Car service advise?

catherine12345_2

Thank you so much for your replies.....I think my car nedds some serious tlc. I've just checked my mot certificates and I have done approx 10,000 miles in the last 4 years so I don't do mega mileage. I have also asked around for recommendations but am shocked at peoples responses....most didn't know whether they are getting a good service or not (they were using their dealership service centres) and I got two completely conflicting reviews for one local garage. I'm now more confused than ever!!!!

I've had a look again at the Halfords "major" service list and it includes the following:
Replace oil filter
Drain engine oil and refil
Replace spark plugs
Replace air filter
Replace brake fluid and bleed system
Drain out cooling system and replace coolant
etc etc

There is no mention of belt changes (only checking their condition). The internet price for this is £225 and as it seems to cover most of the things you've all mentioned I'm still tempted. However, I suspect the problem will come when they present me with a huge quote for things they think need doing after the service and I'll have no idea how to prioritise.

Iolanthe07.....I really won't be doing this again!

Wh05apk

no.1swimmum wrote: »

How do you find a recommedation for a local garage, mine closed down since last service, and do not want to pay high dealership prices - where would I look for recommendations. The drivers amongst my friends and relatives use dealerships, and as a female I often feel intimidated by garages, is the good garage scheme any good!

Speak to friends/neighbours etc, where are you in Essex, I use a good one in Colchester?

catherine12345_2

p.s. my mot is due soon too but I definitely won't be having service and mot with the same garage - I usually go to Motmax in Nottingham who only do mot's - no repairs. It will be interesting to see if the servicing garage tells me that certain things need doing or I won't pass my mot...then Motmax pass me anyway!!!!

pendulum

catherine12345 wrote: »

There is no mention of belt changes (only checking their condition).

Changing the cambelt is basically never included in a normal service, it's a separate job. A lot of Nissans have chains and I've just noticed you have a Micra. If you post the year and model someone should be able to check to see if it's cambelt or chain. Fingers crossed you have a chain as it's a few hundred just for the cambelt renewal if it needs it.

It's a bit of a shock to do all this in one go, that's the advantage of spreading the services out over the years, but you've got some serious catching up to do now!

The only other option is to get the oil & filter done and leave the rest until the car dies, then when it dies scrap it and buy something else; that's really only an option if the car's an old banger only worth a few hundred pounds.

mikey72

catherine12345 wrote: »

Replace oil filter
Drain engine oil and refil



Replace spark plugs
Replace air filter
Replace brake fluid and bleed system
Drain out cooling system and replace coolant

The first two are a must, the rest on mine are every 4 to 6 years anyway, based on 12000 a year.

I'd be tempted to get the coolant antifreeze checked, and leave the rest if it's running ok.

Hammyman

pendulum wrote: »

The brake check would've been done during the MoT every year.

Here we go again....

NO IT WOULDN'T. All that would be tested is the efficiency. No checks are done on the brake material thickness if it can't be seen easily.

pendulum

I said the brakes are checked at the MoT every year and that's a fact, so I'm not wrong at all. They check that each wheel records a suitable braking effort (i.e. check the brakes actually work properly), check for contamination from leaking brake fluid, fowling of the brake cables and so on. That, my friend, is a check of the braking system. I didn't say it was a comprehensive check, and no check will cover everything, but it IS a check.

iolanthe07

fowling of the brake cables

I think you mean 'fouling'. Fowling is something to do with chickens.........

moonrakerz

pendulum wrote: »

Changing the cambelt is basically never included in a normal service, it's a separate job.

If your car is serviced by a "proper" dealership for that make of vehicle the cambelt is included in the relevant mileage service schedule.

This is where using a "chain service" can let you down badly; they do the oil/fluids/filters etc, but not the belts. So you have your car "serviced" by H******s and 2 weeks later your cambelt snaps - costs you a lot more than you "saved" on the service.....................

Lessbutbetter

i'm still tempted

You've had some advice on here from people including myself telling you to go to an independent garage, yet you're probably going to go to Halfords due to convenience. You might go and get a reasonable service from them, however i know for a fact that the sales managers in those places have to meet sales every week and they will try to flog you stuff you don't need, at a price you really don't want to be paying, trust me.

You've done without servicing for years so spending a day or two finding a good garage is not going to do any harm.