DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[bobins]

Shhhhh !! Don't tell Ryan about the secret part of the forum, he's not supposed to know about that

[CitroJim]

Shhhhh !! Don't tell Ryan about the secret part of the forum, he's not supposed to know about that

[mickthemaverick]

Update on the MX3 - having had the work on the alternator, water pump and cambelt I finally got the chance to take it for a run on Thursday. Bob came and helped me get the cover off and low and behold a flat battery greeted us. We jump started it and, with the new alternator whirring away, we were confident to go for a run and a Guinness 0 or 2!! We had to stop for petrol after 12 miles which is when the next issue arose. On returning to the car from paying I found the battery was unable to crank it over. Long story ensued involving pretty girl, two old feeble gits and a rugby player type, but we eventually got the car away from the pumps and parked to find some jump start help. The aforementioned rugby player pulled up beside us in his van and we jump started it ok.

After that sequence we did not want to risk the planned visit to a local hostelry for Guinness 0, so we headed straight home, stopping at a local store where Bob popped in to purchase some cans while I sat in the car keeping it running. Once home I got the meter out to discover the new alternator was providing a healthy 14.3V at the battery so I knew the battery had died. I was annoyed, believing I had only fitted a new one last September but I ordered a new battery and we went inside to do the cans some damage.

The battery was delivered yesterday, sitting on the doormat when we returned from lunch, it had been expected tomorrow!! So this morning I set about swapping it out which I had to do in 4 x 5 minute sessions with 15 mins rest between them and it is now in situ and starting fine. I took the old battery and put it on my test kit to discover it was dropping to 7.2V under load, no wonder it was knackered!! So I thought, the battery had a four year warranty so I'll contact them for a refund. I went to the MX3 file to find the receipt for it but after a good five minutes searching I realised the error of my thinking. The battery I replaced in September was on the Legacy!! I found the MX3 battery receipt in the file, dated 23/07/2018 !! So the battery is 8 years old and I was confused!! All's well that ends well!!

[Sloppysod]

.... I found the MX3 battery receipt in the file, dated 23/07/2018 !! So the battery is 8 years old and I was confused!! All's well that ends well!!

Things just don't last as long a they used to, do they.?

Tip:- When I put a battery on a car, I always write on it the month & year it was fitted. Possibly a knock on from when you used to get little stickers with you filters to stick somewhere under the bonnet.

[mickthemaverick]

A good tip that Stu, although I rely on the accurate records I keep of all expenditure and work in the file. Sadly I don't always remember to refer to it!!

[Sloppysod]

A good tip that Stu, although I rely on the accurate records I keep of all expenditure and work in the file. Sadly I don't always remember to refer to it!!

Similar here, the writing on the battery is just a quick check.
I don't keep paper copies, I scan everything in a save as PDF, and use an Excel spreadsheet to keep it all in one place. When I sold my C5, the new owner was very impressed and pleased, as I give him the history of everything that was bought, and done to the car on a USB stick.
I'm a data freak.

[mickthemaverick]

We are of the same mind Stu. I keep all the paperwork as evidence to the entries on my spreadsheet which has a summary of all the work. I keep them for all our 3 vehicles and they generally are an asset when sale time comes around!!

Screenshot of the MX3 summary sheet.

[mickthemaverick]

Despite the fact that I polished the Legacy's headlights just 18 monts ago, see here, they have now reached this state:

Nearside

Offside

So I decided that, as it is mainly a sitting on the stool job, I'd do them again before the nights start closing in. I assembled the tools and products on my newly instigated working trolley:

All I needed

Then I masked off the headlights

Ready for polishing

And finally coated them with the 'longlife' protector, well it didn't make 19 months last time

So now it is sitting until 4.pm when I can drive it again!!

The finished job drying

[mickthemaverick]

On my trip out yesterday I noticed the braking was sounding a bit odd, so on my return I checked the pads and discovered all round getting very thin, so I decided to swap out the pads today as I keep them in stock and went to bed. This morning I rose ready for the job which involved taking SWMBO's car out of the garage and putting mine in my working position:

The Celerio out on the road (heaven forbid!)

Having got hers out and parked mine I felt a flagging in my legs so decided to come in for a cuppa and see how I feel in a while so this is the current situation:

The Legacy in working position.

Whether I do it or not today remains to be seen!! Watch this space!

[mickthemaverick]

Well, I decided to have a go, jacked the car up, inserted axle stand and removed the wheel to put under the sill. Undid the lower caliper bolt and swung the caliper up and bungeed to the spring. All good so far, I removed the pads to find I was correct about them getting worn but at least nowhere near damaging the discs:

A new pad beside the old one

So then I turned to the caliper pins and that is where it all went wrong! The lower pin was rusted solid and I could not even turn it let alone pull it out. Much thumping, wrenching, twisting squirting with RP 90 and eventually I removed the carrier from the car, mounted it in the vice and set up a very Heath Robinson puller to try and press the pin out:

The RP 90 Penetrating Oil

The setup to force the pin out

Unfortunately that didn't work and during the process I destroyed its boot;

Oh dear!

Time for the big guns I decided and screwed the mounting bolt back into the pin, treated it with Plus Gas and then attacked with the impact wrench. Success!!:

The winning combination

So unable to continue I came indoors to order a new boot and in fact ordered the kit with new pins, bolts and boots. It will be here on Friday which is not great, so I went on Amazon and ordered just the boots for Prime delivery tomorrow, at least then I can get the job done and the car back off the drive, assuming the other side is in a better state!
I cleaned up the parts ready for the rebuild tomorrow:

Not perfect but good enough, energy was waning by then!

Of course somebody is not happy!!:

No garage for tonight!!

Roll on tomorrow and see if it goes to plan!

[Rp0thejester]

Be careful Mick, she might think you want to start wearing the trousers....

[mickthemaverick]

This is the Caliper pin kit I have coming on Friday. Any idea what the black tube like part on the far left is for? I wondered if you fill it with grease and plunge the pins into it before fitting? Any ideas to the contrary?

The kit as it will be supplied.

[Rp0thejester]

Looks like you grease it up and fit it over the pin on the second from far right.