Lude Generation

Hey all,

It is coming into the good weather and i promised myself this year that i would get better at performing basic maintenance etc on my Lude.

However, there is one slight problem with this plan, i don't have a bloody clue what i am doing

I don't know my fuel pump from my manifold sprocket or which things i can even attempt to do on my own.

However i have done some quite complex tasks like removing the heat shield and painting it. I even bolted it back in

So can anyone point me in the direction of a decent manual/book/literature/video series? etc which i could buy/follow to improve my knowledge? Is the Haynes Prelude manual the answer?

As said, my knowledge is at a very basic level but i am keen to learn and i am pretty good at following instructions etc.

I have also just bought myself a decent set of tools so the only thing holding me back now is my own stupidity

Kind regards

start by doing yourself a list of the jobs you'd like to carry out, post them on here and we'll be able to tell you whats easy/hard

i have the manuals in pdf, i could email if you like
ok my goof, i now see you have a 5g oops no good then as mine are 4g sorry

http://www.ludegeneration.co.uk/wiki/in ... Literature

Download, Read, have a look at your car, scratch head, ask questions

Pretty much how we all do it lol

Hammertime!

just download the bible mate theres everything you need in there

as for capability the 5g manual pretty much makes it idiotproof

as for me ill attempt pretty much anything on the car, however because its my daily im always terrified in case something goes wrong then thats me with no car

what sort of tasks would you want to do?

Oil Change?
oil filter change?
Service brakes?
Change spark plugs?
etc.

If it is these then they are fairly easy to do as long as you have the necessary tools and access to a flat level surface for putting the car on stands etc. I'm in Glasgow so if you need a helping hand then let me know.

BMCC

Most jobs aren't too bad, so long as your handy with the spanners and other diy stuff, you should pick it up easily. Handbooks and stuff are great, also the internet for 'how to' videos on YouTube etc...

The best thing I'd recommend is watch other people so work on their car. About 5 years ago, i knew sod all about maintenance, and now i can do most stuff, i picked it up by watching and lending a hand. If you have a friend or relative who is doing something on their car no mater how big or small, go around and watch and lend a hand.

just a quick word of warning though! be prepared for -

skimmed knuckels
grazed wrists and arms
back ache from bending into the engine
neck ache from looking up from below the car
arm ache from loosening bolts that have never been taken off before
constantly dirty hands/arms + face from where you've scratched your nose
be prepared to swear ALOT
rounded and or snapped bolts
chewed threads
ALOT of head scratching and googling


oh and did i say alot of swearing? its totally worth it when you get the job done though, not only have you saved some money but you suddenly feel like you could really be chief mechanic in the Mclaren pits and that your abilities know no end!!

cool, thanks people!

Yeah, i guess i have done a wee bit myself. I have swapped ignition leads, spark plugs, cleaned out my EGR valve, oil change, refurbed cam cover, removed front bumper, changed headlights, swapped grills, fitted intake, stuff like that. I suppose it wasn't too difficult after a bit of internet searching

I do have a copy of the manual on my laptop but it's a bit of a pain to-ing & fro-ing from driveway to house all the time.

I guess i am just not sure what a garage would check when they do a service but should be easy enough to find that out on-line.

My Lude is my daily driver so again there is the fear that if i undo something, it might not go back on

I take it from the comments that i should just get stuck in, so prepare for the cries for help if it all goes tits-up

Thanks for your help all