I'm ashamed to say this, but...
Discussion
I've just done my first oil change on a car! Before the hardest thing I have done is change a light bulb (on a Focus I found it bloody hard!).
Feel pretty pleased with how it went, only mistake I made was forgetting that once the oil has poured out, it will start to drip out, and I should have moved the bowl. Mum isn't too pleased with oil on the drive!
Amazed at how easy it was, hardest part I found was jacking it up, seemed to take forever.
Saved a fair bit of money too. Was quoted £140 for it (although that included a pollen filter change too), I did it for under £20.
I'm sure there are people who have been doing oil changes since before they were born, but got to start somewhere!
Sure the neighbours laughed at me wearing pink marigolds to do it too!
What type of work do you do on your cars? Not sure I would feel comfortable doing anything with brakes etc.
Feel pretty pleased with how it went, only mistake I made was forgetting that once the oil has poured out, it will start to drip out, and I should have moved the bowl. Mum isn't too pleased with oil on the drive!
Amazed at how easy it was, hardest part I found was jacking it up, seemed to take forever.
Saved a fair bit of money too. Was quoted £140 for it (although that included a pollen filter change too), I did it for under £20.
I'm sure there are people who have been doing oil changes since before they were born, but got to start somewhere!
Sure the neighbours laughed at me wearing pink marigolds to do it too!
What type of work do you do on your cars? Not sure I would feel comfortable doing anything with brakes etc.
Well done. You also now know that the filter and sump plug haven't been over tightened and next time will be even easier.
When you look at service schedules for modern cars often the only thing to change is the oil and filter with everything else being a 'check'.
Saves a lot of money and time doing it yourself.
Brakes as above are pretty easy too.
When you look at service schedules for modern cars often the only thing to change is the oil and filter with everything else being a 'check'.
Saves a lot of money and time doing it yourself.
Brakes as above are pretty easy too.
Well done! One tip: NEVER jack on the sills. You see garages and other 'experts' doing it all the time. The sill jack for emergency use is specially shaped to spread the load. A trolley or bottle jack will crush and dent the sill. There's nearly always a strong, fat sunframe, or a pad on the floor that the car sat on on the production line. Always use axle stands, too.
y2blade said:
Well done 
Feels good doing this sort of thing yourself doesn't it.
I do most things on my vehicles.
Yep Feels good doing this sort of thing yourself doesn't it.
I do most things on my vehicles.
.TameRacingDriver said:
If you can change oil then surely you can change brake pads?
Anyway I don't, but I would like to have a go, but the problem always seems to be, I don't have the tools, or the space.
But then I suppose at those prices, it may be worth investing.
Its at the back of my mind, if I mess up a oil change, I break my engine. If I mess up a brake pad change, I could kill someone (thats my thinking anyway!).Anyway I don't, but I would like to have a go, but the problem always seems to be, I don't have the tools, or the space.
But then I suppose at those prices, it may be worth investing.
I didn't have a few tools, needed a 36mm socket (bloody £17!) and some axel stands (£30), but they should last a while, so (hopefully) plenty of use to come.
Is it quite simple to do brake pad changes? Bound to be a YouTube video for it (used one for the oil change).
trickywoo said:
Well done. You also now know that the filter and sump plug haven't been over tightened and next time will be even easier.
When you look at service schedules for modern cars often the only thing to change is the oil and filter with everything else being a 'check'.
Saves a lot of money and time doing it yourself.
Brakes as above are pretty easy too.
I thought I was going to pop a vein trying to undo the sump plug! When you look at service schedules for modern cars often the only thing to change is the oil and filter with everything else being a 'check'.
Saves a lot of money and time doing it yourself.
Brakes as above are pretty easy too.
Just need to find out how to reset the counter on the dashboard now.
First of all well done in achieving this milestone in your motoring life. Watch out though you will want to try different things now. Basics like oil changes, bulbs etc are a good starting point. If you have not already got one get a workshop manual for whatever car you have and you will soon be changing brakes etc. It is fairly easy and straight forward. The book will guide you.
At home in the drive I have done most things from servicing to prepping for paint, even tried a gearbox rebuild, but to me that is witchcraft which is best left to the professionals.
At home in the drive I have done most things from servicing to prepping for paint, even tried a gearbox rebuild, but to me that is witchcraft which is best left to the professionals.
williredale said:
Well done!
Pollen filters tend to be pretty easy too. Have a look on google for how to do it to your car; buy one and complete the service.
I'm going to do the pollen filter next week once I've been paid. Already taken them out and had a bit of a clear out under them.Pollen filters tend to be pretty easy too. Have a look on google for how to do it to your car; buy one and complete the service.
tubbystu said:
Blimey, what was the 36mm socket used for on an oil change ?
Getting the oil filter off. Ki3r said:
Not sure I would feel comfortable doing anything with brakes etc.
Have you spoken to some of the staff at Kwik Fit? They don't tend to come across as particularly intelligent or careful so if they can do then you can. It was talking to one of them, when he quoted me £400 to change the discs and pads on my old Micra, that I decided I'd give it a go myself. Bought the parts for less than £40 and enjoyed doing it. Have done several sets of brakes now on various cars over the years. Most ambitious task so far was a wheel bearing and I think I'll draw the line at that since I now have a local garage that doesn't over charge and I actually trust!Worst part for me when I first started was dealing with the miserable gits that seem to staff all motor factor places. Unless you want a real laugh and visit Halfords who tried to sell me various things that clearly won't fit but because the book say it then it must be correct!
well done , i started out doing small jobs on my car and have now completed engine swaps , clutches , engine conversions etc , always good write ups , youtube videos for most things just take your time and forums are great places to get advise if things get a bit tricky for you. If i can do it most people can with a decent socket set.
Ki3r said:
I thought I was going to pop a vein trying to undo the sump plug!
Yup. Nearly every car I've bought has had the sump plug over tightened. I reckon they get the apprentice in the garage to hang off it with a breaker bar.They normally only need doing up to 30 or 40Nm which is basically finger tight plus a 'nip'.
Front brake are easy even for someone with no knowelege back brakes are more tricky. If it's only front pads needed then on a focus all you need to do is
remove the wheel
unclip a metal clip on the front of the calliper
Remove 2 plastic caps on the back of the calliper
With them off 2 7mm allen key bolts hold the calliper on undue them.
Leaver the calliper off the inside pad is clipped on to the piston can stick in
Push the piston back with a big pair of grips
Fit new pads and put a bit of copper grease on the edges of the pads and on the back.
Reverse of above oh and pump the brake a couple of time before moving off.
You could always ask a person with more experience to help if your unsure or ask a member on here thats close to you.
remove the wheel
unclip a metal clip on the front of the calliper
Remove 2 plastic caps on the back of the calliper
With them off 2 7mm allen key bolts hold the calliper on undue them.
Leaver the calliper off the inside pad is clipped on to the piston can stick in
Push the piston back with a big pair of grips
Fit new pads and put a bit of copper grease on the edges of the pads and on the back.
Reverse of above oh and pump the brake a couple of time before moving off.
You could always ask a person with more experience to help if your unsure or ask a member on here thats close to you.
The problem with going beyond oil changes is the potential for 'scope drift'.
I've just changed the rear disks and pads on our old volvo. However, both calipers turned out to be knackered and one of them proved impossible to remove the brake pipe.
So we (Dads are great when they have big garages and lots of tools) ended up cutting pipes, flaring and putting new fittings on, replacing calipers, pads and disks.
Cost went up by £200 (calipers) and if Dad hadn't had all the tools then they would have cost a fortune.
I've just changed the rear disks and pads on our old volvo. However, both calipers turned out to be knackered and one of them proved impossible to remove the brake pipe.
So we (Dads are great when they have big garages and lots of tools) ended up cutting pipes, flaring and putting new fittings on, replacing calipers, pads and disks.
Cost went up by £200 (calipers) and if Dad hadn't had all the tools then they would have cost a fortune.
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