servicing

[rainman]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered before but darned if I can find it, so;

What's involved in a basic service? I bought the camper & bus workshop guide which recommends changing

oil filter
air filter
fuel filter
spark plugs

It also mentions rotor arm, distributor cap, HT leads. (How would I even know if leads need replacing?) I was hoping JK or similar would sell a service bundle but it seems not. Any suggestions would be much appreciated as always.

[Damien]

Depends on last time it was serviced, if you don't know and the leads aren't mint looking i'd replace the lot for piece of mind. I do oil and filter every 6 months and check everything else, replace as needed.

If its running ok now, keep the old leads cap arm and plugs somewhere it the van just in case!!

[rainman]

Ta, yes I guess I'll replace the lot for peace of mind. As it happens, it's not running so well but it starts and idles fine so I guess they can't be in too bad nick. It loses power going uphill, sort of has weak spots and then picks up again. I thought a basic service would be the place the start in trying to figure out what the problem is.

[Nicola&Tony]

oil filter
air filter
fuel filter
spark plugs

It also mentions rotor arm, distributor cap, HT leads.

Given your symptoms, I'd change all of those things if you don't know when they were last done. There's a bit of a risk though, if you don't have experience of doing this stuff, that if you change too many things at once you could make a small mistake (e.g. wrong gap on the spark plugs) and make things worse. Trying to work backwards to find the problem can then be more difficult, because you've changed loads of stuff.

Change one or two things at a time and then take the van for a test drive to see how it is before changing anything else. Personally speaking, I'd change your plugs and leads first; then dizzy cap and rotor arm; air filter and fuel filter; finally the oil and filter change.

Watercooled Haynes manual (blue cover) has a section specifically about servicing.

Tony

[Damien]

Ta, yes I guess I'll replace the lot for peace of mind. As it happens, it's not running so well but it starts and idles fine so I guess they can't be in too bad nick. It loses power going uphill, sort of has weak spots and then picks up again. I thought a basic service would be the place the start in trying to figure out what the problem is.

If the service don't help getting the timing set properly will imo

[Bowton Lad]

Check the condition & tension of the alternator belt & always carry a spare.