Gloved hands reaching into the opened rear panel of an appliance, a row of screwdrivers laid out on a folded towel, a green work light overhead.

The Vehicle Wear Items

The maintenance a shop charges the most margin on, done in a driveway with hand tools, and the jobs that are worth paying for.

Module 6 of 74 lessonsWritten in full1 worksheet

Start this module The whole course

The lessons

All 4, in the order they are read.

1. Fluids and filters, and the intervals that are real
Some published intervals are engineering and some are marketing; the service manual distinguishes them and the quick-lube board does not.
2. Brakes, honestly
Pads and rotors are within reach of a careful amateur; hydraulics and anything you cannot torque to spec are not.
3. Tyres, and the cheapest safety you can buy
Pressure, rotation, alignment and the date code. Three of the four are free and one is the most under-checked number on a car.
4. Reading a code without obeying it
A trouble code names a circuit, not a part, and the part it appears to name is usually innocent.

The worksheet

Vehicle maintenance ledger

One row per service item, per vehicle. The two cost columns are the argument: fill both and you will see quickly which jobs are worth your Saturday and which are worth the shop's invoice.

Vehicle maintenance ledger
Item	Manual interval	Last done (date / odometer)	Next due	DIY cost	Shop quote	Decision
EXAMPLE — engine oil and filter	From the service manual, not the door sticker	—	—	—	—	DIY
Cabin and engine air filters	—	—	—	—	—	—
Brake pads front / rear (measure thickness)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Brake fluid	—	—	—	—	—	Usually shop
Tyres: pressure, rotation, date code	—	—	—	—	—	—
Battery: age, terminals, tested	—	—	—	—	—	—

4 further rows in the downloadable sheet.

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Module 7: Repair or Replace →