Car servicing is the periodic check-up of a vehicle even if it shows no mechanical issues for the purpose of ensuring its reliability, safety, functionality, and efficiency.
Unlike the annual inspection of vehicles, servicing is not a legal requirement in many countries. This leniency makes it easy for car owners to overlook the exercise.
The need to service your vehicle and servicing it on time cannot be over-emphasized. While skipping or delaying it can save you a few dollars, the risk it poses may cost you more – it may even cost lives.
What Does a Full Car Service Include?
A full car servicing is a comprehensive check of all parts of the vehicle, including:
- Grease and lubricants
- Changing old engine oil & oil filters
- Changing dirty fuel filters
- Changing clogged Air filters
- Checking on the AC
- Topping up essential fluids such as clutch fluid, windscreen wash, steering fluid, braking fluid and antifreeze
- Checking the brake pads/liners, discs/drums)
- Checking on the steering system (steering fluid)
- Checking the suspension/shock absorbers
- Checking the wheels and tyres
- Wheel bearings and wheel alignment
- Spark plug check
- Engine inspection
- Checking on the sensor (such as the tyre-pressure sensors)
- Windscreen wipers check
- Lighting and electric functions check
- Timing belt/timing chain check
- Checking error codes in the ECU and rectifying the errors
- Other additional safety checks
Aside from that main question, you may still have other questions at the back of your mind. Here are some common questions people usually ask about vehicle servicing and our short answers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Car Servicing
1. Interim vs full servicing – what’s the difference?
Interim servicing is a minor check-up of a vehicle and undertaken in between the full servicing intervals. On the other hand, a full car service involves more comprehensive checking of almost all car parts and car systems.
2. What’s the interval between full servicing schedules?
There is “no one size fits all” answer on when to service your vehicle. Different vehicles have different servicing intervals. To be sure about when to service your vehicle, you need to check the manufacturer-recommended service schedule.
3. How do I know my vehicle require services after the manufacturer’s coverage?
The surest way would be to check your car mileage. Every vehicle requires servicing after covering the manufacturer’s recommended distance. Luckily, modern cars now have monitoring systems that inform the driver when servicing is due.
4. What are some signs that my car needs servicing?
These signs indicate that it’s time to service your car:
- Check Engine warning light – when your car engine displays the “check engine” warning light, you may need to take your vehicle for a maintenance check. Before you do that, take these steps first to make sure that it’s not just a loose fuel cap or other issues that you can fix yourself.
- Strange noises – some strange noises mean the vehicle has developed problems. If you hear unusual sounds from your car, it’s wise to service your vehicle as soon as possible. Listen for uneven engine noise when the car is idling, squealing when braking, and metal-on-metal scraping sound. Also, louder than the usual sound from the exhaust, whining noise from the engine, or disturbing crunching sound when you change the gear among other unusual sounds.
- Reduced ride comfort – failure to service your vehicle also leads to reduced ride comfort. With time and usage, the suspensions and shock absorbers wear, the wheels lose their alignment, and the moving/rotating parts starts vibrating. All these issues require servicing.
- Vibration or pulling when braking – the worn-out braking pads/liners and the worn-out breaking drums/disks causes the vibration and pulling. Service your vehicle as soon as possible as soon as you start experiencing such.
- Overheating of the engine – the frequent overheating of the engine is another sign that all is not well with your vehicle. If you realise any rise in engine temperature, take the car for servicing promptly.
- Leaks, smoke, or steam coming from under the hood – these are clear signs your vehicle needs attendance. It is losing essential fluids, its exhaust system is perforated, and the cooling system is faulty. Driving such a car is risky, so you need to take prompt action and service your vehicle.
- Increased fuel consumption – when engine components like spark plugs start wearing out, the car consumes more fuel. This is a tell-tale sign that you should immediately book your car’s servicing appointment.
- Loss of engine power – underserviced vehicles not only lose their fuel efficiency, but their performance also deteriorates. Take your vehicle for services promptly when you notice any change in performance.
- Noticeable wear and tear – worn-out tyres and broken belts lead to heightened wear and tear of other components. They’re usually visible to the naked eye, so take quick action whenever you notice them. Inspect bushes and boots from control arms, Panhard rods, diff mounts, engine mounts, and pretty much anything that’s designed to absorb the vehicle’s vibrations.
5. How much does car servicing cost?
Car servicing costs vary widely depending on the size of the car, the model, and the components that need replacing, so some cars may cost as low as $200 to service to as high as $2000 or even more. An interim servicing will also cost you less than a full service that is more comprehensive. Instead of searching for ‘car servicing near me,’ you may also search our directories and key in your location to find the nearest car servicing shop near you.
6. What happens if you don’t service your vehicle?
Failure to service your car leads to the vehicle losing its power and eventually its functionality. Such automobiles are also unsafe as essential functionalities such as braking, steering, and light indicators start to fail.
Fuel consumption also goes up, and the ride becomes uncomfortable. Besides, the lifespan of the vehicle is affected, the maintenance cost sky-rockets, and the vehicle’s resale value goes down when there is no evidence of regular servicing
Takeaway
Don’t wait till it’s too late. Book a servicing appointment with a qualified mechanic or search for ‘car servicing’ at CarpartAU’s directory now. We link you with leading service providers, premium part manufacturers, and the best car-servicing prices in town.