what have you done to your car today ?
- Thread starter seatcupramad23
- Start date
Serviced it today, only about 5000 miles late. Thought the ball ache would be the glow plugs but they came out nice and easy.
No, the pain in the ass was the sump plug.... well, me and the sump plug.
Did all the filters, everything bolted back together, 2 litres of Castrol in and the realisation I hadn't done the sump plug. Doh! Find the new one, fit it, do it finger tight, get spanner on it... it goes loose. Try again, same result. F@&$ing thing was the wrong size! So hurriedly take out new sump plug, swap washer onto old plug, refit old sump plug. And then pour remaining oil, check level, swear, walk to Halfrauds n pick up another litre.
Still, it's done, I'm an idiot, and the only thing bugging me about the car is the lack of a proper handbrake. How the hell am I meant to enjoy the weather if I don't have a proper handbrake like a Vauxhall?
No, the pain in the ass was the sump plug.... well, me and the sump plug.
Did all the filters, everything bolted back together, 2 litres of Castrol in and the realisation I hadn't done the sump plug. Doh! Find the new one, fit it, do it finger tight, get spanner on it... it goes loose. Try again, same result. F@&$ing thing was the wrong size! So hurriedly take out new sump plug, swap washer onto old plug, refit old sump plug. And then pour remaining oil, check level, swear, walk to Halfrauds n pick up another litre.
Still, it's done, I'm an idiot, and the only thing bugging me about the car is the lack of a proper handbrake. How the hell am I meant to enjoy the weather if I don't have a proper handbrake like a Vauxhall?
Same thing happened to me! Turned out my sump was helicoiled to 15mm. Ended up buying generic copper washers off eBay and they worked
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Engines covered in cables and hoses give me the fear. Even the Leon engine bay is a bit busy for me, but some of the more modern cars are absolutely buried in cables.
How do you even work on an engine that looks like that?
I realised today that I haven't polished my tips in probably four or five years. Meh. It was probably longer than that. Went and got some Autosol and it did an awesome job. I don't know about anyone else, but I reckon polishing your tips is a real 'car guy' thing to do - you can always see who's looking after their car if the exhaust is clean.
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Everyone loves to give their tip a good polish - even if they don't admit it.
Just the tip, mind.
Public service announcement for the people who say front control arm bushes don't see much action so don't need to be changed...
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You can't trust sixteen year old rubber.
Actually that has many applications...
Washed the car today. It's quite possibly the first time in at least 18 months. Used Bilt Hamber wax for the first time and it's looking good - it even hides the scuffed up bit on the bonnet where I sanded it but didn't get round to spraying it. Suffice to say, my arms are knackered now. Wax on, wax off...
If the car's clean, that'll help it pass emissions, right?
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Just finished replacing the DMF & clutch on the old dear. (110hp ASV Tdi).
"Today" would be a lie, as it's taken what feels like forever.
Allegedly the pro mechanics can get iit down to 3 hours.
Me? About 3 sodding days.
How do they do it?
Who had a Vauxhall Cavalier or 70's Datsun Cherry back in the day?
Clutch swap took less than one hour even by me!
"Today" would be a lie, as it's taken what feels like forever.
Allegedly the pro mechanics can get iit down to 3 hours.
Me? About 3 sodding days.
How do they do it?
Who had a Vauxhall Cavalier or 70's Datsun Cherry back in the day?
Clutch swap took less than one hour even by me!
Ive swerved that gig twice lol.
My Cupra 150 tdi done by a friendly mechanic mate of mine. About 5 years ago.
And my 18t that i have now done at the end of last year.
Ive been a mechanic for 30 years. I dont do clutches unless im being paid to do em!
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It's the gearbox bit that's put me off - and the fact that you don't know until you've put it all back together again whether you've got it right.
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It’s another one of the “I don’t know if I trust myself” jobs
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You talk about most jobs with a lot more confidence than I do - I'd sooner be in your position than be like me with the old 'yeah, I'll give that a go...'
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I used to be that guy. Now I read the instructions first lol. I decided ima do my timing belt myself when this weather has ****** off
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High five...!
At least I've moved on from the 'I can't afford to pay someone that much to do it, so I'll just do it myself' and actually have a little understanding of how my car works now.
Some of the threads I see popping up these days really give me the fear though.
We'll all have to get together when all this is over and share skills - and have a competition to see who's got the worst brakes.
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"We'll all have to get together when all this is over and share skills - and have a competition to see who's got the worst brakes"
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