The announcement that the Holden brand will no longer be after 2021 prompted me to think back when most of us used to service our cars ourselves and replace most parts ourselves like exhaust systems, starter motors and alternators.
I’m sure most of us used to go to either KMart, Marlows or Coventry’s to buy 4L of oil, oil filter, air cleaner, spark plugs, spark plug leads, dizzy cap, points, fan belt and the list goes on.
I stopped doing it after having serviced (oil change and filter) on my missus EB Falcon for probably the 6th time, reversed up the driveway as I always did to do a lap around the block to circulate the new oil around the motor and there was a big trail of oil all the way up the driveway.
What happened was the seal off the old oil filter stayed on there so when I screwed the new one on it was seal on seal and oil pissed out everywhere. It was the hardest oil filter I ever had to change and decided that’s it for me, no more doing services myself, it just got too hard.
KMart’s auto section today just consists of car wash, seat covers, floor mats and a few phone holders. Don’t think they even sell car batteries anymore.
I’ve got a 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid and I have to get the dealer to change the passenger side headlight bulb. It’s just nuts. Cost me $88 and I think they were generous. The bulb itself costs around $40.