Car Services and Tune Ups
Car Services
Why is it important to regularly service a vehicle?
For most people, a car is the second most expensive asset they will purchase. For an investment of this nature, wouldn’t you want to see the best return that you can? All vehicles, and new vehicles especially, lose value quickly if they are not maintained regularly and properly.
As vehicles get older, they tend to use more oil and may need more frequent attention – if you are only doing minor services on your vehicle, do them regularly. Every 2 years or 40,000km (vehicle dependant), ensure a proper major service is done.
Even if you only do regular, short trips (and very little long-distance driving), the engine oil will degrade and break down. To keep the engine in good shape, have a minor service done every 6 months – or at the very least, change the oil and oil filter.
Regular servicing for your vehicle will help ensure the following:
- on-going safety of your vehicle, you (and your passengers!) plus other road users
- save you money on fuel and by minimising unexpected breakdowns – regular servicing can detect any problems or changes in the vehicle, meaning they may be resolved early
- reduce emissions from your vehicle – a regularly serviced vehicle will produce less emissions
- warranty protection – manufacturers have a right to void a customer’s new car warranty if servicing is neglected to an unreasonable extent
- it will help preserve the resale value of your vehicle – a full service history will make your vehicle much more attractive to prospective buyers should you wish to sell it.
Most vehicle’s timing belts will be due for replacement around 100,000km (depending on the vehicle and the manufacturer’s specifications). Average time required to replace a timing belt is 3 – 4 hours; however, this can be longer on some vehicles.
Log Book Services
At Medowie Car Care Pty Ltd, we provide log book servicing, which allows you to maintain your car’s warranty. Log book services are completed and signed off as per manufacturer’s requirements.
Minor Service
For a general minor service the following items are usually done. Note that your vehicle manual may list something different for its minor service – in that case, the service should be done according to the manual’s recommendations.
Time required is around 1 hour for a minor service and price will vary, depending on the vehicle. Some vehicles require more oil or more expensive parts or it may take longer to access sections of some vehicles to perform the service. Diesel vehicles, turbo engines, sports cars and some European vehicles, etc. will generally cost more.
What is included in a minor service:
- Oil and filter changed
- Injector cleaner added to the fuel system
- Engine flush done
- Inspection of steering system, suspension, brakes for wear and tear, play, other worn parts
- Inspection of lights, blinkers, horn to ensure all working properly
- Check windscreen wipers and washers are operating properly
- Check air conditioning and heating system is operating properly
- Coolant and brake fluids are quality tested as these will degrade over time
- Tyres are inspected for wear, depth, and air pressure – they will be rotated if required. If the spare tyre is readily accessible, it will be checked.
- Air filter checked
- Fluid levels are checked and topped up for gearbox, differential, power steering, washer bottles, battery
- Battery condition is tested
- Fan belt condition is checked
- Road test to check for rattles, noises, etc
What is not included in a minor service:
- Fluids are not usually replaced without customer consent as they can add unexpected $$$ to the final cost
- Auto transmission fluid is checked but not replaced
- Spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter are not replaced as part of a minor service
- Tyres are not balanced nor is a wheel alignment done
- Brake pads, etc, are not replaced
Major Service
Will cover all of the Minor Service items, plus possible additions:
- Replace coolant and brake fluid (this should be done every 2 years)
- Auto transmission service (should be done every 2 years or so)
- Could involve a tune-up (as per manufacturer’s recommendations)
Time required is from 2 hours; however, this will vary, depending on the km on your vehicle, make/model of vehicle, and its service requirements.
Tune Up
The term ‘tune up’ doesn’t really apply to today’s modern fuel-injected and computer controlled cars. Older cars required tune ups once or twice a year to set the timing, replace the points and condenser in the distributor, gap or replace the spark plugs, etc. Today’s vehicles have the timing controlled by the computer. The distributor is not even used anymore as coils fire the spark plugs directly and modern spark plugs are often designed to run up to 100 000 km before they need changing.
A tune up now is really an extension to a major service. The extras could include:
- Replace spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter
- Ignition timing is checked and adjusted where applicable (most modern vehicles can’t be adjusted)
- Throttle body clean (cleans old oil residue from carburettor/throttle body and may help to smooth out rough idle in the engine)
So when does a vehicle need a tune up?
We recommend following your manufacturers recommendations regarding the above first two items; however, your vehicle may need attention additional to this, especially if it experiences symptoms such as hard starting, sluggishness on acceleration, sputtering/”missing”, rough idle, poor fuel economy, strong smell of petrol/running rich. If there is no obvious reason for unexpected symptoms, we recommend booking the vehicle in to our workshop so we can inspect and determine the underlying causes.
If there is no obvious reason for unexpected symptoms, we recommend booking the vehicle in to our workshop so we can inspect and determine the underlying cause/s.
Medowie Car Care Pty Ltd offers a comprehensive car service – minor service, major service, tune ups, log book service. Call us on 02 4982 9172