fishsponge's ongoing thread of problems!

[thebiglad]

Extract of oil specs:

"PERFORMANCE PROFILE:
Suitable for use where the following specifications are called for by the vehicle manufacturer:-
GM Dexron IID
Ford M2C 138CJ, M2C 166H
Mercedes Benz 236.2 (Except for GL76, 30-5 & GL275E gearboxes)
Mercedes Benz 236.4, 236.6, 236.7"

 

[fishsponge]

Ah... that explains it... it's in there as Dexron rather than Dextron, so my "Find" failed. You are right... maybe I should have actually *read* it. lol

 

[Big Stu 12]

I can not beleve how much it takes someone to do a simple job....

Sorry how NOT to do a job or should i say START to do the job.

All what your've asked can be sorted out by reading, listerning and with a bit of common sence.

Its all covered in a number of publications, the Hand Book/Hanyes Manual/Rave Disc/Fourm if you search.

How did you find how to unlock the door and start the dam thing...... or was that a 78 Page wonder of Balls on a foumn somewhere.

I wonder what or who the real problem is in this thread.........

 

[fishsponge]

there is no real problem in this thread... just a collection of simple ones for someone who's on a tight budget, knows almost nothing about car mechanics and is trying to learn, and who's only vehicle is the one he's trying to service and repair himself!

I'm therefore very paranoid and cautious. Too paranoid and cautious, admittedly.

Most of the confusion comes from conflicting answers which I don't know how to compare, so I have to ask again, and again, and again.

Reading will tell me stuff, but the more I read the more confused I get because there are so many ways of doing the same thing.

I'm learning though... really I am, and i'm very grateful for all the advice on here!

 

[Big Stu 12]

someone who's on a tight budget, knows almost nothing about car mechanics and is trying to learn, and who's only vehicle is the one he's trying to service and repair himself!
quote]


tell me about it....... I ve had no job for 8 months untill two weeks ago apart from the odd day here and there as a courier.......

 

[thebiglad]

I can not beleve how much it takes someone to do a simple job....

Sorry how NOT to do a job or should i say START to do the job.

All what your've asked can be sorted out by reading, listerning and with a bit of common sence.

Its all covered in a number of publications, the Hand Book/Hanyes Manual/Rave Disc/Fourm if you search.

How did you find how to unlock the door and start the dam thing...... or was that a 78 Page wonder of Balls on a foumn somewhere.

I wonder what or who the real problem is in this thread.........

Hi Big Stu, you should have seen the thread about Spongebob wanting to go to the toilet:

"Do I go before I need to, when I'm busting?

If I think I need a crâp, should I do that separately to the pee or can I do it both at the same time?

What sort of toilet paper do you guys recommend? I read recently in "Bogs of the World" magazine that white paper contains a bleach which can be bad for your ring-piece - anyone had any experience of this?

Everybody says Aldi toilet paper is best - what do you guys think?

Which button on the toilet should I use, the little flush or the big flush?

I've heard that if you've eaten lots of meat the day before it is possible to get a log-jam in the loo. How would I cope with this, rod it out with a brush or call in a specialist?

I'm new to forums and just wanting to get best advice."

This thread went on for 23 pages.

 

[fishsponge]

oh you're a funny bunch...

i'm paranoid, and i accept that wholeheartedly!

I've tried so many things in the past though, that seem simple, only to be told "oh my god, don't ever do it that way, you're very lucky you didn't bust the <whatever>"! so now I like to find out the proper way.

Admittedly, with the fluid changes it's pretty hard to get it wrong, but if I order the wrong stuff or forget to order an essential washer or O ring or something, then my car is stranded until I can get a new part delivered on Tuesday, let's say. By that time I will have simply not turned up for work two days in a row and that is completely unacceptable.

That's the main problem here.

If I could afford another vehicle, I could be a bit hit & miss on the Landy, but it's my only transport and I cannot take time off work at a moment's notice! Oh, and I have no money, so can't afford to buy stuff that turns out to be useless.

That is honestly where most of my paranoia comes from, combined with a lack of mechanical knowledge (which i'm building up slowly)!

 

[Bromsgrove Defender]

I can not beleve how much it takes someone to do a simple job....

Sorry how NOT to do a job or should i say START to do the job.

All what your've asked can be sorted out by reading, listerning and with a bit of common sence.

Its all covered in a number of publications, the Hand Book/Hanyes Manual/Rave Disc/Fourm if you search.

How did you find how to unlock the door and start the dam thing...... or was that a 78 Page wonder of Balls on a foumn somewhere.

I wonder what or who the real problem is in this thread.........

Knowledge builds confidence.

Unless you've done it before how confident would you be if you were handed a rope and climbing harness and expected to abseil down the side of a 20 floor building?

 

[Mr Noisy]

Hi Big Stu, you should have seen the thread about Spongebob wanting to go to the toilet:

"Do I go before I need to, when I'm busting?

If I think I need a crâp, should I do that separately to the pee or can I do it both at the same time?

What sort of toilet paper do you guys recommend? I read recently in "Bogs of the World" magazine that white paper contains a bleach which can be bad for your ring-piece - anyone had any experience of this?

Everybody says Aldi toilet paper is best - what do you guys think?

Which button on the toilet should I use, the little flush or the big flush?

I've heard that if you've eaten lots of meat the day before it is possible to get a log-jam in the loo. How would I cope with this, rod it out with a brush or call in a specialist?

I'm new to forums and just wanting to get best advice."

This thread went on for 23 pages.

i am actually laughing out loud. its not often i actually laugh out loud at a post but that is a funny ****ing post!

fair play mate!

 

[Big Stu 12]

knows almost nothing about car mechanics and is trying to learn, !

hummmmmm, I wonder looking at your blog, you seem to know more then your letting on , perhaps a bit analy retentive in places.....

 

[fishsponge]

i don't know that much... i'm just documenting everything I learn for others!

Also, if you remember at the day at the workshop that Brian organised (at Drizz' workshop, I believe), where there was basically your Disco and mine parked up in the workshop, I knew enough to give a couple of basic tips regarding the engine oil change, but took one hell of a lot of advice on changing my prop shaft doughnut, which ended up taking me nearly 3 hours, and I also took lots of advice on how to clean our my sedimentor! You did your sedimentor that day too and yours was so much easier to get off than mine if I remember correctly! That was the day you fitted that damn heavy winch bumper if you remember and I believe you changed your diff oil too with the squeezy pump thing...

 

[matthew2riches]

I knew enough to give a couple of basic tips regarding the engine oil change

Did it take you the same amount of time to undo 6 bolts on the donut as stu did to change engine oil, change both diff oils, fit winch bumper, clean sedimentor.

You also say you gave basic tips on how to change engine oil..... you should now surely be a ****in xspurt after seeing him do it surely????

 

[matthew2riches]

And were you using spanners to do the donut change or your fingers?

 

[Big Stu 12]

I Also did my air, oil and fuel filter.........

Had a MC'd's and a good gas

 

[matthew2riches]

 

[fishsponge]

Did it take you the same amount of time to undo 6 bolts on the donut as stu did to change engine oil, change both diff oils, fit winch bumper, clean sedimentor.



You also say you gave basic tips on how to change engine oil..... you should now surely be a ****in xspurt after seeing him do it surely????

Yes, it took me bloody ages to get the donut replaced! I think I just finished it when Stu began on his bumper!

And were you using spanners to do the donut change or your fingers?

Spanners... well, breaker bar for a lot of it and a lot of my own body weight!

I Also did my air, oil and fuel filter.........



Had a MC'd's and a good gas

likewise! I brought a huge pack of sausage rolls if I remember correctly, so didn't have the pleasure of the MacDonalds, but I think it was me that drove Brian there to pick it all up. Despite the rather long drive for me to get there, it was a good day!

And yes - you'd think i'd be an expert now having witnessed Stu replace all his own fluids(!), but I spent all that time underneath my own vehicle swearing at the prop shaft bolts!

 

[fishsponge]

well, the service items have arrived today, so hopefully i'll get this done at the weekend.

i'd like to come back to the auto gearbox filter though, for a brief moment.

I've found this: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/p38-auto-gearbox-filter-change-136345.html

Is that going to be exactly the same on my 1997 Disco?

If so, it really doesn't look like rocket science.

Also, there are a few items on the service schedule that are confusing:

"ABS warning system - Check/report" - does this just mean "check that the warning light comes on with the ignition and goes off again when you pull away"?

"Propshaft splines - Check/lubricate" - does this just mean grease the nipple on the prop shaft? Obviously i'll grease it anyway and also grease the UJs, but what else should I check here?

"Front brake discs" and "Rear brake discs" - what is the minimum thickness for standard discs? I do have ABS if that is relevant and yes - i have searched and there's all sorts of answers!

"Battery terminals - Clean/re-grease" - re-grease with what?

"Anti-freeze strength" - Any way to test this without borrowing a garage's test equipment?

"Vehicle locks - Check/lubricate" - does this just mean squirt some WD40 in through the keyhole?

 

[Brian S]

Writing this on my phone means I ain't answering them all but the gearbox on your disco won't be the same process throughout. Once the sump is off the filter change is easy but other than that the crossmember is different and requires bracket detachment of 4 bolts to move it aside and the filling is done from the Dipstick tube and requires a little care when checking level. Best to measure what comes out and put back the same.

 

[fishsponge]

OK, so gearbox filter is more complicated than a P38. I will definitely leave it alone this time. I've been searching for a photographic guide or youtube video about how to do this, just so I can see it done, but not found one yet. Wanna make that your next one, buster?

Thanks for the help, Brian!

So...... onto the other outstanding questions...

There are a few items on the service schedule that are confusing:

"ABS warning system - Check/report" - does this just mean "check that the warning light comes on with the ignition and goes off again when you pull away"?

"Propshaft splines - Check/lubricate" - does this just mean grease the nipple on the prop shaft? Obviously i'll grease it anyway and also grease the UJs, but what else should I check here?

"Front brake discs" and "Rear brake discs" - what is the minimum thickness for standard discs? I do have ABS if that is relevant and yes - i have searched and there's all sorts of answers!

"Battery terminals - Clean/re-grease" - re-grease with what?

"Anti-freeze strength" - Any way to test this without borrowing a garage's test equipment?

"Vehicle locks - Check/lubricate" - does this just mean squirt some WD40 in through the keyhole?

 

[Brian S]

Come on now, the battery terminal question is just silly, the answer is grease. Nothing special, it's not a critical joint, just use any grease. Obvious that one.