make every mistake someone else has made 😁🚑 I've already tried to drop off one of my fingers twice in 15 years

[@garystratton454]

Good to see an honest mechanic.

[@JAYTEAM187]

This reminds me of my friend Jolene I used to work with at a nursing home. She was close to 400 pounds and she would randomly yell out FOOTBALLL. That was my cue to run as fast as I could and smash into her. I always bounced right off of her due to being 140 soak n wet. One day she yelled it and I shoulder checker her. She lost her balance and went right through the wall and landed in dietary. It just happened to be the only spot with no cameras. We pulled the rug out and told the supervisor she tripped over the rug and she bought it. Ill never forget how hilarious it was.😂

[@dcrahn]

Sharing this unfortunate accident speaks a lot to your integrity. Glad you're okay.

[@gregc2467]

Two words that apply to Wes,honesty and integrity,a truly decent chap.

[@charliee7142]

Amen !

[@phammond68]

something thats always stuck with me through my culinary career is "the master has failed more times than the beginner has tried". ive always taken that as theres no shame in making mistakes if you can find the lesson to be learned from them. Glad youre ok Wes, and thank you for all the hard work you put into this channel

[@cornbreadntatersalad1634]

Good outlook. I feel the same

[@nou8257]

Yep just gotta make sure to learn from the mistakes we make and move on

[@defresurrection]

Culinary Institute of America, the other CIA, graduate?

[@phammond68]

@@defresurrection no, unfortunately I never got the opportunity to get a formal culinary education, but ive had some great chefs and mentors to help me get to where i am. I have been to hyde park and got to see the CIA though!

[@defresurrection]

@@phammond68 That's great! Working with great chefs is an education in itself!

[@scottybrucescott2155]

I am so impressed by your viewers kindness and respect. This reaction gives hope that most people are good. Doesn’t it get tiring listening to the bad, negative things around us. You are an honest,humble man. There was only one perfect man , and they hung him on a cross. May he watchout for you and care for your family. Bruce And your family.

[@madride858585]

Like he is a moron

[@TheChimpoko1]

Takes a bigger man to admit his failures than to show his successes. I really appreciate you putting this up ❤

[@thats.grantastic]

First off, I'm very grateful that you weren't seriously injured. Second, it takes a lot of humility and balls to share this. Third, this is a good reminder for ALL of us how quickly bad things can happen. Tomorrow is a new day!

[@elmerfudpucker3204]

being an auto tech for over 40 years, I know of no one that has not done something exactly like this, or any of the other scenarios you talked of, myself included, several times. Glad you weren't physically hurt, and your ego and pride will recover. You're very good and very methodical in your work habits, so don't stay hammering yourself too long. Stuff happens.

[@tekvax01]

Hear! Hear!

[@johnnyversaci7091]

My worst one was over tightening an oil pressure sensor, needed a new engine cover or whatever it’s called on the face of the engine think it costed 2 grand about, my boss said he doesn’t do oil pressure sensors after that

[@uncommonsense5876]

This is one of the reasons we love your channel Wes. You're willingness to share this experience help alot of people in just life to always keep the bigger picture when engaging with something, so pause a sec and think safely. I've had couple of these close calls over the years of working alot alot of things. They really do rattle a guy.. Great video Wes ☝️😎

[@skytrip5273]

When I was a young pup working in a shop. I saw a dude drop a mini van off a lift almost all the way up. 😂

[@upscaleshack]

Damn Wes, that was scary. I'm glad you're okay. Shows just how easy it is to get hurt messing with vehicles and equipment. Be well, man.

[@zeightguy]

100% ADMIRATION for your honesty and humility Wes, respect man !Glad you are OK and everything will be sorted.

[@calholli]

Yeah.. I wouldn't have posted it to be honest.. I would have told the story, but not posted it. (I don't think).

[@corydriver7634]

@@calholli I don’t think I’d have even told the story…well maybe one day to my grandkids.

[@jenksify]

@@corydriver7634 I would have had to give serious thought about posting it as well. Gotta give Wes credit for telling it like it is and showing how it happened. Just glad he's not hurt too bad. You know he's going to be sore the next day though.

[@miriamvivo4279]

Very humble and honest . Best post I've seen in awhile

[@munter10]

Respect for your honesty my friend! Just stumbled across your channel, recently retired from 45 years in the car and motorcycle mechanical trade, I enjoy watching other mechanics and put my feet up after sooooo many years of hard days at work, dealing with not just cars and bikes, (they’re easy to deal with) but other mechanics and of course pissed off customers. All the best Wes, I’m watching.

[@ETERNALTEXAN]

Your candor and honesty speak volumes to your character. That is not always the case in the service world. I'm glad you are ok.

[@SouthMainAuto]

Time to change the sign: This business has been 1 days without accidents 😏

[@PatrickLeeUS]

Smartass

[@bryanphillips6666]

I wach your videos quite often and I wish you were closer, thank you!

[@robertsmith2956]

@@PatrickLeeUS accurate.

[@corywadedavis]

I'm an arborist with almost 20 years of experience, climbing trees to prune and remove them. I've done some big and scary stuff over the years working in the PNW. I've also had an excellent safety record and always work carefully. Until earlier this summer when I was basically on auto pilot pruning some small trees from a ladder and I fell from about 6 feet up. Really hurt myself but mainly hurt my pride. I'm finally able to begin healing my body and pride. Don't beat yourself up too much Wes. You do great things.

[@calholli]

I ran a climbing crew for about 5 years at Asplund.. trimming tress from OGE powerlines. We gambled with injury everyday out there; you get used to being so close to danger all the time. But that's exactly how we end up getting hurt, by being complacent... My dad was framing a house, and he was on top of a low pitch porch roof and leaned a step ladder up against the wall to reach up high on the main gable roof-- and the ladder slipped out and he ended up diving off the ladder/ off the roof and face first on the concrete. Broke his nose, his right wrist and his left elbow. He was messed up for nearly a year; it was bad.. The same boss/ builder that we built houses under died years later in his shop -- he had several muscles cars and liked to build engines, etc. and I guess a car fell on him and he died; pretty crazy- he was a smart dude and had made a lot of wealth. Things happen to everyone; We must stay diligent.

[@calholli]

At the back of my old house, there was a hill down most of the back yard. I put my car at the bottom of the hill in the grass, there wasn't even much slope: I put on the ebrake and wheel chalked both rear wheels, and I jacked it up and crawled under it to pull the oil plug and change the oil (it was an old Duster, like 94 I think). Anyway, the dew on the grass was too slick I guess, because the wheel chalks and the e-braked tires all slid on that grass and fell off my jack stand while I was under it. Luckily my head was in a safe place and I didn't get smashed at all. But the cross member was just squeezing my waste enough that I couldn't get out.. So I was in my back yard stuck. lol.. So I started screaming for help for about 5 minutes, and there was this 'half-way house" type of prison release place right there within range and they heard me screaming, and came over there panicking and trying to lift the car by hand. Pulling on the front fenders and probably messing it up. Luckily my younger brother came running out of the house once he seen everyone in our yard, and he immediately slid down beside the car to look at me and I told him to just jack it back up and he was the one that actually rescued me, where the 4 prison guys and 2 guards had no clue and couldn't figure it out and were panicking and scrambling thinking I was dying or something. I couldn't help but laugh at how dumb they were. I got lucky. I could have gotten my head smashed if it was in the wrong place... So long story short-- I don't trust wheel chalks and jack stands anymore; if it's at all sketchy, I change plans. So it's pretty common on cars hurting people-- so we can't sleep on it and get comfortable. I was lucky enough to learn the hard way, but without getting hurt. Scared the crap out of me though.

[@watsisbuttndo829]

I was a small engine mech in another lifetime, working with chainsaws and landscaping gear was my daily. Any arbourist/logger/landscaper ect that walks away from their career intact gets a tip of my hat.

[@calholli]

@@watsisbuttndo829 Yeah.. I had a guy working under me, who was a very good climber, but he was a bit of a hot head and liked to put himself in danger too much. So he was up about 45ft, right in line with the primary power lines -- and he was trimming a few limbs above him and rolling them back -- I kept telling him just to climb up there (we took turns climbing the big trees, and this one was his turn). He was almost done, so I quit yelling at him -- and right on the last limb that he cut, fell down and landed directly on his shoulder and slowly folded over and landed right on the line-- so it was shocking him with 7200 volts, straight through that little limb/ straight through rope and the tree. And it zapped him good for maybe 3 seconds until he somehow finally got the limb knocked off; HIs body fell limp like he was knocked out, but his legs were still holding his weight, and he was leaning back on the rope, so I was confused. Nearly 10 seconds later he finally started responding and stood there talking about it for a minute or two -- and then he came down. lol.. Pretty sketchy situation... Luckily the trees are several Megaohms of resistance, so it doesn't shock you enough to kill you, even the it's such a high voltage..]. Months later that same guy was tied in above him and straddled across a flat Y, out on a limb -- and he turned the saw around backwards to cut a little nothing sucker twig between his legs (I was the foreman, so I was screaming at him to stop and don't cut between your legs, but he just looked at me and smiled). and sure enough- the end of the saw bucked and it sent that chainsaw blade up his inner thigh, just above the knee. It looked like he was hit with an axe -- cut his pants, and cut his skin for about 5 inches and was peeling open like they do in a surgery. So He just grabbed the rope and came darting down to the ground like batman and was panicking.. and I calmed him down, put him in the truck and took him straight to the hospital. He was my buddy and a cool guy years before we worked together-- but he was just one of those guys who would think it's cool to not wear your safety glasses, or not wear you seatbelt when we drive, etc etc.. He started to change his mind after that, if he heard me yelling at him to stop. lol

[@watsisbuttndo829]

@@calholli I'm in my 50,s now, my grandfather was a logger here in Australia. As a kid i used to go out with him and see those guys work. Nearly every one of the older guys had been witness to someone getting killed, my uncle amongst the men lost. Tree work is a damn serious business. Stay safe brother.

[@Chrisdacowboy]

I like it when people show there mistakes instead of acting like they are the smartest person on earth that never does anything wrong.

[@jwbranham2009]

I appreciate your posting this video as it demonstrates how we all have a bad day and get the job done. Thanks for sharing.

[@adamf4196]

I think the fact that your pride was damaged simply proves that you take pride in your work. Keep up the good work brother and be safe.

[@carllaniak]

I know there are already 1000 similar comments, but I can't help myself... So grateful you are ok. Any of us who hasn't had a similar experience just hasn't been at it long enough. As a fellow sole proprietor and machinist about your age, I am frequently impressed and humbled by your knowledge and experience. The fact that you share it makes you a treasure. P.S. I know you won't like it but I'm guessing someone will set up a way for some of us to chip in on the expense of having that door repaired/replaced. You'll cringe every time you think about this for at least a decade but anyone who's half a man will respect and admire the fact that you shared it. Take care!

[@tekvax01]

I'd donate to _that_ fund!

[@carllaniak]

@@tekvax01 he's got a PO box listed under the "about" on his channel. I'm gonna keep it simple and send him a check. Peace.

[@stansbruv3169]

Glad that you’re alright bruv. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@chrisbogue3210]

Thanks for the humility that you demonstrated by showing us this. I was a mechanic for over thirty years, and there are a few mistakes I made that still bother me. There were two times when I was unfamiliar with a type of fuel line connections, and they came loose after I had handled them. Thank God there was no fire.

[@jasonhoffman9895]

You’ve always been willing to share your mistakes, that’s part of what makes your channel great. Don’t beat yourself up about it, we all get wrapped up thinking about to many things and end up with a similar situation. Minor damage to the car, no damage to the shop and a few bumps and bruises, and a good story to tell your grandkids 😁. Glad you’re okay and be careful.

[@djgtidwell]

you did a good thing, 207,000 of us will learn a valuable lesson from it. Thanks for sharing, when not publishing was also an option!

[@codysp]

@George are you that slow?? Did you not watch and LISTEN to what Wes explained? FFS! 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@robertk4629]

Very Humble man..... Its what you do when no one is watching... That is true character

[@teedee9903]

I was self employed as a mechanic for 20 years. I am still here today at age 76 with everything still in tack. I won't go into the mistakes I made. I am glad you didn't get hurt bad.

[@aarongriffith8918]

There are a lot of similar automotive channels out there - and the reason I enjoy yours so much is your honesty and more importantly your humility. You're not a braggart and you're always willing to admit when you don't know something, when you learned something new, and like today when something goes wrong. Your skills, efficiency, fairness and attitude are WAY above average. We've all made blunders in whatever we do. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScoobyMaxC]

As everyone else has already said, first and foremost I'm glad you're ok. Secondly, the person who never made a mistake never made anything. The fact that you're prepared to show this to help others learn by your mistakes stands as a testament to your character. Stay safe and keep up the good work.

[@trevorstreet6490]

enyone who says they havent made a mistake is at best lying to them selves or at worst lying to everyone

[@davidhumber4227]

Mad respect for ya brother. I’m thankful you weren’t seriously injured. Thanks for reminding us all.

[@moshet842]

I'm glad you posted this. I had a similar mishap and I was wondering what was wrong with me. It is nice to see that even people I admire greatly can make such mistakes. Glad you're okay!

[@ronicard]

There's a reason why this is one of the best channels on KZbin. Your guts to post that speaks volumes about your integrity. And, as many have said, the most important thing is that you're ok. Cheers, Wes

[@BlackRainbowMonkeys]

Wes this says a lot about your character having the humility to post something like this! Glad you're okay man accidents happen to the best of us! take care Wes :)

[@deepsquat600]

You never know with me save somebody's life by posting this video somebody will start to do something like that and say oh wait a second Wes almost killed himself doing this let me not do it like that

[@NATURALxXFIRE]

Hats off to how well you handled the situation, it really shined a light on how much work I have to work on my own temper because I would have made a fool of myself with anger after something like that.

[@azarahwagner2749]

I learned the hard lesson too that bricks are NOT capable of stoping movement and thank goodness I wasn’t under the car .

[@lamestuser]

1. Glad you are OK. That is by far the most important thing. 2. Thanks for posting this. You didn't have to, but you did. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. You just earned a lot of respect from a lot of people. 3. You're a great mechanic. Never forget that. 4. Thank you for this channel. I look forward to these every week.

[@urbanstd1]

Much respect Wes for posting, glad you were not seriously injured. Military vet here, Humility and letting others learn from your mistakes used to be encouraged. Take care!

[@brucewatkins7163]

Thanks for having the courage and self confidence to share this. We have all done something similar. Glad you are ok!!!

[@musicsurfandrats]

It takes huge courage to put this out. Respect and godspeed amigo!

[@Sandy.J.Lloyd.Sr.]

As a mechanic, we all have that “one” mistake we’ve all made, so don’t feel bad it happens to all of us at least once. I’m glad you’re okay with no injuries.

[@superduty4556]

This right here.

[@calholli]

At the back of my old house, there was a hill down most of the back yard. I put my car at the bottom of the hill in the grass, there wasn't even much slope: I put on the ebrake and wheel chalked both rear wheels, and I jacked it up and crawled under it to pull the oil plug and change the oil (it was an old Duster, like 94 I think). Anyway, the dew on the grass was too slick I guess, because the wheel chalks and the e-braked tires all slid on that grass and fell off my jack stand while I was under it. Luckily my head was in a safe place and I didn't get smashed at all. But the cross member was just squeezing my waste enough that I couldn't get out.. So I was in my back yard stuck. lol.. So I started screaming for help for about 5 minutes, and there was this 'half-way house" type of prison release place right there within range and they heard me screaming, and came over there panicking and trying to lift the car by hand. Pulling on the front fenders and probably messing it up. Luckily my younger brother came running out of the house once he seen everyone in our yard, and he immediately slid down beside the car to look at me and I told him to just jack it back up and he was the one that actually rescued me, where the 4 prison guys and 2 guards had no clue and couldn't figure it out and were panicking and scrambling thinking I was dying or something. I couldn't help but laugh at how dumb they were. I got lucky. I could have gotten my head smashed if it was in the wrong place... So long story short-- I don't trust wheel chalks and jack stands anymore; if it's at all sketchy, I change plans. ( I had an old boss who was a super smart guy, and I worked under him as a sub contractor running my own crew building custom houses for him; and some years later I found out he died from a car falling in him in his shop-- he had a bunch of muscle cars and stuff. So it's pretty common on cars hurting people-- so we can't sleep on it and get comfortable. I was lucky enough to learn the hard way, but without getting hurt. Scared the crap out of me though...

[@Chris.Y.054]

Wes, I’m so thankful that you weren’t seriously hurt. It takes real courage to share mistakes.

[@milanfixer]

Respect my friend! You did make a mistake, but you took care of it like a real man. You are also extremely brave to edit this in and post it online. Thank God you are fine and not seriously hurt! Usually, stupid stuff like that are REALLY good at reminding us that we're not perfect and that mistakes can happen any time. Keep up the good work my friend and don't worry too much about it!

[@SwedishHunter77]

You are such a very honest guy i've ever seen in these days,rarely to find people confess their mistakes and post it publicly.Glad you did NOT hurt yourself badly , fuvk for the machineS that can fix easily sooner or later. Happy to see you get the car issue fixed at the end. I wish You a very good luck!❤ really enjoyed it.

[@roberthocking9138]

You were very lucky you weren’t seriously hurt Wes, very brave and honest of you to include it in a video, so we can all learn from it. Well done glad you are ok

[@eyeNVyou]

I don’t know what to say. Watching your channel for as long as I have, it feels like we’re buddies. That was difficult to watch. But as others have commented, I’m glad you left it in. It shows how dangerous your work can be, how humble you are, and acts as a lesson for others. I’m so relieved you weren’t seriously hurt. Keep safe and be well, buddy.

[@JulioSolano-zr2qz]

It takes guts to admit your mistakes but you are definitely strong to share it, I am glad that you are ok! Be blessed

[@SooperJeenyus]

Appreciate the honesty and truth of what can happen in a shop! This one earned my subscription to your channel.

[@JT-ng7je]

It was a teachable moment. We all make mistakes and you learned a lesson on what not to do. Glad you're okay and glad Max wasn't hurt either.

[@DIYDaveOK]

So glad you're OK, Wes. If anything, it reminds us DIYers how important it is to be careful when even a pro can make a dangerous error. It can happen to anyone, and the car is a lot easier to fix than the person! And major props for keeping it in the video, too. Thanks for all your great videos. Stay safe, my friend!.

[@schlomoshekelstein908]

not even sure wtf he did, kept the car in gear, blocked it and fucked with the throttle while under the hood? LOL

[@ryans413]

@@schlomoshekelstein908 since he couldn’t open the door all the way cause he parked it by the lift he had the door partly open and he was touching the pedals with his hands laying between the door and the car. He literally explained it all in the video did you even watch the video.

[@cotto1hunded]

Man this dude is real af.who in the world would work/own a shop and show something like that.I wish more people were like this,everyone wants to portray something they're not. We're all human💯.

[@robertmartin4602]

I am glad you posted this vibe repair and relieved you or a coworker weren't seriously injured. A humblene experience no doubt we all get in a hurry cut corners it happens

[@CivilDefenceCanada]

Respect for owning your mistakes and successes. The sign of a real man. Enjoy your weekend Wes.

[@spelunkerd]

You might have saved a life today by posting this video. Most of us learn by watching, and this experience was so memorable, we'll never forget it. Bravo.

[@SouthMainAuto]

I did the same thing in my shop many, many many years ago. The car I was working on lurched forward and smashed into a toolbox. Well before I was into KZbin. I know the pain...

[@xxn0cturn3xx]

i agree, learning from others mistakes can save lives.

[@ryanhoaglin9907]

I was just about to comment the same thing. This will make me pay attention more in my own shop.

[@UrkCMH]

Coincidentally, I'll be working on my car today. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of always being situationally aware, and of thinking things through beforehand; I had grown far too complacent over time. You have likely saved some people and machines injury, damage, or worse by uploading this.

[@Rusty-Shackleford69]

Wes, I admire you a lot more if possible. Being a man and uploading this may save someone's life! And that is priceless! Thank you good sir! 👍

[@robmccIII]

I love your humility, I know it was difficult for you to make such a mistake, but you realized how blessed you were by the bulk oil and step!

[@scpvrr]

First of all: we thank God that you’re OK. Second, thank you for posting this, as a reminder to us shade tree mechanics about how things can go bad really fast. Glad you have an understanding customer. I really appreciate the transparency that when an incident happens, it shakes you for a while. More humanity.

[@rickrosenkilde7002]

Wes, I watch EVERY posting on your channel and can say without a doubt - You are a very talented mechanic with great width of knowledge. Posting this one has earned you even greater respect, since we all know we are human and make mistakes. So glad you were not seriously injured. Can replace a door anytime, can't replace YOU!!!!

[@58Rev]

The only reason that wasn't more awful is because of all the videos you posted after the "Vibe vs Shop Wall". This was an eye opener for us all when we're rushed or target fixated. So glad you were able to post this, it's an honest man's story and a cautionary tale about life in general. Humble pie is something many of us have consumed in quantity, yours came with bumps and bruises and some of the shine got buffed off your pride. Well, it's out of your system now and you have *squints* 817K witnesses to prove it. Absolutely terrific post.

[@seanbrown572]

We all makes mistakes but most of us aren't willing to admit them. I watched a quite a few of your videos to help me get along the way with my own vehicles and I didn't see that coming either.I know the video is almost a year old but I figured it be a good reminder to always be aware of your surroundings, safety first and always, ALWAYS stay true to yourself...

[@darrenmclellan6712]

Boy that was darned scary to watch Wes! Man! Glad to hear you're ok. Pride, like bruises, recovers in time. As said by others, that you would share this with us is the mark of a humble person. Hat's off to you.

[@Jevetson86]

Any near miss you can walk away from with a lesson is a win. We all make mistakes and takes a lot of courage to share it with the world. Thank you Wes and keep up the great work

[@alexandergames7843]

It takes a strong man to make a mistake like this public when he doesn't have to. Respect Brother, glad you are okay!

[@Ottonic6]

Re-watched this (saw it when new), but the fact that it happened is pretty scary, the fact that you were alone (I think), is even scarier. But most important, you're ok. Posting this probably gave a lot of us all a wake up call, cause we can seem to get a little laxed and that's how mistakes happen. Thank you.

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Wait so Wes is actually Human and capable of making mistakes?! Inconceivable!!!! Serious side: Very thankful that the only moderate injury you sustained was to your pride.

[@davesharp5507]

Thanks for the honesty man. We've all been there, but not all of us will admit it. Good on you for being completely honest with yourself and us, by acknowledging what you did wrong and owning the responsibility. That's the only real way to get over something like that, and to move forward successfully. The fact that you shared this with us says alot about your character 👍

[@charlesdewitt387]

it was really great of you to post that video. I am also an old mechanic and the posting of your video says to me that you are an honest confident good mechanic and i believe this is an excellant training video . I also would like to comment on your nice clean shop.

[@timothyegan3114]

man you were so lucky! props for posting this it's. reminder to all of us to be careful. Loved the video

[@ncautoman57]

Retired technician here, it happens and luckily you weren't severely injured. We all learn from our mistakes. Thank you for sharing, hopefully it will help someone else.

[@tonygiraldes7848]

Sarah-N-Tuned had a can of spray adhesive explode on her last week and like you she used it as a teaching tool so much respect to you content creators that aren’t afraid to present the entire spectrum of your work ✊ Glad you are OK 😊

[@schlomoshekelstein908]

u know that's a man right?

[@thecavemanandthebeautyquee6373]

Only 1 word to summarize the problem: Complacency It happens, and thankfully there was no permanent damage to you, the car, or the shop. Thanks for showing us your mishap, it's a good reminder for everyone to slow down and think about what you are doing before you do it. God knows my inexperience in working on machines probably puts me in harms way more often than I even realize it.

[@frankbiz]

We all are imperfect and we all make mistakes. We learn from them and hope we don't get hurt. Glad you are ok, and willing to share it this experience with us, remember, things can be replaced, life is precious. 👍🏻

[@dabneyoffermein595]

glad you weren't hurt seriously, cars can be fixed permanently, but some injuries to humans cannot.

[@Bobbywolf64]

This one kind of hits home for me. Not that I've had a life threatening screwup, but because I don't have the safest work practices when I'm in my home garage. I've been working on vehicles, and rebuilding old jeeps for the last 20 years. I live alone, and am working on stuff alone 95% of the time. I feel like I needed to see this. Thank you for posting it, and don't let it get you down. Learn from it, and move on. I really enjoy your stuff.

[@HanstheTraffer]

Yup this video could have saved someones life. Another one was when ETG shared that a good friend of his was killed when a jack stand failed and no one was around to help. We gotta keep our heads in the game.

[@wboyd33]

@@HanstheTraffer That reason alone is why I slide the tire & rim under the car after I remove 1 or more tires. That way if the jack stand AND jack fail it will only land on the rim keeping me from getting fully crushed. I to know a guy that died after that happened.

[@MrPNutt]

Anyone who has ever wrenched for any amount of time has had a “learning experience” or a lapse in judgement. Just glad you are ok! Stay safe and thanks for NOT just deleting this one. Seeing this may save someone else’s life!

[@festeringfesterer]

Main thing here is you took responsibility and you put it right in whatever way is acceptable to your customer. Lots of guys don’t and won’t . Hats off to you your a good guy , and nobody is perfect

[@genericusername1365]

I hope your knees healed perfectly. Thanks to you, I know what not to do and I also know what to check for because my Toyota Corolla (same exact drivetrain as the Pontiac Vibe) just started vibrating a coupla days ago. Thanks, Wes.

[@Zeus-wl2pl]

How you continued to work after that is impressive. Thanks for posting the incident, you probably saved someone’s life. Makes one think about how things can go wrong when you get complacent. Everyone should watch dash cam accident videos once in a while. Really makes you more careful next time you drive.

[@frank-t6857]

@George I am sorry that your parents failed on raising you correctly.

[@Highlandwoodandmetal]

Wes- You posting this is exactly why I follow you. You deliver warts and all exactly as it is. Don't beat yourself up! You walked away- And wiser.. If you've turned spanners for any length of time you know a momentary lapse of concentration is all it takes- we all have at least one 'oops' story to tell.. some bigger, some smaller! Thanks for posting! A humble reminder we are all human!

[@gsxrcom]

I’m not a KZbin creator but if I was, I’m not so sure I could have shared that experience. The fact that you did gives us all a much needed reminder to be careful. Thank you for sharing!

[@tommybobommy9208]

Thank you for being such a good mechanic that you admit your mistakes, stay safe man!

[@jd450lh]

I was at a dealership once where I saw a mechanic put a vehicle on the lift only to have it immediately go crashing to the ground. The mechanic was well trained and had many years of experience which only goes to show, accidents eventually happen to the best of us. Glad you weren't seriously hurt, thank God!

[@icanseeall-inthisreality]

that doesn't mean he is the best of us though, but this statement does mean that you are a boot licker.

[@xephael3485]

Accidents never happen if you take steps to prevent them.

[@brianwalker1933]

​@@xephael3485 Never state the obvious!!...

[@icanseeall-inthisreality]

he didn't just state the obvious he said what he said for a reason in response to the dumb comment. do you have a learning disability?@@brianwalker1933

[@icanseeall-inthisreality]

or are you brain deaf@@brianwalker1933

[@truthreporter1709]

Dude, we all do dumb stuff once in a while - men like us are dealing with 1000001 issues, family, money, work, the crazy world we live in. Sometimes you just lose focus for a second. Respect to you for having the courage to document your mistake and making it right. Don't over analyse this - dust yourself down and as Eric says 'move on with life'.

[@patrickcarnahan2751]

When I was a Volvo technician, I heard that over torquing the lug nuts could warp rotors so I would torque each one with my 1/2 inch to the proper specification for that vehicle. I got distracted one day and forgot to do this. The customer made it over a hundred miles before they started feeling a really bad vibration. It just happened to be my service manager’s sister so I did all her services basically for free the remaining time I worked there. I thank God that no one was hurt and the only thing damaged was my pride.

[@FliesLikeABrick]

Came back to watch this today, probably one of my favorite videos on the channel (and the DT466E comeback). Thanks again for sharing these relatable instances. KZbin like so many others can easily be a heavily revised and redacted "only share the best things and edit out the best" content platform a la social media, and the high-integrity content authors keep it from being a slide down into that territory.

[@Rene0773]

Es zeugt von Character, so ehrlich zu einem Fehler zu stehen und diesen auch noch zu veröffentlichen. Du bist ein großer Mann und ein Vorbild!

[@timbo2ssrs]

best role model ever

[@job38four10]

Need translation button.....

[@jasonb6570]

@@job38four10 You can add one to literally any browser for free with an extension.

[@neil0502]

Roughly: It's a character testimony to be so honest about a bug and even to publicize it. You are a great man and a role model!

[@job38four10]

@@jasonb6570 Thanks for the info, just incase adding extensions is above my paygrade, I'll have to ask my daughter to install translation extension on the com when she comes out.

[@chandlerlofton6536]

As a fellow mechanic, I have to say these things happen. That’s why we have insurance. Thank God you’re ok brother. Cars can be fixed!

[@briank10101]

He felt the vibe.

[@mercedesmaintenance.6339]

Glad you're ok. Good on you for admitting the mistake. We all do dumb stuff from time to time. Respect to you for showing this. Cheers 🍻

[@simonhunter4545]

100% to the comments I've seen so far, I'm a DIY mechanic, screwed up many times. For a professional to put out a video like this speaks volumes. He could of just told the customer for example. Your car has been vandalised, nothing to do with me or my company. Sorry. My hat goes off to you mate

[@mlonderg]

Hey Wes. First off I want to say that you are my favorite automotive/equipment troubleshooter on KZbin. Your attention to detail and determination to find the root cause of an issue is incredible. As a former automotive forensic engineer I wholeheartedly appreciate how you approach problems. I'm sure that you are hard on yourself after what happened here. At the end of the day we are all human and these things happen. The fact that you were willing to admit this speaks volumes to your abilities as an instructor. We can all learn from this. I am relieved that you are still kicking and look forward to your future videos. I value everything that you share with us.

[@jstutzman1301]

If you save someone else from injury or death, it will be worth every penny. You learned the hard way so others can learn too. Thank you for the videos. So glad you weren't seriously injured.

[@mypeeps1965]

Every man who has ever worked around dangerous equipment can relate to this with the same or worse result. There should be no stone throwing here. This is a reminder to all of us to slow down and think. Thank you for sharing! Now I'm going to clean my drawers!

[@daveschroedersworkshop4479]

Wes, I can relate. I have my own channel now and prior to my making a video called "Bowl of Death" I had an act of stupidity nearly put my lights out. The piece on my lathe exploded, took me right between the eyes just seconds after I had taken my face shield off. That was the day I learned you can never be safe enough. I used to tell the people working for and with me that "Nobody gets hurt on my watch". Except me I guess... Great Video!

[@Charger1908]

Don’t worry Wes this happens to the best of us. It won’t be the first time or the last time we all suffer from short lapses in memory. Glad you weren’t hurt.

[@stuwest5862]

This does not happen to the best or most. I have been working on cars for 50 years and I would never do something that stupid and dangerous.

[@LorandHungary]

@@stuwest5862 And then it happened.

[@marksd5650]

Nothing like this should ever happen to a guy who is as kind as considerate as thoughtful and with integrity and compassionate and hard working as you are. I’ve had it happen too, where you are just left wondering what the hell happened and why did I think that was going to work. Thankfully it never resulted in a severed digit or the like. Best Regards sir. Just keep moving forward. A real man would go ahead and share this fck up, others would pretend it never happened. 🔥🔥

[@meh1943]

Glad you are ok. Hurt pride, yes, but you handled it right.....honestly with the customer, admitted your mistake, and probably will never ever make that mistake again. I am very impressed that you showed such class and honesty.

[@timmcdonald9331]

thank God you were not hurt thank you for showing us the whole thing and not trying to hide it it takes a real person to do what you did. thank youa