Dicky

Good advice thanks. Unfortunately I don't have a compressor but I think Aldi do a cheap one so I'll look in there toorrow. Great fun, who needs holiday outings when you can be lying on your back with your hands stuck up inside an engine with release oil, coolant and engine oil dripping in your face. Can't beat it

Think I know why now! Got up early (I'm retired) and had a look. Access is virtually impossible lying on your back under th car, especially the left hand side drain plug. Looked like the air intake bits would have to come off and even then it looks difficult. Couldn't even find the front of engine plug so I think this ones for a garage (when I can find one I can trust) I may be wrong but looking at the drain plugs they look as if they've never been touched, no scratches, nothing, yet my main dealer said theve changed the coolant a couple of times. Unfortunately the only sure thing is to doit yourself, then you know it's done!

By the way, why you not draining the coolant from the block? Are members getting air lock issues when doing this. Slightly worried now as I'm doing the coolant today as well as the gearbox and diff oils ?

Doing the same jobs myself at the moment. Got the parts from Clarks, can't fault them, next day delivery and a bag of sweets thrown in the box for good measure (could have been an easter egg though) ha ha Did the engine oil and belts yesterday afternoon and doing the gearbox and diff today (so long as the back of the car doesn't fall of the axel stands again that is) It's amazing the little things you learn about the poor standard of work provided by the main dealers when you do it yourself. I found most of the engine undertray held on with self tappers and one of the engine top covers (with V6 on it) had been sheared and jammed in to look as if in tact. Will have to drill that out later and replace it. Makes you wonder if the actually do much more than change the oil and filters. A tick's easy to place on a service sheet!

Cheers Vlad, very kind of you

Cheers young man. I had thought it was an industry standard to have magnetic drain plugs. I'll look out on eBay for one too.

Your right and I'll certainly not risk it again. The ramps work fine.

By the way did the engine oil first but noticed the sump plug isn't magnetic, is it supposed to be ?

I did, one each side and stood them on blocks of wood. Just as well I looked before getting under cos having jacked and supported one side then jacked and supported the other they were lying over slightly and by the I looked and checked again they were at 30 deg and fell off just as I got the trolly jack out the way. Close shave. Not doing that again. Probably have to get the garage involved after all. It's a buggar when you don't have the facilities.

I've got to do my servicing on the back lawn as it's the only part of the plot that's flat. As you guess this brings with it problems if you need to jack the car up. I've used planks laid on the grass that I run along then up the ramps sat at the end, that works fine and gives good access for a lot of jobs. Anyway I can't jack the back of the car up safely to get it level when filling the gearbox up again. Anyone else have this problem and come up with some lateral thinking to overcome it. Get the garage to do it I hear you say....LOL

I've done 65k now so the clutch and flywheel will need changing soon and am getting prepared for that. That plus any bits of jobs I can be bothered to do myself. Anyone had a clutch changed and happy with the price and work. Been looking on the net and found Pitstop in Newcastle, their website looks good but there workshop's located in a run down place. Also J m imports in Cramlington and Mac the Clutch in a Wylam I've taken note of the others you've mentioned

Can anyone recommend a decent independent garage that I can trust to work on my Z?

Never tried this but heard it works. If the spanner or socket is a bit slack put a layer or possibly two of aluminium foil over the nut then push your spanner or better still socket over it and onto the nut. The foil is supposed to take up the slack. Sounds plausible !

Thanks CS.

Daft question 2 Anyone know if the car has a "Cabin air filter" noticed it on the Nissan service check list, but don't know if it's just an item on another model. And while I'm on Daft question 3 Nissan manual says to use water to flush out the cooling system. Is that what everyone does and are there risks if water is left in, or does the coolant mix dilute it when added? Or am I being over cautious ?

I caught my front wheel arch on the garage ladders which misaligned the bumper. Took it to the stealers who said I needed a new bumper. Took it home removed the wheel and aligned it my self it was a doddle. Might be worth trying it as there is adjustment available and it could cut the overall cost. I'm quoting the obviousness now but NEVER LEAVE IT ON PUBLIC CAR PARKS ANYWHERE, Park safe and walk

cheers for that Dicky. Coolant ordered Oh did I not mention there was a 50% finders fee! silly old me forgetting that ha ha

Not sure what our traders charge but just found Nissan L 248 at Vospers.com for £13.79 for 5L and £6:50 postage. Anyone know where it can be had cheaper?

Ah so it's a special mix and not as in the old days a watering can of water with a bit of antifreeze dropped in. Ha ha Thanks lads for your input but remember to get swotting up cos my next daft question may well follow soon once I get the bits and start the work.

Oh and anyone know the antifreeze demineralised water mix ratio?

Looking to do my own servicing but unsure about bits and pieces. The first concerns the cooling system. I'm looking to drain and flush it. The manual says to fill it with "Genuine Nissan Long Life Antifreeze/ Coolant or equivalent mixed with water (distilled or demineralized)" I understand the antifreeze bit but what do they mean by " /coolant". I'd have thought the coolant was the water? Or is the coolant the antifreeze and water mix? Beware I may have more daft questions before I'm finished

Cancelled it like a man......got the wife to call ha ha. So any Geordie boys out there who can recommend a decent independent in Newcastle area (west side if pos, but "Have Z will travel")

Let's start a revelution then. Down with main dealer servicing and their bloody stamps (after the warranty period though! ) Up with independants and getting our hands dirty and the sore backs and the grazed knees and the freezing cold and getting the car up off the ground and the seized nuts and WD40 in the eyes and the wife complaining about the mess. Hmmmmmmm... On the other hand though, what is money, what's it for if not to make life easier and........ooh, think my resolve's failing..... BUT NO ! your all right on the money. Sod it. The day of main dealer servicing is over. Calling them now to cancel my appointment ( I'll say I'm not well, a viral infection I think) UP THE WIMPS ha ha ha

My dealer quoted £229 but won't be changing plugs or filter only oil and filter as they don't need doing.The more I think on it the more stupid I feel for not looking into this earlier. Like GMballistic I'm not going to sell it so will follow suit and like him do what I fancy doing myself and pay for the other stuff. There may be some milage in main dealer service if you intend selling after a couple of years of ownership but other than that i think it's a waste of money.

My cars 10yrs old now and as I've mentioned in earlier posts it's due a P2 service. I've had main dealer servicing from new, mainly to get the dealer stamp in case of resale. Anyway I've looked at the P2 action list and most of it is made up of look see and lubrication actions. Changing the oil and filter is a doddle, my air filter's a washable type and greasing actions are a joke. I'm thinking of ditching main dealer servicing now and doing it myself other than the more difficult jobs when I'll pay for just those actions. What are you all doing with your older cars?