Servicing Offers - Interim or Major?

Skint_Catt

Hi Guys,

My Ford Focus needs a service to comply with an RAC 5star Warranty I was given when I bought the car in February.

I wondered if anyone had seen any good offers around (I don't need an MOT for another 8 months) although I'm not sure whether I need a major service or an interim one to comply with the Warranty.

If anyone can give me any advice on which one I need I wold be most grateful too!

I can quote from the warranty or the current service record if required!

Thanks!

S_C x

Baz-Bee

Why do you need to service your car now after just 5 months? Normally when you buy a second hand car and it comes with a warranty, the seller (dealer) has to provide the vehicle in a condition commensurate with what the warranty provider requires. This normally means that it should have been serviced prior to collection. Therefore, the next service should not be due until 12 months (or mileage limit if applicable) after you bought the vehicle.

Check carefully when exactly you need to have it serviced including checking with the seller and the RAC Warranty people as applicable. Also, did the dealer not stamp the service book when you bought the car saying they had serviced it prior to collection? A reputable dealer would normally do this. Surely they were not selling a vehicle that was not serviced and of reasonable condition and durability?

Remember. dealers will want you to have it serviced too soon as it is another way of “robbing” the motorist and lining their pockets. Good luck.

Skint_Catt

The garage I bought it from had it 'major' serviced before I collected it and MOT'd even though both had been done four months previous. He gave me the 5star warranty and in the booklet it states the pre-delivery inspection was done on 8/2/05 (mileage 44958) and the first service will be due on 8/8/05 or mileage of 50958 whichever comes sooner. My mileage has just hit 50400 so I'm looking to book it in in the next week or so. It states that if I exceed the service schedule by 1000 miles or 30 days then the warranty is invalid.

I don't want to invalidate my warranty as I've already had one scare with it (which turned out to be nothing much).

I guess an interim service is what it means but it also goes on about the timing belt/camshaft drive belt must be checked - I wasn't sure if they only did that in a Major service?

Thanks for the reply.

S_C

Baz-Bee

Well I am confused. A major service on a Focus should give you 12 months from when it was done. So I assume it was either not a major service or something is wrong with the dates they have put in the book.


Suggest you query with garage why only 6 months and not 12. Similarly speak to warranty people. No modern car and certainly not a Focus has service intervals of only 6 months. This looks like a rip off!

vansboy

This is one time I'll suggest main dealer - to confirm the car has had ALL that it should have had done by now.

You'll be able to confirm if any factory recalls have been attended to also.

BUT .. the BEST thing is to find Ford service department, with their Rapid Fit (it's a tyre & service & fast fit seperate workshop, within lots of dealers operations). You still get Ford guys working on the car, a Ford recognised stamp in your service book, but substantially lowere than main dealer workshop rates.

VB

mr_accountant

You need to consider two things

1) What does your warranty cover- not much

2) Do you want to pay all the extra £££'s just for a warranty? If you think yes get it serviced (and ripped off), to meet the warranty reqiurements. if no don’t get it serviced.

Remember a 'service' basically constitutes an oil and filter change and a few checks that they NEVER do anyhow. National do a Duckhams QXR semi synthetic oil and filter change for £15-£20. Need i say more?

vansboy

Mr Accountant - hope your tongue was deeply within your cheeck when you typed the 'don't get it serviced' comment!!

Yes the fast fits will do a lube service cheaply, but there are other things which NEED attention. Brakes, (although fast fits offer free inspections, usually) drive belts, cam belts, all need to be looked at - even if they're not touched.

NOT servicing is potentially verrrrrry expensive - & not just financially!!

VB

Skint_Catt

The main thing is this year is that a) I got a good warranty free with the car and b) I don't know the history of the car other than that it has been a company car for pretty much all of it's life.

Therefore, I wish to keep the warranty good and running in case any hiccups crop up. I prob won't renew when it ends in Feb, but I still want it current until I run it through the winter. I've already had one scare!

I guess I'll just have to ask the Ford Dealership or ask the RAC. I am thinking that as a major service has been done according to manufacturers requirements this is just an interim service requirement.

Thanks for all your posts though guys.

S_C

mr_accountant

vansboy wrote:

Mr Accountant - hope your tongue was deeply within your cheeck when you typed the 'don't get it serviced' comment!!

Yes the fast fits will do a lube service cheaply, but there are other things which NEED attention. Brakes, (although fast fits offer free inspections, usually) drive belts, cam belts, all need to be looked at - even if they're not touched.

NOT servicing is potentially verrrrrry expensive - & not just financially!!

VB

Hi vansboy, no it was not tongue in cheek, most places who do services simply don’t tell the truth. I read recently someone changed their pads, a week later they took their car in for a 'service', he received a call back saying your pads are worn, would you like us to chance them!!!

doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, and such a case shows most services the mechanics don’t even check the brakes.

Also its strange how when a car goes in for a service it comes out with more problems (and the customary scratch down the wing!) especially electrical which of course in many cases are main stealer only diagnoses.

Re cambelts most services don’t even touch the cambelt as the covers take so long to remove, by the time its removed you may as well change the belt etc. surely a responsible driver knows how often a cambelt should be changed. On modern cars very rarely, 72000 on my car, i believe the fords have even longer intervals.

However on this point if the OP feels they will have peace of mind and keep their warranty in tack then get it serviced.