Since day one, Haynes has been all about helping you, the home mechanic, to carry out your own repairs on your vehicles. Here, we celebrate those who use their spare time and Haynes Manuals to repair and improve their pride and joy.
DIY champion: Diarmid Hawkins, Aberdeenshire
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Fiesta ST (that has been… fettled)
The demise of the Ford Fiesta in 2024 was a sad event for fans of good fun hatchbacks all over the world. But the good news is that the Fiesta will not go gently into the night, not with folks like Diarmid Hawkins around.
You see, Diarmid is a bit of a fan of the Mk6 Fiesta, ever since he first bought a basic version as a cheap hack to drive to and from work, and to get him through an Aberdeenshire winter, a time of year said to be so harsh that it’s the only period when the locals miss the summer midgies.
But that first Fiesta must have shrugged off the chilliest season, and stirred something in Diarmid, because he was smitten. So, once the spring had arrived (but not the midgies) he began, as he says, a “rite of passage for middle-aged men”, by investing in an old hot hatchback – in his case a sporty Fiesta ST.
And then the work began.
Diarmid says his car was “better than expected but still in need of some love”, and he was determined that his Fiesta would be a) made to last a lot of years, and b) one of the best-driving examples out there.
Jobs to be done on the Fiesta ST
Diarmid grabbed a sheet of paper and drew up a list of jobs he wanted to carry out on the Fiesta. Then he went and got a second sheet, because the list was so long.
Jobs included reconditioning the brake calipers, fitting a full exhaust system, replacing the shock absorbers, the springs and the rear-axle bushes, during which he needed to remove the rear axle. Enough? Not a chance.
Diarmid then needed to change the gearbox oil, remove the entire front end, then remove the inlet manifold and replace a faulty pcv hose and valve.
Enough? Still no.
Then he decided to get rid of the air-conditioning system, and therefore had to fit a different auxiliary belt.
And he also planned to prep and underseal the whole underbody.
How did the Fiesta restoration go?
Next up, he invested in the Haynes Manual for the Fiesta Mk6, and that was a decision he never regretted, saying: “From day one it was there, like a trusted pal, guiding me through, with lots of pictures and videos. It was the perfect assistant when by impatience and cack-handed skills got the better of me.”
So, he carried on the good work, and replaced the car’s coolant, the engine oil and filter, pollen filter, and the power-steering reservoir and fluid. Oh, and he fitted a new throttle body.
It’s fair to say Diarmid’s been a busy boy, helped here and there by various young family members.
He says: “It seems like a lot of work, but I actually had no real issues, apart from the odd stuck bolt and bit of rust. Still, everything was very well explained in the manual.”
We’re genuinely chuffed that we helped Diarmid keep a classic Fiesta on the road.
Tell us about your repairs
We think Diarmid’s story is brilliant. Keeping an old hot hatch on the road is precisely what the Haynes ‘repair don’t replace’ philosophy is all about. And on top of that, Diarmid’s saving a whole load of cash by doing all that work himself.
That’s why we’d love you to show us what you’re working on and how you’re using Haynes to help you out.
Just send us a few details about yourself and your vehicle to yourrepairs@haynes.co.uk
Tell us about any issues you’ve encountered or any problems you foresee, plus a few pictures, and we’ll feature you on our website and social channels.
After all, repairing and restoring a vehicle isn’t that hard, and can bring a real sense of delight as well as extra confidence. Let’s tell people all about it.
