Car Servicing – Your Personal Guide
Car servicing is an area of vehicle maintenance that can leave motorists left scratching their heads. As there are a lot of aspects to consider when maintaining your vehicle – car servicing is a process involving a number of checks, refilling and replacing of various vital components for your car.
Regular car servicing is highly important – it keeps your car safe on the road and makes sure that your car hasn’t got a dangerous fault lurking underneath the bonnet. Although you can carry out a number of checks to make sure that your car is in good condition, there are some that you are unable to carry out without arranging for a full service so this is why regular servicing is so important.
Our team of expert mechanics are specialists in offering car servicing. We have created this car servicing guide to discuss the process of arranging for a car service, why a car service is important and what you can expect when booking a car service at one of our garages. Enquire today to find out more about car servicing or arrange for a car service today by using an online contact form on our website or telephone our team now on: 01633 244 474
Newport: 01633 244 474
Cwmbran: 01633 872 001
Pontymister: 01633 614 600
Pontypool: 01495 239 953
What is Car Servicing?
Car servicing is a series of comprehensive checks, refilling of and replacements of key components in your car. Some are designated to increase the efficiency of your car whereas others are designed to make your car safe on the road. It also keeps your car running and gives you the peace of mind that you won’t have any nasty surprises whilst out on the road. Regular servicing can also catch potential issues early – leading to the prevention of breakdowns when you are out on the road.
The replacement of worn components in your vehicle can also save you money in the long run as there are fewer costs incurred than having to replace a major component later down the line. A proactive rather than a reactive approach to car maintenance can help protect you on the road and protect you from large unexpected bills if something goes majorly wrong with your vehicle.
How Often Should I Arrange for Car Servicing?
There is not a one size fits all approach as every vehicle will be different or in a different condition. It’s highly recommended however to have a full car service carried out every year or every 12,000 miles travelled (whichever is sooner.) You may find that your onboard computer has a self-diagnostic feature in which it will tell you when it is time for a service. It’s not an ideal situation but if any of the relevant warning lights appear in your car – they usually indicate that you should either seek a service at a garage or to stop driving and arrange for immediate professional inspection as you could cause further damage to your car.
If you have not arranged for a car service in a while or have not had your vehicle inspected for a while since your MOT – it’s a great idea to get your car checked for a service.
Do I Need to Service a New Car?
You do not need to arrange for an MOT until 3 years after registration. However, it’s still highly recommended to arrange for servicing at the same time period of older cars (12 months or 12,000 miles whichever is sooner.) It’s always important to check your manufacturer guidelines as they may also indicate when is best to arrange for servicing. New cars will also benefit from car servicing and as a general rule of thumb – 12,000 miles is around when damage may have occurred due to wear and tear or driving on the road.
There’s a number of checks that you can carry out that will let you know that your car may need to be looked at by a professional. There are also indications that you may need to take your vehicle for a service which you may observe whilst on the road.
Common Indications That You Need a Service
There are a few things that you may start to notice when driving your car that usually mean that you need to have your car looked at professionally. Although some are worse than others, if you have any doubts about the condition of your car – it’s always best to get it booked in so that our experts can have a look at your car.
Car is Pulling to One Side
One of the more concerning issues is when you feel as if you are unable to control your car and it starts to pull to one side. There’s a number of issues that may cause this with the most common being a wheel alignment issue. However, because of the fact that the issue could be due to a wide range of potential problems – it’s best to have your car checked if it is starting to pull to the left or right.
I’m Hearing Unusual Noises from the Car
Strange noises or noises that don’t sound normal can just be a bolt loose in the interior of the car or could be indicative of a major issue. Again hearing a noise may not be an indicator that the worst has happened but it’s always best to have a professional check your car just in case. If you hear scraping or screeching noises then parts of your car are most likely rubbing together which can cause damage in the long term so it’s best to get this checked.
Warning Light has Appeared on the Dashboard
There’s a variety of different warning lights that can appear on the dashboard which indicates issues and the action that you need to take when a light appears. Your car user manual will breakdown all of the different warning lights and what action you will need to take. As some warning lights are more serious than others – it’s important to abide by the manual and ensure that you get your car looked at as soon as possible.
Brake Pads Have Worn Down Massively Over Time
If your brake pads have worn down excessively over time, this is highly dangerous and should be immediately addressed at a car garage. Most of the time you can observe wear with a visual inspection of the brake pads. They are visible through the wheel and you can inspect them for wear. If the thickness of the brake pads is very thin then it is close to maximum wear. Some brake pads actually come equipped with wear indicators, which let you know if your brake pads have worn down to serious levels.
Arrange for a Car Service Today
Arranging for a car service is simple with Autocentres. We can discuss your requirements or any concerns that you have with your car and carry out a full, comprehensive car service. We will check, replace or refill any components that may need attention and ensure that your car is highly efficient and safe on the road. Should you be looking to book a car service then enquire with Autocentres using an online contact form on our website or telephone a member of our team today on: 01633 244 474
Newport: 01633 244 474
Cwmbran: 01633 872 001
Pontymister: 01633 614 600
Pontypool: 01495 239 953