Car Maintenance Courses at Mansfield
Discussion
Well believe it or not I still have a load of things I'd like to do to Barney 
Have to say I felt a bit sad that tonight's class was the last one as I have had more fun than I could have imagined and have learnt a fair amount. (And the financial benefits are most welcome
)
Russ is an absolute star and young Rob is ace.
I'm going to give Trevor a call and tell him, yet again, what a great course it was and how fab all the lads are.
I did suggest that Russ failed us all so that he could re-run the 'beginners' class
Pleased to hear that you got your pipes sorted. I've got a tin of molly grease spare if you need any extra, heavy-duty lubrication
Have to say I felt a bit sad that tonight's class was the last one as I have had more fun than I could have imagined and have learnt a fair amount. (And the financial benefits are most welcome
)Russ is an absolute star and young Rob is ace.
I'm going to give Trevor a call and tell him, yet again, what a great course it was and how fab all the lads are.
I did suggest that Russ failed us all so that he could re-run the 'beginners' class
Pleased to hear that you got your pipes sorted. I've got a tin of molly grease spare if you need any extra, heavy-duty lubrication
judas said:
Both decat pipes are now on the Ferrari and it sounds bloody fabulous 
Many thanks to Stackmonkey for all the help - owe you several beers now and you're welcome to help lube my pipes any time
Well, very sad now the course is over. Thoroughly worthwhile, rewarding and fun
Hopefully Russ can sort out another course for us soon.
Any time Many thanks to Stackmonkey for all the help - owe you several beers now and you're welcome to help lube my pipes any time Well, very sad now the course is over. Thoroughly worthwhile, rewarding and fun
Hopefully Russ can sort out another course for us soon. much fun was had with shearing bolts and playing '2 spanners, 1 socket' I've just spoken with Trevor and he is more than happy to set up another night class 
He will need to speak with the Adult Education bods first, though running another one should not be a problem. I said that we'd like Russ again (I think you will all agree he is a top man ). Russ is having a few weeks off, but Trevor and Russ will get their heads together and decide on the course and start date.
I said that we liked the format of the one we have just completed, ie do what you like with your car.
Trevor will give me a heads-up when the course is open for takers. I'll post the details on here as enrollments are on a first-come, first-served basis.
He will need to speak with the Adult Education bods first, though running another one should not be a problem. I said that we'd like Russ again (I think you will all agree he is a top man ). Russ is having a few weeks off, but Trevor and Russ will get their heads together and decide on the course and start date. I said that we liked the format of the one we have just completed, ie do what you like with your car.
Trevor will give me a heads-up when the course is open for takers. I'll post the details on here as enrollments are on a first-come, first-served basis.
I have a question for all you guys who attend these courses
I'm just finishing the first year of a course in Leicester which will leave me with the very basics of brakes, engines, drive, gearbox and suspension. Unfortunately i cannot attend the second year of the course as i know have a job in mansfield, and cannot make the 6pm start in leicester.
could anyone suggest which course i might be best taking at West Notts (it's 10 mins from the office) and whether they might accept me on the intermediate course, or would i be best starting on the basic one? What level is the basic one at??
Another thing - is it really only £4 a lesson? I've just paid £545 for this last year's tuition.
I'm just finishing the first year of a course in Leicester which will leave me with the very basics of brakes, engines, drive, gearbox and suspension. Unfortunately i cannot attend the second year of the course as i know have a job in mansfield, and cannot make the 6pm start in leicester.
could anyone suggest which course i might be best taking at West Notts (it's 10 mins from the office) and whether they might accept me on the intermediate course, or would i be best starting on the basic one? What level is the basic one at??
Another thing - is it really only £4 a lesson? I've just paid £545 for this last year's tuition.
stackmonkey said:
Yes, it really is only £4 per lesson. 
As you've done a year already, you would be better off on at least the intermediate course, I think. although they also a theory based course you may be interested in.
HTH
Nah - it's practical all the way for me. The current course i've done was undertaken out of desperation (not much happening in terms of vehicle courses near home). I was only ever interested in the practical elements and not the theory.As you've done a year already, you would be better off on at least the intermediate course, I think. although they also a theory based course you may be interested in.
HTH
Any idea who i speak to about my ability levels and which course will be appropriate for me? An email addy would be about perfect!!
They do a whole range of car courses there as well as the part time hobby stuff
The basic course, though it nominally had a course plan, was in reality just us lot turning up with our cars to do random stuff - some of which coincided with what we were meant to be doing Still, I don't think de-catting a Ferrari or diagnosing rough running on a 6.75l Bentley were standard fare
Remember though, the courses are one evening a week for 10 weeks, so not really as comprehensive as a full-time course. Facilities are excellent though
The basic course, though it nominally had a course plan, was in reality just us lot turning up with our cars to do random stuff - some of which coincided with what we were meant to be doing
Still, I don't think de-catting a Ferrari or diagnosing rough running on a 6.75l Bentley were standard fare Remember though, the courses are one evening a week for 10 weeks, so not really as comprehensive as a full-time course. Facilities are excellent though
judas said:
They do a whole range of car courses there as well as the part time hobby stuff
The basic course, though it nominally had a course plan, was in reality just us lot turning up with our cars to do random stuff - some of which coincided with what we were meant to be doing Still, I don't think de-catting a Ferrari or diagnosing rough running on a 6.75l Bentley were standard fare
Remember though, the courses are one evening a week for 10 weeks, so not really as comprehensive as a full-time course. Facilities are excellent though
Cheers for the info - any chance of a name of whom i need to contact so i can discuss the details? When does the next course start? Do you reckon there would be much chance of me joining the existing PH lot?The basic course, though it nominally had a course plan, was in reality just us lot turning up with our cars to do random stuff - some of which coincided with what we were meant to be doing
Still, I don't think de-catting a Ferrari or diagnosing rough running on a 6.75l Bentley were standard fare Remember though, the courses are one evening a week for 10 weeks, so not really as comprehensive as a full-time course. Facilities are excellent though
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all on this. I didn't get a chance to call Trevor Burton until late yesterday afternoon.
The situation is that the Basic Car Maintenance course (the one that we signed up for) is specifically for local unemployed. They will be given first priority given that the course is subsidised by the local authority with the sole aim of getting the unemployed trained, armed with new skills and back into work.
If any of us would like to do a further course in car maintenance then Trevor is prepared to run one on a Saturday morning with Russ delivering the course. In order for him to set up a course he needs to know exactly what it is that we want to get from the course. That is, do we want to do specific tasks, for example replacing brakes on one week, oil changes another, or do we want something more general? I imagine that we would all like to be able to do what we want when we want but that will put a lot of stress on Russ and I imagine he'd like something more structured. Also, how many weeks would we like the course to run for?
So, let's get the ball rolling with your comments please on what you want from the course. Once we've all expressed our thoughts and desires I'll feed them back to Trevor so that he and Russ can get something set up for September.
The course will begin in September. It won't be as cheap as the last one and I think that Trevor will want money paid up front for this one.
The situation is that the Basic Car Maintenance course (the one that we signed up for) is specifically for local unemployed. They will be given first priority given that the course is subsidised by the local authority with the sole aim of getting the unemployed trained, armed with new skills and back into work.
If any of us would like to do a further course in car maintenance then Trevor is prepared to run one on a Saturday morning with Russ delivering the course. In order for him to set up a course he needs to know exactly what it is that we want to get from the course. That is, do we want to do specific tasks, for example replacing brakes on one week, oil changes another, or do we want something more general? I imagine that we would all like to be able to do what we want when we want but that will put a lot of stress on Russ and I imagine he'd like something more structured. Also, how many weeks would we like the course to run for?
So, let's get the ball rolling with your comments please on what you want from the course. Once we've all expressed our thoughts and desires I'll feed them back to Trevor so that he and Russ can get something set up for September.
The course will begin in September. It won't be as cheap as the last one and I think that Trevor will want money paid up front for this one.
That sounds great Emma. Some thoughts then:
1. More structure to the course would be good but up front so we know exactly what we are doing
2. If the structure is say 1st week, oil change, Second week changing brake pads and discs, third week, replacing brake hoses etc then if people want to do these specific things to their cars they can book their car and time. I suggest this because it then gives Russ structure and there will be say 3 cars all doing a brake change that week. We can then all help each other with the specific tasks to gain the knowledge.
3. We need to know the price fairly early so we can say whether it is something we want to do. The £40 was amazing value but without funding would it stick a nought on the end? If it does you wouldn't get much uptake really.
4. We need to make a list (now) of the things we may want to do to our cars to give Russ the structure. So I will start off:
Oil Change - Chimaera
Brake disc and pads change - Rear Chimaera, front Ferrari
Brake fluid change and new hoses - Chimaera
Refurbish calipers - Chimaera, Mini
Cooling system fluid change - Mini, Alfa, Chimaera (good one for everyone with winter coming up I thought)
Wheel bearing check, maintenance and change if necessary (Mini, Chimaera and Alfa)
Rocker cover gasket - Mini
Clean and Hammerite structural bits - Chimaera
Can't think of anything else at the mo.
Trace
1. More structure to the course would be good but up front so we know exactly what we are doing
2. If the structure is say 1st week, oil change, Second week changing brake pads and discs, third week, replacing brake hoses etc then if people want to do these specific things to their cars they can book their car and time. I suggest this because it then gives Russ structure and there will be say 3 cars all doing a brake change that week. We can then all help each other with the specific tasks to gain the knowledge.
3. We need to know the price fairly early so we can say whether it is something we want to do. The £40 was amazing value but without funding would it stick a nought on the end? If it does you wouldn't get much uptake really.
4. We need to make a list (now) of the things we may want to do to our cars to give Russ the structure. So I will start off:
Oil Change - Chimaera
Brake disc and pads change - Rear Chimaera, front Ferrari
Brake fluid change and new hoses - Chimaera
Refurbish calipers - Chimaera, Mini
Cooling system fluid change - Mini, Alfa, Chimaera (good one for everyone with winter coming up I thought)
Wheel bearing check, maintenance and change if necessary (Mini, Chimaera and Alfa)
Rocker cover gasket - Mini
Clean and Hammerite structural bits - Chimaera
Can't think of anything else at the mo.
Trace
That's a good list Ace-T. (I've had my radiator fluid replaced recently along with heater matrix and also all new brake pipes, discs, bearings and pads. I'm sure most would benefit greatly for the inclusion of this in syllabus.)
I have done so much to the Corrado that it really is difficult to know what to do next. I have to say that I got to the point of almost kicking it's door panels in last month as it seems to take any available cash that I have (holiday and clothing allowance).
I would say that the things I'd like to do that won't keep me poor are:
oil and filter change
caliper refurb (they seem fine but a little bit of a brush up wouldn't be a bad thing)
fit new exhaust heat shield (Barney sounds like a shopping trolley going over bumps)
I would love to do an engine bay clean but not sure if that is the sort of thing that one could do at Saturday college.
I haven't had the timing chain checked or indeed know how to check one so that might be a useful learning experience for all.
If money permits, fit new speakers.
I'll ask Trevor about potential costs next week.
I have done so much to the Corrado that it really is difficult to know what to do next. I have to say that I got to the point of almost kicking it's door panels in last month as it seems to take any available cash that I have (holiday and clothing allowance).
I would say that the things I'd like to do that won't keep me poor are:
oil and filter change
caliper refurb (they seem fine but a little bit of a brush up wouldn't be a bad thing)
fit new exhaust heat shield (Barney sounds like a shopping trolley going over bumps)
I would love to do an engine bay clean but not sure if that is the sort of thing that one could do at Saturday college.
I haven't had the timing chain checked or indeed know how to check one so that might be a useful learning experience for all.
If money permits, fit new speakers.
I'll ask Trevor about potential costs next week.
Edited by EmmaP on Sunday 15th June 14:00
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