Importance of correct servicing on car.

[fredob43]

I know when I put things on TVF that some think I go over the top regarding correct servicing.

Friend of mine has just phoned me, he is on a trip to one of the islands. When His 4 year old Nissan pick up went T/ts up.

Called into Nissan and it was a simple fix needed a new Fuel filter.

His car has done just over 50th km And he has never checked or replaced fuel filter. Should be checked at 30th and replaced if necessary. Just a heads up to get your one sorted if it's done a few KM.

Snap of my one at 30th and yes I did replace it.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by fredob43

[transam]

Does his ride have a dash warning light, or it has, but he ignored it... Please let us know.

My ol' Vigo does not have a fuel filter service time scale, the dash light tells you well in advance when it needs changing....

[CharlieH]

Not saying its correct, but, there are many that adopt the attitude of "if it aint broke dont fix it" and dont adhere to preventative maintenance and just fix things as they arise, as often they cant afford to do regular scheduled servicing.

 

[fredob43]

9 minutes ago, transam said:

Does his ride have a dash warning light, or it has, but he ignored it... Please let us know.

My ol' Vigo does not have a fuel filter service time scale, the dash light tells you well in advance when it needs changing....

Haven't a clue if it has warning light. He's going on holiday and I'm not going to phone him to ask. He just phone me to tell me he had a problem and my reply was should have brought a Toyo. I just put this in as a heads up. If your warning light has come up you have left it to late anyway. Just look in your book service times are all in there. Or you could take pot luck and use a non main service dealer like some I know. Your old one did have  change time scale I did have one that was the same as my old 3lt tuner 30th check. It's in the book. You just had to read the correct servicing.

Edited October 2, 2019 by fredob43

[Kwasaki]

1 minute ago, CharlieH said:

Not saying its correct, but, there are many that adopt the attitude of "if it aint broke dont fix it" and dont adhere to preventative maintenance and just fix things as they arise, as often they cant afford to do regular scheduled servicing.

 

I think it's more of a case people don't check what's needed at the time in the service book it shows regular scheduled servicing for certain parts a good car service place would check it.

[transam]

1 minute ago, fredob43 said:

Haven't a clue if it has warning light. He's going on holiday and I'm not going to phone him to ask. He just phone me to tell me he had a problem and my reply was should have brought a Toyo. I just put this in as a heads up. If your warning light has come up you have left it to late anyway. Just look in your book service times are all in there. Or you could take pot luck and use a non main service dealer like some I know. 

He should have bought a Toyota....?...Don't think he wanted to hear that...

 

If the warning light comes on you have not left it to late..

 

What happens when you run low on fuel, a warning light comes on, but it don't conk out 100 yards after does it...

I would be very surprised if his ride did not have a fuel problem warning light, but maybe it hasn't....

[NanLaew]

The only time I had to change a dirty fuel filter on anything was on my MOL V10 6 x 6 in Saudi back in 1978.

 

I must be doing something wrong I reckon.

 

 

Note it was maybe already 10 years old when I was handed the keys and it STILL had red plates.

Edited October 2, 2019 by NanLaew

[fredob43]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

He should have bought a Toyota....?...Don't think he wanted to hear that...

 

If the warning light comes on you have not left it to late..

 

What happens when you run low on fuel, a warning light comes on, but it don't conk out 100 yards after does it...

I would be very surprised if his ride did not have a fuel problem warning light, but maybe it hasn't....

He had already had it fixed problem solved. He would have said the same thing to me. It's a joke if you cant tell. Just go on using the same place as usual but just check in the book first as they haven't a clue what service time and things should be done. I know you like to have a go at me regarding only using Toyo service agent but at least they know what things should be done when it gets to the correct time.  

[transam]

Just had a look, Nissan does have a fuel filter change dash light, as well as water in the filter light..

[fredob43]

2 hours ago, transam said:

Just had a look, Nissan does have a fuel filter change dash light, as well as water in the filter light..

You don't seem to get my point. It doesn't matter if it has a light or not it should have been checked at 30th then he wouldn't have had the problem in the first place. They lights by the way only come on once the thing is Bu//ered.

 

Just try a imagine what position he would have been in if he had left at night. No garage's open to get it fixed. So he would have had to get a place to stay till one opened or sit in the car. A pain in the Butt whatever he did. Hence my post the importance of correct servicing.

  

Edited October 2, 2019 by fredob43

[transam]

9 minutes ago, fredob43 said:

You don't seem to get my point. It doesn't matter if it has a light or not it should have been checked at 30th then he wouldn't have had the problem in the first place. They lights by the way only come on once the thing is Bu//ered.

 

Just try a imagine what position he would have been in if he had left at night. No garage's open to get it fixed. So he would have had to get a place to stay till one opened or sit in the car. A pain in the Butt whatever he did. Hence my post the importance of correct servicing.

  

The old days of see through filters have gone, but yes you can dismantle a Toyota filter to have a look, but they don't, they rely on the light, when it comes on you have zillions of Km's to use to get it sorted, unless you just filled up at a place that is scraping the bottom of their mother tank...

As I said, the Vigo does not have a time or Km fuel filter change point in the handbook, the light tells you when to do it, same for water in fuel, even timing belt change time, all shown on the dash..

[cornishcarlos]

Problem is, Toyota or Ford or Nissan whatever, you take it to a dealers and let them do the service. It's often pot luck if they actually do everything that is on the service schedule. If you then have to go round and check, might as well do it yourself.  

[Samuel Smith]

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

The only time I had to change a dirty fuel filter on anything was on my MOL V10 6 x 6 in Saudi back in 1978.

 

I must be doing something wrong I reckon.

 

 

Note it was maybe already 10 years old when I was handed the keys and it STILL had red plates.

10 years old was classed as almost brand new when I was with GSI in Saudi in 1988 ???? 

[Lacessit]

Engineering tolerances on modern cars are far tighter than 20 or 30 years ago. It was said of the Australian FJ Holden ( 1952 ) that you could hear the pistons slapping the cylinder walls.

Those tolerances mean servicing at regular intervals has become far more critical. For example, one ignores correct servicing on a CVT transmission at their peril.

[topt]

4 hours ago, fredob43 said:

It's in the book. You just had to read the correct servicing.

Difficult when it may only be in Thai - like mine is even though I have a separate manual in English.....

 

1 hour ago, cornishcarlos said:

Problem is, Toyota or Ford or Nissan whatever, you take it to a dealers and let them do the service. It's often pot luck if they actually do everything that is on the service schedule. If you then have to go round and check, might as well do it yourself.  

Agreed and for many, me included, they would not necessarily have the nouse to do so.

 

However I do completely agree with trying to get the correct maintenance done at the right time 

[fredob43]

2 hours ago, transam said:

The old days of see through filters have gone, but yes you can dismantle a Toyota filter to have a look, but they don't, they rely on the light, when it comes on you have zillions of Km's to use to get it sorted, unless you just filled up at a place that is scraping the bottom of their mother tank...

As I said, the Vigo does not have a time or Km fuel filter change point in the handbook, the light tells you when to do it, same for water in fuel, even timing belt change time, all shown on the dash..

Total rubbish. All the books 3 I have had including the Vigo same as yours said check at 30th.

 

Well you can keep your light suggestion. Have just phoned my chum he made it to Pattaya OK. He's off to Co somewhere tomorrow. I asked him about light and he said it never came on. So he thought it might be either fuel Filter or the Chip he put in a couple of years ago.  

 

Chip no problem he would just disconnect. Didn't make it 50km before it almost came a standstill. Pulled into the nearest garage and they found it to be F/Filter. New one installed made it the rest of the way to Patts some 500+km without a problem. Suggest peeps read the book, and whatever you do don't wait for any lights they might not as in my mates case come on. 

[essox essox]

5 hours ago, transam said:

He should have bought a Toyota....?...Don't think he wanted to hear that...

 

If the warning light comes on you have not left it to late..

 

What happens when you run low on fuel, a warning light comes on, but it don't conk out 100 yards after does it...

I would be very surprised if his ride did not have a fuel problem warning light, but maybe it hasn't....

when my "low" diesel warning light come on I can do about another 80 kms....Mitsu Triton.....

[Kwasaki]

5 hours ago, transam said:

He should have bought a Toyota....?...Don't think he wanted to hear that...

 

If the warning light comes on you have not left it to late..

 

What happens when you run low on fuel, a warning light comes on, but it don't conk out 100 yards after does it...

I would be very surprised if his ride did not have a fuel problem warning light, but maybe it hasn't....

I don't know about owning Nissans truck in Thailand other than I have driven them and I like em, an old 3000 ltr Nissan tubo manual I drove left my son in my Vigo auto top of the range 4x4 4 door Vigo for dead when we mucking about having a race. 

When we swapped over my son was surprised too.

[transam]

12 hours ago, fredob43 said:

Total rubbish. All the books 3 I have had including the Vigo same as yours said check at 30th.

 

Well you can keep your light suggestion. Have just phoned my chum he made it to Pattaya OK. He's off to Co somewhere tomorrow. I asked him about light and he said it never came on. So he thought it might be either fuel Filter or the Chip he put in a couple of years ago.  

 

Chip no problem he would just disconnect. Didn't make it 50km before it almost came a standstill. Pulled into the nearest garage and they found it to be F/Filter. New one installed made it the rest of the way to Patts some 500+km without a problem. Suggest peeps read the book, and whatever you do don't wait for any lights they might not as in my mates case come on. 

My English Vigo handbook does not show a diesel filter change period.....

 

What the book says is.....

"The fuel filter for a diesel engine does NOT need to be replaced periodically"..

Got it....?

 

Why is that, because it is engineered for longevity, the warning light TELLS you if you need to change it.

My old Vigo warning light came on, which I thought was strange as the handbook said it more or less goes on for ever, so I reset the warning light to see what happened, it came on again after a zillion Km, then I changed it.

 

Back on topic, so your chums warning light never came on, I would go to the main dealer to analise the warning light system, just in case other stuff ain't working...

 

PS. For you I can post the relevant handbook page if you want..

 

 

Edited October 3, 2019 by transam

[Classic Ray]

Maybe some people think like me that they are fed up with upselling by main dealers whenever you get the car serviced. "Change these wipers, steering bushes starting to perish, but have to replace complete steering arm not just the bush, shall we flush this, renew that?" I demand to look at old components first, and generally find most of it is unnecessary. People who don't know about cars must be mystified. 

[Jaxxper]

Can’t stress too much how dealer servicing at an authorized center is key to getting warranty claims settled. Just extended my Honda warranty for another 2 years to bring it to 5 years and 140 k kilometers. Works out at Thb 950 month for the extra 2 years. Peace of mind in my view. Just need a major issue outside of the standard warranty duration and you’ve got your money back. Also includes extended roadside assistance too.

[David in the north]

17 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

Problem is, Toyota or Ford or Nissan whatever, you take it to a dealers and let them do the service. It's often pot luck if they actually do everything that is on the service schedule. If you then have to go round and check, might as well do it yourself.  

I have to be fair - I had an Isuzu Mu 7 for over 8 years & my Mu X has been "in the family" for over 4. So far, no problems. Always serviced by Isuzu - & up to present, I have been very impressed by them. Correct tools, correct use of tools & trained people doing the work.

[DavisH]

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

Maybe some people think like me that they are fed up with upselling by main dealers whenever you get the car serviced. "Change these wipers, steering bushes starting to perish, but have to replace complete steering arm not just the bush, shall we flush this, renew that?" I demand to look at old components first, and generally find most of it is unnecessary. People who don't know about cars must be mystified. 

Once your warranty is finished, especially for very old cars, you are better to find a good independent garage. I used to take my civic to a local garage that had an ex-honda dealer mechanic running it. They just did the work I asked for. The dealer used to include additives in my service that I didn't as for. Now with my new car I make it clear for them to only follow what is in the service book. 

[cornishcarlos]

16 minutes ago, David in the north said:

I have to be fair - I had an Isuzu Mu 7 for over 8 years & my Mu X has been "in the family" for over 4. So far, no problems. Always serviced by Isuzu - & up to present, I have been very impressed by them. Correct tools, correct use of tools & trained people doing the work.

 

Like I said, pot luck... If you get a good dealer, they look after you. Some however, are very average !!

[Happy Grumpy]

20 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Not saying its correct, but, there are many that adopt the attitude of "if it aint broke dont fix it" and dont adhere to preventative maintenance and just fix things as they arise, as often they cant afford to do regular scheduled servicing.

 

 

 

Just look at the tires on local's scooters and motorbikes. 

 

Balder than a roll-on deodorant. 

 

Still can use, don't spend money on it. 

[9653]

21 hours ago, NanLaew said:

The only time I had to change a dirty fuel filter on anything was on my MOL V10 6 x 6 in Saudi back in 1978.

 

I must be doing something wrong I reckon.

 

 

Note it was maybe already 10 years old when I was handed the keys and it STILL had red plates.

..for transport of dead canguru's?

[spornb]

Let common sense prevail

Oil and  oil filter every 10, kms, plus clean air filter

Fuel filter, gearbox oil, every 50,000kms

Injectors and brake fluid every 100,000kms

 

DO NOT OVERSERVICE

 

My foreign car dealer from Japan ( was not Toyota, Honda, or Nissan) wanted us to service more often than manufacturers handbook, or void warranty,  then when I said I was going to publish what they said,  got a lawyers letter threatening defamation

 

Many and most garages offer a long list of additional additives etc each service adding unnecessary cost

[transam]

15 minutes ago, spornb said:

Let common sense prevail

Oil and  oil filter every 10, kms, plus clean air filter

Fuel filter, gearbox oil, every 50,000kms

Injectors and brake fluid every 100,000kms

 

DO NOT OVERSERVICE

 

My foreign car dealer from Japan ( was not Toyota, Honda, or Nissan) wanted us to service more often than manufacturers handbook, or void warranty,  then when I said I was going to publish what they said,  got a lawyers letter threatening defamation

 

Many and most garages offer a long list of additional additives etc each service adding unnecessary cost

Yep, servicing is a big money earner, but to be fair most folk don't understand motoring stuff and go along with what the bloke, who is making money, tells them..

[brianthainess]

22 hours ago, Jaxxper said:

Can’t stress too much how dealer servicing at an authorized center is key to getting warranty claims settled. Just extended my Honda warranty for another 2 years to bring it to 5 years and 140 k kilometers. Works out at Thb 950 month for the extra 2 years. Peace of mind in my view. Just need a major issue outside of the standard warranty duration and you’ve got your money back. Also includes extended roadside assistance too.

My 2014 Nissan Juke IS a 5 yr warranty now still only 56 K on the clock.

[NanLaew]

20 hours ago, transam said:

Yep, servicing is a big money earner, but to be fair most folk don't understand motoring stuff and go along with what the bloke, who is making money, tells them..

Or they listen to the older blokes who reckon that adhering to a schedule of longer miles/hours between the manufacturers recommended services on modern engines and transmissions is the pathway to premature and catastrophic mechanical failure. They ignore the new manufacturing technologies, components and lubricants they've just forked out one-an-half-mill for and still talk about 'running in' engines and changing engine oil maybe a couple of times BEFORE the first manufacturers recommended oil change.

 

You know who you are.