Many drivers get a little nervous before booking a car service, as it’s often hard to know what issues may arise and what expenses may be incurred as a result.
However, there are a few things you can do before you take your car into the garage that may just help to save you time, money and stress.
Failing to perform a few simple checks on your car before a service can mean you miss some vital aspects that would otherwise be easy to rectify.
You should also ensure that everything is as it should be following your service, as it’s possible that you’ll later find problems that your garage missed, and you may have to pay extra to have them fixed, as you’ll already have been charged for the original checks and tweaks.
In order to understand what to do before a car service to help you save money, and what you should check afterwards in order to make sure that the work has been done correctly, the automotive specialists at Dronsfields have created a simple car maintenance and servicing checklist.
We’ll also explain what happens in a car service, and why little changes you can make beforehand can save you quite lot!
Signs that Your Car Needs a Service
It’s usually advised that you should take your vehicle to be checked and maintained at least once a year.
However, if your vehicle is regularly and heavily used, or has to navigate rough terrain most of the time, you may wish to have it serviced more regularly, and if it only receives very light use, it may not be as pressing a matter.
The rule of thumb is that your car should go for a full service every 12,000 miles.
The first signs that your car needs a service can be found if you check its logbook and see that it’s been almost a year since its last one!
You should also watch out for your “check engine light” or service light illuminating on your dashboard, as this means that your car is due to be checked over in a garage.
Any smoke or steam coming from under your bonnet should be checked out, as should any vibrating or unusual pulling while braking.
Another sign is if any part of your car starts making a noise that’s different from usual, from crunching gears to squealing brakes, whining or uneven engine sounds and anything that sounds like the scraping of metal.
Finally, if you’re starting to feel bumps in the road a little more, there may be an issue with your suspension, which is another reason to head to the garage.
Car Maintenance and Servicing Checklist
It’s best to understand what happens in a car service before you book one, so you know what to expect and have a good idea of what the mechanics will be looking at. An interim service usually involves:
- – Checks for damage and wear (body, wheels and trims, brakes, steering)
- – Engine check and servicing (replacing oil and filter, sump plug seal or full plug replacement check, timing belt check, spark plug check, coolant check and top up, undertray check)
- – Checks for oil and fluid leaks
- – Fuel filter check
- – Clutch, gearbox and driveshaft gaiter check, clutch fluid replacement
- – Lights and horn check
- – Battery check
- – Steering and suspension check (power steering reservoir top up, steering rack gaiter check, wheel bearings check, shock absorber testing
- – Exhaust checks
- – Brake checks and adjustments (callipers, service brake shoes, wheel cylinders, hydraulic system, handbrake checks and lubrication, brake discs, brake fluid top up
- – Tyres and wheels check and adjustment (tyre fitting, tread depth, pressure, wear, wheel balance, wheel nut torque)
- – Windscreen and wiper checks (wiper condition check, windscreen washer position, screen wash top up)
- – Interior checks (cabin filter, dash lights)
A full service tends to include all of the above, along with:
- – Extra engine checks and adjustments (radiator condition, leaks, cap seal, coolant hoses, cooling fan, alternator belt and auxiliary drive belts and air filter replacement)
- – Greasing prop shaft, axle oil check and top up
- – Gearbox fluid check and top up
- – Extra electrical checks (diesel heater plug indicator, battery checks and terminal lubrication, High Tension leads check, alternator charging check)
- – Steering and suspension greasing
- – Bonnet catch lubrication
- – Extra brake checks (brake servo, fluid boil test)
- – Extra visibility checks (windscreen chips and cracks, mirror condition, number plates condition)
- – Extra interior checks (seatbelts, door locks, door hinge lubrication)
How long does a service take?
An interim service should take around an hour and a half. A full service should take around three hours.
What to Do Before a Car Service
There are several checks that you can do before getting your car serviced to help you save time and money. These are:
- – Checking your oil levels. If your car is low on oil, you can get it topped up as part of a service, but this is likely to cost you much more than it would if you did it yourself.
- – Checking your screen wash. The same applies here – it’s really easy to top this up, and it will save you from being charged extra for premium products as part of your service.
- – Checking your engine oil. You can also top this up yourself.
- – Checking your tyre pressure. Most passenger tyres should give a reading of 32 psi to 35 psi when they’re cold. However, you can check the requirements of your specific make and model either by checking for a sticker displaying that information on your driver’s side door or, if there isn’t one, by consulting your user manual. You can then inflate the tyres yourself at a garage.
- – Checking your tyre tread depth. Your tyres should not show wear below 3mm. If they are found to have worn beyond that when at the garage, it can be extremely expensive to purchase new ones on the spot. Give yourself more time by checking them yourself and researching where to find cheap replacements if you need to.
Do I need to empty the boot before a car service?
Yes, garages and service centres require an empty boot before servicing, as they’ll need to inspect the condition of your spare tyre.
Do I need to clean the car before a car service?
It’s not vital to clean your car, but it may make it easier for your bodywork to be checked for damage, and to make sure that visibility through your windscreen, windows and in your mirrors is as it should be.
What to Check After a Car Service
Your service centre will usually allow you to test drive the vehicle before you make any payment after your car has been checked and maintained. You should take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that everything is in good working order.
You should also check that:
- – The oil has been changed
- – The oil, fuel and air filters have been changed
- – The engine oil has been topped up (it should be a lighter colour if it has)
- – The engine coolant and brake fluid has been changed (this is almost impossible to tell afterwards so it’s best to take your car to a garage where you can watch the service being undertaken)
- – The tyres are in good condition if they have been changed
- – That a job sheet has been filled out, and the tasks is shows have definitely been undertaken
- – That your bill displays everything that has been done, and at the right price
This should show you that the service has been thorough and that everything is now as it should be.
Hopefully, you’re now a little more informed about what happens in a car service and what you need to check before and afterwards to get the very best value for money. Remember, checking levels of accessible fluids and oils as well as the condition of your tyres can really make a difference, as can ensuring that all work has been performed thoroughly and successfully before you pay and drive away.