We all think that we know the importance of Car Servicing - but recent reports show that many drivers are skimping on maintenance either in an effort to save money or simply just putting it off due to the demands of work or family. 

Many consumers can be discouraged by the considerable costs of having a service undertaken by a franchised dealer, not all are aware that a reputable independent serving centre or network can deliver the same or better service at a fraction of the cost. 

Regular servicing of your vehicle is imperative; it will improve reliability and save you money ensuring that potentially costly defects can be spotted early reducing the future costs of serious failure. Too many motorists rely on the annual or biannual ITV. 

 

Main dealers do not necessarily provide better results than an independent service centre. As with any service provider the size of the brand does not always equate to quality of service or value. A good independent garage will use approved parts thereby maintaining your warranty and can often save you money.

In October 2003 the rules governing the sale and after sales servicing of new cars changed. New cars purchased from that date do not require to be serviced by a franchised dealer in order for the warranty to remain valid. This represents a huge opportunity to save money without compromising quality. 

If using an independent garage, the service should be done to the maker’s recommended schedule and criteria using approved parts. Keep records to enable you to demonstrate to the manufacturer that servicing was undertaken to their requirements. 

 

The items that are checked during a service depend on the kilometres that the car has done from new and from the last service. For example in the heat here it is always a good idea to have the oil and filter changed every 8.000 to 10.000 kilometres. Most services even very small ones would check your brakes, your filters, your bulbs, tyres and pressures, engine levels, exhaust, steering, etc. Some garages can also check you cars ECU “brain” for any faults that it may have stored via a diagnostic code reader. 

What should you do in-between services?

You should check your cars levels and top up if necessary once a month as well as the tyre pressures, including the spare tyre. You should also check that the engine management light does not illuminate as this is a sign of a fault with the car and it should be checked by a mechanic as soon as possible. If possible it is also a good idea to check that all the bulbs on the car are working correctly. 

 

A. There is a long TSN technical service bulletin about all the required repairs when fitting a replacement turbo and many garages fail to implement all the requirements to prevent further failure! It is highly unlikely that the turbo failed as in failed! It’s usually caused by a diesel injector seal leaking in the cylinder head. The combustion gases leak past the seal and clog up the oil feed galleries to the turbo, causing the failure. When a turbo is fitted, it’s imperative that not only is the sump removed and cleaned but the rocker cover is removed and a close inspection of the injector seals is carried out or even replaced! When the injector seal is leaking it doesn’t affect performance and it doesn’t leak diesel, it allows carbon directly into the engine to causing the clogging. The only thing to do is get all the appropriate parts changed.