Hey everyone,

Here's the situation. I currently do my own basic maintenance and I am all self taught b/c I don't know anyone that does their own maintenance on their cars. The basic stuff I do includes oil changes, air filter changes, cleaning the throttle body and MAF, basic maintenance 1 stuff. I want to start doing the maintenance 2 stuff myself, or at least the easy stuff. In the owners manual it says:

1. Lubricate the front suspension
2. Lubricate the steering linkage
3. Lubricate the parking brake cable guides
4. Lubricate the Control arm ball joints
5. Body hinges and latches, key lock cylinders, folding seat hardware, and rear compartment hinges, linkage, and handle pivot points lubrication.
6. Automatic transmission fluid level check and adding fluid if needed.
7. Transfer case fluid level check and adding fluid, if needed.

I know how to do #5, 6, and 7 but don't know about 1 - 4. I have the service manual but it doesn't really say much about what fluids to use and where to lubricate these parts. I could guess at it but I want to be sure I am doing things correctly b/c if I'm not there isn't any point in doing it myself.

My question is does anyone know of a resource that I could find this information out (I tried searching the forum w/no luck) or would someone be willing to do a write up or do you suggest I just continue to pay someone else to do this since I really don't have a trained professional showing me what to do?

PS: I just wanted to add that I'm not doing this only to save money but b/c I really enjoy working on my car so that is a major factor on why I want to learn this stuff myself.

Thanks in advance,


Jason

 

So no one has any advice on where to learn how to do some of this stuff or references I could read? I just wanted to check before I give up until I come across something or someone that can show me the ropes.

 

Well ................. for #1, #2 and #4 it requires a special truncated byfugal bearing lubricator tip with extendable swivel mount to access the invisible left handed Guatemalan suspension grease zerks.

Of course it goes without mentioning (but since you asked for some help, and wanting to be helpful) you will also need a pair of Dick Tracy X-ray goggles in order to spot the above noted zerks, and make sure never to put them on backwards. Two quarts of Super Duper Luber Doober should do it annually.

Now, if you want, the same SDLD can be used on #3, but I personally prefer Nothing To Grease Or Lubricate brand and apply it never.

 

I haven't seen any zerk fittings to grease the front end with. Most is sealed. When they break you replace. For the brake cable just have someone depress it while you are underneath and you will see where the movement is. I honestly have never greased my brake cable.

 

Yeah, I get it, it's simple but as I said I've never done it so I'm just not sure I'm doing it correctly and was just looking if someone knew of a link to a video or manual of some sort for how to perform basic maintenance work the correct way. BTW - thanks Gladiator for the brake cable idea.

I was just reading that there are no grease / lube points on a H3? Is this the case and if so why would they put #1,2, and 4 in the service manual?

 

I should think that would be obvious! They put it in the manual so you will take your H3 to a GM dealership and pay them $500 to take care of those items.

 

As above mate, I service my own H3 as well here, as they want to charge $500 for a basic oil and filter change here.

Change oil, when required flush brake fluid, radiator fluid power steering fluid, to do the above they charge around $1000 here

Just get under your H3 check over suspension points, and grease anything that looks like it need some lubricating, and clean things up a bit.

Don't over think it mate the service guys just change the oil and filter and give you a bill, so what ever you will do will be better than what they would have done anyway, and at least you know it's got good oil and filters in it.