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older cars are so simple.. these modern cars can be a headache working on...
Anyone afraid to work on their car?
- Thread starter BrumBrum
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Anyone afraid to work on their car?
older cars are so simple.. these modern cars can be a headache working on...
When I first got a car I couldn't afford for a garage to do everything, and there was no known last service on the car, so once it was home it was left until the new parts and fluids were acquired and I then spent a day with 'what do you think we need to do?', 'how do you think it will go, and why' etc, one service later I was presented with a Haynes manual.
I've had a k-series engine in pieces, my FIRE has been in a few pieces too. Had a gearbox without a drive shaft for a while whilst trying to remove a wheel bearing on the Metro (ended up using a 4 ton fly press) and rebuilt a hydro-elastic suspension unit after it blew out on me at >60mph which was probably the hardest thing i've had to do du to the location and surroundings on the Metro and having to dismantle parts off about 30 cars before finding a compatible unit
Since then I've pulled my mum's k-series apart to replace the rocker cover gasket and i've had the drive belts off my FIRE to check for play in the bearings and what have you
The only things the garage has done that I haven't are to fill up a hydro-eslastic suspension system (I havent the equipment and it wasn't worth the expense for the 'small topup' fee it would cost at a garage) and they also changed my front core plugs on my Punto due to my lack of time and the state of the leak and some welding having never done any.
I will only trust 1 garage with any work or myself/family and I only trust that garage as I know if I have a problem the owner is very happy to talk through things like possible routes of fixing issues and they have never tried inventing any work during an MOT
I've had a k-series engine in pieces, my FIRE has been in a few pieces too. Had a gearbox without a drive shaft for a while whilst trying to remove a wheel bearing on the Metro (ended up using a 4 ton fly press) and rebuilt a hydro-elastic suspension unit after it blew out on me at >60mph which was probably the hardest thing i've had to do du to the location and surroundings on the Metro and having to dismantle parts off about 30 cars before finding a compatible unit
Since then I've pulled my mum's k-series apart to replace the rocker cover gasket and i've had the drive belts off my FIRE to check for play in the bearings and what have you
The only things the garage has done that I haven't are to fill up a hydro-eslastic suspension system (I havent the equipment and it wasn't worth the expense for the 'small topup' fee it would cost at a garage) and they also changed my front core plugs on my Punto due to my lack of time and the state of the leak and some welding having never done any.
I will only trust 1 garage with any work or myself/family and I only trust that garage as I know if I have a problem the owner is very happy to talk through things like possible routes of fixing issues and they have never tried inventing any work during an MOT
i was anxious at the start, but started work on cars at college then my mates and girlfriend now i just do it on mine if i can. and yeah even opening the bonnet on a new car makes your head hurt!
I'm going the other way... used to do everything myself - now I just look at the job and thing "Is it really worth an hour/day/week of my time plus how many injuries from rusted bolts?"
I reckon I could still do plugs, filters and fluids and filters on my car and my dads Focus II if I had to if anything access is easier than it is to plugs 2 and 3 or was it 3 and 4 on an 8v fire where thanks to the unique way the faced away from into the firewall and were very close to the carb IIRC it was best described as a proper a*** on, especially refitting plugs without cross threading. Air filter and oil filter on swift are in roughly same place as a fiat...but not looked for a sump plug if I had a pit and some spare time could do it easy. Although never been comfy with working on brakes, mainly because no one showed me how they come apart so I don't like playing with what keeps my out of hedges.
I'm going the other way... used to do everything myself - now I just look at the job and thing "Is it really worth an hour/day/week of my time plus how many injuries from rusted bolts?"
Not to mention the Asbos
"you f##king b###ard c###ing# pile f##king Italian c##p"
translated by neighbor:
"Him next door must be working on his car again"
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Not to mention the Asbos
"you f##king b###ard c###ing# pile f##king Italian c##p"
translated by neighbor:
"Him next door must be working on his car again"
been there...
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diesels make my head hurt
Not to mention the Asbos
"you f##king b###ard c###ing# pile f##king Italian c##p"
translated by neighbor:
"Him next door must be working on his car again"
theres an awful lot of that in my garage
the other night i stopped working on the car for trying to fix it and just relaxed and enjoyed what i was doing and paying attention to detail, i didnt hurt myself once! amazing for a 20v!
OP
OP
Looks like I gotta dive into it then thanks for the responses
thanks for the responses
TroyO
Member
Not to mention the Asbos
"you f##king b###ard c###ing# pile f##king Italian c##p"
translated by neighbor:
"Him next door must be working on his car again"
Sounds a bit like me changing my headlight bulbs.... then 'mum... wheres the plasters'
i afraid but i still do it - never had the chance to do major work on my car and I hope I never have too because I always end up with bonus bits
- never had the chance to do major work on my car and I hope I never have too because I always end up with bonus bits
Only time I get worried is when using axle stands, and chocking the wheels. Even though I do, do it the correct way, it's just daunting there is light a tonne of weight htat could drop onto you!
A good environment and the right tools makes a big difference, and so does the weather! Did the brakes on the ST in the biting cold the other week.
I've learned mainly from friends, a few of them are mechanics and good ones at that. If I ever get stuck I just give them a call and i'm usually sorted.
It can seem like a pain at the time but after you've done the job and theres no mechanics bill in your hand it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I've learned mainly from friends, a few of them are mechanics and good ones at that. If I ever get stuck I just give them a call and i'm usually sorted.
It can seem like a pain at the time but after you've done the job and theres no mechanics bill in your hand it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
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Before I had a 12 inches to the foot car, I had a 1:10 scale nitromethanol powered radio controlled monster truck. People joke about FIAT meaning 'Fix It Again Tomorrow' but this toy was off the scale for the number of repairs required. Being a 2-stroke engine, it had a clutch, a gearbox, transmission, diffs etc..., so it was not too dissimilar to a full-size car. I gained confidence fixing the toy, and then transferred that confidence to fixing my real car.
My first real car was a Fiat Uno, and that needed quite a bit doing to it. However, it was falling apart, and one day I permanently fixed it; I went out and bought a mk1 Punto! The Punto is one of my top 5 purchases ever made in life, and probably will be for the rest of my life. I do not count the Uno as a waste of time though since skills I learned fixing it were transferrable to the Punto.
Top tip if you need to replace something but don't know how to, go and get the part from a breakers' yard. That way, you not only get the part cheaply, but you learn how it fits by taking it off.
My first real car was a Fiat Uno, and that needed quite a bit doing to it. However, it was falling apart, and one day I permanently fixed it; I went out and bought a mk1 Punto! The Punto is one of my top 5 purchases ever made in life, and probably will be for the rest of my life. I do not count the Uno as a waste of time though since skills I learned fixing it were transferrable to the Punto.
Top tip if you need to replace something but don't know how to, go and get the part from a breakers' yard. That way, you not only get the part cheaply, but you learn how it fits by taking it off.
Ill do most of it styling wise mechanical im ok i can change wheels and know my way around under the bonnet a little bit.
all of the above involves a hell of a lot of swearing and about 3-4 trips back inside to check FF to find out where i am going wrong on what I'm trying to do
all of the above involves a hell of a lot of swearing and about 3-4 trips back inside to check FF to find out where i am going wrong on what I'm trying to do
I have been known to do a bit of work on the car.
Cheers
PD
Cheers
PD
your not wrong hence last night at 9pm i was outside replacing my rear Numberplate fixings with bolts and Nylocks (try and nick these you bastards) ((not had mine nicked but there has been a spate locally so decided better to be safe than sorry there was a post on the GP section which reminded me yesterday ))
as I'd seen the forecast and true to its word it's pissing it down today
i was lucky my first car was the suzuki SJ ... big engine bay, simple engine... good place to start
the fiat scared me as it was all black boxes... the focus is just as bad.
done all the bits on my bike myself though.... some of which included balancing the bike on a tin of paint whilst i swapped some parts as the rear wheel was allowed to take any weight during the swap.... brand new bike balanced on a tin of paint... it's amazing how quick you can get things done when you need too
the fiat scared me as it was all black boxes... the focus is just as bad.
done all the bits on my bike myself though.... some of which included balancing the bike on a tin of paint whilst i swapped some parts as the rear wheel was allowed to take any weight during the swap.... brand new bike balanced on a tin of paint... it's amazing how quick you can get things done when you need too
I wont touch anything mechanical on mine I am female, me and mechanics just don't go.
When I got the car I changed the tape player to a CD player, several hours work, lots of swearing a trip down Halfords for a lead
I changed my rear light console due to reversing into a road sign (yes female again), yes not a big thing but it worked and no problems since.
My new bumper (same road sign same time) should be here this week sometime so going to have a go with that when I go back in a few weeks, might need help with that one though
When I got the car I changed the tape player to a CD player, several hours work, lots of swearing a trip down Halfords for a lead
I changed my rear light console due to reversing into a road sign (yes female again), yes not a big thing but it worked and no problems since.
My new bumper (same road sign same time) should be here this week sometime so going to have a go with that when I go back in a few weeks, might need help with that one though
