LeftoverBolts Safety & Troubleshooting Disclaimer

DRAFT — NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Prepared for attorney review before launch. Do not publish as-is. Items in [BRACKETS] are placeholders. Last drafted: 2026-10-13.

Operated by Wayland Wenschlag (sole proprietor) d/b/a LeftoverBolts.

Read this before you turn a wrench. Repairs on vehicles, appliances, and electronics can cause serious injury, death, fire, flooding, gas leaks, or property damage.

Suggestions can be wrong

The Crew Chief troubleshooter generates suggestions automatically from built-in rules and other users' feedback. No third-party AI is used. Fixes reported by other users are unverified and are shown only once they reach a net score of 2 (see the Privacy Policy). It can misunderstand your problem, confuse models/years, omit steps, or state things confidently that are false. It cannot see your equipment. It is not a licensed mechanic, electrician, plumber, gas fitter, or HVAC technician, and its answers are not professional advice. Always check the manufacturer's official manual (we link to it when available) and follow local codes. If anything doesn't match what you see, stop.

Stop and call a professional if

• you smell gas, fuel, or burning, or see smoke, sparks, or leaking fluids;
• a step needs tools, training, or certification you don't have;
• the vehicle or appliance can't be safely supported, de-energized, or depressurized;
• brakes, steering, or other safety systems behave differently after a repair;
• you're unsure at any point.

Always

• Disconnect power (unplug / switch off breaker and verify with a tester), shut off water and gas, and disconnect vehicle batteries before work.
• Let engines, exhaust, and heating elements cool; relieve pressure in fuel, coolant, and hydraulic systems per the manual.
• Support vehicles with rated jack stands on level, solid ground — never work under a vehicle held only by a jack. Chock wheels.
• Wear eye protection and gloves; work in a ventilated area; keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Use correct torque specs and replace one-time-use fasteners. Account for every bolt.
• Test safety-critical systems (brakes, steering, gas appliances) before normal use.

Do NOT do these without proper qualification — call a licensed professional

• Airbags / SRS and seat-belt pretensioners
• Brake hydraulics, ABS, and steering components (if unsure)
• Gas lines, gas valves, and gas appliance burners
• High voltage: EV/hybrid battery systems (orange cables), microwave ovens (capacitors hold lethal charge when unplugged), CRTs, mains wiring/panels
• Refrigerant systems (EPA Section 608/609 certification required to handle refrigerants)
• Fuel systems near ignition sources; anything involving structural lifting

The troubleshooter is designed to refuse step-by-step guidance on these.

Warranties, recalls, and the law

DIY work may affect warranties, insurance, or emissions/safety compliance. Check for open recalls (e.g., NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls for vehicles; CPSC at cpsc.gov/recalls for products) before repairing.

Your responsibility

By using LeftoverBolts you accept that you decide whether to perform any repair and do so at your own risk, as described in the Terms of Service (including the limitation of liability). To the extent permitted by law, LeftoverBolts is not responsible for injury, death, or property damage resulting from repairs you choose to perform or from relying on a suggestion. When in doubt, call a pro. Leftover bolts are funny until they're from your brakes.

Short in-app banner (chat page): "Suggestions can be wrong. Not professional advice. Disconnect power/gas/battery first. No airbags, gas lines, refrigerant, or high voltage — call a pro. [Read the safety disclaimer]"