tonym3
Junior Member
- Messages
- 225
Thought I would start a thread as I am starting work on the 4200. Mainly simple jobs but hopefully it will highlight how easy these cars can be to work on.
This Forum is an amazing resource and I have found most if not all the information I have so far needed from it.
I am by no means a professional mechanic, however after working on my own cars for many years and being in and around the car trade for the last 12 years I have a good grasp of what I can and cannot do and I would like to think by now I know my way round a car.
The main reasons for carrying out some of the work myself is 1: to get to know the car, 2: I do not feel that a dealer has the time or would take the time to be as picky or thorough as I can be in my own time and on my own car.
I picked the car up on Tuesday its a 04 plate 4200 CC with 90k miles and its stunning
So anyway first thing was the easy bit does the car fit in the garage?
As you can see first hurdle over!!
So the first thing I did was order some bits from Eurospares, box arrived today full with lovely service bits.
First couple of jobs are to change the plugs and the air filter
So I got the car on my lift and started stripping down the engine bay and removing the front wheels
I removed all the trim around the engine, I used the guide found on here I believe originally posted on the American site but very simple just a case of unscrewing the screws and removing the retaining clips on the struts to remove the outer covers.
Now that is quite a site once all the covers are off, what a work of art.
I will be cleaning all of the covers before they are re-fitted.
One thing I noticed, this car has a full main dealer service history and speaking to the previous owner it is only the garage that would have touched it, however out of the screws holding the covers on 2 are missing all together and another 2 have the heads rounded off. I would have thought they would have been replaced as needed.
Took me a while to get them all off then already added the screws to my growing basket on Eurospares!
As it was getting late I have left the rest of the plug job until another day, I decided to crack on with removing the front wheels to get at the air filter.
Got to the N/S/F wheel arch liner which should be removed by five screws and a 8mm bolt, however mine was held on by 4 10mm bolts along the bottom edge and one screw at the top, again I have added all the relevant new screws/bolts to the basket.
Sorry not a very revealing picture!
Which revels the air filter box, once again mine was held in by 1 screw and a cable tie rather than 4 screws!! all added to the order.
The old one didnt look to bad but was still filthy and came out fairly easy.
New one went in and looks nice and fresh
So I have left the box off until I receive the new fixings so that they can all go back together, making it much easier for the next person.
Whilst I was in and around the wheel arch I noticed some movement in the Tie Rod for the torsion bar.
I have not noticed any issues with the handling etc so may wait until I have looked all round the brakes and suspension and maybe carry out a re-fresh.
Anyway thats me done for the day, so far its been nice and straight forward, sorry if this is all a bit simple for some of the more experienced mechanics on here but hopefully it will show what a high mileage car looks like under the skin and issues that may come up.
I will be carrying out a oil change but due to draining oil being a real PITA on my lift I will take it into work for this and give them the oil and filter and use one of the proper ramps and oil drains. I will try and get some pictures of this.
I also need to see to the front bumper and trident badge, all will be covered.
Thanks for everyone that has helped so far with advice and links
This Forum is an amazing resource and I have found most if not all the information I have so far needed from it.
I am by no means a professional mechanic, however after working on my own cars for many years and being in and around the car trade for the last 12 years I have a good grasp of what I can and cannot do and I would like to think by now I know my way round a car.
The main reasons for carrying out some of the work myself is 1: to get to know the car, 2: I do not feel that a dealer has the time or would take the time to be as picky or thorough as I can be in my own time and on my own car.
I picked the car up on Tuesday its a 04 plate 4200 CC with 90k miles and its stunning
So anyway first thing was the easy bit does the car fit in the garage?
As you can see first hurdle over!!
So the first thing I did was order some bits from Eurospares, box arrived today full with lovely service bits.
First couple of jobs are to change the plugs and the air filter
So I got the car on my lift and started stripping down the engine bay and removing the front wheels
I removed all the trim around the engine, I used the guide found on here I believe originally posted on the American site but very simple just a case of unscrewing the screws and removing the retaining clips on the struts to remove the outer covers.
Now that is quite a site once all the covers are off, what a work of art.
I will be cleaning all of the covers before they are re-fitted.
One thing I noticed, this car has a full main dealer service history and speaking to the previous owner it is only the garage that would have touched it, however out of the screws holding the covers on 2 are missing all together and another 2 have the heads rounded off. I would have thought they would have been replaced as needed.
Took me a while to get them all off then already added the screws to my growing basket on Eurospares!
As it was getting late I have left the rest of the plug job until another day, I decided to crack on with removing the front wheels to get at the air filter.
Got to the N/S/F wheel arch liner which should be removed by five screws and a 8mm bolt, however mine was held on by 4 10mm bolts along the bottom edge and one screw at the top, again I have added all the relevant new screws/bolts to the basket.
Sorry not a very revealing picture!
Which revels the air filter box, once again mine was held in by 1 screw and a cable tie rather than 4 screws!! all added to the order.
The old one didnt look to bad but was still filthy and came out fairly easy.
New one went in and looks nice and fresh
So I have left the box off until I receive the new fixings so that they can all go back together, making it much easier for the next person.
Whilst I was in and around the wheel arch I noticed some movement in the Tie Rod for the torsion bar.
I have not noticed any issues with the handling etc so may wait until I have looked all round the brakes and suspension and maybe carry out a re-fresh.
Anyway thats me done for the day, so far its been nice and straight forward, sorry if this is all a bit simple for some of the more experienced mechanics on here but hopefully it will show what a high mileage car looks like under the skin and issues that may come up.
I will be carrying out a oil change but due to draining oil being a real PITA on my lift I will take it into work for this and give them the oil and filter and use one of the proper ramps and oil drains. I will try and get some pictures of this.
I also need to see to the front bumper and trident badge, all will be covered.
Thanks for everyone that has helped so far with advice and links
....my mechanic has me well familiar with bits and bobs......but I still prefer to watch......next little job to do is replace two upper bushes, change the badge on front bumper, take out reverse pod and re-attach the knob bit as its fallen off!!!!
