Diy Servicing

[Guest Al2297]

Apart from changing wheels, bulbs and fuses and topping up fluid levels I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to cars. That said, I want to learn so I've just been out and bought the Haynes manual.

I'm thinking about trying to do a basic service, oil & filter, air filter and changing the front brake pads. Is this something that most new starters could manage with a manual or should I leave well alone?? Also, would I need any special tools?

[Guest Al2297]

ANYONE???

[harry bozing]

ANYONE???

I feel sure that you could manage the basic service procedures with the help of the haynes manual and a decent quality toolkit, a socket set, ring/combination spanners, pliers, screwdrivers etc. Read the relevant items in the manual a couple of times first, then check where they are in relation to the car and have a go. You'll soon find huge satisfaction. Good luck, Brian.

[coastline taxis]

What model cd is it. petrol / diesel/ age

[paul.h]

Many of us will have used Haynes to learn our way round our cars and servicing is not too difficult, just takes time and confidence to do it the first time. If unsure on safety items then if possible get some help/have the work checked or even pay to have it done. The work is likely to take longer than a garage and it is useful to have a second car to get unexpected parts whilst one is in bits.

 

Machine Mart (amongst others) sells decent tools at reasonable prices. Haynes often notes the tools needed but ones additional for a service to those listed by Harry include an oil filter wrench (there are various types, if you can get over the end of the filter I prefer the 3 legged claw type but also have a chain one and a strap one for more awkward filters - punching a screwdriver through to use as a lever does not always work), an old bowl to collect the draining oil which can be poured in to an empty oil container to take to the council recycling tip (a funnel minimises spillage), a torque wrench (possibly a low and a high range one), a 1½ lb ball pein hammer, extension bars for extra leverage on the socket ratchet, 6 point sockets are less likely to round off nuts, a ½ inch drive socket set is probably better than smaller ones for a first set but you may find some socket sizes are not in a standard set such as 16 and 18 mm, torx bits are needed for many jobs, hex bits (like allen keys) for some jobs, flat files for cleaning up things, emery paper for cleaning the brake discs (about 150 grit size), various size screwdrivers for use as levers/chisels/scrapers, axle stands are a must plus a bit of wood sometimes to use on top, a trolley jack is not needed or car ramps - especially on the C5 which must be raised to full height before jacking up, gloves to stop cuts when undoing tight bolts, a spray brake cleaner helps when doing brakes, copper grease for the metal contact areas of the brake pads, if fitting new front pads to the C5 you need to wind in the caliper pistons - special tools are available, a Mityvac hand pump is useful to change the brake/clutch fluid, a micrometer or vernier caliper is needed if you want to check the thickness of brake discs, spark plug socket if a petrol engine (I think the C5 may need a special one), feeler gauge for spark plug gap checking, a decent torch/inspection lamp in case it is getting dark. Wheel chocks are useful on the C5 if jacking up the front since the handbrake and gears are both disengaged when doing the front brakes. Some small ring spanners are needed, I think the pollen filter cover needs a 6 mm ring spanner and the brake bleed nipples 8 mm.

[Guest C5buff]

They say knowledge is power and if you have a C5 then the more knowledge you have the better. It will save you thousands over the years.

Study the car with Haynes manual or from sources on the web. Such as this excellent forum. Invest in the tools and get stuck in.

[coastline taxis]

If its a diesel just tske care with the fuel filter housing as its realy easy to snap the pipes on the top of the filter (bosch) or the ring that hold it down.

[Guest Al2297]

What model cd is it. petrol / diesel/ age

Its an LX, 2.0 petrol, 2002 on a 51 plate.

[Guest yeomills]

Draining oil takes minutes removing the underbody trim and replacing takes forever, I invested in a hand operated vacume pump that takes the engine oil out via the dipstice pipe. Oil change now takes 10 min. At £40 a true investment.

Barry

[Johndouglas]

I invested in a hand operated vacume pump that takes the engine oil out via the dipstice pipe.

 

I hope that isn't on a 1.6HDI. Citroen has published a comprehensive list of instructions to dealers regarding oil changes. One of them:-

Allow the oil to drain by gravity for at least 10 minutes (DO NOT USE SUCTION METHODS)

This was because of the huge number of turbo failures.

[Guest yeomills]

This was on my 2.2 HDI Barry