How to service your car

alo1587

macshadow wrote: »

Do you need to gap the plugs anymore?

I would ALWAYS gap the new plugs out of the box to manufacturers spec if they were going into a performance car.Probably not if it was a standard family car.

Hal1

I got NGK plugs and they where pregapped (sp?).

Volvoboy

alo1587 wrote: »

I would ALWAYS gap the new plugs out of the box to manufacturers spec if they were going into a performance car.Probably not if it was a standard family car.

Hal1 wrote: »

I got NGK plugs and they where pregapped (sp?).

If ya want to gap the plugs buy and inexpensive feeler gauge & check the Spec's in the Owners manual.

But the majority of plugs on the market come pre-gapped.

x in the city

fair play VB for that, if everyone did this think of the cash saved

eringobragh

First off fair play to VolvoBoy (AKA CarinaBoy ) for putting those guides together

x in the city wrote: »

fair play VB for that, if everyone did this think of the cash saved

x2 although not being pedantic, but there's only certain types that are 'capable' of doing stuff like this, myself I've never been afraid to do stuff like this changing MCBs in fusebox etc. I've mates that wouldn't know how to check the oil :rolleyes: let alone change it, Having said that theres people much better in other areas that I would completely fail.

First time I got under a car was April last year (armed with a haynes manual) , Had a company van for years but never worried about servicing

My NGKs are pregapped,well they were they exact same as the old ones from a previous service with Nissan but a bit over the Haynes spec.. I get my oil filter, cooper washer and NGK spark plugs from Nissan when I'm in the airside area comes to 28euro or soemthing to that effect. I change the oil every 6 -7 thousand or 6 - 8 months (Bardahl 10W40 €22 for 5 litres). The sparks every 12 months or 10,000. I've had a few bits to do on the car reckon I've saved myself around €1000 in labour last year.

Volvoboy

eringobragh wrote: »

First off fair play to VolvoBoy (AKA CarinaBoy ) for putting those guides together

S.I.R

putting all the mechanics in ireland out of a job :rolleyes:

Volvoboy

S.I.R wrote: »

putting all the mechanics in ireland out of a job :rolleyes:

No just helping people to save a few euro, ya know seeings how the whole Country is ****ed.

Maybe you could do the same S.I.R next time your doing a clutch ya could post a few pics on how to do it, it'd be great to see it in pictures.

S.I.R

Volvoboy wrote: »

No just helping people to save a few euro, ya know seeings how the whole Country is ****ed.

Maybe you could do the same S.I.R next time your doing a clutch ya could post a few pics on how to do it, it'd be great to see it in pictures.

no worrys at all.

finally a fan !


i win at life ! :rolleyes:

Volvoboy

Volvoboy wrote: »

No just helping people to save a few euro, ya know seeings how the whole Country is ****ed.

Maybe you could do the same S.I.R next time your doing a clutch ya could post a few pics on how to do it, it'd be great to see it in pictures.

Plug

S.I.R wrote: »

putting all the mechanics in ireland out of a job :rolleyes:

I wouldn't think so and thats coming from one...

robtri

Sweet Job Vb,
Mods this should be a sticky and only allow posts to be added to it that are similar, i.e how to change your brakes....

Mind you don't know the legalities of it, if it becomes a sticky is Boards liable for anything if somebody follows the info and makes a mess of it and destroys their car???? one for the admin team to think about..

have been doing this for years, saves a fortune...... rock on...

gino85

nice post.

try tackling suspension arms on an audi on the side of the street, not a fun job to do lol

tm2204

Thinking of going this route myself servicing my own car.

Have changed the brake pads before so am comfortable doing his kind of stuff.

My car is diesel so no spark plugs to worry about but I need to change the fuel filter. Is this easily done and does anybody have a generic procedure for doing this?

Ta....

mcwhirter

tm2204 wrote: »

Thinking of going this route myself servicing my own car.

Have changed the brake pads before so am comfortable doing his kind of stuff.

My car is diesel so no spark plugs to worry about but I need to change the fuel filter. Is this easily done and does anybody have a generic procedure for doing this?

Ta....

Which car?

Plug

You'll need a fuel primer.

rufio306

Plug wrote: »

You'll need a fuel primer.

depends on the car mate afaik, my old dturbo had a primer built into the system you pumped to prime it after changin the fuel filter.

Elessar

Great post Volvo boy - now can you do one for an E46 beemer?

tm2204

Sorry, my cars a Peugeot 406 Coupe HDi 2003 D9 model.

Plug

tm2204 wrote: »

Sorry, my cars a Peugeot 406 Coupe HDi 2003 D9 model.

There not as easy as most. The filter is plasic located down the front of the engine, you'll need a 27mm socket for it and a 21mm for the bung. The airbox will probably have to come out. The fuel filter connections are akward aswell. What litre is it?
This car be a hard for a noob, best leave it to the mechanics:o

conlonbmw

Plug wrote: »

You'll need a fuel primer.

Nah, just fill the new filter up 1st. Most new cars will fire right away, will sound rough for a few seconds

Plug

conlonbmw wrote: »

Nah, just fill the new filter up 1st. Most new cars will fire right away, will sound rough for a few seconds

Its not a paper filter that you can open and fill. You need a primer.
Sometimes if the fire they'll cut out and you'll have to use the primer.

conlonbmw

Plug wrote: »

best leave it to the mechanics:o

If you are a newbie and Plug is scaring you, then its best to have a mate with you who knows a lot more than you do when you try it.

Plug wrote: »

Its not a paper filter that you can open and fill. You need a primer.

No you dont, stop tryin to complicate it

Plug wrote: »

Sometimes if the fire they'll cut out and you'll have to use the primer.

Sometimes?, so then you are saying you do not need a primer all the time

Soon many more people will realise how easy it is to service cars.

They will realise how they have been ripped off for years by paying 200 quid for a "routine service" that has cost a garage no more than 70 quid.

They will realise how the garage makes 25% profit on parts.

They will finally understand that when you become skilled in mechanics that the 2 hour labour a garage charges actually only takes 40 mins to 1 hour to perform at home on your own.

FMG

Volvoboy wrote: »

No just helping people to save a few euro, ya know seeings how the whole Country is ****ed..

Great thread VB, the thing is I have scudo 1.9D van and there is no haynes manual available for it ,I have been told the scudo's have citreon engines ! ! .Any idea of where I might find a service manual .

RoundyMooney

Mines a hdi too (C5) so if anyone is throwing a guide together, or needs images I'll be happy to help. The only bugbear I have is the fuel filter, as it's my first diesel.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Just read this....very good thread, great work VB

tm2204

Whats the service interval for changing the fuel filter? It's not every service surely?

Plug

conlonbmw wrote: »

If you are a newbie and Plug is scaring you, then its best to have a mate with you who knows a lot more than you do when you try it.



No you dont, stop tryin to complicate it



Sometimes?, so then you are saying you do not need a primer all the time

Soon many more people will realise how easy it is to service cars.

They will realise how they have been ripped off for years by paying 200 quid for a "routine service" that has cost a garage no more than 70 quid.

They will realise how the garage makes 25% profit on parts.

They will finally understand that when you become skilled in mechanics that the 2 hour labour a garage charges actually only takes 40 mins to 1 hour to perform at home on your own.

Its a solid filter, the paper element is built into it, you CAN'T pure diesal into it, it has to be primed...
If he dosen't know what a primer is maybe leave it in to a garage, rather than have to call out someone to do it.

Guy:Incognito

tm2204 wrote: »

It's not every service surely?

Why not ?Sure they are as cheap as an oil filter

rufio306

tm2204 wrote: »

Whats the service interval for changing the fuel filter? It's not every service surely?

as far as i know its every other service, but as said you might aswell do it while your at it and theyre cheap,

BraveDonut

I never had any problems in doing this type of stuff before - A friend walked me through it once many years ago and I have been doing it ever since.

So, I went and got all the parts for my wife's Renault megane saloon (new model) and popped the bonnet - only to find that Renault have buried everything behind panels under and over the engine.
I couldn't even find the air filter, oil filter or the sump-plug!

I guess I will have to get a Haynes Manual and see how to take all the damn covers off first!

tm2204

RoundyMooney wrote: »

Mines a hdi too (C5) so if anyone is throwing a guide together, or needs images I'll be happy to help. The only bugbear I have is the fuel filter, as it's my first diesel.

Check out: http://www.peugeot406coupe.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21532&highlight=

I got all the answers I need from here. No pressureised fuel lines or priming to worry about.

Simple.

tm2204

Plug wrote: »

There not as easy as most. The filter is plasic located down the front of the engine, you'll need a 27mm socket for it and a 21mm for the bung. The airbox will probably have to come out. The fuel filter connections are akward aswell. What litre is it?
This car be a hard for a noob, best leave it to the mechanics:o

Totally and utterly incorrect. Nothing needs to be taken out apart from the front plastic engine cover (clips out). You screw off the fuel filter cap taking care not to break the connectors ontop and replace the filter element. No pressure & no priming. Simple.

RoundyMooney

Thanks a million tm2204.

(link requires registration)

jake59

fair play to ye volvoboy.... just one question... is there an o ring or seal on the drain plug that has to be replaced with a new one when putting the drain plug back onto the car?

Voodoomelon

I think that depends on the car. On my bmw there is a copper ring (crush ring as they can be known) included with the screw. When you screw the screw back in, it literally crushes the copper ring into making a tight seal. I think this is fairly standard on most cars.

It's not recommended to re-sure this ring, and one is normally included with a new oil filter.

conlonbmw

Plug wrote: »

Its a solid filter, the paper element is built into it, you CAN'T pure diesal into it, it has to be primed...
If he dosen't know what a primer is maybe leave it in to a garage, rather than have to call out someone to do it.

PLUG

I see you like mouthing off at people that correct you,

tm2204 wrote: »

Totally and utterly incorrect. Nothing needs to be taken out apart from the front plastic engine cover (clips out). You screw off the fuel filter cap taking care not to break the connectors ontop and replace the filter element. No pressure & no priming. Simple.

You went very quiet after this was posted

tm2204

Just serviced my car at 56k miles & performed the following:

- Replace oil filter & oil
- Replace air filter
- Replace fuel filter
- Replace pollen filter
- Check all fluid levels
- Check break pad wear (front need doing, did rear brakes about 6 months ago)
- Lubricate hinges, doors, etc:

This all cost me €70 in parts (including 10W/40 semi synth oil but excluding the front pads I will need)

My question is have I missed doing anything essential?

Saved an absolute packet by doing it myself as car servicing in Ireland is still very expensive especially if you use a main dealer.

Delighted to have done my first service and will do it myself from now on

Tipsy Mac

tm2204 wrote: »

My question is have I missed doing anything essential?

They say you should bleed the breaks and replace the break fluid every couple of years to avoid the fluid having a lower boiling point as it gets older causing breaking problems.

conlonbmw

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

They say you should bleed the breaks and replace the break fluid every couple of years to avoid the fluid having a lower boiling point as it gets older causing breaking problems.

Just bring your car to a garage and ask for a moisture test, brake fluid is good for 4 years + now.

Tipsy Mac

conlonbmw wrote: »

Just bring your car to a garage and ask for a moisture test, brake fluid is good for 4 years + now.

Is there any test an ordinary person can do to test it, ie paper stips to dip in and get a result or chemical test?

eringobragh

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Is there any test an ordinary person can do to test it, ie paper stips to dip in and get a result or chemical test?

Never used one but loks promising handy thing to have:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brake-Fluid-Moisture-Tester-Portable-Electronic-Tool_W0QQitemZ370155529748QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370155529748&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Tipsy Mac

eringobragh wrote: »

Never used one but loks promising handy thing to have:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brake-Fluid-Moisture-Tester-Portable-Electronic-Tool_W0QQitemZ370155529748QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370155529748&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Cheers I will keep my eye out for something like that.

eringobragh

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Cheers I will keep my eye out for something like that.

Let us know how u get on

Voodoomelon

conlonbmw wrote: »

Just bring your car to a garage and ask for a moisture test, brake fluid is good for 4 years + now.

I wouldn't wait four years to change it, it should be done every 2 years. I saw two year old brake fluid and it was rank.

mick.fr

Nice one, just a shame there is no explanation whatsoever with the pics

mick.fr

conlonbmw wrote: »

Just bring your car to a garage and ask for a moisture test, brake fluid is good for 4 years + now.

I am afraid this is widely optimistic
http://www.bmw-planet.com/?p=214

conlonbmw

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I wouldn't wait four years to change it, it should be done every 2 years. I saw two year old brake fluid and it was rank.

It may be rank, but a garage will only change it if it needs to be changed.

mick.fr

conlonbmw wrote: »

It may be rank, but a garage will only change it if it needs to be changed.

Sure that is what garages do :-)

Anyway I am a freak and do preventive maintenance and I do fluids, sparks, filters regularly and I do not follow manufacturer recommendations since they are misleading.

tm2204

Is the brake fluid easy to replace? Is there a single bleed point on the reservoir or do you bleed at the individual brake assemblies?

Cheers.