Servicing tips?

[wiglaf]

Having done a 500-and-something round trip to Whitby and back a couple of weeks ago, my poor ol' saloon's due a service, and I haven't done one before.

I have a random variety of screwdrivers, spanners & sockets, a jack, axlestands, grease & gun, 20/50 oil, EP90 oil, squirty oil can, a couple of manuals, pliers, a hammer, a free weekend & of course access to the MMOC website...

What else do I need?
What should I look out for/be on my guard against?

This is only a 3,000 so should just be greasing, oiling and checking/topping up, right?

[chickenjohn]

You might need an oil filter as well as the oil, as its a good idea to change the oil every 3000 miles. I would also check the points gap (so need a set of feeler gauges) and clean and gap the spark plugs, so a plug spanner or socket and a wire brush would come in handy.

[dunketh]

Get hold of the grease points diagram that's batted around.

(moderated - lol) There's an incredible amount of nipples that need attention.

[chickenjohn]

I think that may be about to be moderated!

[chickenjohn]

There should be a total of 10 nipples that need grease and one that needs oil.

One on each handbrake cable,
Two on the propshaft (one on each joint)
One on each track rod end ball joint.
One at the top trunnion and one at the bottom trunnion on each side.

[bmcecosse]

And grease or oil - your choice (see other thread) in the steering rack. Also worth having a look at the fuel pump points, and top up the brake master cylinder - and check all your lights are working - especially the Brake lights.

[chickenjohn]

Put a drop of oil in the hole on the dynamo.

[markattard]

.....and Dash pot oil in the carburettor dash pot!

[bmcecosse]

And polish the rocker cover!

[chickenjohn]

I would wash and polish the whole car! Makes it looks nice and can help protect fron rust.

[wiglaf]

Thanks for all the various tips guys, so far there's just one issue that's come up (besides my poor ability at getting her up onto ramps, but that's another story), fingers crossed... the nipple for the steering rack isn't there - the nice little rubber plug in the passenger footwell opens onto empty space!

Any thoughts/advice?

[sansom]

Can't say I can help much with your missing nipple - although in another thread someone suggested squirting oil in via one of the steering rack gaitors as an alternate method.

You'd need to release one end of a gaitEr & ease the oil cab spout in to lube it - then tighten the gaitEr again.

[sansom]

There should be a total of 10 nipples that need grease and one that needs oil.

One on each handbrake cable,
Two on the propshaft (one on each joint)
One on each track rod end ball joint.
One at the top trunnion and one at the bottom trunnion on each side.

On the subject of missing nipples...my trackrod ends don't have grease nipples on - so I can't lube them. Is this normal...are there different TREs for different models or year?

[dave]

[bmcecosse]

Is the nipple missing in the sense of an open hole into the rack - or jsut never been there? If the later - it's because it's pre-packed with grease! If the former - then all sorts of rubbish will be getting in there - plug it quick.

[Matt]

its not uncommon for after market tres to not have a nipple

[bmcecosse]

Sealed for life ! Sadly a short life - cos they can't be greased!

[dalebrignall]

dont forget to check the fuel filter in the fuel pump.mine got full of rubbish,and made the pump fail.i did not know there was a filter till i got a new pump.it is at the bottom of the pump when you look at it in the engine bay.undoo the nut remove the filter if its clean put it back in if not clean it in some petrol and refit only a small job but it will save you a lot of greif.the workshop manual says this should be done every 6000 miles