Are there any reliable idiots guide to doing your own service?

puddy

I have a micra and my partner has a note. Are 2 fairly intelligent, but mechanically knowledgeless people able to do their own servicing. Is it money well saved or will it cause problems in the long term?

forgotmyname

Get a haynes manual.

Keep receipts for service items and pass them on when you sell the car, I would much prefer a bundle
of receipts than a stamp in a book.

Strider590

Get a garage to do the oil, costs about £15 if you supply parts..... Saves getting oil everywhere and then having to dispose of it.

puddy

what else is normally done with a service then? I thought about getting the oil changed as i know that can be a messy job

Hintza

I was going to mention oil. But in all these things have the correct tools and the right place (ramp, pit) to carry out the work are what makes thes jobs very easy. Not aving them can just make it a nightmare. Brake pads being a case in point.

But yes it will save you money doing the basics but might take awhile.

Strider590

For a simple interim service all you really need is oil/filter, air filter, polen filter.... They say they do a whole pile of checks on the rest of the car, but in all honesty that's just to justify the price. You should really check your cars general condition on a weekly basis, not wait for the service/MOT.

jase1

My routine when I did things myself (can't be bothered anymore, just get garage to do it):

Every six months, oil/filter change, check air filter.

Every 12 months, change oil/filter, check and most likely replace air filter, check pollen filter and sparks and replace if necessary.

Every 24 months, change oil/filter, replace air filter, replace pollen filter, replace sparks, replace fuel filter. The latter can be a total pain in the neck depending on the car.

The problem is though that you need to check things like suspension, brakes etc and these require some experience to be able to see what you're doing.

As a result I gave the whole thing up as a bad job.

benjus

Air filter is dead easy on many cars. Not sure about the Micra/Note but on my Nissan it's just a case of opening the bonnet, unclipping the old filter and clipping in the new one.

I paid about £30 for my last oil/filter change at National. I could have saved about £10 by doing it myself, but it's just not worth it IMHO.

Hammyman

puddy wrote: »

what else is normally done with a service then? I thought about getting the oil changed as i know that can be a messy job

Oil and filter change. Pollen filter change. If it is required, spark plugs and also air filter and fuel filter change.

What else is normally done:

• Check operation of all lights
• Check operation of windscreen wipers
• Check all fluid levels (brake, coolant, power steering)
• Check operation of Horn
• Check tyre pressures and measure tread depth
• Remove all wheels and check brake pad wear and brake disc condition
• Adjust handbrake
• Check suspension bushes, steering rack gaitors, CV joint boots, ball joint covers.
• Grease door/boot/bonnet hinges, checkstraps and catches.

optimus_primera

My best suggestions ..... make friends with someone who knows about vehicle maintenance,and/or take a 'Basic motor vehicle maintenance' course at your local college.

Knowledge of how stuff works, and why, will assist you no end.

asbokid

benjus wrote: »

Air filter is dead easy on many cars. Not sure about the Micra/Note but on my Nissan it's just a case of opening the bonnet, unclipping the old filter and clipping in the new one.

I paid about £30 for my last oil/filter change at National. I could have saved about £10 by doing it myself, but it's just not worth it IMHO.

If the car is a micra or another motor of NGV (no great value), a change with cheapo oil (ASDA £3.99 for 5 litres) and filter (£2.99 ebay) should cost well under £10, including a new sump washer!

no one want's to muck up the drive with spilt oil, so take it out and do the job in the country somewhere. the run warms the oil up and it flows out easier. you just need a nice bit of dry flat ground. i always use the corner of the car park in the nearby country park.