Car D.I.Y.

[CXRAndy]

Put down some cardboard from big packing boxes. Allows sliding underneath, soaks up oil spills, adding nice cushioning laying on your back

 

[Bristolian]

Use an electric pump and suck the oil up through the dipstick hole. No getting underneath (and struggling to get up again) and no mess ... simples

 

[CXRAndy]

Use an electric pump and suck the oil up through the dipstick hole. No getting underneath (and struggling to get up again) and no mess ... simples

If its a top mount oil filter, you will be laughing, else get underneath, do properly do it once

 

[fossyant]

Also, a good reason for going underneath is to check for oil leaks, any possible corrosion and a visual inspection of suspension components. The best thing we did was my son made some ramps from timber ! I also put cardboard down.

 

[tyred]

Changed to oil in my Yaris yesterday and gave it a good look over, but couldn't find anything amiss, apart from some loose under seal, now touched up.

Not a car but I discovered my MF165 wasn't charging when I moved it out of the shed yo get the car in.

It would have had a dynamic originally, but I had modified the bracket and fitted an alternator years ago. It came from a B2 Audi 80 iirc. Turned out one of the brushes had stuck in the holder, so a very simple fix, although brushes are pretty worn. I must order new ones. Old Bosch alternators were so durable.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Took Daughter's car for MOT last week - It's one of the garages with the 'one-person' equipment, where the car suspension is moved using hydraulics and the tester can observe all the moving parts from underneath. Then he emerged and moved the car until the front wheels were on top of 2 pads - the pads moved up and down with different frequencies and height. He said it wasn't part of the test yet ( and it would have passed) - It was testing the efficiency of the shock absorbers. Anyone know when this part of the test is being introduced? He also said about cameras being used to prevent 'ghost' MOT's where the emission test probe is put into another vehicle so it looks like the vehicle being tested is able to get a pass.

 

[DRM]

Took Daughter's car for MOT last week - It's one of the garages with the 'one-person' equipment, where the car suspension is moved using hydraulics and the tester can observe all the moving parts from underneath. Then he emerged and moved the car until the front wheels were on top of 2 pads - the pads moved up and down with different frequencies and height. He said it wasn't part of the test yet ( and it would have passed) - It was testing the efficiency of the shock absorbers. Anyone know when this part of the test is being introduced? He also said about cameras being used to prevent 'ghost' MOT's where the emission test probe is put into another vehicle so it looks like the vehicle being tested is able to get a pass.

Unlike yesteryear where one private hire company in this neck of the woods, that ran a fleet of Cortinas, had one that was pristine,in showroom condition, that was maintained to an unbelievable level, would have several MOT's each year, whilst adorned with different number plates!

 

[Bristolian]

If its a top mount oil filter, you will be laughing, else get underneath, do properly do it once

Yes, it's probably only effective if the oil filter is removed from above. Fortunately my E-class does 😊

 

[97_CAH]

My boss gave me a 2011 Nissan Leaf a month ago, It was the office runaround since new and had a months MOT left on it. Its saved me a little over £450 on diesel over the last month not using the van to take the dog to and from work. I figured I would put it through a MOT, just to see if it would pass with zero expectations (its been well used and abused since new). It went for test yesterday and passed with one advisory for wiper blades (now sorted) So the little leaf will stick around for at least the next year.

While I was collecting it, The guy that does my MOTs reminded me that my van is also due MOT and expires on Saturday Its booked in for tomorrow at 1pm (wish me luck) This morning I went to check the fluid levels and the dipstick snapped

The oil level displays on the dash so its a problem for another day. I made sure all the other fluids were topped off and aired up the tyres. Then took it for a quick jet wash..... Scrubbed it with the soap brush (no I dont care about scratching the van, just wanted the bird muck off it) and went to rinse it off.....

To find the lance was broken and was only giving the pressure of a garden hose I guess its hardly surprising when the bays look like this and the staff response is "if you dont like it, go elsewhere"

Ive checked the lights but given up on doing anything else. If it passes, Great. If it doesnt, Itll just get driven straight to EMR to be crushed.

 

[97_CAH]

Test time.

Passed with one advisory. Not bad for a 21 year old van.

Had to change a headlight bulb in the garages car park, it'd blown on the way there.

 

[CXRAndy]

Our old JCB teleporter sprung an oil leak yesterday whilst idling. I turned around to see litres of transmission oil pouring out of the bottom. I had to strip the side of engine cowling off to find a split hose. Ive ordered new parts from JCB come on Monday

 

[DRM]

Test time.
View attachment 805368
Passed with one advisory. Not bad for a 21 year old van.
View attachment 805369
Had to change a headlight bulb in the garages car park, it'd blown on the way there.

I'm sure the bl**dy things do things like that on purpose

 

[97_CAH]

I'm sure the bl**dy things do things like that on purpose

It was punishment for waking it up and daring to move it out of its parking spot.

 

[Bristolian]

Had to change a headlight bulb in the garages car park, it'd blown on the way there.

Think yourself lucky it isn't a Merc with LED lights - that's a £1600 headlight unit and 2 1/2 hrs to fit, plus coding on a MB computer. Don't ask me how I know

 

[DCLane]

@Bristolian - I just bought a whole car for less than half of that. And it came with two headlights.