Is a full service necessary

Byatt

and what does it include please?

Back in the day my ex husband always put the car in for a service and MOT, both at the same time.

I've popped my car into the garage for a pre MOT check and have had a few jobs done and will get new tyres/wipers etc.

But just thinking, as I have no real knowledge of cars whether I should have it "serviced" or is this enough (pre check/MOT)?

The car is a 51.

LandyAndy

It needs to be serviced.

This is totally separate from the checking that is done for an MoT.

RichGold

There is no real need to have it serviced and MOT'd at the same time. Service it when it needs a service, and MOT it when its due.

A full service will be oil, filters (Oil, Air, Fuel, Pollen), possible water change/top up, wheels off and swapped round, tyre pressures checked, hubs checked, brakes checked and cleaned up. Lights checked and bulbs replaced where necessary, check/replace wipers.

and washer bottle filled.

Intermediate service
Just your oil and filters pretty much. its usual for them to check your bulbs and wipers and a visual check on things like brakes.

Byatt

Thanks...

RichGold, that was going to be my next question! Thanks! I can save up for the service. I kind of got into my head that they had to be together!

LandyAndy

Byatt wrote: »

Thanks...

RichGold, that was going to be my next question! Thanks! I can save up for the service. I kind of got into my head that they had to be together!

Do you know what the service interval is for your car?

I assume it was last serviced a year ago?

It is normally every so many miles (usually 10-12000) or every so many months (usually 12), whichever comes first.

There isn't too much harm done, generally, if you go a bit over the time constraint but you should try not to excede the mileage constraint.

Byatt

LandyAndy wrote: »

Do you know what the service interval is for your car?

I assume it was last serviced a year ago?

It is normally every so many miles (usually 10-12000) or every so many months (usually 12), whichever comes first.

There isn't too much harm done, generally, if you go a bit over the time constraint but you should try not to excede the mileage constraint.

I bought the car a year ago and I was told it was serviced then, although the words Inspection due (or something similar) flashes up on the dash when I start the car, and has been doing that for about 4 months!

I'll check the mileage on the documentation when I bought it to check how many miles I have done. Unlikely to be anywhere near 10-12000.

I will get it serviced though within the next 2 months as I want it ready for winter. I do the normal checking for oil, water and tyre pressure.

Thanks again,

jase1

51 plate? Depending on the car's condition, getting to the stage where the outlay on servicing becomes debatable.

RichGold

Have you checked your service history to see if the Timing belt has been changed? What car is it?

Mine has also said !SERVICE! for the last 4 months as its a year since its last service but my car only does about 2k a year so I'll leave it a bit longer before I take mine in. I've owned it 3 and a half years and done about 6k in it. In your case, you can get away with bending the service schedule on a 10 year old car to suit the amount of driving you do in it, although as a rule it really wants at least an oil & filter change every 12k.

Byatt

RichGold wrote: »

Have you checked your service history to see if the Timing belt has been changed? What car is it?

Mine has also said !SERVICE! for the last 4 months as its a year since its last service but my car only does about 2k a year so I'll leave it a bit longer before I take mine in. I've owned it 3 and a half years and done about 6k in it. In your case, you can get away with bending the service schedule on a 10 year old car to suit the amount of driving you do in it, although as a rule it really wants at least an oil & filter change every 12k.

Thanks again for the response.

It's a Skoda Fabia, and had an interim service (before I bought it) last August, brake discs and pads replaced, amongst other things. It has done 5262 miles since then. I had an alternator belt fitted in October 2010, is that the same as a timing belt?

jase1, I see where you're coming from and to some extent agree; I don't want to throw money at a car that is next to not worth very much! Having said that I need a car, so it's more for my benefit than anything else and as I'm pretty useless where cars are concerned I rely on the service to keep me feeling a bit more secure. Still, in a couple of years I will have to weigh things up, the car is pretty good at the mo' (touch wood!!).

RichGold

An alternator belt isn't the same as a timing belt. If an alternator belt snaps you're battery will slowly discharge and your car electrics will gradually shut down causing you to slowly grind to a halt. If your timing belt snaps you can say bye-bye to the top half of your engine so check your service history for the timing belt. Whats the total mileage on the car?
If its only done 5,500 miles since the last service I would personally leave it a bit longer. certainly given its value, and maybe get another 6 months out of it before it really wants a service. The oil should be good for 10k at least.

As I said, mine says service and I know when it was last done so it can wait until it wants one, not when Audi's minicheck says it wants one.

Byatt

RichGold wrote: »

An alternator belt isn't the same as a timing belt. If an alternator belt snaps you're battery will slowly discharge and your car electrics will gradually shut down causing you to slowly grind to a halt. If your timing belt snaps you can say bye-bye to the top half of your engine so check your service history for the timing belt. Whats the total mileage on the car?
If its only done 5,500 miles since the last service I would personally leave it a bit longer. certainly given its value, and maybe get another 6 months out of it before it really wants a service. The oil should be good for 10k at least.

As I said, mine says service and I know when it was last done so it can wait until it wants one, not when Audi's minicheck says it wants one.

Total mileage around 85000

I've looked at service history and nothing mentioned about timing belt.

Thanks again for your really helpful replies.