This relates to my last post in the Z-world section. Don't know /not intersted in the z-world thing so made a new topic. The closest I get to a professional mechanic is when I go to get an MOT. After the initial 'what the 'uck have you got here, how old is it , how come there's no rust (import), how the 'uck do you fix anythin in the engine bay,how fast is it', usuaully I get it's passed that'll be £39. But the most interesting point they've made is it's pretty straightforward mechanical wise dare I say it Primeraish. It's a production car with production roots that are shared/developed to /from other Nissan cars. It might go like a rocket but it's not rocket science. Said this before it's good/important to have a good relationship with your MOT station.

I have to say, that when I started on this forum, was looking to do a 60k service myself. Had I taken to heart the consensus of opinion I would never have started it.

 

Having gone ahead tho, I will say that the zed (mechanically, if not electrically) is one of the easiest cars I have ever worked on

at the end of the day it like anything else, if u take your time and have patience u can do anything your self. i my self repair laptops, some time u get one uve never worked on before, i see it as a challenge more than anything else. the zed is a more complex beast than your average run about, if u think about it from a design view, they had a hell of a job getting everything they wanted under that bonet, but they did it. i love the way everythign is just shaped right and so tight fitting, they utilised every single space available.

 

but professionals or not, were all human, and humans make mistakes, the ones that stand out are the ones that realise there mistakes and take the time to put it right.

 

u would not belive how easy it is to spend 2 hours stripping and rebuilding a laptop, only to find u forgot to connect the floppy cable, yeah it might take u 20 mins to strip it an re fit the cable. but least u know if u do its a job well done

60K service. Meaning the timing belt? I'm running a bit close! to the limit at the moment. How many hours do you reckon for someone with decent mechanical abilities.

the car is now 14yrs+ old, in its day it was considered very advanced - compared to modern cars its quite basic in terms of the technology used (no CAN networking, minimal amount of control units etc) but that doesnt mean its easier to work on!!

 

I would rather diagnose faults on a brand new Merc, with its 30 odd control units than an older car.

 

diagnostic equipment is far more advanced & has much more monitering information, & the vehicles on board diagnostics is far more advanced & stores much more info when a fault develops.

Couldnt agree with you more Paul, which Is why I stated mechanically as opposed to electrically/electronically. I have just spent the weekend trying to strip out a custom made speed converter that some nobber has wired into every sensor/system he could get his mitts on (including the stereo, I shit you not).

 

Peter,

 

I did the whole shooting match, cambelt, water pump, oil seals, aux belts, water hoses stc. (you can buy in kit form from Courtesy)

 

It took me two days, but that was due to the fact that I did not have the one tool I needed, and started on a Sunday, so by the time I realised, the shops were shut ( a long reach hex/ allen key, if your curious). Without that moment of nobberness, I reckon a good 8 hrs start to finish is plenty for the first attempt.

 

HTH