Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 11:36:40

Title: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 11:36:40
I reckon we ought to have a list of "standard" jobs that most people have to do on the omega, with times approximately to do, tools required, and a legend to sygnify the level of competance to do it,
i.e.

easy-peasy, anybody could do it #
quite easy, bit fiddly to do, but within the scope of most##
ok, but a pain in the arse to do, and time consuming###
quite hard, experienced spanner mongers job####
hard job, hard to do without some specialist facilities/tools#####
experienced engineers only, expensive, and poss main dealer for the majority of owners######

for example,

COIL PACK on 3.0 V6

must have torx sockets, ###, takes about 2hrs



and FRONT WISHBONES AND DROP LINKS

must have axle stands and good size levers with torque wrench ####, takes at least all morning.

you all know what I'm saying.........there are some really experienced engineers on here, but a lot of people are encouraged to have a go themselves at doing their own repairs. Just some sort of list to say "yes, have a go", or not really, you need a few more tools and expertise to attempt this"  might stop a few people starting a job and not being able to do it, or buggering it up for lack of correct tools or facilities.
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 02 September 2010, 11:44:17
I like the idea SS :y :y :y

I take it the ratings would be coupled with the maintenance guides?
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 11:47:15
That was the idea, Lizzie.......

imagine a relatively inexperienced mechanically owner, who wants to do the dispack on his/her V6 looking at this and thinking "yeah, I can do that"   just encourages and informs at the same time.
Lets be honest, anything that makes people want to work on their own cars is good??
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 02 September 2010, 11:50:19
Quote
That was the idea, Lizzie.......

imagine a relatively inexperienced mechanically owner, who wants to do the dispack on his/her V6 looking at this and thinking "yeah, I can do that"   just encourages and informs at the same time.
Lets be honest, anything that makes people want to work on their own cars is good??


Absolutely right!! :y :y :y

Personally I started learning to work on cars at 12 years of age, but there are many people who would do later in life if they had the confidence to do so.  The knowledge of how to is the next step. 8-) 8-)
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Iain on 02 September 2010, 11:59:56
I think that's a good idea  :y
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: unlucky alf on 02 September 2010, 12:03:55
Yup this is a sensible idea, i think the reason haynes manuals use the spanner icons is because thats how many spanners on average get thrown across the garage in frustration. :y
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Jimbob on 02 September 2010, 12:08:07
Yes, but who decides, and adds the ratings?

and do the ratings go in each guide (very time consuming) or just the index?

interested to hear views  :y
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Mysteryman on 02 September 2010, 12:09:19
Quote
I reckon we ought to have a list of "standard" jobs that most people have to do on the omega, with times approximately to do, tools required, and a legend to sygnify the level of competance to do it,
i.e.

easy-peasy, anybody could do it #
quite easy, bit fiddly to do, but within the scope of most##
ok, but a pain in the arse to do, and time consuming###
quite hard, experienced spanner mongers job####
hard job, hard to do without some specialist facilities/tools#####
experienced engineers only, expensive, and poss main dealer for the majority of owners######

for example,

COIL PACK on 3.0 V6

must have torx sockets, ###, takes about 2hrs



and FRONT WISHBONES AND DROP LINKS

must have axle stands and good size levers with torque wrench ####, takes at least all morning.

you all know what I'm saying.........there are some really experienced engineers on here, but a lot of people are encouraged to have a go themselves at doing their own repairs. Just some sort of list to say "yes, have a go", or not really, you need a few more tools and expertise to attempt this"  might stop a few people starting a job and not being able to do it, or buggering it up for lack of correct tools or facilities.


I think Mr Haynes thought of this one a while back, you spanner.
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Welung666 on 02 September 2010, 12:10:57
Good idea :y

How about this little fella?

(http://ganjataz.com/smileys/01-grayball/images/tools/bothhands-meholdit-spanner.gif)
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 12:13:06
Indeed he did you socket, but I was suggesting we adopted the idea for our "how to" guides, not claiming the idea as my own.

Thought it might inspire a few people to "have a go"

didn't think it was a vehicle to "extract the michael"

Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Mysteryman on 02 September 2010, 12:13:38
Quote
Indeed he did you socket, but I was suggesting we adopted the idea for our "how to" guides, not claiming the idea as my own.

Thought it might inspire a few people to "have a go"

didn't think it was a vehicle to "extract the michael"



Oh yes it is. ;D
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Proz on 02 September 2010, 12:14:26
Yeah i like this idea  :y
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 12:18:53
Quote
Yes, but who decides, and adds the ratings?
and do the ratings go in each guide (very time consuming) or just the index?

interested to hear views  :y


I think the same person who put in the guide could decide how easy/hard it was to do, taking into account how experienced they are themselves, and putting themselves in the position of someone less experienced of course.
i.e. I might find something easy, but I'm an engineer by trade. Mr D.I.Y might find it a lot harder, cos he's not, so will give it an appropriate rating for that person.
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Welung666 on 02 September 2010, 12:19:07
Quote
Yes, but who decides, and adds the ratings?

and do the ratings go in each guide (very time consuming) or just the index?

interested to hear views  :y

Ratings should be the concesus of the knowledgable members of the admin team.

Timings should be somewhere between what TIS states and the actual time the job takes, this allows for the less experienced to get close to the estimated times.

For ease I'd say just the index but if the masses would prefer them in each guide then I'd happily offer to do it on my many sleepless/insomnia nights.
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 12:20:32
Nice one Lee, you get what I mean.
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Auto Addict on 02 September 2010, 12:53:15
It takes me all day to do an oil change, at my age.... :(
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Auto Addict on 02 September 2010, 12:53:45
Quote
It takes me all day to do an oil change, at my age.... :(

I lie, it only takes half a day ;)
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Welung666 on 02 September 2010, 12:55:40
Quote
Quote
It takes me all day to do an oil change, at my age.... :(

I lie, it only takes half a day ;)

It's nothing to do with age B, it's because you're maticulous ;) :P
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 02 September 2010, 12:59:25
Note: Technician or Mechanic....not engineer
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 13:06:34
Dunno what the difference is.............

Says "electrical engineer" and mechanical engineer" on my City and guilds, so don't know any better.

s'pose "technician" is a specialist on one particular part of a car or something?
and "mechanic" covers all the car?
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Mysteryman on 02 September 2010, 13:12:59
Quote
Dunno what the difference is.............

Says "electrical engineer" and mechanical engineer" on my City and guilds, so don't know any better.

s'pose "technician" is a specialist on one particular part of a car or something?
and "mechanic" covers all the car?


I think what Mark is trying to say, Mike, is that you (well, me) would expect someone with the title of 'engineer' to be well versed in all aspects of mechanical/electrical engineering. A car mechanic would not be called if, say, the lifting gear on a 100 ton crane seized up. I would also expect a genuine 'engineer' to be involved at the planning stage of projects.
A bit pedantic, maybe, but job titles these days tend to devalue the true craftsmen.


On the other hand, maybe it's time for Mr DTM to appear on grumpy old men. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 13:35:21
Aha! so with the twin titles of "electrical engineer" and "mechanical engineer" I'm supposed to be a bit of a clever bugger, not an old worn-out thick git, then!

Ah, something to aspire too.......................... ;D
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 September 2010, 14:00:01
Quote
I would also expect a genuine 'engineer' to be involved at the planning stage of projects.

Exactly. So, developing the car itself, which technicians then maintain according to a schedule developed by the engineer. :y

I don't go round calling myself an architect just because I do a  bit of DIY. ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Debs. on 02 September 2010, 14:10:10
 ::)Perhaps for really demanding jobs the spanner symbol might be replaced with something more indicative; perhaps a derriere symbol for awful jobs like 'that' thermostat-housing bolt or for 'DIS Pack' or 'ABS ECU' changes. ;D
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 September 2010, 14:30:53
Quote
::)Perhaps for really demanding jobs the spanner symbol might be replaced with something more indicative; perhaps a derriere symbol for awful jobs like 'that' thermostat-housing bolt or for 'DIS Pack' or 'ABS ECU' changes. ;D

.. or even a flying "Sammy Sledgehammer"  ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Degrees of difficulty symbols
Post by: Sixstring on 02 September 2010, 15:00:05
"Derriere symbol" for an arse of a job.........PMSL!!!!

Nice one Debs .