How often do you change... [on a modern car]

[70herald]

the radiator / heater hoses

Distributor cap / rotor

Other semi-disposable parts

why do I ask? Becuase my Toyota ('98) has NO scheduled replacement at all.
Now changing the hoses is a big pain (at least one of them, I can;t see ANY way of getting at it without removing the intake manifold!
Yesterday, I disassembled the distributor which was in itself a big project since a bunch of other stuff needs to come out first. The contacts were really burned up. Now I cleaned them, and not surprisingly, the engine suddenly is much smoother at idle. I clearly need order a new cap ASAP.

Looking through the scheduled maintenance, the only things they ever list are: oil / filters, gas filter, plugs, and timing belt.

Yisrael

 

[prb51]

None of my 'modern cars' (1997 and up) have distributors or rotors, I'm surprised yours does as I haven't seen one on a new car in years. Not in the conventional sense anyways.
Hoses about every 5 years or so usually when doing some other maint job. Exterior belts based on a visual of cracks per square inch in the tooth area. I'll change a water pump out at 10 years regardless and the alternator too. Coolant when needed (chem check) and brake fluid every 4-5 (I live in a very low humidity area). Tranny/dif per schedule.
Many of the scheduled Maint in the US has to do with state law and not what's really required. Cam belts are normally changed at 60k miles but California required auto makers make the parts last to 100k. So auto makers just changed the service mileage to 100k in Ca and left it 60K elsewhere. I hope those cars had non interferance heads. That's whats lead to the loss of ZDDP in our oils here, it's being mandated that catalytic converters last for 150k and ZDDP degrades them.

 

[70herald]

None of my 'modern cars' (1997 and up) have distributors or rotors, I'm surprised yours does as I haven't seen one on a new car in years. Not in the conventional sense anyways.


Interesting, mine certainly has a distributor in the very conventional sense! (fully electronic though) Looking at the parts catalog, I see that it is the same part that was used on the US version unil '94.
Yisrael

 

[prb51]

Actually, just have not seen anything lately looking like a dizzy.
Do you have similar smog/enviro equipped vehicles there? I'm driving a Toyota Surf diesel in Kandahar and love the thing but they are not available Stateside due to the above.

 

[70herald]

Do you have similar smog/enviro equipped vehicles there? I'm driving a Toyota Surf diesel in Kandahar and love the thing but they are not available Stateside due to the above.

Our smog rules match the European market. The car market here is too small to make a special version. Diesels are allowed just like in Europe. The only real throwback is that leaded gas is still available everywhere. Kind of silly since almost all the cars on the road are new enough that they need unleaded.

The Surf is very nice. Not many of them here, but the Hilux pickup which it is based on is rather common.

 

[prb51]

You had to bring the hose issue up didn't you. I had two radiator hoses blow today!
Local vehicle maint here is rather 'unique'. We rent our surfs from Kabul but they are maintained downtown Kandahar. Shade tree mechanics without the conceptual background. Makes everything just that much more exciting. I actually feel safer in my beat up surf as the suicide bombers are normally looking for military convoys or very fancy/shiny blacked out window huge SUV's with the multiple antennae (very low key)and bodyguards riding shotgun.

 

[70herald]

You had to bring the hose issue up didn't you. I had two radiator hoses blow today!

Two hoses! How does that happen, once the first goes all pressure and coolant is gone. Hope you were in a "friendly" zone.

 

[prb51]

Probably one was bad and leaking before the other just gave way (lower). I wasn't worried about saving the vehicle so drove til I got where I needed to be.
I had a flat the other day and had KBR pull the tire for repair as it was Friday (Afghan week end)...the inside casing had a 4" split (prior) and our local mechanic Sadiiq (Lucky) Farhad had cut a 6"x10" piece of innertube to lay over the split and then put a tube (multiple bicycle patches)in the non tube wheel/tire. I brought my AK47 to our get together and he got the message, lots of smiles all around. Actually he means well, it's just the way things are done here. He was amazed I was upset. You'd be amazed at the 'shops' doing rebuilds and their specialty tools. I am constantly amazed.

 

[jlaird]

Very intresting, I can see that in my minds eye. Thanks.