Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes => Topic started by: georgem on October 06, 2013, 06:48:54
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Hi,
I wanted to check when our car was due for a service and the only way I could do this was to search through my receipt file to see when the last service was done. This info is normally kept in a vehicle handbook but of course even if I had one, the tear out servicing records would be well and truly full.
So, would you care to share how you keep track of the services that your do/have done - on the wall of the garage, in an exercise book or does someone sell a generic service record book?
Cheers
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I've created a spreadsheet on the pc which lists in the rows the service activities to be performed, and in the columns the km points at which they need to be performed. Then 'X' es in the cells where the particular activity is needed (ie oil filter every so many thousand, but spark plugs less frequent). Then there are some things you need to do time-based rather than km/miles based such as replacing pil, coolant and brake fluid so you need to factor that in. When i do an activity, I cross through the 'X' in the particulR cell.
I think reproduction service manuals can still be found, but those don't detail out, per interval, what needs to be done, so i prefer to use the spreadsheet.
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That's very organized. I tried the pc thing, but it just highlighted the fact that my servicing activity was in fits and starts, either grossly over-serviced in terms of the greasing, or under serviced when I was away for very long periods. My wife bought me a lovely leather bound journal with the cars name embossed in silver on the front. I now keep an automotive diary listing entries by date and mileage together with the activity performed. It's more indulgent than technical, and I use it to list jobs I need to do. I quite like the written history element over the simple mechanical check list, but my system doesn't keep me honest to the schedule, although my job is largely to black,etc for that.
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Same as Cees I've created a spreadsheet showing original purchase price (when I got the car) as well as parts and maintenance. I also added a category for time I spend fixing and maintaining things (at a modest $40-/hour rate ~grin~). It keeps a nice running total.
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I have a combination. I do use a spreadsheet to keep the overall data. But I use an At A Glance auto record book, that I keep in the car. It is a very handy booklet that has tabs, for gas, oil, repair, lube, tires, notes and some blank pages. I have one for each car.
Auto Record Book, 3 3/4" x 6 1/8", Black, AAG8013505 (this is the Amazon reference) it was listed at $12 USD when I just looked it up. Sometimes you can find them at office supply stores.
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A good PC based program that I use for all of my cars is Automotive wolf. Has a lot of features and can be backed up. I am not a techie so if I can use it, so can you. About $30 and can be updated.
http://www.lonewolf-software.com/automotivewolf.htm
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I use Automotive Wolf too. Very handy for reminders, part numbers, quantities, tools needed, torque specs, suppliers, etc. which is handy when doing maintenance routines. but you gotta do the data entry.
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I keep a spiral bound note book in the shop into which I enter the work that I complete on all cars in my charge in chronological order. Every so often, I'll take the note book to the computer where there are files for each car also in chronological order into which I copy the jobs accomplished. When a page of an individual file is completed, it is printed and placed in an acetate sleeve in a loose leaf binder relative to that particular car together with receipts for parts and supplies purchased as well as photographs of major or interesting work performed. As I've maintained some of the cars for almost 50 years, the binders are getting quite full, but they do document all important points in the cars' history and should prove of value when the time comes for the cars to be sold.
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In addition to Autowolf, I also have several separate Word documents for keeping track of all parts bought (complete with part numbers), specs for example keeping track of shims that I have added and for major parts that have been replaced and when.
I primarily use the Autowolf for routine maintenance reminders. Not as crucial with the W111 but very handy for the daily drivers that rack up the miles. Time and miles pass quickly and before you know it, time for another oil change!