Doing your own vehicle service.

iana · Guru

Doing your own vehicle service.

Whenarewethere · Guru

No.

The only thing these days with modern cars a few computer codes may need to be reset, so you need to edit codes.

blaze · Guru

you cant service a vehicle without a hoist to lift it on. you might change the oil and filter but that is only about 15 minutes of the required time, only a minor part of the job.
cheers
blaze

iana · Guru

blaze ---- why?

blaze · Guru

because you wont be able to check all thats required, I know there are many that claim to service their cars but in truth they just change oil and filter. Tell me how are you going to check all the suspension bushes and steering ball joints which require no weight on wheels, sure you can lift a corner at a time but its still not right. can you safely get under to check under body oil levels. Look, I am a 60yo mechanic/diesel fitter, body is worn out but the brain is 100% and I pay someone to do my cars. I still do a few repairs and I have a very well equipped workshop but its not worth the pain. I wish I had purchased a hoist 30 years ago.
cheers
blaze

iana · Guru

What you say is true, but now I have plenty of time, the car needs a service, and the government is asking for us to isolate ourselves. My question was more at the legal aspects of doing this. I know when I have the car serviced, I get a brake test report for instance.
I wonder also how these mobile mechanics do their job without a hoist?

Craig1 · Guru

If you have the 3.2l 5cyl diesel in BT50 or Ford ranger, do some serious reading about oil change. Big potential issues. You can do a wheel by wheel off check of visible suspension and brakes. Certainly change/check air filter. Pollen filter for a c. Check all the lights, rotate tyres by using spare. Posssibly grease uni joints , so a fair list. Watch for ants trying to crawl up ya ...

Radar · Guru

I could fill a page why I do not do my own serving.

I have not serviced my cars since about 2000 when we brought newer hi tech cars and life was to busy.

Our 4wd diesel has a 20000ks service schedule but we have it done around 10000 k's which is about the length of most trips away with the caravan.

Possibly the main reason is, I really like my car to stay reliable hence having someone you can trust, be very reliable, speaks your language is a must to maintain this.

We use a kid I have known since 1981 when he was about 11 years old, yes this is right driving his parents forklift unloaded 20 pallets of product of my truck without missing a beat, now this kid to this day still calls us Uncle and Aunty has a long list of certification in the motor trade is a pleasure to work with.

My point I think I am trying to make in my case he sees thing going wrong and advises the best method of repair or modification.

iana · Guru

Yeah, I have the problem of my mind thinks its 20 years younger than my body, so I know all about it when crawling under the caravan. Certainly suffer after doing the wheels on the van, they weigh heaps. I know about the oil change saga, but reckon I can handle that.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have before and just this week 'know' even 'some' big name dealers don't do the job properly.

You get a long list of things they have done then when you look at some minor things find, nope, no way was that done. Even a minor thing on a major item, not done and causes big problems.

Just as an example, I had some major work done on my car on Monday this week, Tuesday they did a service. On Monday they had to drain radiator etc and replace coolant etc. Tuesday the service list said top up radiator coolant. (The car didn't go anywhere. Also it said lubricate all door hinges etc, when I checked there was still dust cover on all of them. The service warning hadn't been cleared and no reminder sticker for next service. I have a reverse warning on the car, it's just a small alarm that you gear inside vehicle only but it hasn't worked for a couple of years now and even though a warning comes up in front of driver telling you to service reverse warning, not one dealer I have I been to has mentioned it yet alone fix it. All only 'little things' but things dot done. For the price paid, it's not good enough.

I only wish I had the knowledge to service things myself.

"NOT HAPPY JAN"

dogbox · Guru

Craig1 wrote:

If you have the 3.2l 5cyl diesel in BT50 or Ford ranger, do some serious reading about oil change. Big potential issues. You can do a wheel by wheel off check of visible suspension and brakes. Certainly change/check air filter. Pollen filter for a c. Check all the lights, rotate tyres by using spare. Posssibly grease uni joints , so a fair list. Watch for ants trying to crawl up ya ...

can't leave sump plug off for to long as the oil pump drains then won't self prime have to pull the sump off and replace pump(have heard of people packing pump with Vaseline to get it to work in a pinch)
if you do your own servicing and are involved in a serious accident an cause/contributing factors can be traced back to anything you did it may be a legal nightmare so if your doing any suspension ,brakes or anything invovled with road worthy get it inspected and signed off to avoid any hassles latter.

iana · Guru

I agree Doug, the wife was mentioning the air from the air con was a bit off, I see there is a cabin air filter that should be changed, even though the ute has had seven dealer services, there is no mention of that filter ever having been changed.
I liked Radars statement "Possibly the main reason is, I really like my car to stay reliable hence having someone you can trust, be very reliable, speaks your language is a must to maintain this.", you would be pushing to find someone in the workshop that speaks proper English!
My confidence with servicing is much the same as yours, and I think it is mainly brought about by the lack of time these guys have to do the job, you know, you get what you pay for, if we were prepared to pay more then the work "May" be better.

dogbox · Guru

i had a prado once (great car) toyota did the servicing ask service person if everything was done that had been ticked off he guaranteed it then i asked how they check the pressure in the spare tyre he said you take the cover off i asked him to show me he was annoyed we walked outside he said you undo this clip and remove cover i asked him how do you do it without touching it as the it was dirty and no hand prints he turned red took the car back into the work shop

service was free

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Dogbox, that reminded me, the list said adjusted all tyer pressures including spare. I had my normal towing pressures in ready to leave next day. I checked myself when I got car back and my pressures were still the same. They are not what they would have done and they didn't know I was towing the next day.

dogbox · Guru

Dougwe wrote:

Dogbox, that reminded me, the list said adjusted all tyer pressures including spare. I had my normal towing pressures in ready to leave next day. I checked myself when I got car back and my pressures were still the same. They are not what they would have done and they didn't know I was towing the next day.

bet there was little ticks to say it had been checked

Brenda and Alan · Guru

We had a customer whose truck we looked after. The company he worked for was a big courier business that decided that there owner drivers who did not have relatively recent vehicles should upgrade on the pain of no job. The company organised a good price with a dealer that happened to be about a half Km from us which went ahead. This guy marked his fuel, oil filters and sump plug before taking it in for the 1000 Km free service, he also put a chalk mark on the ground alongside the rear duals where it was parked on arriving at the dealer. Needless to say the truck was never moved or serviced but he received a bill for consumables from the dealer which he refused to pay as they had done nothing. From this drivers one experience we ended up with almost all the drivers as customers for quite some years.

The moral is, it is very hard to win a customer, but oh so easy to loose one.

If you find that things you are charged for are not done on a service whinge your tits of until until the bill is reduced to your satisfaction.

You are the customer and if you are not happy your word of mouth reports affects the dealer to their detriment.

Finally in answer to Iana ,yes you can do your own service if you know what your doing without legal complications.

Alan

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Ian

I have only ever had my vehicles serviced by others, while they were under warranty

I am led to believe, that without using dealership/authorised mechanic, the warranty is null and void

On the other hand, I have always kept my vehicles for many years, and never worried about trade in value, and lack of stamps, in the service booklet
Also, after I have serviced my vehicle/s, I know that it has actually been done

I have no idea, what happens in any states, other than WA

Whenarewethere · Guru

Tony Bev wrote:
I am led to believe, that without using dealership/authorised mechanic, the warranty is null and void

At least not the case in NSW. I always use an independent mechanic & keep my cars a long time, 18, 18 & 6 years for current car.

iana · Guru

OK here's the plan I am working on, I have booked into Pedders, who will check suspension, underside, and brakes, as well as performing a brake fluid flush. I will do the motor and other items not picked up by Pedders. I am a little suspect Mazda service don't check thirds party modifications.
Works out about half price.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi everyone,
Up until buying our "computer on wheels", I have done most of the servicing myself except the heavy eg replacing the clutch in a Nissan Patrol, the specialised eg gas injection on my last Patrol, repacking the front wheel bearings & suspension work - Fulcrum Suspensions could do it easier than me.

Now as arthritis is getting worse in my shoulders, I wonder why I still insist on doing some things myself! I took the cover off the engine two days ago - where the tappets are, I don't know!!

Ian, Craig1 mentioned there are serious ramifications with your engine - I believe you have a maximum of 5 minutes to change the engine oil with the 3.2L otherwise the oil pump locks out.

Like several others above, my father-in-law was a picky sod (a previous aircraft engineer) - he too marked what had to be touched & didn't leave the workshop until they were done!

With vehicles having longer warranties, one is at the mercy of the company that covers that work - but I refuse to wind the service periods out to 15,000km!! I want my car to last & am looking at trying to fit a suitable catch can at the moment - but where does it go?

Craig1 · Guru

Warren, there are a few that make dedicated brackets and hose kits for each model. Provent is one brand. Usually show good pics and instructions.

outlaw40 · Guru

Warren try western filters through ebay they sell the provent kits for catch can and also a twin for catch can and prefilter . good value and fast delivery . they have a shop in st marys nsw if you are located in that area . have used them on 3 different occasions and can recommend.

Greg 1 · Guru

With the 3.2 Ranger and BT50 you actually have 10 minutes to do the oil change. It really isn't a big deal. People make it out to be, and you need to get it out of your head that you need to drain every last drop from the sump. Preparation is the key. I change the oil filter first. Then have the new oil ready to go. Dump the old oil letting the main bulk go into the drain pan. Fit the drain plug back and hop out and get the new oil in. The thing takes 10 litres so the little bit of old oil left in the bottom of the sump and oil pump is not going to be anything to worry about. You would be amazed at how much you can do in 10 minutes, even an old fart like me. The variable vane oil pump on these engines have advantages over a traditional pump but with upsides there often is a downside, and the non self priming nature of them is it. You just have to adjust your thinking around different technology. It is in the owners handbook, so if you have read that as you should, then there is no excuse for doing in an engine. So far my Ranger has given admirable service towing my van having so far crossed the continent and back 4 times, one of those a complete lap, has seen quite a bit of various off roading, and I am very pleased with it.

outlaw40 · Guru

Not 100% sure Greg1 and others buy i believe the issue of the oil pump failing to pickup after an oil change on the bt50 and rangers was rectified around 2015 . cant confirm today as my line of information is closed at the moment .

iana · Guru

My biggest problem isn't the oil pump, but disposing of the waste oil and filters. I have seen one Repco that takes waste oil and that's it.

Greg 1 · Guru

Often the local rubbish tips have free oil recycling facilities. Ours does. I just pour the old oil back into the now empty containers and dispose of at the tip.

rgren2 · Guru

Greg 1 wrote:
Often the local rubbish tips have free oil recycling facilities. Ours does. I just pour the old oil back into the now empty containers and dispose of at the tip.

20litres a go at our tip. Hervey Bay Qld. I take mine out when dropping off green waste, also free.

kesa32 · Senior Member

I found when on the road that if you supply oil and filter and find a mechanic suitably qualified to do the job it'll cost you around $50 or so for the labour and get rid of the oil etc..... otherwise if your doing it yourself , as mentioned most places where you buy the stuff have oil disposal skips etc

Jaahn · Guru

iana wrote:
Is there anything illegal about doing your own vehicle service. Are auto mechanics registered, and do they have a number to quote when signing for a service, if they don't do the work on behalf of a registered garage. Now that I am holed up with no where to go, am wondering about doing this work myself.
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Hi smile

Here in NSW mechanics need to be registered and qualified to get that. They have a number to use.

It is not illegal to work on cars if you are not charging for that in a business. However there is a general requirement that you must do any work in a safe and professional manner. Like anything you do that affects other people. In life you are responsible for your actions and the results of them. aww

So if you are competent and confident you can do the work properly and safely and achieve the outcome you need then go for it. If not then do not start, is my opinion. hmm Some jobs are easy, but some are not, do your research first.

Jaahn

PS Supercheap take the old oil in their stores free. As said you just keep the containers and put the old oil in them and return it. The council tip also take it free.

-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 30th of March 2020 09:59:49 AM

iana · Guru

Thanks for that Jaahn, I used to be a licensed aircraft engineer, complete with a number, able to issue maintenance releases and certificates of air worthiness to all aircraft up to 6 ton. Both engines, super and turbo charged, gas turbine and airframes non pressurized. Worked as a maintenance fitter for a winery for 22 years, and also worked as a mechanic for the council for 9 years. Also services fitness equipment for a while.
Its more an age or body thing, but things are changing day by day with the virus thing and nothing may happen at all.
Hopefully this is all leading to adding a transmission cooler but have to convince the other half.