Our Travelpower Magic box has always had an annoying habit of making a horrid fan noise, sort of grindy squeaky, from time to time. You can hear it above the engine even though it is inside a cupboard in the engine room. So yesterday I thought I would tackle it. A doddle to remove since all the connections are rather well build plugs and sockets. But oh, there are no screws on the case! It is pop riveted together. Clearly someone doesn't want folk tinkering inside!
Not to be put off, out with the drill, carefully drill out 14 pop rivets and removing their remains ensuring that swarf doesn't enter the electronics. Unplug flying lead (to indicator lights) from cover and it lifts off.
Turns out the fan noise isn't some bearing in its death throws, but just a feature of the plastic fans - if they are squeezed the fan blades can touch the plastic casing. So probably by tightening the retaining bolts less tightly it will be fixed. Off to B&Q to get correct sized aluminium rivets and pop rivet gun (don't have on on the boat) and casing all put back together again, back on wall, all plugged in and tested. Well, when i turn the ignition on, should any of the front LED light up? Can't remember since there is a remote panel. So start the engine, everything working fine.
Sometime later, just as I am falling asleep, it dawns on me..... I never reconnected the flying lead to the front panel LEDs when I put the lid back on. Perhaps not in itself a big problem but I really don't want the loose end of a lead flapping about inside. So I will have to get the drill out again and drill out another 14 pop rivets. Doh! - big time.
Make me feel better by telling us your maintenance "Doh!" moments ...