Servicing your vehicle at regular intervals has many benefits including improved handling, smoother ride, and increased fuel-efficiency and most importantly it minimises the risk of breaking down. The service schedule for your vehicle will depend on the manufacturer, the age of the car and the mileage.
Regular servicing can help to identify potential problems before they become real ones. Servicing will make sure that essential checks are carried out to critical vehicle components such as your braking system and suspension to make sure that these vital parts don’t let you down when you need them most. Regular servicing provides peace of mind that the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.
Regularly servicing your car will undoubtedly improve the life span of the vehicle and maintain value when it comes to selling it in a completive second-hand market.
Levels of servicing are illustrated below:
| SERVICE PLAN OPTIONS | EXPRESS | INTERIM | FULL |
|---|---|---|---|
| VEHICLE INTERIOR | |||
| Check Instruments, Gauges, Warning Lights. | X | X | X |
| Check Horn. | X | X | X |
| Check Adblue / Eolys Warning Light. | X | X | |
| Check Interior Lights. | X | X | |
| Check Clutch Operation (Manual Only). | X | X | |
| Check Seat Belts. | X | X | |
| Check Climate Control / Air Con System is Operating Correctly. | X | ||
| VISION | |||
| Check Windscreen Wiper Condition and Operation. | X | X | X |
| Check Rear Wiper Condition and Operation (if fitted). | X | X | X |
| Check Windscreen Washer Operations. | X | X | X |
| Top-Up Windscreen Washer Bottle(s). | X | X | X |
| Check Windscreen for Chips and Cracks. | X | X | X |
| Check Mirror Condition (Interior and Exterior). | X | X | X |
| Check Number Plate Condition. | X | X | X |
| Check Exterior Lights. | X | X | |
| PRE ALIGNMENT CHECK | |||
| Check Steering, Suspension Linkages and Ball Joints for Wear, Damage and Condition. | X | X | X |
| Suspension – Check Shock Absorbers and Springs. | X | X | X |
| TYRE INSPECTION | |||
| Check Tyre Tread Depth. | X | X | X |
| Check Tyre Pressures. | X | X | X |
| Check General Tyre Condition. | X | X | X |
| Check Tyres for Uneven Wear. | X | X | X |
| Check Tyre Age. | X | X | X |
| Check Spare Tyre. | X | X | X |
| Inspect TPMS Valves. | X | X | |
| Inspect TPMS Warning Light / Sensor. | X | X | |
| UNDER THE VEHICLE | |||
| Visual Brake Check. | X | X | |
| Full Brake Inspection. | X | ||
| Check Fuel Pipes for Routing, Damage and Corrosion. | X | ||
| Check Engine, Transmission and Rear Axle Train Drive. | X | ||
| Check Drive Shaft Joints and Gaiters for Wear and Damage. | X | ||
| Check Exhaust System and Mountings. | X | X | |
| SERVICE ITEM REPLACEMENT | |||
| Replace Engine Oil and Filter. | X | X | X |
| Replace Fuel Filter (Diesel Vehicles). | X | ||
| Replace Cabin Filter. | X | ||
| Replace Air Filter. | X | X | |
| Report if Spark Plugs are due to be changed according to Mileage. An additional charge applies for the supply of Plugs and Fitment. | X | X | |
| Check and Report on Cabin Filter Replacement if Due to Mileage and Age. | X | X | |
| ENGINE | |||
| Drain Engine Oil and Refill (Special or Synthetic Oils Subject to Additional Charge). | X | X | X |
| Replace Sump Plug Seal or Report Sump Plug Replacement if Integral. | X | X | X |
| Check for General Oil Leaks. | X | X | X |
| Auxiliary belt Inspection. | X | ||
| Check for Timing belt Replacement Interval and Report if Due According to Mileage or Age. | X | ||
| Check Radiator Condition, Security and Report any Leaks. | X | ||
| Check Radiator Cap Seal. | X | ||
| Check Coolant Hoses for Leaks and Condition, and Security Check Securing Clips for Tightness and Report. | X | ||
| Check Brake Fluid Level. | X | X | |
| Report if Spark Plugs are Due to be changed according to Mileage. An additional charge applies for the supply of Plugs and Fitment. | X | ||
| Check Battery Condition and Charging Rates. | X | X | |
| Check Antifreeze and Top Up Coolant as Required. | X | X | |
| Check and Report Condition and Security of Under Tray. | X | X | X |
| FINAL CHECK | |||
| Vehicle Road Test. | X | X | |
| Reset Service Light. | X | X | X |
| Stamp Service Book. | X | X | |
Questions and Answers
Why is it important to get your car serviced?
Regularly servicing your vehicle have many benefits, namely, increased fuel-efficiency, better handling, improved braking and a smoother running engine. Probably the most important reason to service your vehicle is to maintain its market value.
What’s included in an interim service?
An interim service is the most basic level of car service which will get you a stamp in your service book and the car’s service clock reset, if applicable. The oil and oil filter will be changed, some additional safety checks will be made and some moving parts will be lubricated. The checks will be centred around the horn, lights, brakes, fluid levels, exhaust, tyres and searching for any fluid leaks in the car.
What is included in a full service?
A full service includes all the same tests in the interim service, in addition to a further 29 points of interest. Typically included will be top ups of the brake fluid and antifreeze, more brake checks, an inspection of the engine, wheel bearings and shock absorbers and replacement of pollen filters/inspection of the air conditioning system are usually included too.
A full service usually includes everything apart for any parts specified as requiring replacement in your vehicles servicing schedule, such as fuel filters, spark plugs etc. These can be added as chargeable extras or, some garages refer to it as a major service and will charge accordingly.
How do I tell if my car needs a service?
Dashboard warning lights come, on indicating that your car requires attention sooner, rather than later. Excessive amounts of smoke coming from your car’s exhaust can be due to an oil leak or an exhaust system problem. Urgent attention is required if you have any abnormal smoke. Strange noises indicate problems. Feeling a vibration or pulling when braking or an uncomfortable ride are typical signs.
How often do you need to service your car?
Most cars will need to be serviced once a year or every 12,000 miles. However, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to car servicing, as every car is different. Each manufacturer has a recommended service schedule for its cars; check your owner’s manual for guidance.
What happens if you don’t service your car?
It’s important to regularly service your car, even if the service light isn’t on. If you drive with little to no oil in your car for an extended period, you can severely damage the head gasket or the pistons, and when these break, the repairs can be very expensive. A reconditioned engine can save money, but still cost thousands.
Can you just add oil instead of changing?
You should top up your car immediately if you are at or below the proper oil level to prevent damage to your car. Adding oil to your car, however, is not a substitute for replacing your oil regularly in a service.
