Category: Servicing

Using a local garage for servicing verses using a dealership

Written by Declan
It is of utmost importance to keep our vehicles in a good roadworthy condition making sure that it has an up to date MOT certificate and that it is serviced regularly but how important is it that we use one of the large car dealership service centres for these services? Is it equally as good to use a smaller local garage for our services? If you do not feel capable of carrying out minor maintenance work on your vehicle yourself then you will need to employ the services of a mechanic to do this for you. Shopping around for a good deal on servicing is a must as prices vary considerably. Local garages are a good place to start and are usually a lot cheaper than car dealership service centres....
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Car maintenance you can do yourself

Written by Declan
With the costs of maintaining a car rising all the time many people are looking in to ways they can cut down on serving and repairs but doing some of it themselves. Services for cars range from a few hundred pounds depending on what garage you use, what service is due and the make and model of the vehicle. During a service many consumable repairs are replaced and the car is often given a once over to check for obvious repairs that may need to be done. Replacing filters is a large part of a service and these filters can be purchased by anyone at a reasonable cost. You can usually buy the filters for less than the garage will charge you for them and often do not need specialist...
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Don’t delay on your car service

Written by Declan
Cars need to be serviced regularly to ensure that they run at their optimal performance and to try and avoid any unnecessary repair bills. It is always surprising how many car owners have no idea when their car was last serviced or when it is due one. This is usually the case if the car has been bought second hand and is over three years old. Delaying on your service could be costly and you can end up doing some irreversible damage if you are not careful. The cost to service a car can vary depending on the make and model, the type of service needed and where you take it. On average you can expect to pay between £200 and £400 for a main dealer service on a standard...
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Is the service history for your car important?

Written by Declan
You should always get your car serviced regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines to get it running as efficiently as possible. Some cars have long life service schedules and others are shorter meaning you will need to check the plan for your individual make and model of car, not just assume it is the same as a previous car you owned. Having the service history for a car can also make it more saleable and may mean you get a better price for it, especially if it has been done by the main dealer. Along with ensuring that you have the service book and that it is stamped every time you have a service done you should also try and keep receipts for other work you may have had...
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How to check your car oil

Written by Declan
All cars need oil to run the engine. The oil used is specifically designed for use in a car engine and it varies depending on what engine you have, so always be sure to check the required oil before adding it to the sump. You can check the oil level in your car by checking the dip stick. This is a stick that shows you the level of oil and to check it you need to remove it when the car engine has not been running (engine is cold) and the car is parked on a flat surface. Wipe the stick and then push it firmly down in to the hole. After a few seconds remove the stick and look to see where the level is. If the level is...
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