Car D.I.Y.

[gbb]

I suspect it's not just Mazda but all car brands are getting like this.


View: https://youtu.be/rvAt8G7dOng?si=9i7fEs5wCzzl8-Lt


I took my daughters Mini for an early oil filter change. The service guy on the desk looked perplexed that I would want an oil change so early. Hes says the oil is good for 18,000 miles between services. I said what's the oil sump capacity- just over 4 litres.

I said it's a small turbo charged engine with a tiny sump.

He was rather peeved when I ordered and collected 6 oil filters and ancillaries.

I changed my oil every 5k miles or once a year if less than 5k

Interestingly my Mazda BN (2014 to 18) states use DOT3 OR 4. its probably the gen before the one in the video but a quick look tells me even the next gen use either DOT3 or 4.
So really (imho) the video creators claim that manufacturers dont want us doing our own stuff isnt really the point...the owner of that Mazda being discussed was basically just being ripped off by a dealership.
Then if you put yourself in the dealerships shoes, fluid of unknown manufacturers or quality has been put in the car. Customer reports a problem, what's their fix ? Remove fluid, to ensure customer gets a proper fix that leaves no doubt, replace brake booster...all at apparent huge cost.
To me, yes that's extortionate of course, but garage has an obligation to fix it properly, and leave no doubt or risk it may fail further along, particually as its brakes, leaving them responsible. In essence, theyre protecting themselves, and the customer.
We never want to hear it..but

 

[Drago]

Aye, people seem to be conflating a Mazda dealer, which is an independent franchise, with Mazda the manufacturer who have nothing whatsoever to to with the situation.

I dont think the dealer was trying to defraud anyone. As the Rt. Hon. Gbb says theyre faced with a situation where an unknown fluid has been used by an unqualified person. If they don't make a worst-case scenario assumption and the customer gets 3 miles up the road and the brakes fail and someone dies you can guess who the driver is going to try and screw for compo.

Bottom line is the guy tried to clever to save a few quid, clearly didnt know what he was doing else he'd have the necessary gear to reset the EPB, and simply wasnt as clever as he thought he was. Yet its somehow the dealers fault. Go figure.

 

[DRM]

Interestingly my Mazda BN (2014 to 18) states use DOT3 OR 4. its probably the gen before the one in the video but a quick look tells me even the next gen use either DOT3 or 4.
So really (imho) the video creators claim that manufacturers dont want us doing our own stuff isnt really the point...the owner of that Mazda being discussed was basically just being ripped off by a dealership.
Then if you put yourself in the dealerships shoes, fluid of unknown manufacturers or quality has been put in the car. Customer reports a problem, what's their fix ? Remove fluid, to ensure customer gets a proper fix that leaves no doubt, replace brake booster...all at apparent huge cost.
To me, yes that's extortionate of course, but garage has an obligation to fix it properly, and leave no doubt or risk it may fail further along, particually as its brakes, leaving them responsible. In essence, theyre protecting themselves, and the customer.
We never want to hear it..but

Didn't watch the video, but if you put the wrong fluid in the brake reservoir, then if that fluid wrecks the seals in the brake systems hydraulics, you'd better brace yourself for an expensive lesson in FAFO, that's if your lack of knowledge doesn't lead to brake failure & killing some poor sod who is in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

 

[Pinno718]

I just looked up a brake booster for a Mazda 3. Aftermarket from Autodoc iro £64 and a Bosch unit £80.
I cannot think of many ordinary cars where the whole braking system couldn't be replaced for that amount of money. Unless of course, there's some expensive ABS unit.
Also, if this brake booster is simply a servo unit, the brake fluid is not in contact with it. All it does is provide a vacuum (as a 'reservoir') so that depressing the brake pedal is much easier.
The fault codes are pretty non-specific and it was suggested that without recalibration, all braking codes had been triggered.

Didn't watch the video, but if you put the wrong fluid in the brake reservoir, then if that fluid wrecks the seals in the brake systems hydraulics....

In the video, it was explained that through UK regulation, DOT 4 fluid has to be compatible with DOT 3 recommended braking systems. DOT 4 has to be changed more often due to it's hydroscopic tendency being slightly higher. Other than that, it's very similar. DOT 4 would technically be an actual upgrade.
Therefore, if Mazda had a unique system that did not accept DOT 4 fluid, it would be well known and contrary to an industry standard.

 

[Drago]

But they only had the guys word as to what has gone in so (after all, he's effed up the rest of the job), as aforementioned, as a CYA option they are compelled act.

I'm sure they didn't expect the guy would pay and have it all swapped out, but it's now on paper that he's been informed of the possible consequences, no matter how unlikely.

Arses are covered, which was what the exercise was all about, nothing more. That the pooptube pundits thinks it was anything more than a CYA job is hilarious - he's about as clever as the guy who muffed up the job in the first place.

 

[gbb]

Another thought re the Mazda video. I dont subscribe to the sometimes general concensus that the guy who did the job (any job on a car really) and it didnt go as planned, must be a blithering idiot.
Anyone who DIYs on their car in particular started somewhere, mistakes WILL occasionally occur, I know I have, happily theyre always recognised at the time or rectified soon after.
We constantly hear people calling for others to learn to DIY , theres a never ending learning process in actually doing it.
The EPB issue may have been nothing more than pads not seating, a glitch in the correct positioning of the piston, anything like that. Unless the methods changed on a slightly later model, you dont need a module or any special tools, you can do it all (retract and reset pistons) from in the car, its just a button press sequence. Once they sorted themselves out after a cycle or two...warning light would go out. Seems a reasonable theory..

Sounds like an 'i dont want the work price' from the dealership

 

[fossyant]

Halfords have some keen prices on PAGID pads for the van - it takes slightly dearer rear pads as it has an electronic handbrake, and others, like Bosch, don't seem to make them - the current rears are Pagid. Front and rears are about 6mm so getting due soon. Halfords doing 25% off their already keen prices and I can add another 8% through work. Bought pads, filters for MrsF's car in the autumn from Halfords for very good prices (not fitted yet too cold).

I'll probably only do the fronts on the van as I don't have a suitable ODBC reader to put the rear's into service mode and wind them back. My local can do them. I don't suspect they will mind if I've bought the pads, as the on-line catalogues recommend particular pads, then it says 'not for electronic parking brakes'. Most 'vans' of the same type don't come with them and it's only some newer 'passenger' ones that have them.

 

[Drago]

Another thought re the Mazda video. I dont subscribe to the sometimes general concensus that the guy who did the job (any job on a car really) and it didnt go as planned, must be a blithering idiot.
Anyone who DIYs on their car in particular started somewhere, mistakes WILL occasionally occur, I know I have, happily theyre always recognised at the time or rectified soon after.
We constantly hear people calling for others to learn to DIY , theres a never ending learning process in actually doing it.
The EPB issue may have been nothing more than pads not seating, a glitch in the correct positioning of the piston, anything like that. Unless the methods changed on a slightly later model, you dont need a module or any special tools, you can do it all (retract and reset pistons) from in the car, its just a button press sequence. Once they sorted themselves out after a cycle or two...warning light would go out. Seems a reasonable theory..

Sounds like an 'i dont want the work price' from the dealership

His prior preparation appears to consist of telling himself that he'd done this job on loads of cars before, so he would automatically be fine. Thats
what's known in the trade as "an assumption", and wise people like us know the mantra that assumptions are the mother of all f*** ups.

Knowing the car has EPB and, seemingly, not even checking that any special tools or procedures are required and then blithely ploughing on regardless doesnt make him a blithering idiot, but certainly his actions were poorly thought through. I wouldn't want someone so ill prepared working on any vehicle of mine, and definitely not within a mile of anything safety critical.

Id also be keen to know how he cycled the ABS pump, or did he simply leave the old sheet in there to contaminate the new fluid the first time the system activates? I expect the latter.

My personal take is that he was ill prepared knowledge wise and isnt as clever as he thinks he is. Instead of sucking it up hes whinged and whittled instead, so clearly hasn't learned from the experience.

 

[Hicky]

Done a lights, levels, tread and pressures check on the van in readiness for going awsy next week.

POL….i try so hard not to call it that!🤣🥴

 

[Drago]

We never used any of the acronyms such as POWDERS, DEERS or FLOWERY. It was just a lights, levels and tyres check.

 

[Pinno718]

His prior preparation appears to consist of telling himself that he'd done this job on loads of cars before, so he would automatically be fine. Thats
what's known in the trade as "an assumption", and wise people like us know the mantra that assumptions are the mother of all f*** ups.

Knowing the car has EPB and, seemingly, not even checking that any special tools or procedures are required and then blithely ploughing on regardless doesnt make him a blithering idiot, but certainly his actions were poorly thought through. I wouldn't want someone so ill prepared working on any vehicle of mine, and definitely not within a mile of anything safety critical.

Id also be keen to know how he cycled the ABS pump, or did he simply leave the old sheet in there to contaminate the new fluid the first time the system activates? I expect the latter.

My personal take is that he was ill prepared knowledge wise and isnt as clever as he thinks he is. Instead of sucking it up hes whinged and whittled instead, so clearly hasn't learned from the experience.

You are quite right but that's an extortionate estimate. I think you said it: they're covering their arises.
A decent indie would probably do the job for a fraction of the price. Though, I just wonder if that would invalidate the warranty.

 

[fossyant]

Are Mazda's still Fords but with rust ? Ah, some are Toyota's now aren't they

 

[Drago]

You are quite right but that's an extortionate estimate. I think you said it: they're covering their arises.
A decent indie would probably do the job for a fraction of the price. Though, I just wonder if that would invalidate the warranty.

I suspect the exercise was two fold - to cover their arses was the man jist, but to also suggest that if he did actually want to swap everything they werent interested in the job.

One has also to remember a third element, that a dealer has to do everything by the book. An indy is free to use their own knowledge and experiences. For example, there is a fault that affects some versions of my van and requires the dash being removed to rectify, but som indies and clever DIYers have found away round that that cuts the labour time from 10 hours to three, but the dealer isn't free to follow any procedure other than the one the manufacturer tells them to.

They werent trying to rip him off in any way. They were happy to chuck the keys at him and watch him leave the premises. Sadly he seems not to have learned that his cunning efforts to save money could end up costing a fortune. I wouldn't buy a used car from him.

 

[CXRAndy]

Vehicles in some regards are getting overly complicated for simple functions. Electronic parking reset is one example .

Wife's Model 3 has electronic parking brake system and will automatically engage after a period if car is left in neutral. A method to get around this automatic engagement was put the car in tow mode. Then the guidance was unplug the connection and power from 9V battery to retract the caliper piston. I didn't do that, I just unplugged the connection, used a rewind tool and wound the piston fully in, did the brake job, and then let the car reset the pistons once finished.

There are some cars that need a scanner to go through parking brake initialisation to get the bloody things to work.

You cant access the system until you've paid the manufacturer a fee to access the OBD2 port for diagnostics.

Ita the manufacturers way of stopping home mechanics and forcing independent garages to pay for the main dealer lost revenue. If only they weren't so expensive people would go to them more

 

[Drago]

OBD is an open architecture by law in the UK. Of course Tesla are twits and might not comply, but every other brand anyone with the correct kit can access all OBD functions. I've got VCDS for my van and VIDA-DICE for the C70.