Servicing........what the dealers do that i cant ?
Discussion
Hi Folks
Like many S owners i service my own S2. Generally this involves Mobil 1 MS, new plugs, wash air filter, check oil in gearbox. Check all fluid levels etc..
But am i missing something ? what can a garage do that i am not doing ? does the ECU need checking ? how about tuning ?
The car runs fine so i cant justify the cost if i'm doing it all myself but if theres something missing then i dont mind booking her in.
Thanks for your help
Like many S owners i service my own S2. Generally this involves Mobil 1 MS, new plugs, wash air filter, check oil in gearbox. Check all fluid levels etc..
But am i missing something ? what can a garage do that i am not doing ? does the ECU need checking ? how about tuning ?
The car runs fine so i cant justify the cost if i'm doing it all myself but if theres something missing then i dont mind booking her in.
Thanks for your help
Pies said:
IMHO you're wasting your money using mobile 1
They can stamp the book
Maybe in this situation with a used car, as you don't know what has been used in the past and if any damage has already been done.
I owned an Escort RS Turbo from new when I was a young single chap with too much spare cash, I ran that on Mobil 1 and changed the oil & filter ever 6,000 miles.
Approaching 100,000 I needed to remove the rocker cover to replace the valve guide oil seals which had perished.
I did this on a Saturday morning at the garage of my friend's who is a mechanic, we were both very surprised to find that the inside of the rocker cover and indeed the cam and followers all looked brand new and {almost like opening a treasure chest} and showed no visible signs of wear.
Even at todays prices that would still only cost around £500 for 100,000 miles, good value for peace of mind I reckon.
I'd say today that any good quality semi synthetic (if thats how you spell it) would be good enough for a ford v6 or rover v8. Modern oils are a million miles away from Castrol GTX and that went in nearly all cars from BMWs to Mercs years ago and they seem to run forever!
I suppose the point is to maintain the engine in its present state, and hope it don't get any worse.
So rather than going for something mega expensive I would suggest a semi synthetic for about £15 would be plenty good enough and being an old git I'd change it every 3,000 to keep the engine as it is.
happy motoring!
gadgit.
I suppose the point is to maintain the engine in its present state, and hope it don't get any worse.
So rather than going for something mega expensive I would suggest a semi synthetic for about £15 would be plenty good enough and being an old git I'd change it every 3,000 to keep the engine as it is.
happy motoring!
gadgit.
To name but a few.... strip and clean brake calipers, torque all suspension, drop exhaust and grease UJ torque diff cradle bolts, and in the case of one independant put it on the rolling road and check all is well on the move 
....
I understand what you are saying but I think just changing oil etc may be OK on a festa or somesuch but if you drive yours like I drive mine I feel happier that someone has done the little extra bits. Not saying you can't do the extra bits yourself but its deffo more than a plugs and fluids job.
Harry
.... I understand what you are saying but I think just changing oil etc may be OK on a festa or somesuch but if you drive yours like I drive mine I feel happier that someone has done the little extra bits. Not saying you can't do the extra bits yourself but its deffo more than a plugs and fluids job.
Harry
No problem doing it yourself if you follow the TVR service schedule I reckon. You'll be in a similar position to me though with no recent service history so loads of evidence any work done best kept!
Simon
Simon
The answer I think was given above....
Stamp the book.
It maintains the value if you should ever decide to sell it. Espcially with something specialised like a TVR, buyers want the reassurance that someone other than the owner has looked at the car. A TVR Specialist should be able to spot something that is wrong rather than a TADTS.
Colin
Stamp the book.
It maintains the value if you should ever decide to sell it. Espcially with something specialised like a TVR, buyers want the reassurance that someone other than the owner has looked at the car. A TVR Specialist should be able to spot something that is wrong rather than a TADTS.
Colin
HarryW said:
To name but a few.... strip and clean brake calipers, torque all suspension, drop exhaust and grease UJ torque diff cradle bolts
Harry
Not wishing to offend, but I think that you are being a little naive if you believe that dealers do this to every car.
Even so, this kind of work is still within the grasp of the enthusiast. You only really need specialist tools when you start replacing front wheel bearings and the like that require cutting out and presses to get the new ones in.
If the dealer knows what they are doing they should be inspecting and checking everything on the car and that can take several hours. The service is not simply changing spark plugs and fluids and having a quick look round. If you are doing the service in an hour or so then you are not performing the service correctly.
Some owners are quite capable of looking after their cars and do an excellent job but in my experience, self servicing often means inadequate servicing and a recipe for longer term trouble. It is not black and white.
The only issue is really on selling the car where I would say be very suspicious of a car with no dealer stamps because the chances are it is likely to be a real lemon. Not guarenteed but you need to be more wary.
In the end it is all about risk assessment.
Some owners are quite capable of looking after their cars and do an excellent job but in my experience, self servicing often means inadequate servicing and a recipe for longer term trouble. It is not black and white.
The only issue is really on selling the car where I would say be very suspicious of a car with no dealer stamps because the chances are it is likely to be a real lemon. Not guarenteed but you need to be more wary.
In the end it is all about risk assessment.
shpub said:
The only issue is really on selling the car where I would say be very suspicious of a car with no dealer stamps because the chances are it is likely to be a real lemon.
What about independents, they don't stamp your service book? But, in most cases, the service is just as good?
keirangrogan said:
To name but a few.... strip and clean brake calipers, torque all suspension, drop exhaust and grease UJ torque diff cradle bolts
Harry
Not wishing to offend, but I think that you are being a little naive if you believe that dealers do this to every car.
Even so, this kind of work is still within the grasp of the enthusiast. You only really need specialist tools when you start replacing front wheel bearings and the like that require cutting out and presses to get the new ones in.
No offence taken, agree that there is an element of trust in any servicing, I trust the independants I use to do the above, if you don't then either be maticulous yourself or find someone you can trust.
Re the stamp in the book, my book was filled up years ago and not replaced, however, and more importantly being able to produce the reciepts detailing the work actuall carried out is far far more important IMHO. Anyone can get a stamp made up.
Harry
HarryW said:
Re the stamp in the book, my book was filled up years ago and not replaced, however, and more importantly being able to produce the reciepts detailing the work actuall carried out is far far more important IMHO. Anyone can get a stamp made up.
Agreed (although I've got all the stamps). It is important to keep all the bills as some kind of recorded history for the car.
Having said that, the most important bit is Condition, Condition, Condition (to paraphrase Tony BLiar / Kirstie Allsop)
Thanks for all the input
I look after my Tiv as it was a bit of a project when i bought her & I used to enjoy the work as much as the driving. However times change !
I've done alot to her, shocks, springs, trailing arms, chasis sanded & re-coated, waxed etc so most of the mechanicals are pretty sound.
The ECU, tuning and engine block work are out of my scope tho but she is running well.
She has full dealer history for the first 70,000 miles and comprehensive receipts for everything since.
I reckon i will continue doing it myself, but am considering doing the "Podie" Austec chip thing, or at least a rolling road which should cure any aspects that i cant do.
Thanks again
I look after my Tiv as it was a bit of a project when i bought her & I used to enjoy the work as much as the driving. However times change !
I've done alot to her, shocks, springs, trailing arms, chasis sanded & re-coated, waxed etc so most of the mechanicals are pretty sound.
The ECU, tuning and engine block work are out of my scope tho but she is running well.
She has full dealer history for the first 70,000 miles and comprehensive receipts for everything since.
I reckon i will continue doing it myself, but am considering doing the "Podie" Austec chip thing, or at least a rolling road which should cure any aspects that i cant do.
Thanks again
shpub said:
The only issue is really on selling the car where I would say be very suspicious of a car with no dealer stamps because the chances are it is likely to be a real lemon. Not guarenteed but you need to be more wary.
In the end it is all about risk assessment.
Well I've just bought an S with no dealer stamps since 1993.. However its got a good inch deep pile pf receipts with it and has one of the best unrestored chassis i've seen in ages..
However in principle I agree with Steve.. although an awful lot depends on the condition of the car vs. Service history.. afterall a tidy car normally means its been well looked after even if it has no dealer service history, and a ropey car even with a SH, i'd probably avoid.
Cheers
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Thursday 12th February 10:24
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