Once we picked up the van, it was time to see what we were in for. I knew it needed a full service, as we had no idea when the last one would have been done. Plus, it drove like an absolute BOAT so I knew I needed to do something for the suspension!
The DIY Phase: Filters and Oils
First up we tried to tackle as much as we could ourselves. We got stuck into the 4WD maintenance basics and did the following:
- Diesel filter and air filter
- Rear diff oil
- Transfer case oil
- Gearbox oil
- Engine oil (including a flush)
Now I won’t pretend like I’m a mechanic – while I knew the basics, it was super helpful to have my friend Adam around to help, and then by some miracle Ian from @sunnithecoaster was also in town who had trained to be a mechanic was there to help too! Basically it meant that any thing I was ‘unsure’ about I could get full guidance and confirmaion on how to do it.
However, we hit a bit of a snag. We got stuck with a difficult sump plug on the front diff, so we decided it was time to call in the experts.
Off to the Professionals: Atlas4x4
That’s okay, off to the professionals! The guys at Atlas4x4 took her in for an assessment. They also determined it needed a new rear wheel bearing (which unfortunately they couldn’t do in shop, we went to Aussie Diffs for that).
However we got them to do the front diff, change the coolant, and do the timing belt (as this was most likely a few thousand km overdue). They gave it a bit of a once-over and overall we were pretty stoked on the condition the vehicle is in.
Getting the Auto Electrical Sorted
Finally it was off to my favourite local air-conditioner and auto-electricians, Central Coast Auto Electrical. No free ads here, but I have taken almost all of my vehicles to these guys at some point for alternators, starters, batteries, and aircon issues. They’ve always been honest and reasonably priced – these guys helped get our old and no-longer functioning aircon (it was literally blowing heat through) for a decent price and BOY did that help!
Ultimately I am so glad we did most of the service ourselves – now if something breaks while on the road, I am way more familiar with the vehicle and will be able to diagnose things just a little better than if we hadn’t!
Next up – suspension and wheels and tyres!
