working on your pilot

[late49er]

Hello Everyone,

I live in a fairly nice apartment complex and would like to work on my pilot. Oil Changes and such.

I was thinking about just going to the back of the complex and changing oil etc.,

Don`t think anyone should really care. But I could be wrong.

Just curious how some of you folks who don`t live at a house with a garage handle this kind of thing.

Thanks,

Late49er

[charly]

It is difficult for us without a garage.

I remember once when i was working on my other car, changing the oil pan gasket. and it took me about 2 to 3 days but because i was doing it in my free time. What a free time huh.
But any ways at the last day of labor when i was finishing it, the landlord came up to me and said. What are you doing? and i told her what i was doing. And she said no you can't do this here. and that was my last warning. or else i was going to get kicked out. yikes...

I would say that whatever you are about to do. before you put yourself on the ground, make sure you have all your tools right on hand and do it as quick as you can. so you don't get caught.

[Shindig78]

Yes, it is difficult. At my house, I have street parking only. While I do have a garage in the back with alley access, it is difficult to work on my car out there. Luckily my parents live close, and they have a huge driveway, so I usually do my work at their house.

Before I bought my house, I lived in a nice apartment complex that had rules about working on cars in the parking lot. I believe that the car had to be driveable (or at least appear to be driveable), otherwise it would be towed. In other words, you couldn't leave a car up on blocks or anything like that.

I was able to use that rule to my advantage once -- a neighbor's guest (apparantly drunk at the time) drove over a curb and hit my Mercedes. It turns out they were from out of state and uninsured. (this is a VERY long story, so I'll keep it short) Basically, after running the curb, the guy's Ford Probe had two flat tires on the driver's side. He propped up the car with telephone books (??) under each of the now-exposed brake discs while he took the wheels to have new tires mounted. While he was out, I reported him to the management office (they were already involved because of the accident) and had him towed. You might ask -- how do you tow a car if it's missing both driver's side wheels? The answer is that you just drop it to the ground and drag it up onto the flatbed.

[charly]

likely it was't your pilot he hit..because that woud hurt even more....

[late49er]

Hello and thanks for the responses.

Not sure what I will do for now. Suspect I will just go to the back of the complex and change the oil.

Have to say I am going to try to do most if not all of my fluid changes. After some of the things I am hearing about dealers and what goes on there at least if I do it myself I know it is done.

Any stories out there about dealers and routine maintaince.

Know I had the dealer do a oil change shortly after buying the car and noticed oil coming out from around the oil filter area. Got under the car and found the tech did not tighten the filter. I had to clean up a real mess and put about a quart of oil in the car.

Thank goodness I noticed it.

Then I talked to a repair shop and they wanted to use a heavier weight oil. Told me it really didn`t matter and also use their brake fluid and other stuff. who knows what a mess they would have made.

Man what a crazy situation.

Thanks for listening.


Late49er

[tunergirl]

Originally posted by late49er
Hello and thanks for the responses.

Not sure what I will do for now. Suspect I will just go to the back of the complex and change the oil.

Have to say I am going to try to do most if not all of my fluid changes. After some of the things I am hearing about dealers and what goes on there at least if I do it myself I know it is done.

Any stories out there about dealers and routine maintaince.

Know I had the dealer do a oil change shortly after buying the car and noticed oil coming out from around the oil filter area. Got under the car and found the tech did not tighten the filter. I had to clean up a real mess and put about a quart of oil in the car.

Thank goodness I noticed it.

Then I talked to a repair shop and they wanted to use a heavier weight oil. Told me it really didn`t matter and also use their brake fluid and other stuff. who knows what a mess they would have made.

Man what a crazy situation.

Thanks for listening.


Late49er

What's your location? I don't see it in your profile

[late49er]

Hello,

I live in Nevada.

Not sure if we have all the bandit Honda Dealers but we have our share.

Made some inquiries on some basic maint. work today and was told that replacing automatic transmission fluid, vtm fluid and brake fluid will run about $300. And by the way we will need the vehicle all day and you can just figure it out.

Man there were times when this sorta stuff would have landed folks in jail.

I use to have a jeep and I remember at the 30,000 mile maintenance I was told it would cost around 700.00. I went about nuts and bought the fluids, etc., spent about 50.00 for parts, etc., and did it myself in about 3 hours.

Great lesson was learned. I knew it was done and had a better feel for keeping the vehicle work up to date.

Guess it is time to learn that lesson again.

[colorider]

Originally posted by late49er
Hello,

I live in Nevada.

Please add your location to your profile. It makes it easier to help answer specific questions at times.

Thanks!

[ericsgr]

I was worried about this too. I live in a condo complex and when I was installing my coolers and foglights I had the whole bumper off and everything in the parking lot. I just parked it with the front of the car towards the fence though, so it wasn't so obvious. Nobody said anything to me................maybe because it was over in a day. Man, I can't wait to own a house.

[tunergirl]

Originally posted by ericsgr
I was worried about this too. I live in a condo complex and when I was installing my coolers and foglights I had the whole bumper off and everything in the parking lot. I just parked it with the front of the car towards the fence though, so it wasn't so obvious. Nobody said anything to me................maybe because it was over in a day. Man, I can't wait to own a house.

I know the feeling. Last year we had our accord half in the garage and half out of the garage for 2 days while putting in a J35 in it in our old apartment complex luckily we didn't get into trouble but then again we told them we were doing it and when along with how long it would take but they let us do it but wasn't happy about it now we have our own house with no HOA (hom owners association) to tell us what we can and cant do. I will be so glad when we actually purchase it this summer to add on to your garage since we don't have much room left with a 4' (max) lift in our garage.... lol