Just a reminder, all the things you need to do on a regular basis :)

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/cgi-bin/manual.cgi?list=ma&dir=&config=&refresh=&direction=forward&scale=0&cycle=off&slide=8&design=default&total=33

The original service schedule of any manufacture has little bearing on reality with cars aproaching 15 years old!

 

Mark I would expect you to be better informed, posting the service schedule will just reinforce unrelated time and mileage scales to less mechanically knowlegable owners.

 

Good maintenance is about regular inspection and consitant adherance to what you are been advised on.

 

As an example we often have to explain why a 40k mileage 10 year old zed needs a cam belt service although the magic 60k miles has not been reached, now I know the schedule takes in account of timescales but it is not always clear to owners.

 

Also good and regular inspection will prempt a failures before they occur, a service schedul written 15 years ago can only serve to advise, often when it is too late.

 

Jeff TT

The original service schedule of any manufacture has little bearing on reality with cars aproaching 15 years old!

 

Mark I would expect you to be better informed, posting the service schedule will just reinforce unrelated time and mileage scales to less mechanically knowlegable owners.

 

Good maintenance is about regular inspection and consitant adherance to what you are been advised on.

 

As an example we often have to explain why a 40k mileage 10 year old zed needs a cam belt service although the magic 60k miles has not been reached, now I know the schedule takes in account of timescales but it is not always clear to owners.

 

Also good and regular inspection will prempt a failures before they occur, a service schedul written 15 years ago can only serve to advise, often when it is too late.

 

Jeff TT

 

or, as he said, we could use it as a reminder of all those things to do on a regular basis - not a bible to live by...

 

Rich

Theres no mention of emptying the ashtray in there :D :slap:

Jeff...what you said about inspections is true enough....but Mark only said these are the kind of things that need attention on a regular basis cant see the harm in that... :confused:

No disrespect meant, just sometimes small bits of info can cause confusion with owners who do not realise the implication of NOT having regular inspections.

 

 

Jeff TT

Agree with Jeff, time and milage bear little in common, whilst things might be low milage and internal wear maybe lower, external sundries might perish, such as belts, hoses and bushes. Always good to inspect everything and to clean up electrical points/contacts. I don't know much about zeds in the slightest, but know that checking regularly is good thing.

 

As a matter of cause, I have always changed the oil in my cars every 3,000 miles. It's a relatively cheap thing to do, but it prolongs the life of the internals.

The original service schedule of any manufacture has little bearing on reality with cars aproaching 15 years old!

 

 

Rubbish!! we still apply manufaturers service schedules to cars far older than 15 years!! yes you may have to look a little bit more closely for worn components but most service schedules include most of the checks to cover this however, ie inspect suspension components etc

Quoted by Paul C "Rubbish!! we still apply manufaturers service schedules to cars far older than 15 years!! "

 

Ok then, say for instance the cam belt, Nissan stated for this to be changed at 60k miles, they set this mmileage confident that from new the belt would be in serviceable condition until that mileage.

 

But of course this was from 0 miles with the tolerances of a brand new engine and with the predicted use a £35k car would get from new to 60k miles.

 

Now when the same engine is on its 2 and third belt change does the 60k miles inbetween changes apply given that the factory tolerances are not going to be so predictable...thats the point I was making.

 

Now if that is considered rubbish by yourself then who am I to argue you have your own standards you work to, though it is no secret that many well documented failures of auto parts in general occur before the scheduled change/ service intervals.

 

All motor manufactures have problems with this it is just good practise to be alert to the changing scale of servicing as a vehicle gets older

 

 

Jeff TT

of course there are some circumstances when additional criteria has to be applied, but to state "The original service schedule of any manufacture has little bearing on reality with cars aproaching 15 years old!" is rubbish IMO!

Manufacturers service schedules are still just as imortant on a 15 year old car as on a 3 year one!

 

we have seen the results of many "specialists" working on cars in our garage (Mercedes) & can assure you that our standards far exceed theirs!!

Quoted by Paul C

 

"we have seen the results of many "specialists" working on cars in our garage (Mercedes) & can assure you that our standards far exceed theirs!!"

 

 

Main dealer credentials were not the issue, oh and a main dealer bad mouthing a non dealer ...now that not exactly new is it?

 

Funny how if a dealer wants to use a contractor / specialist though the rules change, a local small garage I know very well do all the service work on their local Mercedes dealers Smart cars because they hate working on them themselves,bet they charge the customer as if they have done it though.

 

Paul C before this descends in to a slanging match, I know your training and expertise in your field was hard earned and you are able to speak from a position of knowledge, it does though phase me that despite the points I raised about engine tolerance diffences between a new engine and a 100k miles engine you called it rubbish!

 

Regular inspection and pro-active maintenance will go much further to preventing unexpected failures/ breakdowns than a service schedules

re-active maintenance how can that be rubbish?

 

 

Jeff TT

I think the cambelt change is 60,000 miles OR 5 years - whichever is sooner.

 

Paul C before this descends in to a slanging match, I know your training and expertise in your field was hard earned and you are able to speak from a position of knowledge, it does though phase me that despite the points I raised about engine tolerance diffences between a new engine and a 100k miles engine you called it rubbish!

 

Regular inspection and pro-active maintenance will go much further to preventing unexpected failures/ breakdowns than a service schedules

re-active maintenance how can that be rubbish?

 

 

Jeff TT

 

im not trying to get into a slanging match, you posted your opinion on Marks post, im sure im entitled to an opinion on yours!

 

as iv said, some additional criteria to be applied is never a bad thing, & is not my point!

 

the fact that you stated that any manufacturers servicing guidelines for olders cars has little bearing on reality is rubbish IMO! certainly add some more if you wish but those service schedules are there for a reason!

 

i have worked at quite a few garages over the years, for several different franchises (& smaller non-franchise garages ;) ) & have always worked from manufacturers servicing schedules. i feel they are important & telling mark he should know better for pointing it out to members was a little misleading (again IMO ;) )

 

ps - were not a main dealer, we're an Autherised Repairer :D

 

im sure you would not ignore Nissan service schedules Jeff, & perhaps we can agree that they are a good thing but occasionally additional work is needed (normally when manufaturers service schedules have not been adhered to & things have been missed!!)

Paul, I am thinking on reflection we are both aiming at the same thing really, with good points made, sometimes it is about interpretation of information and how it is dealt with, I was not advocating a complete ignoring of the Nissan schedule, and as you have said extra work can be required when other work has been poorly done or ignored in the past.

 

Anyway, Mark your original start to this thread was one of information and hopefully with a bit of banter it has been explained in a bit more detail .

 

Jeff TT

Personally I wouldnt take my worst enemies zed to a dealer, all a bunch of :xxx:......with very little knowledge on the Zed and more unhelpful than an ashtray on a motorbike.... :D

Personally I wouldnt take my worst enemies zed to a dealer, all a bunch of :xxx:......with very little knowledge on the Zed and more unhelpful than an ashtray on a motorbike.... :D

 

 

lol!,Don't forget the hands dug into their overall pockets, staring into the engine bay , and sucking in air through pursed lips :rolleyes: :rofl:

I just wish that the previous owners of my car had realised that every now and again the car needs to be serviced - any service - by anyone - at any interval.

I don't think she has ever been serviced.

Took the air filters off and was shocked there was ANY air getting in there (and I thought she was running a bit rich!!! :) - that was after the concrete alternator belt got hammered off.

Poor wee car will not know what has happened. She will be molly-coddled from now until she retires.