Car service

22nd August 2006, 20:41

Gonna service the saxo tmoz. Rather do it myself so iknow what's been done, and its cheaper, and its fun.

Is there anything else I should look at/replace when doing it. I've made a list of things so I don't forget.

Oil Change/Filter Change (Bought some 10W40 Castrol GTX and Unipart filter)
Fuel Filter Change (Champion Filter change)
Auxillary drivebelt check/renewal (Halfords own brand so may just replace it even if appears ok)
Clutch Pedal height check and adjustment
Complete under car scan/check
Brake system check + if I can work out how to do it brake fluid (if not than screw it, dad didnt do it on our old Rover 4 8yrs and the brakes still worked)
Suspension and Steering Check
Driveshaft gaiter check
Front brake wear (were alright when I checked a few months ago though)
Handbrake adjustment.

Is it worth doing a coolant change?

I don't have full service history which won't matter after this service but at the moment is gay cause I don't know what works been done recently. I did change the plugs not long after purchase though.

Anything else I should check for or change?

22nd August 2006, 20:49

- ive never changed the fuel filter and dont think it needs doing
- coolant can be checked first before changing if it needs
- dont need to change brake fluid
- change air filter
- check spark pluds

22nd August 2006, 20:57

Plugs been done a few months ago to Champion EON1s. Got a K&N 57i Induction Kit it which was only fitted a few months ago to.

What should I look for in the coolant?

23rd August 2006, 08:59

1st how many miles is on your car and what year is ?

dont change brake fluid? why not?
if you want your brakes in tip top condition the put fresh stuff in every year. if you think about it it is constantly heating up then cooling downb so it WILL change its properties over time.
to bleed them by yourself you can just undo all the bleed screws, take the fluid resivoir cap off and let the old fluid drip out, keep topping it up though otherwise you'll get air in the system.

23rd August 2006, 16:13

42000 miles

that sounds to easy to do LOL, may wel try on Saturday. Started raining now. Dad didn't change the fluid either on the Rover for 8yrs and it still braked so I was basing it on that, however that was low mileage on 52000 so not driven to much.

Also how do you reset the service light/mileage reading?

23rd August 2006, 17:13

its in your handbook, cant remember off the top of my head.

23rd August 2006, 17:28

Press and hold the left stalk (pin button on the speedo) and turn on the ignition, should reset it.

26th August 2006, 18:16

Pretty much finished the job now, had to work around weather, work and not having correct parts.

The last job I was gonna do was renew the coolant, which the Rover didn't need doing cos it leaked so much you'd be filling it up new every 6months LOL.

I undone the clip with big pliers but couldn't pull the hose off. Don't want to damage it so what do you recommend?

26th August 2006, 18:24

undo the bleed screws with the engine running an it will come out of them, make sure you stop the engine to keep refilling the system though, for a more detailed guide on how to do this see the haynes as i cant be arsed to type it all.

27th August 2006, 00:16

Did look in Haynes, showed my cooling system where m ECU was LOL. Surely I only gotta do the screws ontop and below the radiator? Or are there more?

27th August 2006, 10:55

the 1 below the rad will drain all your coolant. you will then need to refill and bleed in this order.
1 next to ecu
1 on thermostat
1 on top of rad.
do 1 at a time starting at ecu, then thermo then rad.