Car service, differences?

shane.

What's the difference between a normal car service and a major car service? Would their be a price difference also?

biko

It depends.
A smaller service is usually just new oil, new oil filter and air box filter.
A bigger service is that and much more done too. And of course much more expensive.

Why do you ask? Do you need a service? What car? Mileage? Have you the manual?

pippip

Major services can also be certain items that need to be done at a certain mileage. Your car manual would inform you of these.

shane.

Thanks for the reply, left the car in yesterday for a normal service and they called me afterwards saying it needed a brake fluid change and a pollen filter change and spark plugs,they also cleaned the throttle body as its been stumbling a bit at idle lately, car is an Astra 2006 mileage is 70k miles, service cost 300

Renegade Mechanic

Usually described as "Minor" or "Full" around here.
Minor would entail oil and oil filter and a check of lights, levels, tyres and all safety aspects underneath the car. May or may not include a wash.
Full service should entail much more, running through the car with a fine tooth comb. And doing many less safety important jobs like repositioning washers and lubricating all hinges and door check straps. Adjusting handbrakes and dismantling brakes and cleaning them. The only things that likely wont be checked are the emissions, lights focusing (though as that takes about three minutes, its usually done) and things like tracking will be checked on the road unless an NCT check is requested at which, a much more detailed look is given.

Jesus.

shane. wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, left the car in yesterday for a normal service and they called me afterwards saying it needed a brake fluid change and a pollen filter change and spark plugs,they also cleaned the throttle body as its been stumbling a bit at idle lately, car is an Astra 2006 mileage is 70k miles, service cost 300

I don't think its possible today to leave a car in anywhere to have a specific thing done and not have them ring you up looking to do something else to it.

They just want to get you in the door and then they have you.

George Dalton

Jesus. wrote: »

I don't think its possible today to leave a car in anywhere to have a specific thing done and not have them ring you up looking to do something else to it.

They just want to get you in the door and then they have you.

In my opinion if someone leaves a car into a garage for a minor service and it turns out to need other service items such as fuel filter, cabin filter, spark plugs, brake fluid change or whatever then it is the garage's job to inform the customer of the work required. Anything else would be unprofessional. After all they are putting their stamp in the service book after the work is done.

Jesus.

George Dalton wrote: »

In my opinion if someone leaves a car into a garage for a minor service and it turns out to need other service items such as fuel filter, cabin filter, spark plugs, brake fluid change or whatever then it is the garage's job to inform the customer of the work required. Anything else would be unprofessional. After all they are putting their stamp in the service book after the work is done.

Whoosh

JohnBoy26

Jesus. wrote: »

I don't think its possible today to leave a car in anywhere to have a specific thing done and not have them ring you up looking to do something else to it.

They just want to get you in the door and then they have you.

Better to have them ring you up and inform you of work that needs doing rather than go ahead with the work without informing you which is bad business practice imo.

The good places will always ring and explain to the customer.

As for the "get you in the door and then they have you" argument. That simply isn't true in most cases. It's that kind of attitude that tars the good mechanics and garages with the same brush as the bad.

The garage quite rightly informed the op of things that needed doing especially when it concerned the brake fluid as it's a safety issue. The garage could of ignored this and just done the "specific thing" but what if the op's brakes failed down the road and they killed someone. Their first response would be "I only just got it serviced" and then the garage would probably be blamed.

Jesus.

George Dalton wrote: »

In my opinion if someone leaves a car into a garage for a minor service and it turns out to need other service items

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Better to have them ring you up and inform you of work that needs doing

Guys, I meant them doing stuff that doesn't need doing :rolleyes:

kaiserjim

Jesus. wrote: »

I don't think its possible today to leave a car in anywhere to have a specific thing done and not have them ring you up looking to do something else to it.

They just want to get you in the door and then they have you.

If you don't want the work done tell them.

Jesus.

kaiserjim wrote: »

If you don't want the work done tell them.

I do

kaiserjim

Jesus. wrote: »

I do

But then they don't "have you"

George Dalton

Jesus. wrote: »

Guys, I meant them doing stuff that doesn't need doing :rolleyes:

Very often work that "doesn't need doing" according to a non car savvy person such as the owner of the car is actually an important part of the service schedule. For example a brake fluid change. So for certain people when a garage tries to sell somebody a brake fluid change as part of a service they are perceived to be chancers trying to screw the customer out of an extra few quid for no reason. Then after all of that the garage has to put their stamp in the service book saying the service was done to the correct standard when they know that is not the case.

But we all know the customer is always right yes?

Toyotafanboi

this does remind me of the time i got new tyres in fastfit and he told me my driver side cv boot was ripped. went out and bought a cv boot to do the job and it was perfect. that said i feel this was the exception and not the rule.

i'm sure the people who "always get hit with extras" when they take their car for a service are the same people who only bring their car to be serviced when it is displaying problems and not in line with the schedule.

JohnBoy26

Jesus. wrote: »

Guys, I meant them doing stuff that doesn't need doing :rolleyes:

That's what I meant by tarring all with the same brush. Not all places are like that. There's plenty of good genuine places out there too.

It seem you watch too much of Phil Mitchell's practices on eastenders

Jesus.

Fair points John and George. Bit of a blanket statement from me alright.

I guess I should just try somewhere other than Advance next time

wersal gummage

George Dalton wrote: »

the garage has to put their stamp in the service book saying the service was done to the correct standard when they know that is not the case

Any service I've ever had done has a stamp but also they either tick the box to say what was done or write it in.

Does anybody seriously see a stamp and assume it means that every possible job that needed doing was done?

Toyotafanboi

wersal gummage wrote: »

Any service I've ever had done has a stamp but also they either tick the box to say what was done or write it in.

Does anybody seriously see a stamp and assume it means that every possible job that needed doing was done?

i expect when people see the stamp that they expect the service for "x" mileage to be carried out exactly to manufacturers recommendation.

George Dalton

A lot of cars don't have the boxes to tick for individual items. Ford service books for example only have space for the stamp, date, mileage and a box to tick for whether or not genuine Ford parts were used.

Try looking at it from a garage's point of view, let's say someone brings a Mondeo into us and asks us to do a basic oil and filter service and stamp the book. We notice as part of the service that the air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid and cabin filter need changing. For good measure imagine that the wipers and front pads need doing as well. We call the customer who declines the work so we do the oil and filter service as requested and leave it at that.

Now imagine the owner sells the car off Donedeal. Description says things like "mint" and "just serviced" etc. Someone buys it and drops it into their local mechanic for a check over. Gets a list of jobs that need doing. You've guessed it; front pads, wipers, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter, brake fluid. New owner is understandably annoyed and goes to the service book to see what "cowboys" serviced the car last. Sees my name stamped in the book.

How do you think that would make us look?

wersal gummage

I would assume only thing changed was the oil and filter when I see a stamp, unless there is evidence to say otherwise. Certainly wouldn't judge a previous garage for doing what a customer asked. Have owned a mondeo in the past and ford garage wrote in when the plugs were changed.

I can see the point you are making but don't really agree with it (maybe other motorists are more naive and don't look beyond a stamp). Do you refuse to stamp a service book unless everything you identify as required is sorted out?

mickdw

George Dalton wrote: »

A lot of cars don't have the boxes to tick for individual items. Ford service books for example only have space for the stamp, date, mileage and a box to tick for whether or not genuine Ford parts were used.

Try looking at it from a garage's point of view, let's say someone brings a Mondeo into us and asks us to do a basic oil and filter service and stamp the book. We notice as part of the service that the air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid and cabin filter need changing. For good measure imagine that the wipers and front pads need doing as well. We call the customer who declines the work so we do the oil and filter service as requested and leave it at that.

Now imagine the owner sells the car off Donedeal. Description says things like "mint" and "just serviced" etc. Someone buys it and drops it into their local mechanic for a check over. Gets a list of jobs that need doing. You've guessed it; front pads, wipers, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter, brake fluid. New owner is understandably annoyed and goes to the service book to see what "cowboys" serviced the car last. Sees my name stamped in the book.

How do you think that would make us look?

Stamps on there own are not an indication of servicing as far as Im concerned. I want to see invoices and as such, most garages would produce itemised invoicing with advisory works detailed where customer failed to have works carried out.
I realise in alot of cases here, the invoice might not remain with the car so I guess it is in your interest to record in the book beside the stamp something like "oil service carried out, see invoice"

George Dalton

wersal gummage wrote: »

I can see the point you are making but don't really agree with it (maybe other motorists are more naive and don't look beyond a stamp). Do you refuse to stamp a service book unless everything you identify as required is sorted out?

No, we will usually stamp the book. I have refused to do it in certain cases though. Usually where critical work that really badly needs doing is refused.

biko

shane. wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, left the car in yesterday for a normal service and they called me afterwards saying it needed a brake fluid change and a pollen filter change and spark plugs,they also cleaned the throttle body as its been stumbling a bit at idle lately, car is an Astra 2006 mileage is 70k miles, service cost 300

Tbh, I think you got away with a scare. 300 isn't all that much.
If pollen filter and spark plugs weren't changed before it was probably time now.
Did the throttle body clean help?

The brake fluid change is usually not something done during a regular service but should be done occasionally and have probably not been done previously.

Do have a read of your owner's manual and before a service go through the items that will need service at that particular mileage. That way you won't walk into the shop blind.
Also keep a record of everything done to the car, with receipts.

Deco99

hey, just looking for opinion, so wont start a new thread.

third service, 1.6l diesel, 45k on the clock, two new tyres needed and service, €400-450.

reasonable? its in with the dealer to maintain warranty so I expect it is a little bit pricier.

Anan1

Deco99 wrote: »

hey, just looking for opinion, so wont start a new thread.

third service, 1.6l diesel, 45k on the clock, two new tyres needed and service, €400-450.

reasonable? its in with the dealer to maintain warranty so I expect it is a little bit pricier.

Get the tyres from a tyre fitter rather than at the dealer. Shop around a few dealers for the best price for the service, don't be afraid to play one off against the other for the best price. Same goes for the tyres.

Deco99

Got the service done. €440. Have reciept of previous services so compared out of curiosity. I changed largely due to convenience, walking distance to new place and old place was a task gettin to and from.

Bear in mind, third service.

New Dealer: Old Dealer:

oil 6 units @ 9.15 oil 5 units @ 6.35
air filter 26€ air filter 19.91€
oil filter 24€ oil filter 16€
labour 140 labour 72
2 tyres Sonar sx608 57each with recycling charge of 4 quid each.

Never heard of sonar and everything else was about a third more expensive, labour may have been more due to extra changes but twice the amount sounds likely?

quick glance looks to me about 100 quid between them. Has there been increases for garages in the last 9 months? Would it be because i purchased the car in the first garage possibly?

Not having a rant, just wondering for next time.

Chris_Heilong

George Dalton wrote: »

A lot of cars don't have the boxes to tick for individual items. Ford service books for example only have space for the stamp, date, mileage and a box to tick for whether or not genuine Ford parts were used.

Try looking at it from a garage's point of view, let's say someone brings a Mondeo into us and asks us to do a basic oil and filter service and stamp the book. We notice as part of the service that the air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid and cabin filter need changing. For good measure imagine that the wipers and front pads need doing as well. We call the customer who declines the work so we do the oil and filter service as requested and leave it at that.

Now imagine the owner sells the car off Donedeal. Description says things like "mint" and "just serviced" etc. Someone buys it and drops it into their local mechanic for a check over. Gets a list of jobs that need doing. You've guessed it; front pads, wipers, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter, brake fluid. New owner is understandably annoyed and goes to the service book to see what "cowboys" serviced the car last. Sees my name stamped in the book.

How do you think that would make us look?

not really, you should be adding a sticker in the engine bay saying what was changed. You do what the customer wants end of, unless you want to work for free.

lomb

Some things like brake fluid not being changed for 10 years might show themselves only if excessive braking is used on mountains over prolonged periods of time. I just think its that easy to boil dot 4 brake fluid thats 'wet' or wed be hearing about it regularly. The other thing is that Ireland may not have the humidity required to saturate the brake fluid quickly.
That said I change my brake fluid every 2 years just for the sake of itself but Ive driven 10 year old cars that the brake fluid has never been changed in and the brakes worked fine.
Spark plugs need doing every 40000 miles generally or 4 services, air filter same, pollen filter every service, oil/filter same.