Service light on, do I REALLY need a service?

cormie · 09-02-2008 10:08am #1

Hi,
Got a bit worried when I saw a spanner and oil light come on, but reading the manual it just seems it's "Time for me to bring the van to be serviced by a Ford Dealer". There is a way to turn the light off but I'm just wondering is something in the van actually telling me it needs a service, or is it just a mileage/timed light that comes on regardless of when the van was last serviced by a non ford dealer?

Any feedback appreciated

Wishbone Ash · 09-02-2008 10:18am

In my experience it's usually just a timed light and is not connected with actual service needs. Check the manual for resetting. It usually involves a complex series of push button manoeuvres.

spadder · 09-02-2008 10:26am

Is it a Transit?

cormie · 09-02-2008 10:28am

Yup, a transit, it says in the manual how to turn the light off, so I'll give it a go if it is indeed just a timed/mileage light and not something in need of repair/replacement.

spadder · 09-02-2008 10:35am

The MK 6 transits are quite easy to service, everything is accessible.
just fill up the new fuel filter with fuel before refitting.

cormie · 09-02-2008 10:38am

Wouldn't feel too confident doing it myself to be honest. If something went wrong I'd be outta work for a few days and knowing my luck that's a high possibility:o

FredH3as · 09-02-2008 1:29pm

Question to OP. If your petrol warning light came on would you REALLY think you should get some petrol :rolleyes:

Robbo · 09-02-2008 1:43pm

FredH3as wrote: »

Question to OP. If your petrol warning light came on would you REALLY think you should get some petrol :rolleyes:

I'd imagine he'd post here asking firstly was it necessary and then could anyone tell him where to get some cheap second hand petrol...

peasant · 09-02-2008 1:46pm

Robbo wrote: »

I'd imagine he'd post here asking firstly was it necessary and then could anyone tell him where to get some cheap second hand petrol...

nashty

Cormie
the secret to a van that works every day as it should is a van that is maintained and serviced as it should.

Stephen · 09-02-2008 1:59pm

If you're relying on the van for your income I wouldn't put off getting it serviced.

cormie · 09-02-2008 2:43pm

Hehe, but what I mean is, if I buy the van off a van importer from the UK, with no service history, and they get it ready for the DOE, make sure everything is as good as it can be, passes the DOE and sells it to me, then a week later the service light comes on, does this mean something in the van needs service/replacement/repair or does it just mean the van has reached a time/mileage point that it should be serviced at by the book?

I just got the van looked at a few weeks ago, got a few things checked and replaced which is why I'm asking

Can anyone remember who the poster was that did a full service for €180 or something like that?

DonJose · 09-02-2008 2:48pm

cormie wrote: »

Can anyone remember who the poster was that did a full service for €180 or something like that?

Del Boy?

Slidey · 09-02-2008 3:37pm

find the polish poster who does his mechanicin according to wikipedia... pure genius that lad... will work for vodka! zolwien or something like that.. genius

Biro · 09-02-2008 5:11pm

cormie wrote: »

Hehe, but what I mean is, if I buy the van off a van importer from the UK, with no service history, and they get it ready for the DOE, make sure everything is as good as it can be, passes the DOE and sells it to me, then a week later the service light comes on, does this mean something in the van needs service/replacement/repair or does it just mean the van has reached a time/mileage point that it should be serviced at by the book?

I just got the van looked at a few weeks ago, got a few things checked and replaced which is why I'm asking

Can anyone remember who the poster was that did a full service for €180 or something like that?

If someone just prepared it for the DOE, that doesn't mean he changed the oil and filter.

Wishbone Ash · 09-02-2008 5:21pm

FredH3as wrote: »

Question to OP. If your petrol warning light came on would you REALLY think you should get some petrol :rolleyes:

That's a sill comparison! :rolleyes:

The fuel warning light is directly connected to the quantity of fuel in the tank. A service light is often on a milage timer which is meaningless as it takes no account of the type of driving or conditions involved.

A service may be carried out without re-setting the light. If it was re-set half way between services, it wouldn't come on again until thousands of miles after the next service is actually due.

And anyway, the OP would have great difficulty finding a "petrol" warning light in a Transit!

rebel.ranter · 09-02-2008 6:02pm

Generally these service indocator lights are not linked to mileage or time. years ago they were linked to mileage but they discivered that it is now better to link them to the number of litres of fuel consumed, this is a much more accurate way of measuring the work load the engine has done.
Seeing as you are using your van for business you should take it at face value that it does need an oil service.
Most taxi drivers will do an oil change half way through the recommended intervals to try squeeze a bit mor life out of the engine. Engine oil despite all the advances loses a lot of it's good properties very soon after the change & get s progressively worse from there.
So frequent oil changes are a good thing,along with a new oil filter, everytime.

colm_mcm · 09-02-2008 8:02pm

some vans monitor the condition of the oil, like the Hiace. even though Toyota in Ireland do fixed interval servicing

meathstevie · 09-02-2008 9:00pm

Get it serviced man. You don't need to go to Ford but you don't need to go to a cowboy either. Just go to your local independent with a sound reputation. You can get the bits and bobs yourself at the parts counter of any Ford garage.

crosstownk · 09-02-2008 9:02pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

some vans monitor the condition of the oil, like the Hiace. even though Toyota in Ireland do fixed interval servicing

I'd have to agree with Colm. It used to be that the service indicator was simply a countdown timer. But more and more manufacturers now use a 'variable service' interval. As Colm stated, this is done by measuring oil quality and condition.

DOE is just that - a test and not a service. As others said, if in doubt get the service done. The van is your income and you have a lot to loose if it all goes belly up due to lack of servicing. If you buy any vehicle with no (or uncertain) service history, the best thing to do is get it serviced straight away - that way you have some peace of mind.

ford jedi · 09-02-2008 10:06pm

if i was you and earning aliving out of van at least change the oil regurlarly dosent take 20mins on a new transit and parts are cheap .the service indicator comes on at fixed intervals .if you want to turn off light
press brake pedal and throttle pedal both together and turn on ignition to position 2 wait about 30 seconds till you see the spanner flashing then turn ign off then release pedals and start engine .

my advice to you would be keep you van well serviced it wont cost a fortune like you may think.i do aleast 30 transits a week and if there not

taken care of they fall to f##k and just keep breaking down.

they are a great van but no one wants to buy a rough one

Slidey · 09-02-2008 10:11pm

to jedi ford, great post, will remember that.. could come in handy

cormie · 10-02-2008 2:45am

Do you service transits Ford Jedi? Where are you based? I'll have to learn how to change the oil and filter myself alright but would like to get full check up done by someone with experience.

ford jedi · 10-02-2008 11:34am

yes i service alot of transits my workshop is in rathcoole i only specialise in fords

cormie · 10-02-2008 11:49am

ford jedi wrote: »

yes i service alot of transits my workshop is in rathcoole i only specialise in fords

Where abouts in Rathcoole? Might pop in to you for a service.

cormie · 18-02-2008 1:04pm

Is this you ford jedi? http://www.eircomphonebook.ie/search/blackchurch_motors.html

I'd like to get a service done soon if you can?

ford jedi · 18-02-2008 8:50pm

yeah thats me or you can get me on 0876607766

cormie · 18-02-2008 9:00pm

Cool. Are you free at about 1/2 tomorrow for a service? How long should it take? Any entertainment near by while I wait? lol

ford jedi · 18-02-2008 9:23pm

no entertainment at all ,but would be no probs

cormie · 18-02-2008 9:27pm

Ok, I'll just bring my laptop and crappy mobile broadband by 3 :rolleyes:

How long should a full service take do you reckon?

Esel · 19-02-2008 3:51am

spadder wrote: »

Is it a Transit?

...by any chance?

FredH3as wrote: »

Question to OP. If your petrol warning light came on would you REALLY think you should get some petrol :rolleyes:

Haven't you seen cormie's thread on this very subject? :eek:

Plug · 19-02-2008 9:14am

cormie wrote: »

Hi,
Got a bit worried when I saw a spanner and oil light come on, but reading the manual it just seems it's "Time for me to bring the van to be serviced by a Ford Dealer". There is a way to turn the light off but I'm just wondering is something in the van actually telling me it needs a service, or is it just a mileage/timed light that comes on regardless of when the van was last serviced by a non ford dealer?

Any feedback appreciated

What milage have you done? They should be serviced every 10k miles or 15k km.

Service light on, do I REALLY need a service?

Comments