Hey peeps! I'm starting my new job next month where i will have to be driving 40miles a day, five days a week. So thought I would give my car a good service beforehand to look after her for these long trips.

Now i can either pay a local garage 100odd quid for a full service or is there anything a can do myself?

Has anybody on here serviced there cars themselves and how hard is it to do? If anyone can give me ideas what i can do, eg. replace oil, spark plugs etc AND just general advice on it all really.

Thanks in advance!

change oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter depending on age of the car cambelt and tensioner, what else cannot think and give everything else and general check really

Brake pads and oil filter + new oil is the most important thing I'd say. Check the tension of your handbrake cable, should be solid in 3 clicks to pass any upcoming MOT.

Cheers guys. How easy is it tho to change the spark plugs n do i need specialised equipment? also how easy is it to change cambelt?

Not changed cam belt so not sure quite simple I understand.

I service mine every 7k or so:

Oil
Oil filter
Engine flushed
Sparks (simple screw in with torque rench)
Check HT leads
Check brake pads, brake hoses, steering gaiters etc
Check rear shoes, hand brake cable
Radiator drained and new coolant (yearly)

All from self taught and a female

Buy a Haynes manual

Ninja59 said:

Buy a Haynes manual

Click to expand...

I've got one but just cos ive got one doesnt mean i can do absolutely everything in it. I just wanted advice from people who have done it themselves before and if there is stuff i should look out for. If you're just gonna say 'Buy a Haynes manual' then dont write anythin at all.

i meant as well if u looked further up the page, i did post.

Ninja59 said:

i meant as well if u looked further up the page, i did post.

Click to expand...

Oh yeh sorry mate, i just thought u meant buy a haynes n that it lol. U done any urself?

Even a monkey could do a routine service.

Go to Fiat and you'll see some monkeys doing it lol

just use both the first time u do simple stuff, haynes does have most not all the info, so come on here for more accurate info, done the basic stuff not to much though oil filter, oil change can be done, air filter i did not do the cambelt though even better on wireless and lappy take both with u for advice

Cambelt on a 1.2 8v fire engine is a novice job IMO

Easy peasy. You'll not really get an easier engine to work on.