Performing a light service on a Toyota RAV4 '04 model (My Daily Doings)
Hi there fellow Hivers and Mechheads!
Today I will be tackling an oldie but goldie a Toyota RAV 4. I will be performing a light service on this vehicle and sharing how I do it and what I do. Any input would be appreciated. Especially in how I can increase the quality of my content! Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my post. Feel free to ask for advice, after all its free.
The General Backstory.
A client came in early in the morning wanting a quick service on his vehicle, he was bound to hit the road and wanted some extra assurance that everything would be fine and that he would make it safe and sound to the end of his journey which is roughly 900-ish kilometers away.
We initially inspected everything, fluids, mechanics and electrics. We did recomend a total brake and brake disc replacement on all four wheels of the vehicle, unfortunately the client wasn't very eager on that, hence the parts being very expensive.
Ended up giving him a light service and helping him where we could, he was a old man being somewhere around 65 to 70 years of age, it also didn't look like he had much left both financially and in terms of friends and family and helping someone in need is almost like investing in the universe.
Light service meaning:
Spark-plugs replacement
Air-filter replacement
Oil-filter replacement
Oil drain and fill
Also topping up the brake fluid, steering fluid, anti freeze.
Its a small and neat little vehicle, its not the 4x4 version. As you can see its had its fair share of road behind it not looking quite like the day she was born, but I think when these models came out back in the day they were very popular and somewhat luxurious little things. The newer RAV's are much much bigger now though.
When starting my service I usually do a visual inspection first.
This includes.
- Checking for oil leaks.
- Inspect oil hoses.
- Checking for water leaks.
- Inspect water and radiator hoses.
- Inspect intake pipe
- Inspect electrical wiring.
- Look and feel for loose bolts and nuts.
- Any bottle or container caps that might be missing.
Removing the air box is always my first thing to go to.
- Unbolt the intake hose clamp and removed air intake pipe.
- Unclipped pop over clamps that holds the top cover inplace.
- Removed and inspected air filter.
- Replaced air filter.
Removing ignition coils and spark-plugs
- Unbolted and removed the engine cover exposing valve head.
- Removed the plugs and unbolted the ignition coils.
- Gently pulled and wiggled on the ignition coils.
- Removed spark-plugs with proper socket.
Draining the oil
- Located drain plug and cleaned around the bolt.
- After getting proper socket size and ratchet.
- Slowly removed bolt in order not to spill oil.
- Drain oil, cleaned and replaced drain plug.
Removing the oil filter.
- Grabbing my handy gripping and removal tool, fits on extension tool making for easy use.
- Located the engine oil filter.
- Removed old oil filter and replaced without a doubt.
- Drained excess oil in bucket and placed underneath motor for oil to slowly drain.
Keeping everything safe
- I always store all of the old parts until the job is completely settles and the car is out of the workshop.
- I also always try to store them in the way they were removed.
- Ignition coils will be re-used.
New replacement parts arrived
- Received the new air-filter
- Received new oil-filter
- Still waiting on the spark-plugs
Re-installing the oil-filter
- Cleaned housing of the oil-filter to remove old dirt and grime.
- Lubed the rubber o-ring with a little bit of oil otherwise it might cause it to leak.
- Properly screw on the oil-filter, it has thick threads so cross threading is a big possibility.
- After making sure the thread is properly in place I can now start to tighten it.
- Hand tighten no tools required.
Finally the spark-plugs have arrived.
- Inspected to make sure they are indeed the same spark-plug part number and length wise.
- Checked length again. (If you might fail to notice that its a bit longer it can cause serious damage to your motor.
- Carefully installed spark-plugs.
- Carefully installed ignition coils.
- Bolted ignition coils down.
- Re-inserted the electrical plugs.
- Perfect.
Installing air-filter.
- I generally like to get the air nipple and blow out any residual dust in the air-box. (just cause)
- There was no need to compare the air-filters to one another, but I did so to show the difference.
- Gently place air-filter into its grooves.
- Added the top cover of the air-box, inserted the clips, connected the intake pipe and re-fitted the air-sensor electrical plug.
Adding oil.
- Before adding oil, I made sure that my drain-plug was secure and in place as well as my oil filter. Cleaning up oil can be a nasty business.
- I got the proper funnel for the job, one that can handle the oil.
- Always make sure what oil the vehicle or motor uses. Not all run on the same oil.
Re-checking everything.
- After making sure everything is in top notch condition. I always double check and sometimes triple check myself.
- I cleaned and wiped off most of the old dust on the engine covers and air-box giving it that nice clean look.
- Repacked and stored all of my tools in the correct places and in the correct manor, tomorrow when I need something I will know exactly where to find it.
The clients car is now roadworthy again (except for a brake job WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT) and can now be picked up by the owner. Always treat a customers vehicle as if it was your own. Respect goes along way.
Sharing my life experience on the Hive blockchain is a great pleasure for me to do, I have been on the hive blockchain since the days of steemit, I only recently rediscovered this blockchain and I completely forgot what a blast it was sharing my everyday life and its happenings with the blockchain and its community's. I want to give a big thanks to all of the supporters out there making the blockchain great and adding value to it everyday.
Once again your feedback would be highly valued and appreciated.
Very cool post @technicalside,
I have a deep appreciation for mechanical work because I was a mechanic on Cummins diesel engines in the military, and today I operate a 3D printer utilizing the skills I obtained.
Do you enjoy electrical work on vehicles as well?
I can tell you have a meticulous nature and the clients are no doubt happy with your work.
Thanks Bud! Well @futuremind although I do enjoy it from time to time because its something different then the actual mechanical work, so it always feels new and different when doing it, BUT it can sometimes be frustrating and tiring, especially when it comes down to the finer things of electricals..
I certainly do aim for higher standards, none the less much appreciated
This one is a Massive work for what i know of motors, nicely done bro, and
he was a old man being somewhere around 65 to 70 years of age, it also didn't look like he had much left both financially and in terms of friends and family and helping someone in need is almost like investing in the universe.I like that way to see life, do the right thing and worldly rewards will follow :)Its just sad that most people will overlook that fact, and still drive him into the ground for money.. We spoke to the man and told him if he ever passes by again he must come by so that we can help him out with a break job. I really hope to see him soon!
He was overwhelmed with joy..
People can sometimes be cruel in this world.. They say every man for himself.... But why does it HAVE to be that way??
Is that way because people are both fearful and selfish, that is about it, Why, is only a result of their own nature :)