Ford Fiesta Major Service

sazpot
sazpot Posts: 107 Forumite
in Motoring
Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows of a good (cheap) company to use for a Major Service on a Ford Fiesta (old style 02 reg)? The main dealer and my local garage both quote circa £280-£300 (I am in Hampshire). I don't have £300 to spare!

I have seen loads of online places who claim to pick your car up and do a major service for under £200, has any one used any of them?

How do you know what a 'Major Service' should include? My car has done 60,000 miles and hasn't had a service for 18months and only had a value (£99 main dealer) service last time. The book says it should have had a Major Service at 6 years (last year).

Thanks for any help!

Sarah
«1

Comments

  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,736 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    If you don't have £300 to spare what are you going to do if your car need parts?

    Personally I suggest you ask friends and colleagues in your local area, as they are likely to know a mechanic who is a good one but is independent and not VAT registered.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • Money_Grabber13579
    Money_Grabber13579 Posts: 4,258 Forumite
    Newshound! Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Post
    If it's at 60,000 miles, you probably need a timing belt. So basically if you don't have the service at £300 plus parts, you could be looking at having to fork out for a new car if the belt breaks. If it does, it'll wreck the engine.

    If the service should have been done last year, it's pretty urgent!
    Northern Ireland club member No 382 :j
  • malkie76
    malkie76 Posts: 6,170 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    That's inaccurate information. Timing belt is 10 years or 100,000 miles.

    In all honesty the lack of a full service history on a 7 year old fiesta won't impact on it's value, so you'd almost be throwing your money away.

    Are you car savvy at all ? With a few simple tools you can do most of your servicing yourself - filters, spark plugs, oil, fluids etc

    Consider taking your car anywhere that will do a check and report for free on other aspects of the car (ie brakes, exhaust) to find out if there is anything obviously worn out on the car.
    Legal team on standby
  • Money_Grabber13579
    Money_Grabber13579 Posts: 4,258 Forumite
    Newshound! Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Post
    malkie76 wrote: »
    That's inaccurate information. Timing belt is 10 years or 100,000 miles.

    It's not inaccurate. It's perfectly true. Timing belts generally need changing around the 60,000 mile mark. Take a look on Google and you'll see.

    This source shows exactly that. There is only 1 model that lasts to 60,000, the rest at 60,000 or below.

    Why else would they say it needed a major service otherwise? The timing belt needs changing.
    Northern Ireland club member No 382 :j
  • malkie76
    malkie76 Posts: 6,170 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    edited 20 September 2009 at 3:02PM
    I'm not really fussed what about.com has to say - it's Ford who say 100,000 miles or 10 years. Furthermore, timing belt changing is not part of a major service.

    Here's a link to a ford dealer http://www.jennings-ford.co.uk/service/carcareview.aspx?sb=91
    Legal team on standby
  • jeannieblue
    jeannieblue Posts: 4,761 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Timing belt changes vary hugely on different cars - but most, as said before are around 60k or five years. Even if mine was 100k or 10 years, there is no way I would leave it anywhere near that long.

    OP, it is false economy to not have your car serviced. £300 is alot for a service on a Fiesta, I would've thought nearer to £200 for a major one. It is hard if you don't have alot of cash but the longer you leave it, the more problems you could end up with which could cost you even more money.

    Ask friends, neighbours, colleagues who they use and why, word of mouth is often the best way to find a good garage.

    And DO NOT use those people you found who come and collect your car! They do not tell the whole truth re final cost and you have no idea what garage they will take your car to. :eek:

    You could try googling independent Ford specialist. Shame you are not near me, we have a good one near us.
    Genie
    Master Technician
  • jeannieblue
    jeannieblue Posts: 4,761 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    malkie76 wrote: »
    I'm not really fussed what about.com has to say - it's Ford who say 100,000 miles or 10 years. Furthermore, timing belt changing is not part of a major service.

    Here's a link to a ford dealer http://www.jennings-ford.co.uk/service/carcareview.aspx?sb=91

    Worries me that...........

    My previous Focus was on 100k/10 years. My present Focus is 60k/5 years - best that the OP checks their own service book to see what schedule their Fiesta is on.

    IS200's were 100k but have now been changed to 60k, as the tensioners were giving out before then. The parts are still exactly the same on the later ones as the early ones. Better to be safe than sorry...

    Don't expect the manufacturer to pay for the repairs - the customers had to pick up the bill, which was not cheap...
    Genie
    Master Technician
  • malkie76
    malkie76 Posts: 6,170 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    I'm not going to disagree with you. There's no value in getting your timing belt changed until the day before it snaps - of course you've got no idea which day that'll happen, so best to change ahead of schedule. I'm merely quoting the manufacturers published recommendations.
    Legal team on standby
  • goldspanners
    goldspanners Posts: 5,910 Forumite
    a major service wont include a timing belt change any way, so it would be a further £180 to change the belt.
    a full major service at an independant would be likely to cover all filters,oil,coolant and brake fluid changed (as per fords recommendations) all brakes visually checked, ie wheels off front and rear with the rear drums off and rear shoes cleaned and adjusted.
    a full visual check of all steering and suspension components and engine and exhaust mounts.
    the rest of the stuff thats contained withing these cheap "£99 services" like all lights visually checked and screen wash topped up,ash tray emptied etc... are the real waste of money i would say. most folk can do that themselves.

    £250 -£300 for a good full service would be money well spent,your fiesta only has 60,000 miles on it, that isnt very much for an 02 plate.
    the timing belt for the fiesta is more than likely to be every 100,000 miles or 10 years,which ever is sooner. my focus has the same interval, but for peace of mind i done mine at half that, it was 5 years old with 50,000 miles on it.
    ...work permit granted!
  • moonrakerz
    moonrakerz Posts: 8,650 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    Fords tend to be pretty good on cam belt life, if it says 100,000, you have a good chance of making that - unlike Vauxhalls !
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 343.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 235.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 173K Life & Family
  • 247.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards