New car, want to learn basic mechanics
Discussion
After 4 test drives and failing to squeeze myself into a civic type r, I've decided on my new car to replace my little corsa (my first car). I'm an expert with computers but when it comes to mechanics, I know nothing, so was just wondering where's the best place to learn? I don't want to be a mechanic but I would like to know the basics like changing the oil, etc
What is the new car?
Owners club and a haynes manual, plus the will to have a go are probably your best best. Routine maintenence on most cars is very simple. An oil change, filter change and spark plugs is normally very straighforwards and rewarding, along with saving you cash.
Some cars are lovely to work on, others are a bit of a pig: Most modern TDi's are 'no user servicable parts inside' apart from an oil and filter change. My 200sx was a bit of a pig due to tight engine bay access and the complexity of the turbo - that said I did servicing, brakes and fitted an intercooler myself.
My current E36 BMW has obviously been designed with servicing and longevity in mind, it's an absolute joy to work on.
I started servicing my own cars about 4 years ago, 2 years ago I completely rebuilt the suspension on my MR2 whih was great fun and a real challenge. I'm now quite happywith suspension, brakes and servicing although electrics and the inner engine workings scare me a bit!
Get a decent tool set and download a service manual (or buy haynes) and get stuck in! It's no harder than building a PC, you just get to use a hammer more often.
Owners club and a haynes manual, plus the will to have a go are probably your best best. Routine maintenence on most cars is very simple. An oil change, filter change and spark plugs is normally very straighforwards and rewarding, along with saving you cash.
Some cars are lovely to work on, others are a bit of a pig: Most modern TDi's are 'no user servicable parts inside' apart from an oil and filter change. My 200sx was a bit of a pig due to tight engine bay access and the complexity of the turbo - that said I did servicing, brakes and fitted an intercooler myself.
My current E36 BMW has obviously been designed with servicing and longevity in mind, it's an absolute joy to work on.
I started servicing my own cars about 4 years ago, 2 years ago I completely rebuilt the suspension on my MR2 whih was great fun and a real challenge. I'm now quite happywith suspension, brakes and servicing although electrics and the inner engine workings scare me a bit!
Get a decent tool set and download a service manual (or buy haynes) and get stuck in! It's no harder than building a PC, you just get to use a hammer more often.
WeirdNeville said:
Get a decent tool set and download a service manual (or buy haynes) and get stuck in! It's no harder than building a PC, you just get to use a hammer more often.
This is so true.To be honest if you have very limited on no mechanical knowledge then why not get a new car and toy with the corsa a bit, its better to learn on something that you can afford to have off the road a few days.
TIP: NEVER start a big job on a Sunday when you need the car on the monday morning to get to work. It is sods law that 1 maybe 2 parts will refuse to come off, you will break or be missing a vital tool or the new part you want to fit won't be the right part and you will end up shafted!
dave
The best way is to buy a corresponding Haynes manual for your vehicle, a good quality set of basic tools and get stuck in. You will find servicing (oil, brake pads and discs, coolant flush) is very easy if you're methodical. What would I define as a set of basic tools? Good quality socket set, a range of spanners, screwdrivers, hammer, rubber mallet, axle stands, hydraulic jack and a good LED torch.
That's how I started - as you gain experience and develop your knowledge, buy more specialist tools as an when required.
That's how I started - as you gain experience and develop your knowledge, buy more specialist tools as an when required.
The new car is a megane 250 cup with a few of the creature comforts of the sport edition. I'll see if I can find a manual for it but I'd love to work on my corsa but after the 29th, it belongs to the local Renault dealer.
Thankyou for your replies though, I am going to get into the habit of washing and oil checking the car every Sunday as well as my corsa has been so easy to look after.
Thankyou for your replies though, I am going to get into the habit of washing and oil checking the car every Sunday as well as my corsa has been so easy to look after.
You are not a billion miles from me. I taught myself. Happy to pass on the knowledge and do a service/ plug change/ disk & pad change if you want. I'm in Leicester, you can bring the Corsa down and I will show you how to go. 
It will be cold, wet and miserable on my drive (double garage completion in about 6 weeks)
It will be cold, wet and miserable on my drive (double garage completion in about 6 weeks)
Hmmm. If it's brand new then you may be forced into having it dealer (or reputable garage) serviced. Warrantys are only valid if the vehicle has service history and no-one will touch a second hand car which 'I serviced myself from new', sadly.
I wouldn't service my car if it was new-ish or valuable - you lose more in depreciation than you gain in savings.
Perhaps buy £1,000 worth of MX-5 to fettle and sell on if you fancy a tinker? Or just some £200 shed tosee how it all works.
I wouldn't service my car if it was new-ish or valuable - you lose more in depreciation than you gain in savings.
Perhaps buy £1,000 worth of MX-5 to fettle and sell on if you fancy a tinker? Or just some £200 shed tosee how it all works.
WeirdNeville said:
Hmmm. If it's brand new then you may be forced into having it dealer (or reputable garage) serviced. Warrantys are only valid if the vehicle has service history and no-one will touch a second hand car which 'I serviced myself from new', sadly.
I wouldn't service my car if it was new-ish or valuable - you lose more in depreciation than you gain in savings.
Perhaps buy £1,000 worth of MX-5 to fettle and sell on if you fancy a tinker? Or just some £200 shed tosee how it all works.
It's a year old and bought from a Renault garage so I'll keep that in mind. What are my limits though, so if a bulb goes in the headlights, is this something I can replace myself?I wouldn't service my car if it was new-ish or valuable - you lose more in depreciation than you gain in savings.
Perhaps buy £1,000 worth of MX-5 to fettle and sell on if you fancy a tinker? Or just some £200 shed tosee how it all works.
Oh god yeah, stuff like bulbs, stereo (possibly, depending on how integrated it is) little mods and tricks are all DIY'able. You'll just need to keep the book stamped up to prove that it's had new oil and stuff to maintain it's value. If you do a trackday for example, you could do an interim service yourself and change oil (bit of a cheeky way of hiding a suspicious oil chnage after 3,000 miles 
) and filter...
Don't treat it as hands off don't touch, but be mindful of how the history of yourcar will look come resale time.
I'd imagine there's a good OC for Megane and Clio Cups, get on there and see what others are doing to them.
You could even do upgrades that are eaisily reversible, and keep the old parts so whenit comes time to sell you swap them back out and have a nice stock car to sell on.
) and filter...Don't treat it as hands off don't touch, but be mindful of how the history of yourcar will look come resale time.
I'd imagine there's a good OC for Megane and Clio Cups, get on there and see what others are doing to them.
You could even do upgrades that are eaisily reversible, and keep the old parts so whenit comes time to sell you swap them back out and have a nice stock car to sell on.
Check your warranty about servicing, I expect it needs to be done by a professional garage in accordance with the service schedule specified by Renault. It does not have to be done by Renault though.
If you are starting out with no mechanical knowledge at all, I would by a snotter and take bits off and put them back on. If you break something it doesn't matter (too much) and it will build your confidence. You need to snap a few bolts etc to learn some 'mechanical sympathy'
Modern cars aren't as complicated as people make out btw, they all suck, squeeze bang and blow, you just need the right tools and knowledge to work on them
And buy a torque wrench.
Regiment said:
WeirdNeville said:
Hmmm. If it's brand new then you may be forced into having it dealer (or reputable garage) serviced. Warrantys are only valid if the vehicle has service history and no-one will touch a second hand car which 'I serviced myself from new', sadly.
I wouldn't service my car if it was new-ish or valuable - you lose more in depreciation than you gain in savings.
Perhaps buy £1,000 worth of MX-5 to fettle and sell on if you fancy a tinker? Or just some £200 shed tosee how it all works.
It's a year old and bought from a Renault garage so I'll keep that in mind. What are my limits though, so if a bulb goes in the headlights, is this something I can replace myself?I wouldn't service my car if it was new-ish or valuable - you lose more in depreciation than you gain in savings.
Perhaps buy £1,000 worth of MX-5 to fettle and sell on if you fancy a tinker? Or just some £200 shed tosee how it all works.
No you can't replace the lightbulbs
I'd rather remove the engine from my caterham then change the lightbulbs in a renault
Cars designed for people with more then 2 elbows (per arm)
Its b
ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!
EDIT: I've just read that apparently the parts don't have to be manufacturer approved anymore, just 'of good quality'. Also date and mileage should be noted on reciepts for parts.
ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!EDIT: I've just read that apparently the parts don't have to be manufacturer approved anymore, just 'of good quality'. Also date and mileage should be noted on reciepts for parts.
Edited by Adam205 on Tuesday 11th January 18:02
Adam205 said:
Its bks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!
But would you be happy buying a 3 year old performance car with NO history after the first 12 months, and the owner tellingyou they'd serviced it themselves???ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!I agree re the warranty (check the small print) but you're facing an uphill struggle making a claim for a new engine when the car may or may not have been serviced properly.
WeirdNeville said:
Adam205 said:
Its bks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!
But would you be happy buying a 3 year old performance car with NO history after the first 12 months, and the owner tellingyou they'd serviced it themselves???ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!I agree re the warranty (check the small print) but you're facing an uphill struggle making a claim for a new engine when the car may or may not have been serviced properly.
WeirdNeville said:
Adam205 said:
Its bks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!
But would you be happy buying a 3 year old performance car with NO history after the first 12 months, and the owner tellingyou they'd serviced it themselves???ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!I agree re the warranty (check the small print) but you're facing an uphill struggle making a claim for a new engine when the car may or may not have been serviced properly.
I would be perfectly happy if the owner had evidence that he was experienced and reciepts to show that it was serviced properly at the correct intervals. In fact I'd probably be happier knowing that than not knowing what spanner monkey had fiddled with the car previously.
A stamp in a book is just that. It means nothing.
thinfourth2 said:
WeirdNeville said:
Adam205 said:
Its bks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!
But would you be happy buying a 3 year old performance car with NO history after the first 12 months, and the owner tellingyou they'd serviced it themselves???ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!I agree re the warranty (check the small print) but you're facing an uphill struggle making a claim for a new engine when the car may or may not have been serviced properly.
Jimmyarm said:
thinfourth2 said:
WeirdNeville said:
Adam205 said:
Its bks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!
But would you be happy buying a 3 year old performance car with NO history after the first 12 months, and the owner tellingyou they'd serviced it themselves???ks about having to be serviced by a dealer or it'll void waranty. That was banned quite a few years ago now. As long as it is serviced with manufacturer approved parts you can have it done by an independent or do it yourself!I agree re the warranty (check the small print) but you're facing an uphill struggle making a claim for a new engine when the car may or may not have been serviced properly.
Meganes are awful to work on, especially if you are just starting out. There is a lot of plastic bits that are designed to break if you so much as look at them.
I'd start out with something thats cheap but you would actually want to drive once you've got it working. An MX5 is fairly straight forward, or if you are feeling brave there are plenty of cheap big engined barges about that don't really need any more expertise to keep them on the road (the gadgets might stay unfixed though)
As for tools, Machine Mart do good tool kits suitable for a DIYer for less than £200.
I'd start out with something thats cheap but you would actually want to drive once you've got it working. An MX5 is fairly straight forward, or if you are feeling brave there are plenty of cheap big engined barges about that don't really need any more expertise to keep them on the road (the gadgets might stay unfixed though)
As for tools, Machine Mart do good tool kits suitable for a DIYer for less than £200.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff