Doing a service myself..... *First Time!*

1. Spanky Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 9578 Saxo VTS

   #1 11th July 2008, 10:45

   Hey guys,
   
   My car is REALLY in need of a MAJOR service, acording to the digital display it is nearly 16,000 miles overdue so you could say nearly 30,000 miles overdue in total! (Have just bought the car and no paper work to say its had one recently)
   
   Anywhooo im thinking of doing this myself, hopefully with the help of my neighber who is an X-mechanic.
   
   Im just wondering what exactly ill need?
   
   I was thinking of changing the oil & filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, changing/topping up the gear box oil......... is there anything else i should do??
   
   Also i seen some castrol high milage engine oil, which apparentl is designed to run better and protect for high milage engines more than normal oil (mine has 83k on) and i was thinking this would be better than the Castrol GTX Magnatex i was gong to use....corect?
   
   Also a rough idea on how much parts would cost to do this and the best place to get them, just if its going to work out near enough to £90 i can get MANICMOTORS to do one for me for that.
   
   Any help would be great, thanks
2. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #2 11th July 2008, 10:49

   Try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ or http://www.gsfcarparts.com/ for parts.
   
   Should cost you less than £90!
   
   Also renew the air-filter, change the coolant (water/antifreeze) & check the brake fluid and condition of the brake discs and pads!!
3. Spanky Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 9578 Saxo VTS

   #3 11th July 2008, 10:52

   Well your on the ball this morning aint you lol
   
   Well ive just changed all the brakes and pads (which i will be doing a post for soon!)
   
   I have just topped the coolant up as it was VERY low and the brake fluid is right at the max level.
   
   Just not sure if it will be easier to pay someone to do it, as i dont ahve a clue tbh, things like draining the oil and topping up the gearbox oil are well above my level!
   
   I can top up the engine oil tho go me....
4. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #4 11th July 2008, 10:55

   An oil change is very easy to do! If you've done the brakes it'll be easy!
   
   A haynes book (the proper one, NOT the max power comic) would be a helpful puchase!
5. Raz Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2007 Darlington Posts: 8766 Icelandic Grey Citroen Saxo VTS

   #5 11th July 2008, 11:10

   if you plan on keeping the car for a while...might be worth doing it yourself...but it will leave ??? over its service history when you come to sell....
6. Spanky Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 9578 Saxo VTS

   #6 11th July 2008, 11:14

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Quick An oil change is very easy to do! If you've done the brakes it'll be easy! A haynes book (the proper one, NOT the max power comic) would be a helpful puchase!

   Well i didnt technically do my brakes, my neighber did but i watched and learned lol!
   
   

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Raz if you plan on keeping the car for a while...might be worth doing it yourself...but it will leave ??? over its service history when you come to sell....

   I will DEFO have the car for a while as i have 2 years worth of finance on it, so will have it for atleast those 2 years! and i reckon i could go through a few more services then.
   
   I meen i would keep a note of WHEN i done a service and WHAT i done on it, if a new buyer chose to believe that or not would be there choice i guess lol
7. a17vts Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2004 Essex United Kingdom (England) Posts: 451 Saxo VTS 2000

   #7 11th July 2008, 11:54

   Well i am stupid when it comes to car and I am able to do a service on my car.
   
   May want to change the fuel filter as well while your at it.
8. snottybadger Frequent Poster Joined: May 2008 Cumbria Posts: 526 2000 VTS

   #8 11th July 2008, 19:50

   Keep the receipts and note the mileage on them for a basic service history.
9. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

   #9 11th July 2008, 20:03

   If its on 83k and not had a service for 30k miles then you should look at having the cambelt etc changed too, cances are it wont have been done at the last service. Thats probably a garage job though.
10. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #10 11th July 2008, 21:09

    Did you check the condition of your anti freeze?you can buy a little syringe type thing which tells you the condition of the coolant which probably needs changing & the radiator flushed through too.
    
    Steve.
11. Spanky Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 9578 Saxo VTS

    #11 12th July 2008, 08:02

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 Did you check the condition of your anti freeze?you can buy a little syringe type thing which tells you the condition of the coolant which probably needs changing & the radiator flushed through too. Steve.

    No i didnt, but it was rather low so ive topped it up with a new bottle of coolant, so the majority of it is brand new so i was presuming it would be ok.....
12. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #12 12th July 2008, 10:13

    manic motors charge £100 for a full service, so if its going to cost £90 in parts, may aswel go there.
13. blackvtrt Established Member Joined: Jun 2008 Newcastle/ Billingham Posts: 1873 02 Gold Cleaned OEM+ VTR

    #13 13th July 2008, 13:53

    price the parts up, and find out what manic will service exactly for that £100!
    
    I think u will need to cahnge/check:
    air filter
    oil filter
    oil
    gearbox oli?
    spark plugs
    fuel filter
    water/antifreeze
    brake fluid?
    cambelt?
    discs/pads, done!
    
    prob missed afew things