What do you actually do during a service?

gutteruu

So for the mechanics on here. What do you actually do? The last 2 services I got they changed the oil, oil filter and air filter. Didn't look over the car at all (loads of obvious stuff wrong) but charged me about 150+ quid for the privilage.

Planning on just looking over car myself and changing out oil and filters as these 'proper' services seem pointless ?

George Dalton

Ah now that would be telling :pac:

What kind of car is it?

punisher5112

Go to a different mechanic.

I do my own sometimes if I have time and for belts and difficult jobs defo get the pro to do that.

Any decent mechanic should know by driving the car and looking it over what is needed and for the newer cars a diognostics to check all faults.

Full service should entail a full break & suspension check along with aux belt tension & wear etc. That's as well as full fluid check (not just level) and also the mundane stuff like greasing hinges, checking lights & tyres etc.

Essentially driving away if there's anything needed you should know as they should have told you, won't get a full service for €150 to be fair unless your car requires 10w40 oil.

mountsky

Smoke a cigarette or 5

hairybelly

Last time I got a service he didnt even bother to check the coolant levels, which kinda annoyed me when I discovered it low a week later.
Havent a clue what he did, alls I know he topped the oil up and everything else was "grand".

gutteruu

hairybelly wrote: »

Last time I got a service he didnt even bother to check the coolant levels, which kinda annoyed me when I discovered it low a week later.

Last service I got they didn't notice front discs were worn beyond dangerous and coolant was almost empty. I'm not hoping they catch everything, but running your finger along a break disc, glancing at pad wear or looking at coolant levels seems like pretty obvious stuff? That one cost me about 250.

Spook_ie

WD40, cleaning rag, turn the airfilter 180 degrees, maybe change the oil if it drips too fast off the dipstick, check that it has 4 wheels and the tyres are roundish and not flat at the bottom...... sure it'll be grand!

BabysCoffee

Should brakes be checked during a service?

biko

In the manual for your car there may be items to check at various intervals.
Have a look at the service book and/or manual.

ldxo15wus6fpgm

I service my own car regularly, and generally I go through this list for a full service

Change oil/fuel/air filters, check pollen filter condition
Change engine oil (and have a look at the underbody for rust etc. while I'm under the car)
Check all fluid levels and condition
Check brakes - pads/shoes, discs/drums, hoses etc.
Check tyres for even wear, cracks, items lodged in tread
Check aux belt tension (not the most in depth of checks I'll admit, I just give it a wiggle)
Check suspension components on all 4 wheels (if I'm feeling lazy this gets skipped)

I also have a good long look over my engine bay, looking for any fluid leaks, cracks in hoses etc, take the car for a quick spin, test my brakes by slamming on and then head home and give it a quick hoovering if I can be bothered.
There are some other things you might do depending on service intervals, some fluids last a very long time.

BabysCoffee

BabysCoffee wrote: »

Should brakes be checked during a service?

Yes, condition of pads, discs, hoses etc along with brake fluid condition.

porsche959

& this in a nutshell is why I prefer to go to main dealers, they at least will point out and ennumerate what issues require attention.

corktina

(and make up some stuff too no doubt. )

Basically a mechanic will do what you ask him to. If you ask for a basic service, they will do exactly what you list OP. If you want them to check out the rest of the car, for any obvious faults, they will do and charge for doing it.

€150 about right for a basic service

CJhaughey

Get a Haynes manual for your car(if available) that details the service items to be checked/changed in the front section of the book.
In fact all of them used to have it as a standard checklist for any car, they are all pretty much standard but a specialist garage usually knows what goes wrong and can check those parts that are known to give issues.

porsche boy

First I drive the car down the road or around the block listening out for knocks or bangs from the suspension. It also gives me a chance to feel the brakes and clutch in action as well as warming up the oil so it's easier to drain.
Back in the garage I'll check all the lights/wipers/horn/ancelleries. On the ramp car half up in the air I'll visually check tyres/brakes and check for any play in the wheels from worn suspension or steering linkages etc.
Car fully up in the air I'll drain the oil and swap the filter while visually inspecting ball joints/wishbones/anti roll bars etc. as well as brake pipes/fuel lines and exhaust system.
Back on the ground I'll change the filters, fill the oil, inspect the engine and ancelleries, reset the service light, stamp the book and then bring in outside for a wash. It should also be noted that once I complete a visual inspection I'll estimate any other work needed and call the customer with a discription and price for repair.
Well that's my procedure for a full service for which I charge around €160. I think it's a fair price for the time and effort put in.

ianobrien

For me, it depends on the car.

For the road car, I hand over the keys to the main dealer, come back 3 hours later and pay the bill. It's still under manufacturers warranty.

For the vintage car, every year it's an oil & filter change, plug change, air filter wash and oil, check coolant gearbox & axle levels, lubricate door hinges and locks, check every rubber component (brake lines, bushes, mounts, hoses etc) for cracks. Brake pad & shoe check and check the usual spots for rust. Every two years it's a coolant and brake fluid change. Every 4 years it's a gearbox and axle oil change.

Every couple of years I get some mechanical system completely rebuild with all new consumables. Last year I had the rear axle checked over with new seals etc put in. Before that it was a complete suspension overhaul (new bushes, shocks, ball joints, track control arms etc). Before that it was brakes (new calipers, discs, pads, hoses cylinders, rebuilt master cylinder). If there is anything I can't do there is an old school mechanic near me who does the work for me at very reasonable rates. If there is the first sign of rust there is a very good panel beater I use. He usually curses at the car but does a fine job.

kirving

What's the general feeling on filling the service booklet out yourself?

I service my own car and have have filled it in with the work done, and receipts for parts. I'd check the brakes, and will change pads/discs when they're due, but will drop it to a garage to change the fluid, and for trickier jobs that would be easier with a ramp. Not having a garage is such a pain.

pred racer

I bring mine to a mechanic I trust! Simples.

gutteruu

corktina wrote: »

Basically a mechanic will do what you ask him to. If you ask for a basic service, they will do exactly what you list OP. If you want them to check out the rest of the car, for any obvious faults, they will do and charge for doing it.

€150 about right for a basic service

Oil change and filters probably about 50 ish quid. 15-30 minutes. So this values mechanics time about €2-300 per hour. €300 per hour labour for basic stuff and won't spend 10 seconds giving basics a visual. Seems like a total rip off to me? To be fair most people on here said what I thought. Seems like its just the few guys I found. Maybe I'm just more aware as I check things over.

JohnBoy26

This

Galadriel

I thought my local garage were good but they charge about €160 for a 'mini' service and then about €240-250 for a full service, I have a 99 Peugeot 306 1.4.

I'll shop around for next time.