Car Maintenance - Fix My Focus

I bought a new foglamp for my ford focus a month ago and all my attempts to change the old one out have been in vain. I'm missing something stupid.

But this got me thinking. I don't know the first thing about getting my hands dirty and doing some of the regualar maintenance stuff like changing the oil.

I don't know where to start. Idealy I would like to get a big thick maintenance bible to teach me the basics and something more specific for the the focus.

With that in mind, could anyone recomend a good book?

Or how did you learn your way around a car?

Mayshine

Haynes manual, I have one if you want it*






* charge may apply

MercMad

Maybe Haynes do a Focus manual ?

Here you go ...........!

http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&categoryId=24504&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=14510&top_category=10001

...................noiw get reading !!

JohnCleary

Yup agreed on the Haynes manual.
You cant go wrong with one... best money youll ever spend

Seth Brundle

JohnCleary wrote:

Yup agreed on the Haynes manual.
You cant go wrong with one... best money youll ever spend

IMO Haynes manuals have become poorer over time.
Now they are a handy reference printed on toilet paper but woe betide you should you wish to try and use it to fix something complex!

JohnCleary

Well my one is for a 1999 Car and it has everything id ever need to do tbh... I'm no mechanic though, I just buy heaps of crap for pennies, pull them apart and try to stick them back together again, counting how many nuts/screws I have left over at the end

MercMad

IMO Haynes manuals have become poorer over time.
Now they are a handy reference printed on toilet paper but woe betide you should you wish to try and use it to fix something complex!

.............yes very true. We have one for the 5 Series and doing the gearbox the manual is simply wrong in lots of places !

Very few alternatives though !

Thanks for the advice guys I have ordered one

Seth Brundle

MercMad wrote:

.............yes very true. We have one for the 5 Series and doing the gearbox the manual is simply wrong in lots of places !

Very few alternatives though !

for BMWs you can't beat the Bentley manuals!
Made for US cars they are still applicable to Euro cars.

MercMad

for BMWs you can't beat the Bentley manuals!
Made for US cars they are still applicable to Euro cars.

.........yes I agree. We have those too but again they dont tell me anything about the gearbox internals. Still the fault is sorted now !