A car service is a vitally important part of maintaining your vehicle and is essential for keeping it in tip-top condition. While many motorists are tempted to skimp on car maintenance, this can lead to major repairs and damage that is costlier than simply ensuring you follow the recommended intervals for service.
Cars are designed to last a long time, so it is crucial to keep up with regular servicing to help them operate properly for as long as possible. A car’s owner’s manual will usually provide details on the recommended service intervals.
During a full service, a mechanic will check over your car’s vital components, including the engine oil and filter. They may also change your spark plugs and a number of other key components, as well as check the brakes, wheels and suspension.
If you’re not sure what’s included in a full service, we recommend visiting a local garage or RAC Approved Dealership for further information. This type of service is more thorough than a minor or interim service and will include over 50 checks and adjustments.
The RAC Approved garage will be able to recommend the type of service your vehicle needs and the best way to book it. Depending on your car’s make and model, they might suggest an interim, full or major service.
Interim services are typically every 6 months or 6,000 miles, while a full service is usually 12 months or 12,000 miles and a major service should be completed after 24 months or 24,000 miles. They will also advise you on any additional parts or maintenance that might be needed and if they have to order any parts, this will be charged for at the time of booking.
Major services are generally more in-depth and will include a full engine and transmission service, as well as checks on over 50 additional components that are important to the overall health of your vehicle. A major service is likely to take longer than a full service and might be more expensive, but it will ensure that your car has been thoroughly looked after and will last much longer than if you had missed some of its crucial checks and upgrades in between servicing.
Dashboard Warning Lights
It’s vitally important to get any problems with your car resolved as soon as they arise. Even if you think the issue is simple and can be fixed yourself, if it’s not, your vehicle could explode or become dangerous to drive.
A dashboard warning light indicates that a car’s control system has detected a problem. It might be a fault with the engine, or it might indicate that your car has an electrical issue which can cause it to fail completely.
Changing a check engine light is a great way to keep your car in good working order, and can save you money and hassle in the long run by avoiding more serious problems that could be more costly to resolve.
