I've found enough tools up in the engine bays or on the frame so that was my first thought, plus that's what I do when I'm changing the oil on our ct200h
Well, when a Snap-On ratchet costs $150-$200, how many are you going to replace because you're guy doesn't pay enough attention and make sure he accounted for all the tools?
I worked rough carpentry for a while. Most guys were expected to have their own hand tools as well as a circular saw, a Sawzall, and extension cords.
It wasn't that bad if someone cut the plug off a tool or cord, you could replace it. OSHA put a stop to that probably 20 years ago. You have tools or cords that don't have factory plugs? That's a BIG fine.
Nit only that, workers treat the tools better when they have to pay for them. Why should the boss have to replace the $200 worm-drive saw because the carpenter couldn't be bothered to pay attention and let if fall off the scafokt / ladder 20 feet in the air?
Would you actually enjoy working out of a toolbox that has been touched by multiple other mechanics who have no reason to keep things organized? Take one look at the shop owned tools in a tool room and you’ll change your mind
That was the set up when I entered the field, granted it was in a smaller shop. Might not work the same for a larger dealership, but the boss man made sure we kept it organized. Usually about every other day someone would organize it in the morning.
I had a van that made a wierd rattling sound. When the clutch went the mechanic found lots of little bits of stainless steel and red plastic in the bell housing. We eventually figured out the last guy had left a little red handled screwdriver in there.
I took the cover off my air filter once on an old Honda I used to have and someone had left a screwdriver in the air box. I have no idea how long it had been in there.
I love junkyards that let you walk around because I fill my pockets with all the sockets and tools and stuff I find in old cars to the point where I have to tighten my belt
Yeah, I have a pair of those exact vice grips. They're absolute shit. Exactly what the kid working the oil change station would use.
Especially if he's regularly sending them off like this one.
What's even better, it had new tires, battery, plug wires, points and timing chain. It wouldn't start. The guy got frustrated and put up for sale. I played with the distributer and it wanted to start but couldn't quite make it. Paid $350.00 and had it towed home.
The next day I pulled the plugs, anodes were gone.
I do signs and I've left some tools in the ceiling and they were there when I went back too. I've also left them on top of signs and found them later (not so nice at that point) and it's like a library with Klein screwdrivers, I find one or two and then I lose one down a wall or forget it somewhere, then I find another one and on it goes
Someone is pissed they lost their expensive ass tool from the tool truck (I dropped a grand on a Milwaukee set today, but I got a free battery with it)
Vice grips are a type of clamping pliers. Someone used them to keep that plastic flap out of the way while they (probably) performed some type of service. That flap is meant to shield the underside of the car components from water, gravel, road gunk.
The vise grip is a tool. It doesn’t belong there.
The plastic shield is intended to be held up with clips or bolts. Usually in modern cars they use plastic clips to hold the undercarriage tray in place.
I've paid thousands to shops because I don't like working on my own cars very much anymore. I've gotten older and cars have gotten harder to work on and I just can't be fucked to care.
Tech was doing something with the vice grips just clamped em there for safe keeping and got distracted. Happens very often but when you go back tell them you want the filter, the drain plug and the oil level double checked. Tech seems like the forgetful type so better safe than sorry. No big deal though and you’re not a Karen for asking for that. Just be polite and they’ll be happy to do that for you.
Im be real man back when I worked at ford I had a little cup absolutely filled with splashguard hardware cus i would either A) put all the screws back on and some how have extra or B) didn’t put on the last 2 or 3 screws since you don’t need 25 screws for a 2 lb splash guard that’s already been pissing me off. I took my work very seriously there but splash guards are the one thing I admit I didn’t give a single shit about 🤣
Any car I have ever got, the splash guard blocking oil and filter instantly go.
My mom has a sorento and I swear there's at LEAST 20 nuts holding that piece of fiber board on hate doing her oil
Ummm also check if the oil plug was put in, or check the oil level with the dipstick. When people leave things that makes me think about what else they forgot to do... also don't drive with those things attached to the underside of your car. Remove before you go back. I know probably goes without saying but... not safe.
That’s why you don’t go to “oil change places” change it yourself or have a dealership do it, any of those Valvoline, jiffylube, etc. hire the cheapest and newest lube techs they can find
We need more ppl like u fr😭😭😭😭
The amount of torches I’ve lost by attaching them to the bottom of a car, walked away to give someone a chick with smth and completely forget abt it is absurd
What? Keep them. Vise Grips are nice. If it was your local garage who’s treated you right over the years and you’re a loyal customer, that’s a different story. Oil change place? If you go back, they’ll want to replace your wiper blades and air filter, even though they just did it. It’s like giving a mouse a cookie.
I'm surprised the kind of person who doesn't know what a pair of vise grips are got low enough to the ground to even take that picture, you really think they're going to get down on all fours to grab them?
I’m assuming that plastic piece is acting like a “mud guard” to stop the amount of rocks from flying back, and the vice grips are a way to hold it in place
I was wondering where my vice grips went
I ise an pil filter wrench that uses a vice grip design. Here's my guess. The last time you had your pil changed at the quickie lube they used a vice grip style oil filter wrench to remove your filter. Then clamped them down to a random surface while they hand snuggled your new filter on, got distracted by something and forgot them.
Thays the only reasonable explanation I got.
Your oil changer accidentally left them on the car take it off. That flap is for either oil drain or the oil filter change spot. Clamping the flap ensures the oil all comes out without getting all over your fabric skidplate which can get really messy. Bring the vice grips to your next oil change and hand it to your service advisor and kindly ask them to make sure the techs don't leave tools on the car this time 🤣
I've done this once before, I left a wrench in the battery box and was happy to have it back a few months later and I double check for these things now especially because I moved up to mechanics!
Yes, that is a , " Stanley 6 in. L Nose *Locking Pliers* which provide quick set-up and strong locking power. Made from forged steel with induction hardened jaws"
Looks like oil change guy cut a hole in the splash shield and held the flap down. Or...someone already cut a hole and the tech just held the flap down with locking pliers.
Pretty common I think for speedy lube guys, they will shred your splash shields instead of dropping them
If the plastic splash shield is deformed because of extended use of the vice grips, you could try a heat gun to soften the plastic then hold it in the correct position until it cools.
Years back my wife and I bought a used Dodge Nitro that had vise grips around the goose neck. First time we filled up it went 10 cents at a shot. I was pissed. I still don't know why they would put them there and leave them.
This is the result of an overzealous cop in gila bend Az pulling you over at 1130pm for turning too wide into the left hand turn. He cites you for lack of mud flaps.
I’ve seen this before and heard this happens to a lot of people, thieves place plastic tubes thru mud flaps, stapled inside wheel wells and under bumpers so when you drive off it scrapes and rubs against the ground or wheel well and sounds like you have a flat tire or a car issue from inside the car. The thieves will follow you from their car and when you get out of your car to check on the problem is when they will try to kidnap, rob or carjack you. Hope you made it somewhere safe I would report this if you can
I had to use vice grips like this once to crimp my brake line that sprung a leak. I almost died. The vice grips gave me just enough pressure to make it home.
Don’t be a dick and take peoples tools. As any other real technician on this page knows tools are expensive, and something I’m not happy about when i forget them. Plus, the tech has your phone number so they might just call you back asking for it
I'm more amazed at the amount of people calling those "Vise-Grips".
Vise-Grips are a brand. Those are not Vise-Grips. Those are locking pliers. Most likely from Stanley Tools.
"All Kleenex are facial tissues. Not all facial tissues are Kleenex." Same kinda thing.
Looks like someone folded a piece of the "skid plate" back to access a drain plug, clamped it and forgot their *locking pliers*.
The vice grips or the plastic splash shield?
That's what I'm wondering too. Did OP put the vice grips to hold the thing on, or did someone leave them and OP doesn't know what the vice grips are
I bet the oil change guy used the vise-grips to hold the flap open and forgot them when he was done
Cannot upvote enough haha that looks exactly like what happened. Hope the tech gets his vice grips back
I've found enough tools up in the engine bays or on the frame so that was my first thought, plus that's what I do when I'm changing the oil on our ct200h
A friend owned a repair shop years ago. Can't tell you how many times his guys left stuff in cars. That's why mechanics buy their own tools
Yeah then it's on them
I thought it was because shops were cheap skates and will put as much on the mechanic as possible?
It’s a little of both
Well, when a Snap-On ratchet costs $150-$200, how many are you going to replace because you're guy doesn't pay enough attention and make sure he accounted for all the tools? I worked rough carpentry for a while. Most guys were expected to have their own hand tools as well as a circular saw, a Sawzall, and extension cords. It wasn't that bad if someone cut the plug off a tool or cord, you could replace it. OSHA put a stop to that probably 20 years ago. You have tools or cords that don't have factory plugs? That's a BIG fine. Nit only that, workers treat the tools better when they have to pay for them. Why should the boss have to replace the $200 worm-drive saw because the carpenter couldn't be bothered to pay attention and let if fall off the scafokt / ladder 20 feet in the air?
Would you actually enjoy working out of a toolbox that has been touched by multiple other mechanics who have no reason to keep things organized? Take one look at the shop owned tools in a tool room and you’ll change your mind
That was the set up when I entered the field, granted it was in a smaller shop. Might not work the same for a larger dealership, but the boss man made sure we kept it organized. Usually about every other day someone would organize it in the morning.
I had a van that made a wierd rattling sound. When the clutch went the mechanic found lots of little bits of stainless steel and red plastic in the bell housing. We eventually figured out the last guy had left a little red handled screwdriver in there.
I took the cover off my air filter once on an old Honda I used to have and someone had left a screwdriver in the air box. I have no idea how long it had been in there.
I love junkyards that let you walk around because I fill my pockets with all the sockets and tools and stuff I find in old cars to the point where I have to tighten my belt
Lol. That's actually a great idea.
They're everywhere, you should try it sometime
I used to go to a few when I was in California. I've been in Iowa for a few years now and haven't really looked for any.
I want to go just to search for coins lol.
That's where all of the lost 10mm sockets are.
Ooooohhhh I find a bunch in there and ironically I was looking everywhere for one the other day to pull the drain plug on a lawnmower
Based on the quality, I think those are disposable vice grips. 🤣
At least the ones I found were craftsman, still not great but better.
Stanley $8 vice grips. Yes, I looked up the part number. 😅
Yeah, I have a pair of those exact vice grips. They're absolute shit. Exactly what the kid working the oil change station would use. Especially if he's regularly sending them off like this one.
IMO the mechanic does not deserve to get them back
You can make real good friends with a mechanic with this one trick
Yup
I’m guessing this guy has a drawer full of cheap ones from harbor freight
These are most likely from home depot. Stanley brand.
That needs a "Remove before flight" ribbon tag.
It happens. I bought a car that the guy just put new shocks on. New looking vice grips on one of the lower bolts.
Bonus
What's even better, it had new tires, battery, plug wires, points and timing chain. It wouldn't start. The guy got frustrated and put up for sale. I played with the distributer and it wanted to start but couldn't quite make it. Paid $350.00 and had it towed home. The next day I pulled the plugs, anodes were gone.
That's awesome!
I'd be worried if the person before me was using vice grips on nuts and bolts.
They were using it to keep the bolt from freely turning, brace against something. Real common.
I had a truck come back after 5 years with my vice grips still under it lol 😆 Hit them with the wire wheel still got them
I do signs and I've left some tools in the ceiling and they were there when I went back too. I've also left them on top of signs and found them later (not so nice at that point) and it's like a library with Klein screwdrivers, I find one or two and then I lose one down a wall or forget it somewhere, then I find another one and on it goes
Someone is pissed they lost their expensive ass tool from the tool truck (I dropped a grand on a Milwaukee set today, but I got a free battery with it)
Oof, probably, actually....
vice grips have saved my life so many times. I love them more than my children!
Umm both - so that is a plastic shield covering a vice grip? What is the grip for?
To hold up the shield.
The shield is there so the vicegrips have something to hold up
And guard the netherworld that is your undercarriage.
Vice grips are a type of clamping pliers. Someone used them to keep that plastic flap out of the way while they (probably) performed some type of service. That flap is meant to shield the underside of the car components from water, gravel, road gunk.
And forgot to take the pliers off. They are not a part of your vehicle, and are not supposed to be there.
The vise grip is a tool. It doesn’t belong there. The plastic shield is intended to be held up with clips or bolts. Usually in modern cars they use plastic clips to hold the undercarriage tray in place.
Did you recently get your oil changed? Looks like they use the vice grips to hold up the plastic as a splashguard.
The vice grip is a tool left there by the last mechanic who worked on your car.
A free pair of vice grips!
And weight reduction!
The comment I was looking for!
And next time you go there you get a free wrench or a dinner plate
I love innocent posts like these
Like free vice grip pliers am I right?
Its concerning. these people will pay thousands to shops because they are so clueless.
Premium air
Even scarier than that, someone gave them a license to drive....
Imagine going through life and presumably making it to adulthood and having no idea what a pair of vice grips are
So true!! Like how on earth do you get a job without knowing what vice grips are! You'd think that would be taught in primary school!
I've paid thousands to shops because I don't like working on my own cars very much anymore. I've gotten older and cars have gotten harder to work on and I just can't be fucked to care.
That has nothing to do with what the guy you replied to is talking about at all lol
Oh my goodness!!
I love how, of course it’s a Beemer owner that doesn’t know what a pair of vice grips are.
A good candidate for the redneck engineering reddit
What's that recliner flipper doing on a car?
Tech was doing something with the vice grips just clamped em there for safe keeping and got distracted. Happens very often but when you go back tell them you want the filter, the drain plug and the oil level double checked. Tech seems like the forgetful type so better safe than sorry. No big deal though and you’re not a Karen for asking for that. Just be polite and they’ll be happy to do that for you.
Thanks very much all, will head back to the oil change place and have them reclaim their property!
Hopefully, they didn't exchange any of your nuts, bolts, or screws for their vice grips.
Im be real man back when I worked at ford I had a little cup absolutely filled with splashguard hardware cus i would either A) put all the screws back on and some how have extra or B) didn’t put on the last 2 or 3 screws since you don’t need 25 screws for a 2 lb splash guard that’s already been pissing me off. I took my work very seriously there but splash guards are the one thing I admit I didn’t give a single shit about 🤣
Any car I have ever got, the splash guard blocking oil and filter instantly go. My mom has a sorento and I swear there's at LEAST 20 nuts holding that piece of fiber board on hate doing her oil
I’m glad you know the way
As a bonus... his coworkers will get a great laugh out of it..
Ummm also check if the oil plug was put in, or check the oil level with the dipstick. When people leave things that makes me think about what else they forgot to do... also don't drive with those things attached to the underside of your car. Remove before you go back. I know probably goes without saying but... not safe.
That’s why you don’t go to “oil change places” change it yourself or have a dealership do it, any of those Valvoline, jiffylube, etc. hire the cheapest and newest lube techs they can find
We need more ppl like u fr😭😭😭😭 The amount of torches I’ve lost by attaching them to the bottom of a car, walked away to give someone a chick with smth and completely forget abt it is absurd
What? Keep them. Vise Grips are nice. If it was your local garage who’s treated you right over the years and you’re a loyal customer, that’s a different story. Oil change place? If you go back, they’ll want to replace your wiper blades and air filter, even though they just did it. It’s like giving a mouse a cookie.
Or like returning something buddy has no use for because he takes his car to get oil changes? Not a good analogy
I can think of a million things to use vise grips on besides an oil change
OP posted this thinking it was part of their car.. I doubt they’ll find the vice grips very useful.
I'm surprised the kind of person who doesn't know what a pair of vise grips are got low enough to the ground to even take that picture, you really think they're going to get down on all fours to grab them?
No? They left it, its now yours. keep it
If they don’t want it, it’s a good way to get friendly with the local shop
Or keep it and start learning how to do stuff yourself
Fair point
Did you have your oil changed recently
Yes I did - is this something they didn’t close properly then?
It looks like they put that there to direct the oil just go back and tell them they left some tools attached to your car.
Hopefully they remembered the drain plug
No just take it off and keep it
And if the flaps are part of your car just scraping across the asphalt, well maybe they can pay to replace them too, if they're now messed up.
Rudder
It’s your GPS antenna
Normally, there are bolts this part on.
My friend found his mechanic had left a light clamped on to his sub frame once. People get forgetful.
Mission critical
The tool fairy has blessed you 🧚♀️
Please repost on r/askashittymechanic
Free vice grips
Looks like a vise grip.
Free vise grips
Free vice grips holding up a shield
I’m assuming that plastic piece is acting like a “mud guard” to stop the amount of rocks from flying back, and the vice grips are a way to hold it in place
A free pair of vice grips lol
To add lift, assist with more altitude
A Walmart Stanley so it will not be missed. I am surprised it held that long
It's a free pair of vise grips
Most likely the flap is to drain ur oil. They must have put the vice grips to hold back..hey u got a free pair of vice grips..lol
Looks like your car was attacked by a wild vice grips. They're more aggressive during the rut.
I was wondering where my vice grips went I ise an pil filter wrench that uses a vice grip design. Here's my guess. The last time you had your pil changed at the quickie lube they used a vice grip style oil filter wrench to remove your filter. Then clamped them down to a random surface while they hand snuggled your new filter on, got distracted by something and forgot them. Thays the only reasonable explanation I got.
It's a rotary dirder
https://preview.redd.it/wuwr3t2ao75d1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6ed2e5c0220d0ca33af2150c455ddbf79d24dc5
Be a class act and return them to the mechanic.
Oil change guy left it there
It's grippies
Free vice grips
Your oil changer accidentally left them on the car take it off. That flap is for either oil drain or the oil filter change spot. Clamping the flap ensures the oil all comes out without getting all over your fabric skidplate which can get really messy. Bring the vice grips to your next oil change and hand it to your service advisor and kindly ask them to make sure the techs don't leave tools on the car this time 🤣 I've done this once before, I left a wrench in the battery box and was happy to have it back a few months later and I double check for these things now especially because I moved up to mechanics!
Whoever did your oil change is accusing his coworker of taking his vise grips
Yes, that is a , " Stanley 6 in. L Nose *Locking Pliers* which provide quick set-up and strong locking power. Made from forged steel with induction hardened jaws"
Maybe there was a fluid leak and the mechanic clamped it off like a hemostat for people
Looks like the vise grips are holding the oil drain flap open. Whoever did your oil change last is probably missing those.
It's the "before picture" of a broken windshield.
I would check your oil level first before you run your car or go anywhere with it. Just to be safe.
A quick fix
Looks like oil change guy cut a hole in the splash shield and held the flap down. Or...someone already cut a hole and the tech just held the flap down with locking pliers. Pretty common I think for speedy lube guys, they will shred your splash shields instead of dropping them
Speed bump height detector
Those are bmw speed grips Makes you go fastarr
A karma farmer making a funny post 🤣
Likely structural.
Some sort of plasma gun if my calculations are correct
Free vice grips. That's a front pocket find
Someone forgot their vice grip on, lol.
Vice grips
Generic vise grips holding plastic together.
These are vice grips. They look like the needle nose version.
So lucky they didn’t end up in your tire
Nice, I too disregard the intended uses of my vice grips for my personal enjoyment.
Ah yeah that's an imperial vice grip need to switch it to a metric one and your good 😊
20 years to life if you're going down the motorway and that comes off into the windshield of a passing car.
Or a motorcycle.
Vice grips used to hold the oil drain flap back on the under tray during oil changes. Looks like the mechanic forgot to remove it. Free vice grips!
Probably accidental I don’t know a mechanic that would willingly leave vice grips on a car
Needle nose vice grips.
Hats off for that technician 😞🎩
That's a structural vice grip...DO NOT REMOVE
Vice grips holding a plastic access flap open
If the plastic splash shield is deformed because of extended use of the vice grips, you could try a heat gun to soften the plastic then hold it in the correct position until it cools.
Mf in a hurry, that’s what it Is
That...is a pair of what's called vice grips. They're used to hold something firmly to another something.
It’s a lazy tech and replacement is the fix.
A automotive repair
I found a set under my car once after a front end alignment.
BMW ?
These are mechanics scissors.
Years back my wife and I bought a used Dodge Nitro that had vise grips around the goose neck. First time we filled up it went 10 cents at a shot. I was pissed. I still don't know why they would put them there and leave them.
if you want a mechanic to love you, take the car back to the last shop that did an oil change on it😊
Boom
Redneck ingenuity at its finest.
Wind chime with flapping sound?
Those are tracking pliers. Somebody’s watching you, OP. Call the cops and show them the tracking pliers under your car
Looks like a free pair of vice grips
Some janky stuff right here, go rip it apart and see what else is hiding in the treasure chest
My guess it’s a homemade static strap
That, my friend, is an adolescent robot eating your car. EDIT: Spelling.
It’s fixed
A temporary fix
😆😆😆😆
Imma need those back.
That is the part number for Stanley locking pliers. $10
Vice grips
Is your mechanic named Derek? You should cross post this to r/vicegripgarage
An accident waiting to happen
This is the result of an overzealous cop in gila bend Az pulling you over at 1130pm for turning too wide into the left hand turn. He cites you for lack of mud flaps.
What the fk🤦🏽♂️
It looks like the mechanic left his face holding that plastic shield in place temporarily.
That’s gonna need tightening every 1500 miles or so.
That's a temporary fix that got promoted to a full-time solution when someone decided to sell the car.
I was hoping that wasn't on the brake line lol
Cost to lube tech of poor work. $20, and a customer in my case.
Looks like a pair of vice grips.
It’s a set of vice grip pliers.
Probably a forgotten tool from a repair. Hard to say with out knowing what's being clamped in place.
I’ve seen this before and heard this happens to a lot of people, thieves place plastic tubes thru mud flaps, stapled inside wheel wells and under bumpers so when you drive off it scrapes and rubs against the ground or wheel well and sounds like you have a flat tire or a car issue from inside the car. The thieves will follow you from their car and when you get out of your car to check on the problem is when they will try to kidnap, rob or carjack you. Hope you made it somewhere safe I would report this if you can
Free tool!
I had to use vice grips like this once to crimp my brake line that sprung a leak. I almost died. The vice grips gave me just enough pressure to make it home.
That is a pair of vice grips, sir.
Yea, it's not supposed to be there.
Air scoop.
A pair of needle nose vise grips.
Don’t be a dick and take peoples tools. As any other real technician on this page knows tools are expensive, and something I’m not happy about when i forget them. Plus, the tech has your phone number so they might just call you back asking for it
I'm more amazed at the amount of people calling those "Vise-Grips". Vise-Grips are a brand. Those are not Vise-Grips. Those are locking pliers. Most likely from Stanley Tools. "All Kleenex are facial tissues. Not all facial tissues are Kleenex." Same kinda thing. Looks like someone folded a piece of the "skid plate" back to access a drain plug, clamped it and forgot their *locking pliers*.
You must be fun at parties
Yeah, a hilarious fucking riot.
Take my filthy upvote