Car servicing help..

Kitty777

Hello everyone
I know this will be a very subjective thread, but I just need some help and advice..

My MOT is due in april (2001 Corsa) and the only thing advised on the last one was an indicator bulb being discolored which was a £3 or so fix for me..

I got the car serviced late 2013...and got quite a bit done on it (coil springs, brake hose, anti roll bar links etc)...

I have done probably under 4,000 miles since that service...

I still check my oil, tyres etc as part of my weekly routine and they have always been fine. I know prevention is better than cure...and really I should be servicing it every year...

But do you think I should get it serviced this year? A full service or just an oil change/brake check etc?

I really need to save money were I can. And sadly enough, any service would be coming out of my savings this year. I could probably do an oil change on the cheap with my neighbor who i trust...

Any help would be appreciated, money worries are through the roof at the minute considering my insurance is also due in april

JustinR1979

Oil change, and the mot will check all safety items etc

facade

As above, do the oil & filter change, get your neighbour to show you how to check the brake pad thickness and tyre tread depth (the MOT tester should check it and advise if they are low, but best to check yourself) Check the air filter as well, but if it has only done 4000 miles it should be fine.

Then you can move onto the pollen filter if fitted, which is easy on a Corsa, it is under the plastic flap that lifts up below the wiper blades.

Kitty777

Tyres have been changed under 500 miles ago...so I am guessing they will be fine. I got money towards them for my birthday in november (Yeah..I am a right sad git )

Is an air filter changed in a full service?
I will youtube changing the pollen filter...thanks

jimjames

Kitty777 wrote: »

Is an air filter changed in a full service?
I will youtube changing the pollen filter...thanks

Depends on the car if it is on every service but it is normally an incredibly easy job to change the air filter and takes literally a few minutes. This shows it being done on a VW but it should be similar on your car.

http://youtu.be/d2z6yLdoxi4

You should be able to get the air & pollen filter for under £10, have a look at EuroCarParts
http://www.eurocarparts.com/

whitecloud663

Kitty777 wrote: »

Tyres have been changed under 500 miles ago...so I am guessing they will be fine. I got money towards them for my birthday in november (Yeah..I am a right sad git )

Is an air filter changed in a full service?
I will youtube changing the pollen filter...thanks

It should have been changed with a full service but it isn't very hard for you to check yourself. If you have only done 4k miles since I'd leave it.

Personally I wouldn't spend too much on a 2001 Corsa. How much did you spend in total for the last service?

From now on just get an oil change done. Find a garage that will do the labour for a tenner and get the oil and oil filter yourself for £20.

Kitty777

whitecloud663 wrote: »

It should have been changed with a full service but it isn't very hard for you to check yourself. If you have only done 4k miles since I'd leave it.

Personally I wouldn't spend too much on a 2001 Corsa. How much did you spend in total for the last service?

From now on just get an oil change done. Find a garage that will do the labour for a tenner and get the oil and oil filter yourself for £20.

I was very naive when I did my first service. I did shop around for prices, and went for the second lowest. The lowest had very bad reviews/reputation...

It probably cost me, with repairs £300?
That included a full service. A new brake hose, two antil roll bar links, two coil springs and a coolant change (as requested by me) and possibly something else..however it was something small. The emission tests were more or less perfect..and although they have marked like...the state of the brakes on the service it doesn't make much sense to me lol.

I have managed to change bulbs/a battery/wipers myself..which i had no idea how to do when i first got a car. An oil change is the next step

P.S I guess it makes sense not to spend to much. I am hoping in the next 6months-2 years to get a better job and when I get a better paid/stable full time job I will be getting a new car anyway.

whitecloud663

Kitty777 wrote: »

I was very naive when I did my first service. I did shop around for prices, and went for the second lowest. The lowest had very bad reviews/reputation...

It probably cost me, with repairs £300?
That included a full service. A new brake hose, two antil roll bar links, two coil springs and a coolant change (as requested by me) and possibly something else..however it was something small. The emission tests were more or less perfect..and although they have marked like...the state of the brakes on the service it doesn't make much sense to me lol.

I have managed to change bulbs/a battery/wipers myself..which i had no idea how to do when i first got a car. An oil change is the next step

P.S I guess it makes sense not to spend to much. I am hoping in the next 6months-2 years to get a better job and when I get a better paid/stable full time job I will be getting a new car anyway.

From what you have said I very much doubt that an oil change, air filter, pollen filter, spark plugs etc was done for the price of £300 including all the work that you said was done.

If I were you get the oil change and air filter change done ASAP.

Kitty777

Why would the oil and filter not of been changed? Everywhere I asked the prices were £170-£190...the man rang up while i was there for a quote on parts and added labour...and he was recommended by 2 different people...the oil looked better than it was when I bought the car so i have reason to believe that it was changed.

It may of been nearer to £350 as I had the hose done that day and the rest a few weeks later...

arcon5

£300 sounds dirt cheap for all that work.

Most indie garages will do a basic service with parts for common cars for around the £100 mark. But frankly if it was my 14 year old car i'd may treat it to an oil and filter change and nothing more, in fact I would probably put that off a bit too - probably wouldn't even do it until after the MOT. No point spending money on it if its possible it'll fail its MOT this year and potentially be scrapped if on something serious and expensive components.

Kitty777

Dirt cheap? Then I got a better deal than expected in my view ;P I went with them due to reputation, and another very old, successful local business who fit tyres recommended them

I don't see why you wouldn't do an oil & filter change, it is basic car maintenance surely? I don't want it to last me the next 10 years, but a few more would be nice. And I don't want to end up saying goodbye to it down the scrapyard either...that is a horrible way to think