Car D.I.Y.

[Gunk]

A few months ago I was leaving the local German Supermarket and the driver in front slapped it in reverse and reversed into me. He was jolly apologetic and weighed in with £300. I was planning on putting a replacement bumper on at some point.

I think you have convinced me otherwise and I'll just live with the scuffs.

Our Citigo has a scuffed bumper and a small dent in the wing (not done be us) I’ve just left it as it is.

 

[CXRAndy]

Just swapped the wipers on the C3. My lad bought them before Xmas as a present. They had the wrong fittings. However Halfords were very nice and opened up several sets to change over the fittings. Hooray quiet wipers again

 

[Bristolian]

It feels like I can't get away from the car at the moment. Yesterday I was back at my friends garage to give the car a service - filters and oils, etc. - lubricate the parking brake cable, which is sticking when I pull the release handle, and then a quick pre-MOT check. Two things stood out as being questionable; front tyres (still legal but not ideal for this time of year with all the rain we've been getting) and rear brake discs and pads (discs heavily worn but again still just within specs). New discs and pads will be delivered tomorrow (Monday) and a mobile tyre fitter will be here on Tuesday. After that I'm locking my credit card away until next year ... some hope

 

[MrGrumpy]

Middle son currently has his Mitsubishi Trojan in my garage with failed clutch . Refused to put it to a garage to get fixed . But here we are day 5 , toiling to get this heavy transmission back in place . It’s the reason I suggested doing so ! Any tips for aligning ? He did buy a transmission lift on wheels which it would be impossible to do without . I’ve not done a clutch since I was 18 ! Which is long long time ago !

 

[sevenfourate]

MX-5 has got a numberplate bulb thats started flickering. Begrudgingly i trawled ebay for a replacement; and have duly invested £2.29 (Posted) in a replacement item. Near 4 years of ownership and i'm already having to splash out for parts to keep this car running. Japanese build quality isn't all its cracked up to be i tell yer......

 

[gbb]

MX-5 has got a numberplate bulb thats started flickering. Begrudgingly i trawled ebay for a replacement; and have duly invested £2.29 (Posted) in a replacement item. Near 4 years of ownership and i'm already having to splash out for parts to keep this car running. Japanese build quality isn't all its cracked up to be i tell yer......

Not really relevant but reminds me if a story I heard once...Toyota something or other, many years old, (let's sat 15 years) the original rear light bulb failed. Guy went and brought one from a local shop, it failed in weeks.

All bulbs are not equal apparently. Edited, forgot to add, the above example is perhaps just a tiny example of why Japanese cars are generally really reliable

 

[Tom B]

Middle son currently has his Mitsubishi Trojan in my garage with failed clutch . Refused to put it to a garage to get fixed . But here we are day 5 , toiling to get this heavy transmission back in place . It’s the reason I suggested doing so ! Any tips for aligning ? He did buy a transmission lift on wheels which it would be impossible to do without . I’ve not done a clutch since I was 18 ! Which is long long time ago !

This is why I so miss not having a garage.

I have, somewhere a clutch alignment tool kit, it's at my dads somewhere, last used probably 2002 ish on a mk2 corsa with 1.7D Izuzu if you are anywhere near Lancs / G Manchester border and if i can get father to find it you are welcome to try it.

Its like the sets here https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/clutch-service-tools/

 

[MrGrumpy]

This is why I so miss not having a garage.

I have, somewhere a clutch alignment tool kit, it's at my dads somewhere, last used probably 2002 ish on a mk2 corsa with 1.7D Izuzu if you are anywhere near Lancs / G Manchester border and if i can get father to find it you are welcome to try it.

Its like the sets here https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/clutch-service-tools/

He ordered another clutch alignment toolset last night . Came today , we reckon it wasn’t centred right ! So has managed himself to get the transmission aligned , no mean feat as this thing weights 170kg ! So reassembly starts tomorrow !

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Why would anyone inform there insurance company that they have fitted a rear view camera ?
Nice job though...love Hondas,still miss our accord that got wrote off.

Sorry for the late reply. Its fitting a dash cam that is hard wired into the car not into the fag lighter socket. I fitted 2 rear cameras, one for reversing and the other for the dash cam. The reversing camera is not an issue. If the dash cam is wired permanently and not something that can be removed, it is not deemed as an accessory but a modification. The wiring can be removed from the accessory socket, Just what I've read on other forums, personally can't stand insurance companies, for things like this and many, many more..

 

[tyred]

I checked the tyre pressures, oil, coolant and brake fluid levels today. All fine. The screen wash was a bit low so I topped it up. The trials of Toyota Yaris ownership.

 

[gbb]

Due another service, I aim to do the sparkplug as well, they're due at 75k cars at 73k .
It'll be a moderately expensive one this..
£80 for spark.plugs
£10 oil filter
£20 for oil
£23 cabin filter

Say £133 just for parts. Not complaining, it's cost me nowt barring servicing and notmal costs such as brake hardware etc. Ordering soon...
I wonder how.much that service would be if I took it to a garage, let alone a dealership ?

 

[MrGrumpy]

Sorry for the late reply. Its fitting a dash cam that is hard wired into the car not into the fag lighter socket. I fitted 2 rear cameras, one for reversing and the other for the dash cam. The reversing camera is not an issue. If the dash cam is wired permanently and not something that can be removed, it is not deemed as an accessory but a modification. The wiring can be removed from the accessory socket, Just what I've read on other forums, personally can't stand insurance companies, for things like this and many, many more..

Got one of these to fit to youngest son’s car…. Will be doing a bit of reading .

 

[CXRAndy]

Due another service, I aim to do the sparkplug as well, they're due at 75k cars at 73k .
It'll be a moderately expensive one this..
£80 for spark.plugs
£10 oil filter
£20 for oil
£23 cabin filter

Say £133 just for parts. Not complaining, it's cost me nowt barring servicing and notmal costs such as brake hardware etc. Ordering soon...
I wonder how.much that service would be if I took it to a garage, let alone a dealership ?

Towards £500 id expect

 

[Marchrider]

Due another service, I aim to do the sparkplug as well, they're due at 75k cars at 73k .
It'll be a moderately expensive one this..
£80 for spark.plugs
£10 oil filter
£20 for oil
£23 cabin filter

Say £133 just for parts. Not complaining, it's cost me nowt barring servicing and notmal costs such as brake hardware etc. Ordering soon...
I wonder how.much that service would be if I took it to a garage, let alone a dealership ?

will you change the spark plugs regardless or will you just replace the ones (if any) that need replaced?

 

[Tom B]

will you change the spark plugs regardless or will you just replace the ones (if any) that need replaced?

What measure would you use to decide?

I keep meaning to pull the plugs from Mrs Bs Jazz.
I hope they're the long life ones, because i haven't changed them in almost 10 years and they're a bit of a pig to get to.
It was main stealer serviced prior to us buying it.

I raise the issue when to change the plugs with a mechanic friend who simply said - dont bother unless you need to.