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Post by dohnut on Sept 7, 2024 13:42:49 GMT
One for the oldies perhaps. Those that had a Haynes manual, tool set and quite often not enough money to use a garage.
plugs, points, brakes (discs, pads bleeding) tappets, rotor arms, wiper blades etc. engine timings, feeler gauges. For the more adventurous new clutch assemblies, gaskets and aligning tools. As a young man all these things were considered routine car maintenance accessories and jobs much the same and putting up wallpaper and painting.
I wonder how many even open the bonnet and if they did could even see where bits are. I wouldn’t dare.
Had a minor issue with my Merc a couple of weeks ago. The RAC man arrived, did some basic checks then plugged in his computer. Fascinating to see all the diagnostics coming up on his screen. The computer says OK.
I love the technology. I give my car voice commands for many things, but a part of me liked the simplicity or cars gone by.
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Post by Thor on Sept 7, 2024 14:09:42 GMT
I purchased one of those computers so I could unlock options on the mini I bought my daughter for her 18th birthday. Last night my mates says you've got one of those computer's for your car haven't you?
So today I go round his house, it diagnosed the issue, fixed it and the car works perfectly once more. Its a superb bit of kit to have.
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Post by dohnut on Sept 7, 2024 15:37:46 GMT
I purchased one of those computers so I could unlock options on the mini I bought my daughter for her 18th birthday. Last night my mates says you've got one of those computer's for your car haven't you? So today I go round his house, it diagnosed the issue, fixed it and the car works perfectly once more. It’s a superb bit of kit to have. Spoke to the RAC guy about the diagnostics computer. Mercedes tightly control passwords that allow their systems to be used. RAC allowed the licence for a fee but still costs them £15 every time they use them. But it was interesting to see just how much data they churn out. |
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Post by harrycat on Sept 8, 2024 0:48:41 GMT
Like all cars, maintenance is very expensive. My Jag service costs were usually in the region of £800. My Mercedes is also about that. As you say we used to deal with most of the routine maintenance ourselves. I remember rewiring a lot of the electrics on my Dad's Morris Minor. No chance now even with the test equipment you can buy due to as you said Mercedes and Jag have it all protected. Also too old to get under a car these days. Just pay up and grit my teeth.
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Post by watfordo on Sept 8, 2024 10:38:20 GMT
Just spent another two hours cleaning back a very temperamental carburettor on my Honda mower. Pleased I dont have to do on my cars any more.
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Post by howlingmad on Sept 8, 2024 11:24:46 GMT
Yeah, my Ferrari has been playing up recently.Time to get the laptop out.
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 14:50:34 GMT
One for the oldies perhaps. Those that had a Haynes manual, tool set and quite often not enough money to use a garage. plugs, points, brakes (discs, pads bleeding) tappets, rotor arms, wiper blades etc. engine timings, feeler gauges. For the more adventurous new clutch assemblies, gaskets and aligning tools. As a young man all these things were considered routine car maintenance accessories and jobs much the same and putting up wallpaper and painting. I wonder how many even open the bonnet and if they did could even see where bits are. I wouldn’t dare. Had a minor issue with my Merc a couple of weeks ago. The RAC man arrived, did some basic checks then plugged in his computer. Fascinating to see all the diagnostics coming up on his screen. The computer says OK. I love the technology. I give my car voice commands for many things, but a part of me liked the simplicity or cars gone by. The old cars were so much easier to work on but I much prefer the modern electronic ignition that is used nowadays, points needed so much attention and regular changing. Clutches dont need changing so often now but a garage job now to do it with the modern front wheel drive cars, it used to be a lot easier to take the gearbox off and change the clutch with the old rear wheel drive cars. Push rod overhead valve engines had good performance and easier to work on than the modern overhead cam engines and no cam belts to worry about either. My favourite car was a Mark 1 1971 Ford Capri 1600cc. I used to get an indicated 110 mph out of it on the motorway, later on fitted a Zenith economy carburetor, slightly slower acceleration than the original fomoco carburetor and average MPG went up from around 28 mpg to around 38 mpg and in those years I was bombing around most of the time ! That car looked great, was easy to work on, very reliable and I kept it for 12 years, wife made me get rid of it, she wanted a smaller car. I also later on got a 1600cc OHC Mark 2 Capri, but did not like it so quickly sold it on. Both of those Capris are worth a lot now to buy. Modern cars, the engines are crammed in such a small space, not so years ago, plus so much depends on electronics, sensors etc. I have been ill for around 2 years, various issue's but now getting my strength back and feeling a lot better also putting on weight that I had lost. I also had my right knee replaced in March this year and again good progress with that so far. Due to health problems I had not changed the oil in my car since December 2022 so on this Sunday it was ok weather, jacked the car up and changed the oil plus oil filter and filled up with 4 litres of 5/40 Synthetic oil. Hardest job was getting the oil filter off, but it budged in the end ! Due to my bad health over the last couple of years the car had only done 2858 miles since the last oil change but good job done ! |
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Post by Fisch on Sept 9, 2024 15:10:34 GMT
Good to hear you're on the mend now Dennis.
I was comfortable with the engineering used on cars until FWD started to dominate. Talk about bonnet space, l had a V4 Mk 4 Zephyr, the spare wheel was in there with the engine and there still room for me to get in there with them.
I hated ignition points and was a very early Lumenition user. Perfect timing (once set), perfect dwell angle and no breaker bounce above 2000 rpm. That was the only "tech" l appreciated.
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 15:35:14 GMT
Good to hear you're on the mend now Dennis. I was comfortable with the engineering used on cars until FWD started to dominate. Talk about bonnet space, l had a V4 Mk 4 Zephyr, the spare wheel was in there with the engine and there still room for me to get in there with them. I hated ignition points and was a very early Lumenition user. Perfect timing (once set), perfect dwell angle and no breaker bounce above 2000 rpm. That was the only "tech" l appreciated. Wonder how many other 77 year olds with a knee replacement job still working on their cars, gardening and doing DIY round the house, not many I guess ! I just googled Lumenition being as I had never heard of it before. Well I fitted what seems to be a similar thing on my Capri in the Mobelec ignition system but it was more trouble than it was worth. Later on I purchased another type that used the original points but by its technology, eliminated the points getting burnt out and generated a better spark, not perfect but a lot better results than the standard set up. A few other things I don't like in many modern cars is this stupid craze for Space Saver Wheel's, cant stand them and also prefer the old fashioned tyres with inner tubes, easy to repair a puncture unlike the modern day tyres and also dislike the modern puncture repair foam which often ruin's the tyre. Also on the old cars, ones using fan belts it was so easy and cheap to replace the water pump, not so nowadays with the cam belt cars depending on using the cam belt to turn the water pump round. |
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Post by Fisch on Sept 9, 2024 16:03:34 GMT
100% with you on space savers, Mrs F just bought a hybrid so there's no place for a spare. We bought one anyway and just put up with a tiny boot space.
Tyre pressure monitors, braking/acceleration recorders, mpg gauges that lie, "ECO" settings which are meaningless, hybrid EV mode which cancels if you don't wear your seat belt, interference engines, non-re-usable cylinder head bolts, cam belts which cost a fortune to replace.... Who needs it all?
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Post by dohnut on Sept 9, 2024 16:36:34 GMT
Good to hear you're on the mend now Dennis. I was comfortable with the engineering used on cars until FWD started to dominate. Talk about bonnet space, l had a V4 Mk 4 Zephyr, the spare wheel was in there with the engine and there still room for me to get in there with them. I hated ignition points and was a very early Lumenition user. Perfect timing (once set), perfect dwell angle and no breaker bounce above 2000 rpm. That was the only "tech" l appreciated. Wonder how many other 77 year olds with a knee replacement job still working on their cars, gardening and doing DIY round the house, not many I guess ! I just googled Lumenition being as I had never heard of it before. Well I fitted what seems to be a similar thing on my Capri in the Mobelec ignition system but it was more trouble than it was worth. Later on I purchased another type that used the original points but by its technology, eliminated the points getting burnt out and generated a better spark, not perfect but a lot better results than the standard set up. A few other things I don't like in many modern cars is this stupid craze for Space Saver Wheel's, cant stand them and also prefer the old fashioned tyres with inner tubes, easy to repair a puncture unlike the modern day tyres and also dislike the modern puncture repair foam which often ruin's the tyre. Also on the old cars, ones using fan belts it was so easy and cheap to replace the water pump, not so nowadays with the cam belt cars depending on using the cam belt to turn the water pump round. Glad to hear you are still getting around. I go to the gym every week at 76 but don’t push too hard. Bit self conscious in with all the fit young things but, hell, trying to keep fit as long as I can. Enjoy gardening, not so much the DIY but still do it. I would be happy with a space saver spare. Mine doesn’t even have that, nor a space to put it of I bought one. Comes with some liquid-fill inflation crap. And an SOS button. Used it when my ignition failed, answered by a Mercedes call centre in Europe who dispatch the RAC locally. Great system! Wouldn’t fill me with confidence on the way to the airport if I got a flat. |
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Post by redshank on Sept 9, 2024 16:38:06 GMT
Good to hear you're on the mend now Dennis. I was comfortable with the engineering used on cars until FWD started to dominate. Talk about bonnet space, l had a V4 Mk 4 Zephyr, the spare wheel was in there with the engine and there still room for me to get in there with them. I hated ignition points and was a very early Lumenition user. Perfect timing (once set), perfect dwell angle and no breaker bounce above 2000 rpm. That was the only "tech" l appreciated. Wonder how many other 77 year olds with a knee replacement job still working on their cars, gardening and doing DIY round the house, not many I guess ! I just googled Lumenition being as I had never heard of it before. Well I fitted what seems to be a similar thing on my Capri in the Mobelec ignition system but it was more trouble than it was worth. Later on I purchased another type that used the original points but by its technology, eliminated the points getting burnt out and generated a better spark, not perfect but a lot better results than the standard set up. A few other things I don't like in many modern cars is this stupid craze for Space Saver Wheel's, cant stand them and also prefer the old fashioned tyres with inner tubes, easy to repair a puncture unlike the modern day tyres and also dislike the modern puncture repair foam which often ruin's the tyre. Also on the old cars, ones using fan belts it was so easy and cheap to replace the water pump, not so nowadays with the cam belt cars depending on using the cam belt to turn the water pump round. I have two knee replacements and other ailments and have been working all day in the bathroom fixing a new bath panel which involved many trips to the workshop as things became more and more difficult.I do almost everything bar the few specialist jobs.Knees are killing me but that is nothing new,the night will bring more pain. |
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 17:37:42 GMT
Wonder how many other 77 year olds with a knee replacement job still working on their cars, gardening and doing DIY round the house, not many I guess ! I just googled Lumenition being as I had never heard of it before. Well I fitted what seems to be a similar thing on my Capri in the Mobelec ignition system but it was more trouble than it was worth. Later on I purchased another type that used the original points but by its technology, eliminated the points getting burnt out and generated a better spark, not perfect but a lot better results than the standard set up. A few other things I don't like in many modern cars is this stupid craze for Space Saver Wheel's, cant stand them and also prefer the old fashioned tyres with inner tubes, easy to repair a puncture unlike the modern day tyres and also dislike the modern puncture repair foam which often ruin's the tyre. Also on the old cars, ones using fan belts it was so easy and cheap to replace the water pump, not so nowadays with the cam belt cars depending on using the cam belt to turn the water pump round. I have two knee replacements and other ailments and have been working all day in the bathroom fixing a new bath panel which involved many trips to the workshop as things became more and more difficult.I do almost everything bar the few specialist jobs.Knees are killing me but that is nothing new,the night will bring more pain. Well done you doing all those DIY jobs. Try not to overdue it, take a rest when you need a break, well done you are a top man !! Yes your previous comments on this forum about the pain you got after knee replacement really put me off getting the knee job done, I think you said you get a lot of nerve pain in the second one that you had done, am I right and if so, is it any better now ? I busted my right knee ligaments ACL included, when playing football in around 1970, sickener especially being as I was playing so well at the time !! Despite various operations over the years, last year it got to the stage of being unable to do my shopping unless on crutches. To cap it all, in year 2001, I tore half my cartilage in my left knee in a freak accident caused by doing a relative a good turn and falling over when carrying a heavy flat pack kitchen unit. Anyway I had my knee done in March this year, went to a very good hospital that specializes in this type of operation, had a wonderful surgeon, had a lot of pain for around 5 weeks, non stop on pain killers but gradually got better, plenty of pysio work done and minimal pain now and quite good movement range in the knee. I can even kneel on the knee when doing gardening etc and getting up ok after kneeling. At least I can go walking and shopping now plus do my diy etc. I had a lot of work done on my throat from June 2022 to July 2023 they had picked up early stage cancer but touch wood seems ok now. Then I had another illness ( not related ) which started July last year and which nearly finished me off and rushed to hospital and was in the hospital for 14 days, they saved my life. Enough said the better about that but the after effects involved severe nerve pain all over my body. I did a lot of online research and found various medication that helped to sort that out and after one year I seem back to normal, putting on weight and getting stronger again, thank God !
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 17:47:35 GMT
Wonder how many other 77 year olds with a knee replacement job still working on their cars, gardening and doing DIY round the house, not many I guess ! I just googled Lumenition being as I had never heard of it before. Well I fitted what seems to be a similar thing on my Capri in the Mobelec ignition system but it was more trouble than it was worth. Later on I purchased another type that used the original points but by its technology, eliminated the points getting burnt out and generated a better spark, not perfect but a lot better results than the standard set up. A few other things I don't like in many modern cars is this stupid craze for Space Saver Wheel's, cant stand them and also prefer the old fashioned tyres with inner tubes, easy to repair a puncture unlike the modern day tyres and also dislike the modern puncture repair foam which often ruin's the tyre. Also on the old cars, ones using fan belts it was so easy and cheap to replace the water pump, not so nowadays with the cam belt cars depending on using the cam belt to turn the water pump round. Glad to hear you are still getting around. I go to the gym every week at 76 but don’t push too hard. Bit self conscious in with all the fit young things but, hell, trying to keep fit as long as I can. Enjoy gardening, not so much the DIY but still do it. I would be happy with a space saver spare. Mine doesn’t even have that, nor a space to put it of I bought one. Comes with some liquid-fill inflation crap. And an SOS button. Used it when my ignition failed, answered by a Mercedes call centre in Europe who dispatch the RAC locally. Great system! Wouldn’t fill me with confidence on the way to the airport if I got a flat. Thank you so much for your kind comment. Is your illness where you had an operation doing ok now ? My heart goes out to King Charles and dear Princess Kate who have had a year of hell.
On BBC news today, says Kate says she has now completed chemotherapy treatment, God bless her and hope she comes through all this ok.
Back to the original subject, well modern cars are a lot more reliable but are not for repairing at home like the older cars were. |
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 18:01:03 GMT
100% with you on space savers, Mrs F just bought a hybrid so there's no place for a spare. We bought one anyway and just put up with a tiny boot space. Tyre pressure monitors, braking/acceleration recorders, mpg gauges that lie, "ECO" settings which are meaningless, hybrid EV mode which cancels if you don't wear your seat belt, interference engines, non-re-usable cylinder head bolts, cam belts which cost a fortune to replace.... Who needs it all? Yes I wish my car had a non interference engine, reminds me I need to get my cam belt changed, only done around 20,000 miles since it was last fitted by the previous owner who was one of my best friends ( now sadly deceased ) but coming up to 7 years ago to when fitted new. So annoying that the car belt is all covered up and a major job to get the cover off to view it to see belt condition and tightness. I think the much maligned Lada Riva had a non interference engine ? So many times now engine faults showing due the sensors and my next door neighbor cursed his Peugeot car and its for ever playing up Tyre pressure monitors, one of the reasons why he got rid of it |
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Post by dohnut on Sept 9, 2024 19:33:18 GMT
Glad to hear you are still getting around. I go to the gym every week at 76 but don’t push too hard. Bit self conscious in with all the fit young things but, hell, trying to keep fit as long as I can. Enjoy gardening, not so much the DIY but still do it. I would be happy with a space saver spare. Mine doesn’t even have that, nor a space to put it of I bought one. Comes with some liquid-fill inflation crap. And an SOS button. Used it when my ignition failed, answered by a Mercedes call centre in Europe who dispatch the RAC locally. Great system! Wouldn’t fill me with confidence on the way to the airport if I got a flat. Thank you so much for your kind comment. Is your illness where you had an operation doing ok now ? My heart goes out to King Charles and dear Princess Kate who have had a year of hell.
On BBC news today, says Kate says she has now completed chemotherapy treatment, God bless her and hope she comes through all this ok.
Back to the original subject, well modern cars are a lot more reliable but are not for repairing at home like the older cars were. All clear Denisrofe with my prostate cancer. Surgery worked and my quarterly, now half yearly checks all good. Definitely caught it in time otherwise a different story. A long journey from diagnosis, to treatment to one being passed back to routine checks, for the next few years. Really pleased for Charles and Kate, in fact everyone who comes through with a positive outcome. can’t remember the last time I did more than routine maintenance on a car. Had a light bulb changed on Mrs DoHs car. Had to take out half the light assembly, well the garage did. No more just buying a bulb and putting it in. |
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 21:44:31 GMT
Thank you so much for your kind comment. Is your illness where you had an operation doing ok now ? My heart goes out to King Charles and dear Princess Kate who have had a year of hell.
On BBC news today, says Kate says she has now completed chemotherapy treatment, God bless her and hope she comes through all this ok.
Back to the original subject, well modern cars are a lot more reliable but are not for repairing at home like the older cars were. All clear Denisrofe with my prostate cancer. Surgery worked and my quarterly, now half yearly checks all good. Definitely caught it in time otherwise a different story. A long journey from diagnosis, to treatment to one being passed back to routine checks, for the next few years. Really pleased for Charles and Kate, in fact everyone who comes through with a positive outcome. can’t remember the last time I did more than routine maintenance on a car. Had a light bulb changed on Mrs DoHs car. Had to take out half the light assembly, well the garage did. No more just buying a bulb and putting it in. Good news then and I myself must pluck up the courage to get the blood test to get myself checked for this awful life threatening illness. I had early throat cancer due mainly to having Barrett's esophagus which is caused by having hiatus hernia which leads to leaking stomach acid into the throat causing changes to that area. I finished treatment July 2023 but have to have check ups for it, ok so far. I just got over that and then got another setback which me passing out and being unconscious for 5 days at home on my own and ending up with 14 days in hospital so the NHS has saved my life twice in the last 2 years then on top of all that the knee replacement came up in March this year and after being on the list for over a year I could not turn it down !! And I am a person who has a phobia about injections, blood tests, doctors and hospital treatment ! |
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Post by Fisch on Sept 9, 2024 23:28:56 GMT
That's a savage way to overcome your phobia Dennis. 😮
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Post by dennisrofe on Sept 9, 2024 23:43:34 GMT
That's a savage way to overcome your phobia Dennis. 😮 I had no choice other than to have my knee done and the other hospital treatments were must have's and saved my life. An awful last two years, hope for better times at least for a while anyway and hope the Os start to get better luck soon. |
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Post by mrb on Sept 10, 2024 6:42:20 GMT
Thank you so much for your kind comment. Is your illness where you had an operation doing ok now ? My heart goes out to King Charles and dear Princess Kate who have had a year of hell.
On BBC news today, says Kate says she has now completed chemotherapy treatment, God bless her and hope she comes through all this ok.
Back to the original subject, well modern cars are a lot more reliable but are not for repairing at home like the older cars were. All clear Denisrofe with my prostate cancer. Surgery worked and my quarterly, now half yearly checks all good. Definitely caught it in time otherwise a different story. A long journey from diagnosis, to treatment to one being passed back to routine checks, for the next few years. Really pleased for Charles and Kate, in fact everyone who comes through with a positive outcome. can’t remember the last time I did more than routine maintenance on a car. Had a light bulb changed on Mrs DoHs car. Had to take out half the light assembly, well the garage did. No more just buying a bulb and putting it in. Brave of you to talk about your illness on here doh.. |
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