Learn The Basics Of Car Maintenance
Just bought a car and not sure where to start when it comes to how to service and maintain your vehicle? You might not know that some of the rules of car maintenance have changed in the past few years. Don’t stress, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our easy-to-follow guide to car maintenance.
What Is A Service Plan?
A vehicle service is a health check with routine maintenance for your vehicle, which evaluates everything from your engine’s fluid levels to the general wear and tear of your car.
There are two types of services i.e. a minor service and a major service. A minor car service generally includes looking after small things in your vehicle, such as changing the oil and oil filters. The major service is a more thorough service.
Service Intervals Explained
When deciding when and how often your vehicle should be serviced, factors to consider would be the age of your vehicle, the distance you drive daily, the type of roads on which you travel, as well as how well you personally maintain your vehicle.
Usually, a car should receive a service at least once a year but preferably every six months. A suggestion is that you have a minor service every 10,000 km and a major service every 20,000 km, but this would depend on if you have a petrol car or a diesel. It’s best to check with your dealer when you purchase your vehicle.
If you buy a new or used car with a car maintenance plan in place, certain aspects of your service will be covered, so you need to check the conditions, exclusions and limitations of your plan.
Set A Reminder For A Regular Service
Nobody wants bad signs like dashboard warning lights going off and strange noises coming from their engine. Having your car serviced regularly and keeping up with your service intervals will help ensure your vehicle is not only safe to drive but remains in good condition for longer.
Don’t forget to check how often you need to service your car for the warranty to remain in place. Sticking to the warranty and having regular services has another advantage in that a complete service history will add credibility to the vehicle if you are looking to sell it in future.
Let’s Talk About The Warranty
First, find out if your car has a warranty. With a warranty, the manufacturer basically promises to repair or replace a faulty component within a certain time frame stipulated. Things included are mechanical components like the engine, gearbox and fuel systems. Unfortunately, wear-and-tear items like tyres, brake pads and the battery, will usually not be covered, that is why services and regular can maintenance are important – so you don’t have bigger issues down the line.
Most new cars will come with a warranty, but the time frame differs from one manufacturer to another. When purchasing a vehicle, the warranty or service plan should be listed. Unfortunately, if you are buying a used car you will have to check if the warranty is still in place. Most maintenance plans are only able up to a certain year model so you will have to purchase an extended warranty to be covered.
Choose The Right Service Centre
In 2020, the Competition Commission released new regulations, known as the ‘Right to Repair’, which permits car owners to use any service provider and non-original parts to maintain their vehicles, without losing their manufacturer warranty.
Using a third party could be a cheaper option, but not necessarily a better one. If the service centre doesn’t have adequate insurance to cover all liability or potential damage to the vehicle, it could have an impact on your warranty, so make sure you prepare for your next service, by choosing the right service centre.
While most reputable service centres will have the list of checks that need to be done at each service interval, smaller service centres may not, so it’s a good idea to write down the list of service items for your vehicle and hand it over to the service centre when you drop off your car.
How You Can Maintain Your Car Yourself
Did you know that regularly doing maintenance on your car yourself is possible and could help keep things running better for longer? Here are some things you can check:
- Tyre pressure
- Engine oil
- Replace wiper blades
- Add washer fluid
- Replace cabin filter
- Change light bulbs
- Clean battery terminals
- Replace fuses
Our Group1 blog has a wealth of information on looking after your car, as well as any other car-related questions you might have – so be sure to take a look for more informative auto content.
