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- Path: sparky!uunet!mcsun!uknet!axion!marvin!gss
- From: gss@btcase.bt.co.uk (Graham Sewell)
- Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
- Subject: Re: Starting out?
- Message-ID: <1992Jul27.091225.4025@btcase.bt.co.uk>
- Date: 27 Jul 92 09:12:25 GMT
- References: <AGRAWAL.92Jul26131254@lipari.usc.edu>
- Distribution: rec
- Organization: British Telecom, Lion House, London.
- Lines: 46
-
- agrawal@lipari.usc.edu (Amitabh Agrawal) writes:
-
-
- >Hi,
-
- >I have a 84 Mazda GLC Dlx (83K) and was thinking of doing most of the
- >work on the car myself. So far I have virtually no experience with
- >cars so needed some advice as to how difficult/time consuming this is?
-
- >What are the minimum tools that I need to be able to start working on
- >the car? Should I buy the tools as I need or is there a minimum tool
- >box that I should get? Which is the best (cost effective) tool box to
- >get?
-
- >I have the Hayne's Mazda book(I think). Is there some other book that
- >I should buy? What is a good book to understand the basics of the
- >various subsystems of car (e.g. how does an automatic transmission
- >work).
-
- >I was thinking of changing the engine oil/filter by myself next
- >weekend. Can I screw it up in a big way?
-
- >Thanks a million
-
- Amitabh Agrawal,
-
- As you have a copy of the Haynes manual, I am assuming that you live in
- the UK. If that is the case, a good book on general theory of cars is
- the AA Book Of The Car.
-
- As you an oil change, the basic tools are a spanner to remove the sump
- plug, and a filter wrench for the obvious purpose. One precaution,
- don't lose the washer that fits on the sump plug and do not overtighten
- the plug when you finish. The filter should only be put on hand-tight
- (ie do not try to use any tools to tighten further), and the seal on the
- filter is usually smeared with a little oil before replacing to improve
- the seal.
-
- I hope this helps.
-
-
- --
- Graham Sewell Tel +44 71 728 4851
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-