Service Issues: How do you service your Car?

[Paul240480]

+ a lot of info' you will need has already been documented in the articles section. The pics' & guides there are far better than Haynes. That said Haynes has it's uses

[JimG]

I'm hopefully moving into an XC90 soon. I can afford one with high mileage and, having read this forum, have already decided that I'm going to have a go at an oil change and transmission fluid change.

[tt82]

Ill do what I can myself, go to a main dealer for other work

[Blindpew]

I do what little I can, but with limited tools & knowledge... I'm lucky I have a good bloke round the corner.

[Paddy Wagon]

Being a qualified mechanic I'm fortunate enough to be able to do everything myself, plus having been in the motor trade for 33 years, I have developed a healthy distrust of main dealer's and garage's, I know there are good one's out there but some of the things I've seen over the years are beyond belief. Being a keyholder I'm very lucky as I have 24hr access to a fully equipped workshop so I'm always making use of it. I have my own service schedule which far exceeds Volvo's schedule. It get's serviced once a month regardless of milage (I do drive unusually high milage), timing belts get changed every 10,000 miles along with fan, p/s and a/c belts, oil and filter changed every 1,000 miles. Every 3 months all the air pipes etc get cleaned out and all the door panels come off to clean and lube the window and lock mechanism's, brake pads are removed, cleaned and copper slippped, calipers get cleaned and the pistons lubed, and loads of other stuff gets done as well. I freely admit to going over the top with maintenence, but with the type of driving I do and the milage I cover, I want to try to reduce to an absolute minimum the possibility of the car letting me down 250 miles away from home with about 20 grand worth of band equipment in the back for all the little scrotes to see, especially if you have to leave the car and walk a half mile down the road to get a signal on the mobile, thats the time when some jerk will pop your back window and nick everything.

[jonnyv]

Afraid I'm not good at anything other than changing tyres, etc! Frustrating as the T5 needs a replacement starter motor, which I have off the bay..at reasonable cost...but my old garage and Volvo specialist won't touch it! Wish I had the knowledge..but i DON'T!!!
Also got drop links(new) but again, access to knowledgeable mechs. is limited!
If anybody has the time and inclination, I can travel and pay. Just need jobs done and official garages are reluctant! New starter motor not cheap! One I have should be fine!
If anyone can help...name your price?

[MMT5]

Originally Posted by Paddy Wagon

Being a qualified mechanic I'm fortunate enough to be able to do everything myself, plus having been in the motor trade for 33 years, I have developed a healthy distrust of main dealer's and garage's, I know there are good one's out there but some of the things I've seen over the years are beyond belief. Being a keyholder I'm very lucky as I have 24hr access to a fully equipped workshop so I'm always making use of it. I have my own service schedule which far exceeds Volvo's schedule. It get's serviced once a month regardless of milage (I do drive unusually high milage), timing belts get changed every 10,000 miles along with fan, p/s and a/c belts, oil and filter changed every 1,000 miles. Every 3 months all the air pipes etc get cleaned out and all the door panels come off to clean and lube the window and lock mechanism's, brake pads are removed, cleaned and copper slippped, calipers get cleaned and the pistons lubed, and loads of other stuff gets done as well. I freely admit to going over the top with maintenence, but with the type of driving I do and the milage I cover, I want to try to reduce to an absolute minimum the possibility of the car letting me down 250 miles away from home with about 20 grand worth of band equipment in the back for all the little scrotes to see, especially if you have to leave the car and walk a half mile down the road to get a signal on the mobile, thats the time when some jerk will pop your back window and nick everything.

Crikey. I thought I was the only one!

I too am a fully trained Vehicle Tech/Inspector and I would have no hesitation in buying a car that you have owned.

I have the belief that you can never do enough with regards to maintaining a car.

Vehicle Techs unite

[jonnyv]

Good news anyway. Got some garage friends to do the starter motor for me next week so that's the most important job done. Rest will fit in later!
Goodoh!

[UKTech]

I just voted as 'Serviced at home by owner' but that's the nearest I could get.
I can't afford to have the Dealers do everything, they are soooo expensive with their £100 per hour prices.

My last job was the Dual Mass Flywheel and Clutch which cost me 1/3rd what the dealer quoted.

I have a local garage and a local mech that I use to do jobs on the car as and when they are needed, I have the oil and filter changed about every 3.5k and ensure that any belts etc. are changed well before they would be due. I use third party parts and only the best oils and filters.

I know that I don't get stamps in the book but I keep all receipts to show what and when jobs were done, and I don't think you get anything more from a dealer even if you do get it stamped when the car is over 5 years old, they say you do but I think it's just another lever for them to keep the trade in prices down, I know I'm very grumpy about it but I've been stung too many times in the past over the 50 years that has made me do it the way I do.

That's my 5 penith worth.

UKTech

[y2blade]

Originally Posted by y2blade

A very good friend of mine works in a local independent so he looks after mine for beer

I service my own bikes and very much capable of doing the cars too, but getting someone else to do it all at head height up on a proper car lift (as opposed to small ramps and crawling around underneath it) is so much easier ...esp when they work for beer

I do work on them myself if it is something I fancy doing

UPDATE

my tame tech has recently moved away, do I'll be getting my spanners dirty from now on

sad times