Self servicing your car

[bayzoo]

OMITN said:

Just ordered oil and filters from ECP to do mine for the first time. Have opted for an oil extractor as well because I don’t have a jack or axle stands (yet).

I was hoping a couple of days off and warm weather would make it a more attractive proposition (no room in the garage currently) but the icy weather we’re having means it may be more of a challenge..!!

I was where you were 6 months ago, got sold an old Civic 2.2 diesel barge from my brother as a trade sale (he works at at Honda dealer), and being at home working all day I though I’d try and clean out the EGR valve and it snowballed from there.

I’ve since:
- changed front struts and rear shocks/bushings (had help)
- changed ARB bushings
- changed the clutch master cylinder + plus a full bleed
- gearbox oil change
- refurbished all 4 brake calipers and installed new pads and discs
- installed new OSF check strap
- fitted a second hand handbrake lever
- removed and refitted drivers seat for a deep clean
- installed new boot struts

A garage did the following:
- replaced a cracked exhaust manifold with a cast second hand unit
- oil change
- new control arms and drop links

I would have done all these bar the manifold myself now with the knowledge I have.

My wife has the same Civic but a 1.8 and I’ve:
- fitted new front struts
- changed ARB bushings
- installed new drop links
- fitted new rear shocks and bushings

I’ve also bought a bunch of tools including a good battery impact wrench. Now this isn’t a requirement, I bought it to speed things up and it’s a LOT of fun.

Prior to Oct last year I’d only ever topped up the oil and removed the odd wheel.

Yes I’ve spent a fair whack but the tools are an investment and I’m keeping these cars (the 1.8 at least) for a while until they give up completely or force me to electric.

I also did most of this during the Scottish winter - that’s how much I was enjoying it!

[OMITN]

bayzoo said:

I was where you were 6 months ago, got sold an old Civic 2.2 diesel barge from my brother as a trade sale (he works at at Honda dealer), and being at home working all day I though I’d try and clean out the EGR valve and it snowballed from there.

I’ve since:
- changed front struts and rear shocks/bushings (had help)
- changed ARB bushings
- changed the clutch master cylinder + plus a full bleed
- gearbox oil change
- refurbished all 4 brake calipers and installed new pads and discs
- installed new OSF check strap
- fitted a second hand handbrake lever
- removed and refitted drivers seat for a deep clean
- installed new boot struts

A garage did the following:
- replaced a cracked exhaust manifold with a cast second hand unit
- oil change
- new control arms and drop links

I would have done all these bar the manifold myself now with the knowledge I have.

My wife has the same Civic but a 1.8 and I’ve:
- fitted new front struts
- changed ARB bushings
- installed new drop links
- fitted new rear shocks and bushings

I’ve also bought a bunch of tools including a good battery impact wrench. Now this isn’t a requirement, I bought it to speed things up and it’s a LOT of fun.

Prior to Oct last year I’d only ever topped up the oil and removed the odd wheel.

Yes I’ve spent a fair whack but the tools are an investment and I’m keeping these cars (the 1.8 at least) for a while until they give up completely or force me to electric.

I also did most of this during the Scottish winter - that’s how much I was enjoying it!

Wow bayzoo - that’s a list of work..! Cheers. Will take your success as a sign..!

(Oh and I love an excuse to buy tools - eyeing up a Norbar torque wrench for no other reason than I grew up near Banbury where they are headquartered.

I’m fortunate that I earn decent money, so this is a choice for me. I want to learn new skills - and I’m currently enjoying shed life..!

[Megaflow]

dunc01965 said:

I can't ever remember taking a car to a main dealer. When friends who have newer cars tell me how much they pay for basic maintenance it takes me all my powers of self control not to laugh at them. I've not used a garage in over 20 years but for me it's not just about saving money. I actually enjoy working on my own car, in spring and summer at least and I know it's been done properly.

I took one once, it was a Mondeo 2.5T I bought at 3 years old and just before the warranty expired it was due a service, so I thought the main dealer can do it, if they find anything it can be done under warranty. £250 for an oil change later... they told me the A/C didn’t work, but it would need leak checking and possibly gassing before they would consider it a warranty claim. I did some research which suggests the A/C doesn’t work below something like 5 degs C... it went for a service in January, it didn’t get above freezing all day... 8 years later the A/C still worked.

Oh, and they also put it next to the disabled parking bay when they had finished and some OAP the used it as a ‘parking aid’...

[anonymous-user]

From memory the 2.5 mondeo was quite a challenge to work on as there was next to no room under the bonnet to get at anything.

[OMITN]

Oil and filters (oil, air, cabin) all done. Using the extractor was a pain - took real force to get the pipe down the dipstick tube. Next time it’s jack and stands....

Looks like I got pretty much all the oil out so not bad for a first go..!

Next job is a new silencer mount as one is broken.

Edited by OMITN on Friday 9th April 01:11

[kambites]

Our cars haven't been near a garage in years except for MoT tests and any jobs I couldn't do myself, which has been a couple of times for the Skoda (one where the comfort ECU completely lost its programming, and one where a brake caliper bolt was so seized it needed to be cut and drilled out) and not at all for the Elise.

[Captain Answer]

OMITN said:

Oil and filters (oil, air, cabin) all done. Using the extractor was a pain - took real force to get the pipe down the dipstick tube. Next time it’s jack and stands....

Looks like I got pretty much all the oil out so not bad for a first go..!

Next job is a new silencer mount as one is broken.

Edited by OMITN on Friday 9th April 01:11

What pump is it?

Never had any issue with either of the ones I've used, I usually add a small smear of clean oil to the outside of the pipe beforehand though to help it go down

[OMITN]

Captain Answer said:

What pump is it?

Never had any issue with either of the ones I've used, I usually add a small smear of clean oil to the outside of the pipe beforehand though to help it go down

Came from ECP. Looks like the Pella(?) one. Extraction tube is plastic over a coiled metal tube. Must be very narrow at the bottom of the dipstick tube.

[Captain Answer]

OMITN said:

Came from ECP. Looks like the Pella(?) one. Extraction tube is plastic over a coiled metal tube. Must be very narrow at the bottom of the dipstick tube.

Never had one with anything other than a thin tube, I can see how what might be a pain tho...

I hated the Pella one I had, couldn't never get it to vacuum extract, do I got a battery powered one after that

[Megaflow]

Lord Cunnington Smythe said:

From memory the 2.5 mondeo was quite a challenge to work on as there was next to no room under the bonnet to get at anything.

It was not too bad, certainly nowhere near as right as the S40 (mk2 focus in a posh suit) I had before it...

[anonymous-user]

Megaflow said:

Lord Cunnington Smythe said:

From memory the 2.5 mondeo was quite a challenge to work on as there was next to no room under the bonnet to get at anything.

It was not too bad, certainly nowhere near as right as the S40 (mk2 focus in a posh suit) I had before it...

One of my friends is a top class mechanic, he said that there were 2 cars he would refuse to work on the 2.5 mondeo and and a big engined Audi Q7.

[rash_decision]

I love tinkering and working on cars. I have fabricated work before just for an excuse to get the tools out!

I recently bought an insignia as a spares or repair because it had overheated. I did the head gasket and associated belts etc etc, full service.

Tonight I pulled the gearbox out the wife’s Fiat 500 because it’s noisier than noisy now and needs new bearings. I’ll throw a clutch in it too.

I’ve lost track of some of the complex and lengthy jobs I have done over the years. However, it’s getting sorer now!

I guess when it’s in you, it’s in you! Haha.

[FK]

I definitely fond of getting my hands dirty on my cars myself. I learn more, can verify what's actually been done and to what standard, and I have far greater control over what parts are used.

Plus, unless it's a very big job which I can't do outside the house, it is simply more convenient. Fortunately, the Mondeo doesn't tend to need too much work to keep it going!

[jeremyh1]

I do everything myself and have done for 35 years but I fully understand why you would have better things to do

[Pastie Bloater]

When they'll come back looking like this I'd rather do it myself

Judicious use of angle grinder
These lower arms also failed immediately as they were tightened at full droop
The inner end steel bush case had separated from aluminium arm (was press fit)





'new' bumpstops



'new' battery (and not the required AGM)

[Megaflow]

Pastie Bloater said:

When they'll come back looking like this I'd rather do it myself

Judicious use of angle grinder
These lower arms also failed immediately as they were tightened at full droop
The inner end steel bush case had separated from aluminium arm (was press fit)





'new' bumpstops



'new' battery (and not the required AGM)

I read the angle grinder comment, looked at the first photo with the witness mark below the nut and couldn’t see the issue.

Then I saw the second photo…



Fk me!

What did they say when you took it back?

[Captain Answer]

Pastie Bloater said:

When they'll come back looking like this I'd rather do it myself

Judicious use of angle grinder
These lower arms also failed immediately as they were tightened at full droop
The inner end steel bush case had separated from aluminium arm (was press fit)





'new' bumpstops



'new' battery (and not the required AGM)

Some absolute shockers here.. that angle grinder cut I've slipped a couple times with an angle grinder, it happens that looks more than a slip to me

[Pastie Bloater]

Megaflow said:

I read the angle grinder comment, looked at the first photo with the witness mark below the nut and couldn’t see the issue.

Then I saw the second photo…



Fk me!

What did they say when you took it back?

As if I took it back! Got a refund minus price of MOT and price of springs they fitted, which of course I had to disassemble to put in new bump stops
I bought a used hub on eBay for like £25, just glad I found it basically immediately after it happened.

[markcoznottz]

Captain Answer said:

Pastie Bloater said:

When they'll come back looking like this I'd rather do it myself

Judicious use of angle grinder
These lower arms also failed immediately as they were tightened at full droop
The inner end steel bush case had separated from aluminium arm (was press fit)





'new' bumpstops



'new' battery (and not the required AGM)

Some absolute shockers here.. that angle grinder cut I've slipped a couple times with an angle grinder, it happens that looks more than a slip to me

Yea, the nut on the old ball joint must have been rusted solid. You have to be careful with those cutting discs you aren’t cutting anything else, ie this example

[Ian Geary]

Well spotted on that angle grind cut.

Back in 2007 I took a Celica rear hub to a local garage for them to press out the bearing and press a new one in. Guy was struggling with it for 25 mins.

Eventually took it back home to fit, and the hub wouldn't tighten up. Turns out the guy had accidentally pressed on the mounting points and pushed them out of alignment.

Had to take it all off again, go back and get them to straighten it.

Don't think I've paid a garage for work on a car since then...