service

[iowcamper]

going to do a service on the van at the weekend ready for the summer, intending to:

change oil filter and oil
change spark plugs
change air filter
change fuel filter (looks like a little gunk in there)

top up antifreeze level (if needed) and other fluid levels

i also bought a spare aux belt to keep in case it breaks - should i change this for the new one now and keep the old as a spare?? if so how hard a job is that??

when changing the spark plugs i have a spark plug socket but not a torque wrench is it imperative that they are exactly torqued, i know on other cars ive changed before it doesnt matter too much as long as you dont overtighten?
(also any tips for gettign to the back right as looking at engine plug it seems very awkward to get too)
is there anything else i should be checking or changing if im servicing it myself?

[horns]

Top tip for awkward spark plugs - get about a foot of thin rubber hose (like the stuff you use for vacuum lines) and slip it over the end where the HT lead goes. Then you can use this as a flexible 'handle' to rotate the plug as you hold it in place - and the flexibility will help stop you cross threading it.

[CovKid]

tiny smear of copper grease on plug threads is good idea too. They should never be cranked up ridiculously tight but that grease helps next time. Also helps with the seal.

[iowcamper]

thanks got some copper grease so will use that but is it imperative that i get a torque wrench to tighten or would you just say as tight as poss without effort (thats the rule of thumb ive always used before with newer cars and never had probs) ??

[kevtherev]

plugs..??
finger tight then half a turn

[iowcamper]

cheers kev that sounds right to me

what about changing the aux belt as a precaution would you advise and is it hard or just keep a spare in case it goes

[kevtherev]

if it ain't broke....
I keep a brand new one too..it came with the van over five years ago, and the belt was five years old before that

[iowcamper]

fair enough had a good inspection and cant see any sign of wear so will just keep a spare in case

[Nicola&Tony]

what about changing the aux belt as a precaution would you advise and is it hard or just keep a spare in case it goes

Do you know when the belt was last changed and how many miles its done since then?

When you checked the condition of the belt did you remove it from the engine to have a good look at it?

Tony

[Nicola&Tony]

. . . (also any tips for gettign to the back right as looking at engine plug it seems very awkward to get too)
is there anything else i should be checking or changing if im servicing it myself?

What engine? On our early dg engine I find it easier to remove the air filter housing and the duct that goes to the carb to make it easier to get at the back right plug.

Other stuff to consider:
- tyre pressures, tread depth and age (dot codes), including your spare.
- do you know when the rotor arm, dizzy cap and plug leads were last changed?
- brakes; brake fluid level. Check thickness of pads and shoes and clean out all the dust. But if you've not done it before I wouldn't go dismantling the back brakes unless you've got somebody experienced to help you. Also check to see if brake fluid is leaking from the wheel cylinders on back brakes (gently peel back the rubber boot at each end of the cylinder and see if brake fluid sprays out).

On the camping side of things, check the date on the rubber hose that is fitted onto the regulator for your gas bottle. If it's 5 years old replace it.

Tony

[iowcamper]

its a 1984 1.9 dg engine

think i will try removing the air filter housing as you suggest to get to the back right plug

the tyres are fine got brand new michelins on there only put them on with the alloys 3 months ago, had the wheels fitted by a garage and asked him to check over all the brakes at the same time which he said were fine

rotor arm, dizzy and leads were changed 18 months ago by the previous owner and appear in reasonable order

didnt remove the aux belt to inspect just had a quick look over to make sure there were no splits etc, i wouldnt mind changing it just for the peace of mind but not sure how hard this is, do you just undo the alternator retainig strap to take the tension off and swap and then re tighten the strap?? how tight should it be - do you need any specialist tools to measure the tension on it or the position on it?? any advice would be appreciated

will check brake fluid levels as suggested

[Nicola&Tony]

rotor arm, dizzy . . . were changed 18 months ago by the previous owner and appear in reasonable order

didnt remove the aux belt to inspect just had a quick look over to make sure there were no splits etc, i wouldnt mind changing it just for the peace of mind but not sure how hard this is, do you just undo the alternator retainig strap to take the tension off and swap and then re tighten the strap?? how tight should it be - do you need any specialist tools to measure the tension on it or the position on it?? any advice would be appreciated

I'd be putting a new rotor arm and dizzy cap on then if I was you. Not expensive and readily available from Brickwerks. It's always easier to do this stuff at home than it is when you're broken down at the side of the road.

Haynes manual explains how to do the belt. If you've got a socket set and spanners you won't need any special tools, but you'll need a sturdy lever (I use a crow bar approx. 20" long) to wedge under the alternator and carefully lever it to get enough tension on the belt. Much easier to do with somebody else around to tighten the bolt up whilst you're levering. iirc there's two bolts to loosen in order to remove or adjust the belt. There's a pivot bolt below the alternator and the one on the adjuster bar.

Tony

[Nicola&Tony]

Any feedback? How did you get on with servicing your van?

Tony

[iowcamper]

yeah all went well thanks had major probs getting the oil filter off had to resort to knocking a screwdriver through it to get ti to budge
managed to get at the rear right hand spark plug without removing air filter housing just took a lot of patience, aux belt was very easy to change
got to get a new dizzy cap and rotor arm and change those before we head to france next month but everything else is done and she's still working so please with what i done

iowcamper