quick questions about HGF

[billh]

Hello All,
q1, The socket for the head bolts is apparently E12 Torx female- is a 3/8 drive socket and extension bar up to the job or does it need to be 1/2 drive?
q2 Early on in the proceedings we are told to disconnect battery negative.
I have had the car over ten years, the radio is a Symphony and I do not have a code for it, not in the handbook either. It has never asked for a code but I have when ,for example, changing the battery, clipped a 12v supply to maintain some power while doing it. Do I still need to do this to keep the radio and if so , what is the point of disconnecting the battery, when the car will still be "live" from the external supply? (is it because an external supply will not deliver a dangerous current in the event of a short?).Thanks in advance

[spongeh]

q1. Yes - I used my e12 socket on an extension and then a solid arm with my trolley jack handle for the extra leverage. I did 90 90 90 90 rather than the 180 & 180 degrees in the guide I was following, the final 90 was hard work, but the socket took it.

[trikey]

I have always used a half inch socket for the head bolts.

[T-Cut]

Having recently done this job myself, I doubt a 3/8" drive would cope. I certainly wouldn't recommend it. A half inch Torx socket isn't expensive.

TC

[kaiser]

Originally Posted by billh

Hello All,
q1, The socket for the head bolts is apparently E12 Torx female- is a 3/8 drive socket and extension bar up to the job or does it need to be 1/2 drive?
q2 Early on in the proceedings we are told to disconnect battery negative.
I have had the car over ten years, the radio is a Symphony and I do not have a code for it, not in the handbook either. It has never asked for a code but I have when ,for example, changing the battery, clipped a 12v supply to maintain some power while doing it. Do I still need to do this to keep the radio and if so , what is the point of disconnecting the battery, when the car will still be "live" from the external supply? (is it because an external supply will not deliver a dangerous current in the event of a short?).Thanks in advance

Go for good quality 1/2".
The important thing to do in stages is the initial torquing of the bolts. Do them in increasing torque values until you reach 20 Nm. I did 5, 10, 15 and 20. Otherwise the first torqued in the middle will lose all tension once you get to the edge.
It is not clear in the instructions.
Then go have tea, and re check when you come back!