I would like to tinker with my van but my experience is limited to an engineering course 29 years ago which was based on an old mini. Is it just a matter of following You Tube videos or is there a good book or short course I could investigate? Ideally I would like to be able to fit and remove parts, sort out electrics and service the van.

Decent set of tools.

Watch a video and make a realistic assessment of whether you could do whatever it is with the skills and tools you have available.

Start with small jobs and work your way up.

Not needing the vehicle the next day always helps take the pressure off if you need to get further parts etc to complete a job.

Jobs requiring specialist tools or diagnostic equipment you won’t do often are probably worth just getting a garage to do (unless you can hire them).

If you’re struggling with a task walk away, go and have a cup of tea or a bike ride. Think. Then go back to it. Don’t just press on regardless.

Haynes aka Haynes manuals now have on demand videos of various be worth worth looking in to.

In a big dry shed.

In a big dry shed.

If I had one of those I probably wouldn’t have to tinker with the van. Haynes online sounds good.

Under the van.

Decent set of tools.

And a pair of axle stands, theres nowt worse than being pinned to your driveway by a brake disc 😉

Some traps DIY’ers always seem to fall into are:

1) Starting a job without the correct tools to do the job pickle forks, pullers, bleed bottle, calliper wind back tools, clutch plate alignment tools, unusual/proprietary fasteners etc
2) Having no concept of what needs to be removed to get to the bit you are working on, then getting confused as to how it goes back together
3) Getting or being supplied wrong/faulty parts especially when your only vehicle is immobilised!
4) What to do with seized/corroded fasteners and hidden fixings (cotter pins etc). I know someone who tore a sump off and sheared the gearbox fasteners they had missed 😆
5) Knowing where brute force is needed and when not. Oh and/or what you can snap/break off and what you can’t!
6) Some jobs no matter how well planned will require patience and some lateral thinking to complete!!

Schematics if available are always handy. Shit sockets will burst under high loads/seized fasteners. You will need extension bars and occasionally swivel joint and deep sockets. 1/2 and 3/8 sets will cover you for most jobs. A scaff bar slid over a wrench is useful full stop and a good substitute for a breaker bar.

Not needing the vehicle the next day always helps take the pressure off if you need to get further parts etc to complete a job

This is the one for me and what stopped my home mechanics of after 15 years. I still like to fault find though. If it’s your work vehicle, and only vehicle it’s Sunday at 21:00 and you are still reassembling it’s no fun.

Second a big socket set and a deep socket set.
Hex and torx sockets.
Wobble connector for sockets.
loads of pullers.
Good set of taps.
A lot of rudimentary tools can be made with a pillar drill and taps and a selection of books threaded bar.
Angle grinder and bench grinder.
ODB 11 tool and some sort of software for your manufacturer. Even a generic one is useful.
If you can get a copy of autodata it is worth while. Lists common problems.
Axel stands. Bottle jack, trolley jack. Thick cheap camping mat to lie on / sit on.
Selection of hammers and drifts and punches.
Small mirror.
Old meat dish.

For seized items nothing beats heat. The bullfinch torches look good for a non oxy fuel set up. Have not tried personally but want to as I do not have access to oxy fuel anymore.

Mapp guns get stuff cherry 🙂

Top tip don’t buy the cheapest parts you can find. It’s worth buying better quality in almost every case.

Think the first Job i did was an alternator …. Mostly because it was easier and quicker than getting the garage

Top tip would be to familiarise your self with where everything is on the van prior to the event then your not scratching about in the dirt when the time comes.

For basic servicing which is probably the easiest place to start. Try and see if there’s a YouTube video for your vehicle.

But remember be methodical don’t rush and always double check.

Don’t be that guy that sticks oil in without a sump plug or forgetting to change the oil filter before hand.

Or worse….the guy who starts his engine with the oil out…..and it’s happened to a mate of mine.

Start with the basics, servicing, brake pads etc, put all the bits you take off safe, in order if you can so they go back on in reverse. Clean what you can while it’s off, don’t get oil or grease where it’s not supposed to be.