When should we get a service done?

womblingfour

Hi. We bought a used car about six months ago. It is a 2003 Zafira.

This is our first car and we are completely in the dark about service/maintenance. Have read the advice on the site about MOTs and will check the car in at a council centre when it is due for MOT next month.

Is now a good time to get a service done and where would be the best place to take the car for this? A Vauxhall garage/independent mechanic. Don't want to get ripped off as we are on a tight budget.

Thanks.

LandyAndy

What records do you have of the services and repairs done to it before you bought it?

Is it petrol or diesel?

What mileage has it done?

How many miles have you done since you bought it?

Exemplar

If the MOT is next month ge that done first. If the car fails on major items then the extra expense of the service will really stick in your throat! Also if you fail on minor items, say a couple of tyres, then you have more room for negotiation with a garage when servicing..

LandyAndy

alcot33uk wrote: »

If the MOT is next month ge that done first. If the car fails on major items then the extra expense of the service will really stick in your throat! Also if you fail on minor items, say a couple of tyres, then you have more room for negotiation with a garage when servicing..

My concern is that there is no service record or it hasn't been serviced for, say 25,000 miles and the cambelt change is way overdue.

I have to say the OP is pretty foolish to buy a car and know nothing about servicing it.

Exemplar

we all start somewhere!

rev_henry

I'm sure there are thousands of people out there who also don't know, but don't bother asking and thus never have their cars maintained. You have to start out by asking.

OP, have a look in the instruction/service manual for your car. It'll tell you what needs doing when. If it had a full service before you bought it it'll just need an oil change (about £25), but if its service history is patchy then a full service ideally. Should cost around £150-£200, so shop around. Vauxhall main dealers do a special price for older cars which can be quite reasonable. We pay £130 a year for our old corsa there.

vikingaero

The cambelt intervals for petrol Zafiras are every 40k/4years. Make sure the garage doing it buys a cambelt kit with all the pulleys and tensioners as these are the parts that often fail as they are made from plastic. It's best practice to change the water pump too at the same time.

womblingfour

Thank you. We were aware of the need to change the cambelt and associated parts and have booked with the local Vauxhall garage to have that done before the MOT. What I am unsure of is the timing of the service and whether or not it is wise to book one a month before the MOT? We have a record of the last service but nothing done prior to that. However, we paid for a full AA inspection of the car before we bought it and they were happy it was in good condition. Thanks to those who have made helpful comments.

marlot

It should say in the handbook. My car is every year or 10,000 miles (whichever comes first). Yours probably is something similar. But this close to an MOT, I'd have done soon after - that way you'll find it easy to remember each year, and as the car gets older you can see whether it passes the MOT before spending out on the service.

As someone said above, some main dealers give reduced rates for cars over 4 years old, and can end up being reasonably competitive on price.

lilac_lady

Some garages have a special deal for a combined MOT and service.

mikey72

I'd service it, then get the same garage to mot it. The problem with a council mot is that if they fail it on little items, like bulbs or wipers, that they won't change, it's a pain taking it back.
If it's serviced first, the same garage should pass it on the same day.
2003 car - cambelt kit and waterpump, if it's a 1.6 get a new thermostat as well, and only use genuine vauxall parts. Use a local garage if you know a good one, otherwise the vauxhall dealer may as well do the lot.