DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[CitroJim]

Hmmm... Six inches might be a bit high I fear Mick, my trolley is around 4 and a half and we know that one is marginal...

Otherwise it looks the business.

[mickthemaverick]

I've just measured mine, it is 6.5" ground to jacking point so will work for me!!

[mickthemaverick]

I tell you what Jim, you buy one and try it under your car, if it doesn't fit you could give it to me, if it does you can tell me if it's worth getting one

[CitroJim]

I tell you what Jim, you buy one and try it under your car, if it doesn't fit you could give it to me, if it does you can tell me if it's worth getting one

I'll get my ruler out tomorrow Mick

[MattBLancs]

What about the scissor jack type?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115986947341
EDIT, Same thing but cheaper:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196074033396

Specifications:
Material: Metal, Plastic
Working voltage: 12V
Capacity: 2 Ton
Lifting range: 12-35cm / 4.72'' x 13.77''
Case size: Approx. 44 x 25 x 12cm / 17.3'' x 9.84'' x 4.72''
Jack size: Approx. 39 x 16cm / 15.35'' x 6.3''
Package Weight: Approx. 5.7 kg

Package Included:
1 x Car Electric Jack with Controller
1 x Crank Handle
1 x Car Jack Head (Adjustable height: 12-35cm)
1 x Battery Wire with Clamps
1 x Power Cable
3 x

(Yes it does finish with
3x [BLANK!!]

[mickthemaverick]

That is 4" lower which is ok for changing wheels but not high enough to get stands under with room to go under on the skate. May be a good option for the boot though!

[CitroJim]

Indeed, would be brilliant for the boot...

For anything but wheel changing I have an inherent distrust of scissor jacks.

[mickthemaverick]

I investigated the C4 offside rumble yesterday while working on the undertray. Excess play in the rear bush on the lower control arm so it looks like it needs a pair of new lower arms and droplinks. The job I did on the Subaru but I reckon you have to pop the driveshaft out of the hub to get access to the front mounting bolt on this one!! Means removing the troublesome scuttle panel to give access to the strut tops to loosen them enough to give some play at the bottom end! What a pain!!

[CitroJim]

Means removing the troublesome scuttle panel to give access to the strut tops to loosen them enough to give some play at the bottom end! What a pain!!

In my experience of doing this job on many similar PSA cars Mick, I don't think you will need to. Once you have the bottom of the strut disconnected, it will flop around sufficiently to give the space you need... Similarly, you should not need to remove the driveshaft although popping off its hub nut may be necessary - not a problem as you have a tool for that!!!

Happy to be your assistant

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks Jim, I will take you up on that but it will have to wait till after the Subaru is done amd I have made my decision. Funds are a trifle stretched after my two trips to Germany!!

[MattBLancs]

I've found it does get sufficiently in the way in some vehicles Jim - the Grey 308 and the C5 (I think)

On a manual car I now lump together anything that disturbs particularly the left driveshaft (short one) with dropping and usually changing gearbox oil, particularly on a "new to me" car.

On an auto, sometimes the splines on driveshaft are other way and so gearbox oil won't come out if inadvertently pull driveshaft away from box.

On your EGS actuated manual I guess it's nearer the manual described above, so perhaps do as I do and add in a gearbox oil swap to the job list?

[mickthemaverick]

Finally all the parts had arrived to get the Subaru sorted! I rose at 6 this morning to play musical cars and get the C4 off the drive, get SWMBO's car out of the garage, move the Subaru onto the drive in repair position, uncover the MX3 and shunt it back into its normal position, which had been occupied by the Subaru since its demise, and then recover it. Park the C4 behind the MX3 in the Subaru's normal position and finally bring SWMBO's car back across the drive ready for her to go off to her volunteering job!!

Once that was completed I began laying out the tools and started work on the driver's side of the engine. To gain access I had to remove the components blocking the way consisting of the air intake chute, the air filter box and filter, the MAF housing and associated trunking, the plenum box (Jim told me that is what they are called ) which I have always just called the air feed/throttle box, three vacuum hoses from the plenum and the brake servo, the PCV valve and associated hoses and finally the injector cover. With that lot out of the way I was able to access the valve cover bolts and then, having taken off the HT leads, gently withdraw the valve cover.

Jim had arrived during the last part of that process but he was pretty physically limited due to his injury so he set about cleaning the valve cover while I pumped out the excess oil around the plugs using my new, James recommended, oil pump from Lidl which worked very well and enabled me to 'hoover up' the excess oil to prevent it running into the cylinders when I removed the plugs. The plug tube seals were then removed and found to be as hard as steel, no wonder they had been leaking oil into the plug tubes.

Quite pleased in a way, I ploughed on to remove the plugs which I had decided to replace along with the coil pack, even though they were only a few months old, due to their potential contamination! I then installed the new plugs, tube seals and the rubber gasket for the valve cover. I like blue Hylomar so I used it as an extra precaution around the tube seals and the gaskets. I swapped out the coil pack and with the cover and new coil pack installed it was the classic Haynes case of reversing the procedure above to get that side of the engine back to normal.

Then after a coffee break it was time to attack the other side where access was only blocked by the battery, the injector cover and one vacuum tube. Again access is tight and getting to the bottom bolts is tricky but doable. The pictures below, taken by Jim, show the process on this side which is the same basic job as the other side but easier to photograph. Having installed the new plugs, seals and gasket, the cover went back on and all the parts refitted. A quick tidy up of the tools around the engine bay and it was time to start it and run through the idle learning process necessary whenever you have disconnected the MAF. I got in the car, turned the key and heard the engine turning over, but no firing at all. In only 4 or 5 attempts the battery showed signs of failing so it needed to go on charge.

Time for lunch and a think!! We popped inside and washed up and headed to another of my favourite pubs, The Sibthorpe Arms in North Mymms, to consume an excellent lunch!! We both agreed that there had been no firing sounds at all so the components I had changed for brand new were Coil Pack, Spark Plugs, and HT leads. I had only disconnected two connectors, coil pack and MAF and both were firmly refitted. So we agreed highly unlikely to have 4 new faulty leads or 4 faulty plugs so the main suspect had to be the coil pack, or just possibly insufficient power in the battery. The plan was decided to change the coil pack back to the old one and try again!!

On returning home SWMBO had just arrived back to find her car still unable to get into the garage so Jim went in and engaged her in conversation while I swapped out the coil pack. 15 mins later it was time to try again so gingerly I sat in and turned the key - vroom vroom!! Instant life so I then went into the idle learning program while we cleared up the garage ready for re-occupation. Once the learning was complete I reversed the car out, and even in doing that I could feel the power back in the car, in fact far better than it had been for a considerable time without me really noticing it due to a very gradual decline!!.

After that, and Jim had headed home, I went for my usual run to Elstree to see how it would affect my ongoing "Which car to keep" dilemma. Within a few minutes my mind was made up about one thing - I'm keeping the Subaru Now I just need to decide which will be my second car!!

Confined space

Tricky access

Stripped down

New tube seals in place

Cover refitted

[CitroJim]

Absolutely excellent Mick and a perfect write-up It reflects the day absolutely perfectly and yes, the Sibthorpe Arm is highly recommended. The great food and friendly staff has rocketed that pub very high up on my favourites list!

I'm absolutely delighted the Subaru is now back on top form.

My apologies I was more or less useless and could only do light duties and talking; I hugely enjoyed my day out and Strawberry performed brilliantly both to and from yours

And thanks for taking my mind right off my current difficulties for a whole day

[mickthemaverick]

One thing I forgot to mention was that my low range torque wrench exploded as I took it from its box! Having taken it home with you it may even keep your mind focussed for another day or two!

[Stickyfinger]

Bottle Jacks....100% reliable (at punching through your floor/sill at some point)