Car maintenance and repair

Basic Car Maintenance 1 – Pre MOT checks.

The starting point. How to use tools properly, safe jacking of the vehicle, changing a wheel and understanding everything in that area (brakes and brake lines, disc’s and pads, suspension, leaks etc), under the bonnet and associated fluids, safely jump starting vehicle, warning lights on dash – all Pre MOT checks.
Introduction and H&S
Go through tools box and what the tools are and how/when to use them. What to buy, what to avoid.
Look at car and go through jacking points and safe lifting.
How to safely remove a wheel, demonstration followed by all students doing it. Front and rear of car.
Wheel arch inspection for MOT, springs, mountings, bushes, shock leaks, break wear etc. Front and rear.
Inspect and understand tyres, codes, wear, ageing.
Clean up wheel and refit. Use a torque wrench when refitting wheel.
Identify key service items under bonnet. Oil, brake, filters.
Lightbulbs.
Go through description of how engines work, refer to engine on a stand if needed.
Jump starting.
Review this on students cars looking at them in the car park.
Q&A throughout.

Available for:

pre-1980 cars or

Modern cars

1 day.

£300

Basic Car Maintenance 2 – Servicing and Maintenance

This builds on the work covered in BCM1 and moves on to different topics.

How to use associated tools properly, safe jacking of the vehicle.
Car on ramp, remove wheels. Remove brake calipers, discs and pad on the front, inspect and replace using grease, servicing sliders etc. Demonstration followed by each student doing this themselves.
Under the bonnet – oil and air filter change, associated fluids replacement. Belts and leaks. Pull oil filter, look at oil condition. Look at injectors and explain what they do. Take the spark plugs and coil packs out, go through spark plug condition.
Look under the car, check gearbox oil, diff, exhaust system, fuel filter and system, drive shafts, subframes and structural areas.
Fault finding, misfire isolation – swapping plug and coils to identify faulty items.
Explain importance of brake fluid change and go through bleeding methods.
Safe Jumping of vehicle, battery change, Engine Management lights, use of a multi meter and OBD read. Lights and bulb changing.
Review this on students cars looking at them in the car park.

1 day

£300

Basic Car Maintenance 3 – Repairs and replacements.

Struts, wishbones, springs, dampers and bushes. Inspection, removal and replacement.
Introduction and H&S
Go through tools box and what the tools are and how/when to use them, more detail than BCM1. What to buy, what to avoid
Suspension geometry set up.
Remove and refit strut
Change springs
Bushes
Inspect, remove and refit a lower arm.
Review this on students cars looking at them in the car park.
Q&A throughout.

1 day

£300