TOPIC:

The announcement that the Holden brand will no longer be after 2021 prompted me to think back when most of us used to service our cars ourselves and replace most parts ourselves like exhaust systems, starter motors and alternators.

I'm sure most of us used to go to either KMart, Marlows or Coventry's to buy 4L of oil, oil filter, air cleaner, spark plugs, spark plug leads, dizzy cap, points, fan belt and the list goes on.

I stopped doing it after having serviced (oil change and filter) on my missus EB Falcon for probably the 6th time, reversed up the driveway as I always did to do a lap around the block to circulate the new oil around the motor and there was a big trail of oil all the way up the driveway.

What happened was the seal off the old oil filter stayed on there so when I screwed the new one on it was seal on seal and oil pissed out everywhere. It was the hardest oil filter I ever had to change and decided that's it for me, no more doing services myself, it just got too hard.

KMart's auto section today just consists of car wash, seat covers, floor mats and a few phone holders. Don't think they even sell car batteries anymore.

I've got a 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid and I have to get the dealer to change the passenger side headlight bulb. It's just nuts. Cost me $88 and I think they were generous. The bulb itself costs around $40.

You can still service the modern car - it's just that you have to shell out the coin to buy an ECU tuning kit online and there's a couple of them that service all makes including the Germans & Euros
Oil changes are a piece of piss if you have a decent under car trolley to lay on and a good pan - modern battery changes are the hardest item simply due to alarm systems & lock mechanisms , they are a pain in the arse big time

When I was a young bloke at Uni I had an old EH Holden wagon which I used to go surfing down south in. I blew the head gasket a couple of times and fixed it myself. These days I hardly even open the bonnet let alone get my hands dirty...it's too bloody hard with all the technology in a modern car.

BC wrote: When I was a young bloke at Uni I had an old EH Holden wagon which I used to go surfing down south in. I blew the head gasket a couple of times and fixed it myself. These days I hardly even open the bonnet let alone get my hands dirty...it's too bloody hard with all the technology in a modern car.

What era was that BC? Did you used to sleep under the melaleucas at Yalls or Gracetown?

BC wrote: When I was a young bloke at Uni I had an old EH Holden wagon which I used to go surfing down south in. I blew the head gasket a couple of times and fixed it myself. These days I hardly even open the bonnet let alone get my hands dirty...it's too bloody hard with all the technology in a modern car.

Fair to say BC you owned a torque tension wrench? I changed a few rocker cover gaskets and adjusted the tappets with a set of feeler gauges. Turning the flywheel until you get top dead centre. Lol

I think everyone owned a timing light. I did an apprenticeship as an auto electrician but didn’t carry on with it. Wasn’t really my choice, found it a very awkward and frustrating occupation though I enjoyed reconditioning alternators and starter motors. I reconditioned hundreds of them, could probably still recondition a Bosch or Lucas alternator today blind folded. Lol

Yes used to mess around with this stuff for a while.

Saturday morning lining up at Shacks counter, or Coventries getting your spare parts for the Holden.

BC wrote: When I was a young bloke at Uni I had an old EH Holden wagon which I used to go surfing down south in. I blew the head gasket a couple of times and fixed it myself. These days I hardly even open the bonnet let alone get my hands dirty...it's too bloody hard with all the technology in a modern car.

I remember changing an entire engine with the old man, hire a tri pod away you go.

Wouldnt even open the bonnet now, cant be bothered.

DD wrote: The announcement that the Holden brand will no longer be after 2021 prompted me to think back when most of us used to service our cars ourselves and replace most parts ourselves like exhaust systems, starter motors and alternators.

I'm sure most of us used to go to either KMart, Marlows or Coventry's to buy 4L of oil, oil filter, air cleaner, spark plugs, spark plug leads, dizzy cap, points, fan belt and the list goes on.

I stopped doing it after having serviced (oil change and filter) on my missus EB Falcon for probably the 6th time, reversed up the driveway as I always did to do a lap around the block to circulate the new oil around the motor and there was a big trail of oil all the way up the driveway.

What happened was the seal off the old oil filter stayed on there so when I screwed the new one on it was seal on seal and oil pissed out everywhere. It was the hardest oil filter I ever had to change and decided that's it for me, no more doing services myself, it just got too hard.

KMart's auto section today just consists of car wash, seat covers, floor mats and a few phone holders. Don't think they even sell car batteries anymore.

I've got a 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid and I have to get the dealer to change the passenger side headlight bulb. It's just nuts. Cost me $88 and I think they were generous. The bulb itself costs around $40.

KMART Auto was bloody good, they had a massive range, including all the service manuals, hard to believe its all gone, pretty much taken out by Super Cheap Autos I guess, who have the lot. I been there a few times recently, just grabbed some mats and some basic stuff.

Tiger of old wrote:

BC wrote: When I was a young bloke at Uni I had an old EH Holden wagon which I used to go surfing down south in. I blew the head gasket a couple of times and fixed it myself. These days I hardly even open the bonnet let alone get my hands dirty...it's too bloody hard with all the technology in a modern car.

What era was that BC? Did you used to sleep under the melaleucas at Yalls or Gracetown?

Mid to late 70's Tiger. We were so poor being students that a couple of us would share the same milk on our cereal in the morning and drank port from a flagon and Stones Green Ginger wine coz it was all we could afford....but it was a great time nonetheless. No sunscreen back then just a bit of pink zinc so used to get sunburnt to buggery in the water all day and paying for it now. My mum who only passed away a few months ago at age 93 made some curtains for the wagon and I put a foam mattress in the back and my mates and I would crash in there unless I had a sheila with me whereby mates would sleep on the ground....bloody good times for sure.

DD wrote:

BC wrote: When I was a young bloke at Uni I had an old EH Holden wagon which I used to go surfing down south in. I blew the head gasket a couple of times and fixed it myself. These days I hardly even open the bonnet let alone get my hands dirty...it's too bloody hard with all the technology in a modern car.

Fair to say BC you owned a torque tension wrench? I changed a few rocker cover gaskets and adjusted the tappets with a set of feeler gauges. Turning the flywheel until you get top dead centre. Lol

I think everyone owned a timing light. I did an apprenticeship as an auto electrician but didn’t carry on with it. Wasn’t really my choice, found it a very awkward and frustrating occupation though I enjoyed reconditioning alternators and starter motors. I reconditioned hundreds of them, could probably still recondition a Bosch or Lucas alternator today blind folded. Lol

Yes mate...my old man showed me how to do it. He had an old tension wrench and feeler gauges...I'd buy a head gasket from Coventry's or similar and away I'd go. A different time that's for sure.