Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[Davep]

Got gas for the first time since November 14. 

Was it something you ate? 

[2JDM]

Replaced my blower fan (was squeaky), cabin and engine air filters.

I'm also charging my battery. The car still has the original battery (in service date 2011)...I'm sure I'm on borrowed time with that one.

[aquadorhj]

last friday, took the SLK to work.
when i got home, used oil extractor to change oil.

extractor took out just over 7 liters.   replaced oil filter, and i put back in just under 7.5 liters.   it's REALLY difficult to do this without oil dipstick...   on yeah. there's no FACKING dipstick.
also, had to buy new set of Hex bits, because the oil filter needs a freaking 12 mm hex bit.  and local canadian tire doesn't sell just 1 12mm hex bit.  (it does, but it's 1$ less than a whole set)

changed engine air filter.   it looked filthy.

with plastic cover and air filter housing off, it doesn't look like the spark plug will not be too difficult at least.  that's good.

[Golly]

not familiar with SLK's so a couple of dumb questions:
 - if there's no dipstick, through what opening did you extract the oil?
 - how did you know that 7.5 liters was the correct amount to put back in? specified in the manual?
 - how do you check oil level?

[PJungnitsch]

That is some oddball oil filter, interesting. Wonder why so different than normal?

[Great_Big_Abyss]

That is some oddball oil filter, interesting. Wonder why so different than normal?

Because FGC.  Everything has to be complicated and different because of superior German engineering.

[Scaerio]

That is some oddball oil filter, interesting. Wonder why so different than normal?

Because FGC.  Everything has to be complicated and different because of superior German engineering.

Yup.

The rest of the world’s railways: ‘Let’s use diesel-electric locomotives where there aren’t any electrified lines.’

Germany: ‘Diesel-hydraulic is the only way to go.’

[aquadorhj]

not familiar with SLK's so a couple of dumb questions:
 - if there's no dipstick, through what opening did you extract the oil?
 - how did you know that 7.5 liters was the correct amount to put back in? specified in the manual?
 - how do you check oil level?

There's still dipstick hole.   i think dealers actually have a stick to measure oil level quickly.
i took out 7.2L ish.    according to my slk forum research, oil capacity is 7.5 liters (or 8 quarts) with filter replacement, using extractor.  so i put in just under that.

the gauge cluster has option to measure oil.  but i have to run the engine and let it drain for 5 minutes before it tells me whether i have proper level of oil.   kind of sucks doing it this way. 

[Scaerio]

“Dipstick hole” is my new favourite insult.

[Allen]

Replaced the rear rotors and pads on the wifes Kia, with my son. Now for alot of you here this is childs play. For me at 68 it's the first time I have done any repairs to a car  other than simple lights air filters, etc. . My son does all his own repairs on his Jeep.

It started when I was driving my son home from the airport the other day and mentioned I had the Kia in for service at the dealership and they said the rear rotors and pads needed replacing, they gave me a quote of $636, I declined.  I was going to take it to my local indie, but my son  said its real simple and he would do them while he was home.  So we picked up pads, rotors, wire brushes, locktite, grease and brake cleaner for $285.

Spent an hour and a half and they were done. I enjoyed it and it was a fun experience working together with my son

[valuator]

[rrocket]

Replaced the rear rotors and pads on the wifes Kia, with my son. Now for alot of you here this is childs play. For me at 68 it's the first time I have done any repairs to a car  other than simple lights air filters, etc. . My son does all his own repairs on his Jeep.

It started when I was driving my son home from the airport the other day and mentioned I had the Kia in for service at the dealership and they said the rear rotors and pads needed replacing, they gave me a quote of $636, I declined.  I was going to take it to my local indie, but my son  said its real simple and he would do them while he was home.  So we picked up pads, rotors, wire brushes, locktite, grease and brake cleaner for $285.

Spent an hour and a half and they were done. I enjoyed it and it was a fun experience working together with my son

That's really great, man. Truly.

I think most could do this...and most are surprised at the relative simplicity of doing it.

I'd really like to know more...did you think it was hard? Easy? Doable?

Could you do it again on your own?

[Allen]

Replaced the rear rotors and pads on the wifes Kia, with my son. Now for alot of you here this is childs play. For me at 68 it's the first time I have done any repairs to a car  other than simple lights air filters, etc. . My son does all his own repairs on his Jeep.

It started when I was driving my son home from the airport the other day and mentioned I had the Kia in for service at the dealership and they said the rear rotors and pads needed replacing, they gave me a quote of $636, I declined.  I was going to take it to my local indie, but my son  said its real simple and he would do them while he was home.  So we picked up pads, rotors, wire brushes, locktite, grease and brake cleaner for $285.

Spent an hour and a half and they were done. I enjoyed it and it was a fun experience working together with my son

That's really great, man. Truly.

I think most could do this...and most are surprised at the relative simplicity of doing it.

I'd really like to know more...did you think it was hard? Easy? Doable?

Could you do it again on your own?

Thanks Ron..

Your right, going in I didn't have any idea what it took. I knew what pads, rotors, calipers and sliders were but not how easily they went together.

I was surprised at the simplicity of the set up. two bolts to take of the caliper off and two to take it apart.  I didn't realize sliders were such a simple thing either, I thought they has springs and other things. My son did most of the work I was his assistant, other than cleaning and greasing every thing, he said the key is to get the clips in without bending them and then making sure the pads are oriented correctly.

I did enjoy doing it, but most of that was the father son thing and yes I think I could do it again on my own. I would diffidently do it again with him but he lives in Edmonton. Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

[Allen]

Excellent Allen.
Great way to spend time with your son.

I'm not sure which Kia you have but if there's a next time a decent rear brake kit (rotors /pads) for a Soul is $96 on Rock Auto.

Careener

Thanks for the tip it was a spur of the moment thing so I bought them a PartSource, Pro-Series OE+, the ceramic pads were $79.99 and the coated rotors were $149.98.

[blur911]

 Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

Sometimes the better brakes are actually easier to work on.  My Porsches don't have sliders, they have pistons on each side.   To change pads you just punch out some steel pins, replace pads and put the pins back in. 
Easy to do in the pits while changing tires.

[aquadorhj]

 Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

Sometimes the better brakes are actually easier to work on.  My Porsches don't have sliders, they have pistons on each side.   To change pads you just punch out some steel pins, replace pads and put the pins back in. 
Easy to do in the pits while changing tires.

i can ALMOST guarantee you the Audi would have sliding pins. (of course, depending on the model, but most Audis seem to be sliding pin variety.)

and if that is the case, than i can ALSO guarantee, it won't be as easy, since you will need spinning brake piston pusher tool(caliper piston compressor) to reset the caliper pistons and they can be right pain in the a$$ without air/electric impact wrench.

[blur911]

 Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

Sometimes the better brakes are actually easier to work on.  My Porsches don't have sliders, they have pistons on each side.   To change pads you just punch out some steel pins, replace pads and put the pins back in. 
Easy to do in the pits while changing tires.

i can ALMOST guarantee you the Audi would have sliding pins. (of course, depending on the model, but most Audis seem to be sliding pin variety.)

and if that is the case, than i can ALSO guarantee, it won't be as easy, since you will need spinning brake piston pusher tool(caliper piston compressor) to reset the caliper pistons and they can be right pain in the a$$ without air/electric impact wrench.

Those spinning pistons are going the way of the Dodo and being replaced by smaller drum brakes inside the hub for e-brakes.
Dunno what's on a base-ish A4, but AFAIK most anything bigger, or an S4, will have opposed piston calipers

[jamie1]

 Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

Sometimes the better brakes are actually easier to work on.  My Porsches don't have sliders, they have pistons on each side.   To change pads you just punch out some steel pins, replace pads and put the pins back in. 
Easy to do in the pits while changing tires.

i can ALMOST guarantee you the Audi would have sliding pins. (of course, depending on the model, but most Audis seem to be sliding pin variety.)

and if that is the case, than i can ALSO guarantee, it won't be as easy, since you will need spinning brake piston pusher tool(caliper piston compressor) to reset the caliper pistons and they can be right pain in the a$$ without air/electric impact wrench.

Those spinning pistons are going the way of the Dodo and being replaced by smaller drum brakes inside the hub for e-brakes.
Dunno what's on a base-ish A4, but AFAIK most anything bigger, or an S4, will have opposed piston calipers

Actually most are going the other way with the more vehicles coming with electric park/emergency brake. Every maker seems to have a different way to disable that feature so the piston can be pushed back in.

[blur911]

 Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

Sometimes the better brakes are actually easier to work on.  My Porsches don't have sliders, they have pistons on each side.   To change pads you just punch out some steel pins, replace pads and put the pins back in. 
Easy to do in the pits while changing tires.

i can ALMOST guarantee you the Audi would have sliding pins. (of course, depending on the model, but most Audis seem to be sliding pin variety.)

and if that is the case, than i can ALSO guarantee, it won't be as easy, since you will need spinning brake piston pusher tool(caliper piston compressor) to reset the caliper pistons and they can be right pain in the a$$ without air/electric impact wrench.

Those spinning pistons are going the way of the Dodo and being replaced by smaller drum brakes inside the hub for e-brakes.
Dunno what's on a base-ish A4, but AFAIK most anything bigger, or an S4, will have opposed piston calipers

Actually most are going the other way with the more vehicles coming with electric park/emergency brake. Every maker seems to have a different way to disable that feature so the piston can be pushed back in.

I've wondered about those,  do they use the regular caliper?   Are they mechanical, hydraulic or electric?

3 of my cars use the smaller drums inside the hub.
I don't get to work on anything new, just my old junk

[Dante]

Did the DSG service and an oil change on the GTI. Car just crossed 50K and no issues. Breaks are next on the to do list for maintenance.