Love and care - help needed!!

[darrent]

I'm about to pick my car (4.5) up on Saturday and I really want to look after it but unfortunately I am not the most mechanical (I can learn!!)- does anybody have a "check list" that I could use to maintain the car on a daily/weekly/monthly basis - FYI the car will be used daily and has done 26500 miles. I know this is probably not the best car in the world for a non-mechanic but you can’t stop your heart loving these gorgeous beasts! Also, does anybody know a good book that I could learn the basics of engine maintenance from?

Any help very much appreciated!!

[Beej]

Well done. You know it was the right thing to do.

Basic maintenence (as if I am any kind of expert!)- check everything as often as possible as per the handbook. It is not OTT to check the oil and water EVERY day - better to be safe than sorry. Don't ignore any warnings - rattles, thumps, odd noises, changes in the way the car feels or drives. Get to know your chosen service centre well (what am I saying? of course you wil get to know them well) so you can phone for advice even if it might seem trivial. Don't let a problem ride - fix it.

Loads of friendly helpful people on this site and others and some very good knowledgeable people out there - Joolz, Danny, Andy at APM etc

Most of all. Have fun

[darrent]

Thanks Beej,

I'm not scared at the prospect of daily maintenance just scared I don't really have a clue what to look for apart from the obvious oil and water, tyre pressure etc..

Thanks for the advice, I'm sure I will enjoy it!

[darrent]

Guys come on, somebody out there amongst all the experience you guys have must be able to offer a simple maintenance schedule!!!!!! Honestly, I'm very anxious to get some good advice.....!!!! Knew I should have bought that lovely Fiesta...........

[basher]

Darren - be honest with you the best thing you can do if non mechanically minded is get used to the car..do the daily checks for safety but just get used to the car and the noises it makes - once you are used to it you will generally know if something is wrong/not running right...besides these cars are pretty sophisticted and there is an MIL light that will illuminate if something is not right in the engine bay..I am not in the least bit mechanically minded (and thank god too as I would never poke around under the bonnet of these things anyway) but when little quirks arose you notice them easily...like bad tickover and broken potentiometers etc...the serious shite that really concerns us should set off the MIL light....but this is just me...James Hall, Danny and Joolz are probably the best to ask or Topdog if he still posts on here.....

[jeremyc]

Faisal has put together a Cerbera Owners Manual here: www.tvrfreak.com/albums/Auto/cerbera/Manual/Owner's%20Manual.htm which is possibly more detailed than you need, but good reading never the less.

Other than that:
- check oil & water levels and tyre pressures regularly.
- get used to the normal temperature and oil pressure readings on the guages and watch for any changes in them.
- watch for the MIL light/buzzer coming on.
- if there is anything that appears to be out of the ordinary get it checked by an expert (most dealers and independants are now used to paranoid/hypochondriac Cerbera owners now ).
- every 6000 miles take it for a service.
- don't skimp on maintenance: if something looks like it needs doing, do it. Preventative maintenance is absolutely vital.

But most of all: ENJOY.

[noodles 4.2]

Hello,

You should get an owners manual with the car. It has a number of checks listed and service guidelines etc...



It has all the usual stuff including fuse and bulb guides. The sort of thing you'd expect.

I like the bit where it goes on about not driving over fields in case they catch fire.

Tony

[yellowcerbie]

Hey, have I been ripped off? Did not get a spare tyre with my 4.5 (purchased new from garage too!) or was it a typo on that list?

[dannylt]

Typo. I think they stopped doing them at some point and just gave you a couple of cans of tyre sealer - you should definitely have these in a little flap under the fusebox (rear right)

[noodles 4.2]

yep, just tyre sealant.

[Thom]

jeremyc said: Faisal has put together a Cerbera Owners Manual here: [url]www.tvrfreak.com/albums/Auto/cerbera/Manual/Owner|www.tvrfreak.com/albums/Auto/cerbera/Manual/Owner's%20Manual.htm[/url]

FANTASTIC!
I have some reading for the whole winter!