How to service your car

BorneTobyWilde · 07-08-2020 7:49pm

But yes, basically asked for 500 plus vat.
I just don't see it, change oil, fit water pump, and two tek screws.

Any good mechanic should do it all in under 90 mins

fryup · 09-05-2021 1:31pm

if the aircon clutch is not engaging, what would be at fault?

*i can spin it by hand, the fuses & relays seem to be fine

crasy dash · 09-05-2021 4:36pm

fryup wrote: »

if the aircon clutch is not engaging, what would be at fault?

*i can spin it by hand, the fuses & relays seem to be fine

Hows the refrigant level if it's low or empty that would disable pulling the clutch pulling in I imagine

Atlantic Dawn · 09-05-2021 4:39pm

fryup wrote: »

if the aircon clutch is not engaging, what would be at fault?

*i can spin it by hand, the fuses & relays seem to be fine

Have you been able to swap the relay with another that's the same? Also check gas level as it won't engage if not correct level.

jmreire · 09-05-2021 6:15pm

jmreire wrote: »

Hi Hal,
I am monitoring the loss, and while its a very small amount at present, it's definitely leaking somewhere...but with out any visible external sign of leaking that I can see. I don't think that it's the expansion tank cap.. seal looks good, and cap is tight.
If it was a major leak, then it might be easier to track it down....if it was leaking into the engine, the oil colour would change from black to a milky colour.
If it was into the transmission ( this was pretty common on the older Mercs, but not such an issue on the w212's, as different radiator was fitted ) But just in case, I have ordered some glycol test strips to check the transmission fluid.
It could be the heater matrix,,but this will be harder to check...would have to eliminate every other possibility first..anything to do with the heater matrix in a Merc is serious digging.....
So that's why I was asking if any forum members has any experience of adding a dye to the water, and see what shows up under ultra violet light. And to see not only if it works, but that the additive is safe to use, without creating it's own set of problems.

Update on the leak: It turned out to be the fuel filter housing. They are linked to the cooling system to warm the fuel, and are prone to leaking, especially the older ones, that had only two retaining bolts holding the filter body in place. Newer ones have 3 bolts, and tend not to give the same leaking problem.

fryup · 09-05-2021 10:53pm

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Have you been able to swap the relay with another that's the same?

yes, but no joy

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Also check gas level as it won't engage if not correct level.

really never knew that

johndaman66 · 16-08-2021 11:53pm

Well Chaps,

Picked up a towbar for an Avensis T27 from a Breakers yard some time back. Just managing to get time to put it on...well work in progress. The bolts for one side of the base plate went in fine on the passenger side and that base plate is secure. However, the bolts just don't seem to want to go in on the drivers side not helped by the exhaust hampering my access somewhat.

Bolts are going in and don't appear to be cross threading but I get to a certain point and they don't want to go anymore. Presumably there is dirt and grit from 10 years on the road lodged up there causing me a problem. Any ideas on how I might ease them up there?

joujoujou · 17-08-2021 3:22pm

Try this:

https://www.instructables.com/Make-a-tap-from-a-bolt/

gussieg · 11-09-2021 4:35pm

What does anyone reckon to using the oil pump do hickey for oil changes? I had a very difficult to undo sump plug and have been using the oil pump I got from micksgarage for the last few oil changes. Sure makes things a lot easier to get at...

12-09-2021 8:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/109521235#Comment_109521235

Why you made it so complicated? Your car can have what ever fancy ABS brakes but there is old brake system too, what takes over if there is ABS fault. So, do not turn ignition on and bleed as any regular old car. Only it does not bleed the ABS pressure reservoir. To make 100% correct bleeding you need proper diagnostic tool.

12-09-2021 8:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117877046#Comment_117877046

Oil pump is very good for DIY if oil filer is too acessable from the top. Only remember to heat the oil before pumping action.

johndaman66 · 20-09-2021 11:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117764756#Comment_117764756

Just to follow up on the above quote lads - I made a cut of about 10-15mm straight down through the centre of one bolt. Drove it into all holes and it went in very easily. The good bolts then went in no problem after I removed that bolt out.

I'm doing this job slowly (very slowly) in what spare time I have. The tail lamps are now wired up neatly to the canbus box. Bit of an issue is running the live wire back through the firewall. Anyone ever do it and how did they approach? Below are two images - first on the engine side showing the wiring loom going in through firewall - access is pretty limited. The second snap is a behind the glovebox view of the same wiring coming into interior of car - again access is pretty limited. I can probably improvise and find a way of pushing the wire through despite the access but any hints appreciated. I'm more conscious of damaging of the existing wiring when making the hole (don't want to go there). Anyone ever done something like this and how did they get on?

Once I get the wire into the car routing it back to the rear of the car should be child's play to me.

IMG_20210915_192513.jpg

IMG_20210915_192707.jpg

Dakota Dan · 19-02-2022 11:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/105143924#Comment_105143924

I can’t believe that this thread is only 14 pages after being started 14 years back, not many doing their own services.

Dakota Dan · 19-02-2022 11:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/114247792#Comment_114247792

You don’t need a puller tool for a water pump as it fits flush to the engine.

jmreire · 19-02-2022 11:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117917790#Comment_117917790

I'm not familiar with the Avensis, so I can't help you with your routing your live feed. But a question for you ( or maybe two...) Are you using a universal relay bypass or a dedicated wiring harness for the job? Are the rear lights LEDs or standard bulbs? You mentioned tapping into the Canbus, so I presume that its the universal by pass relay? If so how have you managed the rear park / brake lights? How did you connect them to the relay?

Thanks.

johndaman66 · 20-02-2022 1:17am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118661196#Comment_118661196

That's ok thanks jmreire. The job has being done some time back at this stage with some help from brother and have used it quite a bit since with no problems so am happy all is in order. I picked everything up for a reasonable price from a breakers yard, including the towbar itself, relay and wiring loom and although it came off an Avensis I am pretty sure the relay is universal (not 100% sure).

Everything was pretty straight forward and foolproof really. We wired up the car lights to the relay first. Determining the wire for each function was the first part....following the wire into the actual tail lamp lamp bulb section it went into as I recall. We removed the battery earth each time as I recall, cut that wire, reconnected the battery earth, checked that light didn't work, took off the battery earth and wired the car wire to relay (function marked on relay). The whole taking off and putting on the negative battery terminal was likely overkill but we were erring on the safe side. Then as I recall the wiring from relay to towbar socket was all colour coded - difficult to go wrong on it unless your totally not tuned in really. Used the crimp type connectors to join car wiring to relay, crimp them down and heat shrink over the top and hair dryer. The towbar socket wiring had screw in wiring into the relay as I recall.

LED tail lamps on my car and incandescent bulbs in the trailer I have. The car bulbs didn't interfere with the trailer bulbs or visa versa when everything is hooked up.

jmreire · 20-02-2022 12:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118661591#Comment_118661591

So pretty straightforward for you and the Avensis then. Lucky you!!!! I had an a 2010 E class, and like you , the universal relay worked fine. Now the 2010 MB had ordinary wiring, and ordinary bulbs, so no problem. Fast forward and a move to a 2014 E class, changed over the towbar no problem.

Left turn fine,

Right turn, fine.

Fog lamp fine.

Then came the problems.

Single wire feeds both park and brake lights. And the so called "Smart Relay" is supposed to differentiate which is which, and sent the current to the appropriate function in the trailer.

So was yours like that, a single feed to both Brake and Park lights? ( in this system, with the park lights on, when you press the brake, it sends extra voltage ( voltage is not the correct word, it's called something else, band width I think , but I'm not sure ) down the line and causes the LED light to glow brighter.

Thanks,

johndaman66 · 21-02-2022 2:47am

Sorry jmreire on my 2011 Avensis there are separate dedicated wires for the brake lights and tail lights so all straightforward from that point of view. Sorry I'm off no assistance to you unfortunately.

sk8board · 01-06-2022 10:32am

Folks, I recently got new pads and discs fitted during my routine service - BMW 4 series.

the car is telling me today that the brake fluid change is due.

would the brake fluid have been changed as part of swapping the pads and discs, or is it separate?

jmreire · 03-06-2022 10:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143280#Comment_119143280

Separate. Brake fluid changes are time determined, pads and discs are wear and tear determined.

CaboRoig · 09-11-2022 5:01pm

Folks,

Any idea what I'd expect to pay at the dealer where the car was bought second hand for a full service which I know will include new brake pads for an 8 year old Skoda Superb?

Thanks

How to service your car

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