need my vx car serviced

[gocats33]

hey does any one no a good mechanic on the gold coast some one that doesnt rip you of and is cheap and does good quality work, i need a major service done on my VX serries 2 Berlina its done 185000km atm

[FATMOE]

Better off doing it yourself, very easy and save yourself around $100

[calais24/7]

Do the things you can, saves you a fair amount of $$. Do you know what needs to be done?

[FstStig]

If it needs a Major done then it is generally the list as follow

Oil
Oil Filter
Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
Trans Filter and Fluid
Diff Fluid
Coolant
Air Filter

[HarmlessMuffinMan]

If you have never worked on cars before, the only thing you are going to find doing is changing the Fuel Filter, and the Trans Filter and Fluid.. Give me a second and Ill try to find the How too's for doing everything mentioned

[HarmlessMuffinMan]

Ok,

Thats the main part of the service taken care of:
VX Commodore Service How To Detailed

Diff Oil:
How To: Changing Differential Oil (VZ)

Can't seem to find a How to for your Tranni though. So I would (Personally) Get a mechanic to do that as transmissions can be very hard to drain ALL the oil out of (Most will be stuck in the TC)..

As for your spark plugs! Get a normal spark plug remover (Come in most socket sets), and a decent sized extension bar (Can pick up a set from Supercheap for like $10, Vadium Chrome too), pull your spark leads out (May need to twist them at the base as they will be on pretty tight), undo your spark plugs, throw em in the bin, and stick your new ones in. When doing them up, ALWAYS do them up by hand until you can't screw them any further, then use your socket and make a 1/8th turn. That should be about the right torque... Else get a torque wrench (But don't, because that would make you lame)

[itsagixa]

best way to learn is to just do it mate....a major service depending on what was done last may inlcude the timing chain...which you will prob need a mechanic for and is usually around $400 (mostly labour as timing chains are hard to get too)
everything else you can do ya self...
are you confident in bleeding your own brakes and swapping pads?
there are some good how to's on this site....just use the search function...where is arundel?

[calais24/7]

All filters, And fluids +oils you should do yourself. Also spark plugs aren't to difficult either.

[monkeys437]

best way to learn is to just do it mate....a major service depending on what was done last may inlcude the timing chain...which you will prob need a mechanic for and is usually around $400 (mostly labour as timing chains are hard to get too)
everything else you can do ya self...
are you confident in bleeding your own brakes and swapping pads?
there are some good how to's on this site....just use the search function...where is arundel?

Ive never heard of changing timing chain on a VX as a service item. Unless its chattering away then just leave it and it will probably outlast the worlds oil supply.

Dont go in to a Mechanic and say "give it a major service" because that gives them the green light to bend you over in a big way.

Your better off saying what specific things you want done and if they find any issues have them call you before going ahead with it. This can save you getting a nasty shock when the bill arrives.

[itsagixa]

i havent looked at the service manual but a timing chain should be changed at least every 200,000km's if it breaks you will stuff the engine, and usually you dont get much notice that its on its way out....if this isnt true for commos then they truly are unique as this has been the golden rule for nearly every car i have ever worked on from mitsi, nissan, toyota and mazda

[monkeys437]

Thats really interesting itsagixa. What sort of wear do you see in the chain and tensioners on a V6 after 200k's? These engines are only just run in at that point

I had 2 VRs a few years back, one had 400k and the other 370k. The one with 400k sounded a bit noisy around the chain but that engine had had a hard life and it could have been anything. The one with 370k was well looked after and sounded fine. As for my fleet of ecotecs over the years, they all get regular services and still run like brand new cars with no engine rattles or anything even long after the 200k mark. I've always thought the timing chain is good to far exceed the life of the engine unless you have an aftermarket cam or stiffer valves springs

[itsagixa]

yeah mate, i have pulled a timing chain off a VS V6 that had 180,000 KM and the timing chain was ok-ish, some of the links were sloppy. the tensioner was ok but the chain wasnt looking too good, however what i believe to be worn may appear to be fine in other peoples eyes

On a 4 cylinder i have seen timing chains that were good after 200,000kms but then again we have seen them completly shagged after only 100,000kms

i have always been one to just change the chain every 100,000km's after a faithful night...
i owned a 2002 mitsubishi lancer, 120,000km on the clock, the service manual called for the timing chain to be changed at 100,000km and we didnt....the chain snapped, had valve/piston contact and completly stuffed the engine...

im pretty cautious when it comes to that sorta stuff...how often do you guys bleed your brakes and clutch systems?
i do mine every 20,000km's and i have never once had a stuffed power steering pump or brake failure and you would be surprised to see how much water can get absorbed by brake and clutch lines over 20,000kms...each to their own but as i said after seeing certain things with my own eyes i prefer to err on the side of caution