tbourner Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 I'm quite new to this car business, still scared to do things myself and scared to take things apart. I'm guessing most of you do a lot of the work on your cars yourself? Even if it's just simple things like oil changes etc. Where do you do it though? Even for an oil change (which I gotta learn to do) you must need a ramp or pit or something? Anyone know or use any Supra friendly garages in my area? Maybe somewhere I can borrow a ramp to do some work? Anyone free and willing to come and help me learn about all this nonsense? Feeding a wire from the footwell to the engine bay took me nearly a day!!! I need help people!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Ad Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 For specialist work you have Toyoda Tech in Fareham. For routine stuff I take her to Alma Garage in Cowplain. Both are pretty busy people though so you will have to book in advance but obviously you can take your car to both places for a check over if you have a prob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Trev, I used to do my own oil changes on my driveway with a trolley jack. It's a PitA though so now I take it to KwikFit in Waterlooville. They use fully synth Mobile 1 and you can watch them doing the job. The price they charge makes it not worth doing yourself. Other stuff I do myself or, if I can't manage it or don't fancy it, I take it down to Dude in Newhaven, it's a bit of a trek from here though. Ad, How long have you been using Alma Garage? They're like 100 yards from where I live. I spoke to that Richard chap there when I was having over-heating problems but he didn't seem all that familiar with MKiv Supras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by tbourner Where do you do it though? Even for an oil change (which I gotta learn to do) you must need a ramp or pit or something? no ramp or pit for me, just on the driveway...... What you will need, other than oil and a filter! is 1) a quality (sykes pickavant (SP?)) oil filter removal tool (hardest bit of the job if you don't have the right tool) 2) Trolley Jack + your boot jack 3) Correct sump socket/spanner (+ poss extension bar of some desciption) 4) funnel (orange one from halfords) 5) strong plastic bag, with no holes (optional) 6) small hands help! Buy 1) and try and slacken the filter currently on there before the change is actually due as in my experience it can be very tight. Slacken the filter with the tool until you can comfortably do it with just hand pressure. Get your plastic bag and position it around the filter (try and insure the bag is high enough on the engine block side as this is where the oil will leak from) fully unscrew the filter by hand, some oil may well leak but don't worry it won't be much just ensure the filter drops in the bag, and then carefully thread the bag and filter back up through the local pipework! partially fill your new filter with new oil (remembering that you don't want it brimming with the stuff as it will just spill out when you fit it!), smear a little on the rubber seal and fit. For draining, your side skirts may give you an initial jacking problem but you can always drive it carefully up on a plank of wood? Loosen the drivers side wheels nuts Use your boot jack to get the passenger side started, when you have enough clearance position the trolley jack and let it take the weight. Use boot jack on the drivers side until front wheel is clear. Remove wheel completely ( i place it under the car rearward of the jack for extra safety) Slacken sump bolt ( a warmed up car/engine should make it easy) Position catch can ( i use a cheap can from halfords that is like a normal plastic oil container but has a plugged hole and a recess on one side that you can let the oil flow on/in to. Then you drag it out from under the car, replace the side plug and then later you can undo the regular top screw cap and put the old oil back into the now empty 'new oil' container.) remove oil filler cap Fully remove sump bolt and drain oil, the drivers side boot jack can be wound down to ensure as much oil as possible drains out. Replace sump washer and refit sump plug and drivers side wheel. Put in new oil (slight care needs to be taken here as there is a risk of overflow if you get carried away!) Replace filler cap reverse jacking procedure (careful with the trolley jack and skirts!) Leave to settle, check level and top up as necessary. Job done I appreciate that much of this could be 'sucking eggs' detail but its the sort of thing that would have helped me when i first did mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Scoot, what's all this Oil filter Removal tool business? If the old filter has been fitted correctly you can undo it by hand. Are you possibly doing them up too tight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by Jake Scoot, what's all this Oil filter Removal tool business? If the old filter has been fitted correctly you can undo it by hand. Are you possibly doing them up too tight? agreed, it shouldn't be difficult, and i don't do them up tight myself, but both my old Blue one and the new Brown one caused me problems getting them off the first time (we're talking serious hassle/stress here!) that a quality tool will avoid. perhaps my bad experiences in removing them is not common and i'm just unlucky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Nicely written Scooter Im gonna atempt this on the weekend now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyotasuprauk Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Agreed Jake. I used to change my own oil but its so much hassle that the amount KwikFit and the AA service centres charge you cant even buy the oil for that price so I get it done there. £30 for my last Mobil 1 change! I do other bits myself but if I had anything I couldn't do I would take it to Dude in Newhaven if he wanted the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonB Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 I don't even bother jacking the car up to change oil. My drain thingy fits under the car when it's on the ground. It's a bit of a stretch to reach the sump plug, but not too bad. If you leave the oil filler cap on until you get the sump plug out and start draining oil and then take it off it stops the oil shooting out everywhere initially. Before I relocated my oil filter I used to take the battery out and unbolt the power steering reservoir, makes getting to it a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Hi tbourner You sound exactly like me! I haven't got a clue either! I keep telling myself I'm going to learn something about cars soon but still don't have a clue Scooter - Nice post mate! That should be saved in the FAQ or technical section or something. Was there ever a Haynes manual for the Supe? Or is it just these workshop manuals everyone keeps talking about importing from the U Someone with a clue should make a video or something showing how the simpler maintenance bits are done. It could be really cheesey and aimed at Supra-no-nothings like myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Im too tight to pay kwik fit to change my oil, plus i enjoy scratching Fcuk out of my arm when i do it......lol Plus i will only use Valvoline oil.....and do it every 3000 miles. Scoot, how the hell do you get a removal tool in there?.....lol TB Have fun and give it a go yourself. Dave :flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 I also ensure the engine is at operating temp before draining. I'm with Scott on the oil filter wrench .......... I've used it only once on each soop , the first time I changed the oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 I do all my own stuff too... And I aint scared to take my car apart. From this http://www.internetwork.org.uk/hks1.JPG to this http://www.internetwork.org.uk/hks5.JPG To this http://www.internetwork.org.uk/hks8.JPG To this, with a new bumper thrown in for luck... http://www.internetwork.org.uk/newbumper.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by Jake Scoot, what's all this Oil filter Removal tool business? If the old filter has been fitted correctly you can undo it by hand. Are you possibly doing them up too tight? Jake ive had em so tight that i can only just get them undone with my special tool which is a socket that goes over the flutes on the filter , a bit like a socket !!!!, out of spite i now give em a tweak after they are hand tight , seriously the last one i did was torqued up like the front pulley . Dude:flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 When Dude did mine - I belive mine was a bit on the tight side... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by heckler When Dude did mine - I belive mine was a bit on the tight side... That'll be the one !!!! Dude:flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Damn Toyota Techies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by dude Jake ive had em so tight that i can only just get them undone Yeah I know what it's like. I've done hundreds of oil changes (when I worked at KwikFit back in th 80's) I didn't mean those tools aren't needed, I meant they shouldn't be needed. For the home mechanic a filter wrench shouldn't be necessary unless you find the previous owner has really overdone it. Anyone ever done an oil change on a Renault 5? At KwikFit I never used to change the R5s filters because they are in an impossible location, just used give it a bit of a polish in case anyone looked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by Geezabloke Scoot, how the hell do you get a removal tool in there?.....lol dave its a PITA but the tool is one of those band types with a screw down knob on the end (if you know what i mean!) I have to position it, tighten it, turn it maybe 10 or 20 degrees (the most i can without it hitting something solid) loosen and repeat until moveable by hand Simon B, good point i may have to look into a shallower tray, as the no jacking up or wheel removal would save a fair amount of time. Elliot, na's have much better filter access so its even easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Ad Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Jake been using Alma for a few years, He recently did my pads all round with no probs but as I said in my first post use Toyoda Tech for the techy stuff. I'll use Alma no worries though for things like oil changes and at least he's a decent bloke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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