Service questions

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OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
Posts
11,431
Location
Derbyshire
Hi,
I posted a thread a while ago on a service but didn't get massive input, but a friend pointed me in the right direction. I plan to service my 2000 micra next week.
I have a decent set inc. sockets but nothing special. I also have ramps for the front wheels.
I still have some questions on what I plan to do:

Engine oil change - Done it in the past so I know what I am doing.

Brake fluid change - Do I need some sort of tool for this? Do I just top it up or do I drain the system and put new fluid in?

Engine coolant - Do I literally just mix some water and anti-freeze together and pour it in?

Engine Belts - I heard that I must take the wheel off to do this, but does this affect wheel balancing/allignment? Also do I need any tools in particular? I am assuming I do not need to worry about not moving anything when there are not position critical belts as this is not a cambelt change (as there isn't one!).

Sparks - Changed 12 months ago and done about 8,000 miles on them so might just leave them be

Gearbox oil - Do I use engine oil in this? I plan to pull out the plug and check the oil level.

Power steering fluid - Leave it be?

Fuel filter and Air filter - Air filter is easy peasy but does the fuel filter require any special tools?

The car is an X reg K11 micra and has done 37,500 miles. Due to the mileage I do not think any belts have EVER been changed. The same goes for P/S, engine coolant, gearbox, brakes.

I plan to get the parts from Nissan in Derby and the fluids from Halfords. Any better recommendations on parts? For things like filters and belts I only want Nissan parts.
Any help is much appreciated :-)
 
mglover070588 said:
Hi,
I posted a thread a while ago on a service but didn't get massive input, but a friend pointed me in the right direction. I plan to service my 2000 micra next week.
I have a decent set inc. sockets but nothing special. I also have ramps for the front wheels.
I still have some questions on what I plan to do:

Engine oil change - Done it in the past so I know what I am doing.

Brake fluid change - Do I need some sort of tool for this? Do I just top it up or do I drain the system and put new fluid in? Can do byyerself but its a faff .. get a lending hand to pump/refill as you bleed . 1l of fluid should be enough

Engine coolant - Do I literally just mix some water and anti-freeze together and pour it in? are you changing it ? drop bottom rad hose and drain .. flush with clean water (leave a hose running through top ) then refill . i tend to premix (6l milk catons) but whatever you chose is fine..dont mix colours of antifreeze

Engine Belts - I heard that I must take the wheel off to do this, but does this affect wheel balancing/allignment? Also do I need any tools in particular? I am assuming I do not need to worry about not moving anything when there are not position critical belts as this is not a cambelt change (as there isn't one!). unless they look in bad nick leave em be tbh... by all means buy spares and stick em in the boot though .

Sparks - Changed 12 months ago and done about 8,000 miles on them so might just leave them be. leave them .. 8k is nothing

Gearbox oil - Do I use engine oil in this? I plan to pull out the plug and check the oil level. no use gear oil (ep90) or whatever yer manual says . arsey job but normally drain and then top up till it starts flowing out the fill hole .

Power steering fluid - Leave it be? top up if needed but otherwise leave it

Fuel filter and Air filter - Air filter is easy peasy but does the fuel filter require any special tools? normally jubilee clips ore crimps... depends where yours is .. sometimes there in the tank...or in a canister under the car or small one in the engine bay .. not sure on the micra but wont be hard.

The car is an X reg K11 micra and has done 37,500 miles. Due to the mileage I do not think any belts have EVER been changed. The same goes for P/S, engine coolant, gearbox, brakes.

I plan to get the parts from Nissan in Derby and the fluids from Halfords. Any better recommendations on parts? For things like filters and belts I only want Nissan parts.
Any help is much appreciated :-)
Click to expand...

 
mglover070588 said:
Brake fluid change - you can bleed the brakes or empty everything out and bleed it that way. Emptying out just take off a brake pipe from a caliper/valve and leave it to drain. you'll still need to bleed but you can drain through bleeding if that makes sense.

Engine coolant - YES!! literally mix to your desired concentration and away you go. After draining you can 'flush' the system. Basically take off, say the top radiator hose and 'flush' a hose pipe through it, seal back up, fill up. Dont over or underfill. Personally I did 50:50 mix.

Engine Belts - wheel balance is affected by changes in tires and wheels. Alignment is affected generally by suspension components and steering rack/track rods and the like. Taking a wheel off will be fine.
Check your service book (or online) for belt changing intervals. Anything apart from cambelt you should be able to remove, replace and tighten up to desired strength.

Sparks - usually every 2 years, again check service intervals

Gearbox oil - No engine oil! your gearbox oil will not have the same properties as your engine oil. It might but id be surprised. By all means check the level by taking the plug out, usually replace every 2 years, again check service interval.

Power steering fluid - Again service intervals. The pump will go way before the fluid though, just check it is between min/max marks. Will indicate a leak.

Fuel filter and Air filter - Fuel filter just clipped onto the file line somewhere. Clamp the pipe, disconnect, replace, reconnect :)

The car is an X reg K11 micra and has done 37,500 miles. Due to the mileage I do not think any belts have EVER been changed. The same goes for P/S, engine coolant, gearbox, brakes.

Cam belts are usually 50/60k, power steering like I say pump will give out first and not for a while. In my opinion I'd change the engine coolant and gearbox oil if its never been done, and id check amount left on pads and discs for the brakes.

Remember your weekly checks! :D
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the help guys.

Now what I need is:
Air filter
Fuel filter
Oil filter + ring
PAS/Waterpump belt
Alternator Belt

Now, last time all I did was get as fuiel filter from Nissan. I have been recommended going to 'A to Z' in Fenton (Stoke) but I have looked at them on ebay and the parts seem very cheap.
With the huge amount of time I have spent at work on hydraulic contamination, I am weary of a 'cheap' oil filter.

So, do I go to Halfords or AtoZ or to Nissan for all my parts?
 
I get all my stuff from motorfactors (like a-z) and never had an issue . i still would not change the belts unless you have a good reason to . Buy them and stick em in the boot for an emergency but there not really part of a service .

oil filter will come with an O ring . (dont forget to wipe a finger of oil round it before fitting. and i normally half fill mine as well but depends on how its mounted) .

I thought you would have done this by now heheh ... but good luck with it
 
Persil said:
I get all my stuff from motorfactors (like a-z) and never had an issue . i still would not change the belts unless you have a good reason to . Buy them and stick em in the boot for an emergency but there not really part of a service .

oil filter will come with an O ring . (dont forget to wipe a finger of oil round it before fitting. and i normally half fill mine as well but depends on how its mounted) .

I thought you would have done this by now heheh ... but good luck with it
Click to expand...

The place I work for has 'factory shutdown' holidays. This week (aside from 2 days at easter) is my first holiday since xmas!

My concern is that the belts are just £10 each anf the oil filter is like £4, wheras the Nissan filter is nearer £10. Is this just Nissan being Nissan? (They wanted £113 for a headlight so I got a 3rd party one for £40)
 
Yeah pretty much . Mate got plugs from Renault .. £48 for 4 lol .. same plugs at motorfactors were £4 each . Up to you really... its your cash .. and its not a lot of difference really . your call ^^
 
With 'official' parts your paying the premium of the brand, delivery (they'll have to order them in) as well as availability. For a citroen saxo a part I want now is £150, but 2 years ago was £40. Price is up because its no longer made.

Its purely personal preference. Some people enjoy the peace of mind knowing they have 100% official parts, some want to save money, some go for the middle ground.

As persil has said, and as I've found, parts from A-Z (which i've found very helpful and cheap) will do the job the same as official parts, but without the massive price tag.

Regarding the belts, I'm the type of person who'd change them, just because they're cheap and probably will be a doddle to fit, but you probably don't need them yet, but you can buy and keep in your car for when you do :)
 
I personally always go for a OEM oil filter, there have been some instances were 3rd party oil filters have been an inferior design to the geunine items and for what I see as a vital part I'd rather spend the extra £4.

Try and blag a Halfords Trade Card. I got my plugs (NGK) for little over a pound each ;).
 
lawz said:
With 'official' parts your paying the premium of the brand, delivery (they'll have to order them in) as well as availability. For a citroen saxo a part I want now is £150, but 2 years ago was £40. Price is up because its no longer made.

Its purely personal preference. Some people enjoy the peace of mind knowing they have 100% official parts, some want to save money, some go for the middle ground.

As persil has said, and as I've found, parts from A-Z (which i've found very helpful and cheap) will do the job the same as official parts, but without the massive price tag.

Regarding the belts, I'm the type of person who'd change them, just because they're cheap and probably will be a doddle to fit, but you probably don't need them yet, but you can buy and keep in your car for when you do :)
Click to expand...

The oil filter put on by a backstreet garage is not Nissan branded (the one I put on myself the service before that was) so I think I will just get the cheapy ones.
Good point about branded parts being ordered in though, iirc Nissan had to order in the parts I needed.
 
mglover070588 said:
The place I work for has 'factory shutdown' holidays. This week (aside from 2 days at easter) is my first holiday since xmas!

My concern is that the belts are just £10 each anf the oil filter is like £4, wheras the Nissan filter is nearer £10. Is this just Nissan being Nissan? (They wanted £113 for a headlight so I got a 3rd party one for £40)
Click to expand...

You work at Toyota?
 
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