I'm probably not doing too badly then - my Seat Leon TDi cost £116 including new wipers at the 20k service, although the price list on the board at the dealership indicated £120 for the service alone. Even better, the 30k service last month is listed at £150, but the dealer took it down to £100 on the button. Everything that was supposed to be done was done, plus the creaky dash was sorted out (for another week or so, anyway - silicon spray scheduled for Thursday). On the other hand, the Passat cost £118 just for the filter change - I supplied the oil.
andymc
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Ok, I figured you'd all had a bit of a break and it's time for another inept HF question again.
Could someone please explain what exactly is included in 'a service'?
I had my oil changed a while back - was that a service? - because the thread's author seems to be implying so. And that's a bit scarey because my oil change was under £20.
If not, what should be expected in a proper service?
I need to get my car properly serviced very soon as it has been doing many miles, so I would be very grateful for a comprehensive list of 'must do's' and 'should do's', as well as 'think about it's'.
Sorry if I am seeming to hijack the thread, just kind of need to know the necessities now that my car has been doing more mileage than usual.
Apologies again, I should probably post this elsewhere, but whilst on the subject, does anyone know a reason why every time my car does a long (600 mile plus) journey, the clutch hits against the floor noisily, for a couple of days after the journey, before returning to normal, and the other pedals feel looser? HWMO told me it was because I was suddenly pressing the pedals wrong, but it's not the case. It's just every time it goes up north the car behaves erratically for a few days.
Sorry that's totally off-topic - I would be obliged if Dave, Mark or Alan could move it somewhere more appropriate if and when they have a mo.
Thanks,
HF
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HF - if your car has a service/warranty booklet in the glovebox, it should set it all out for you (though you may find it a bit confusing). Oil and filter is usually the most frequent item, followed by air or fuel filters, brake fluid and coolant changes, and finally airbags (every 10 years if car lasts that long). Depends what falls due when.
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last service for my Fiat Punto 1.2 was £160 quid (franchised dealer). Lots of squirting of oil around the door hinges and a change of oil, plugs and filter.
Prior to that Golf GTI was £190 (franchised dealer again). But at least I got a nice courtesy car.
I am not looking forward to the Renault Scenic service in January.
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Andrew-T,
Thank you for that.
Unfortunately I have no booklet - I got the car from a family member, who also has no deep history of the car.
However, I had the oil and filter done, as recommended by this site. When I had my MOT done a while back (June I think) the garage guy said he had done 'all the necessary fluid changes'.
I think in hindsight that he probably just did a few top-ups - being on this site is certainly showing me a few things, even if I'm still incredibly naive.
I guess oil and filter will be due again soon, as will cambelt? I had no knowledge of the air or fuel filters, although I did know that at some point brake fluid and coolant must be changed - although I had no idea this was a regular thing.
As for airbags - I don't have 'em! Car is too old but I still love it!
But I appreciate this no end, Andrew. It really is appreciated.
If I have any further worries, would it be ok for me to ask the mods to forward my email addy on to you? Of course I will also understand if that is not ok.
Regards all,
HF
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Any discussion points welcome HF on this board..
The Author
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HF,
I think I'm right in saying that Haynes manuals also have a "service schedule" in the front - everything from weekly checks (oil, tyres etc) to what should be done every 5k, 10k etc. Might be worth investing in one (second hand on e-bay?) or you might find it in your local library? even if you don't buy a new one. Unlike the car's sevice manual it tells you how to do the checks so would be ideal for a competent DIYer like yourself!!!
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HF, another reason it's costing some of us so much is because of paying a franchised dealer to do the servicing in order to maintain a warranty. £70 of my £118 service bill was labour costs. Ok, it is sometimes possible to get a (for instance) VW specialist to do the work if there is one in your area, but there isn't any near me.
Once a car is out of warranty it can still be worth maintaining a dealer service history so you can point to it when eventually selling the car on, but as the car gets older and depreciates more the benefit of the dealer history versus the cost of maintaining it starts to diminish - it won't make such a difference to a £3k saloon that it's worth continuing to pay £100+ for. I wouldn't be too concerned if a 6 year old car I was interested in buying had a dealer service history for the first 5 years only - I should be able to check whether a car has been reasonably well cared for after that point by looking at receipts, giving it a thorough going over (as HJ recommends) and/or paying for an inspection.
By the way - HWMO = He Who Must Obey? Poor Rob ....
andymc
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HF
Don't miss the fluid changes - they really are important. I got cheap and stretched my two year coolant service on a Nissan I used to have. The alloy motor started to corrode. It didn't matter how often I flushed the coolant after that it still came out brown with corrosion. You really need to get the coolant changed every two years if you have an alloy engine. Changing the brake fluid regularly is also important for the same reason. Brake fluid takes up moisture from the atmosphere and this causes corrosion in your brake lines. Not what you want when your life might depend on your brakes.
Cheers
Expat
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HF - if you think I can help, I'm flattered! But I haven't 'asked that my profile be hidden', I just haven't bothered to set one up. By all means get my E-address, but RichardW has entered the basics lower down on this thread. You could always try to get hold of a Vx handbook for your car if Rob won't buy you a Haynes manual.
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HF:
1. Try www.womensgarage.com/maintain.htm
2. or search google (selecting "the web" option) for car maintenance tips schedule.
3. As already suggsted, get a Haynes Manual for the Astra. Haynes Link is on the top right. That will also bring up offers for "The Man Manual" for HMWO!
MAN - The Haynes Owners Workshop Manual
£12.99
by Dr Ian Banks
120,000BC to Present Day. All models, shapes, sizes and colours. The Man Manual is a step-by-step guide to men's health.
Man Manual covers all models
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HF,
Typically a 'service schedule' might be:
6 months / 6000 miles
Oil and filter, visual check of lights, tyres, underneath of car etc, lubricate door hinges etc
12 months / 12,000 miles
as 6000, plus inspection of front brakes, check / adjust clutch, check battery
24 months / 24,000 miles
as above, plus renew coolant and brake fluid, inspect rear brakes, change air and fuel filters
Cambelt will be at some later time, depending on model.
An oil change doesn't really constitute a service, as the technician performing the service should really check around the car and if you take it in just for an oil change that is what you will get! If you were looking to get a 'service' on your Astra, then I would take it to one of the high street chains, and get one of their major services that they usualy advertise as 120 point or something (but about 10 of which usually involve finding the car, opening the door, putting a seat cover on, adjusting the mirror, retuning the radio etc etc..!)
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Thank you, firstly to The Author, who gave me carte blanche.
But secondly, of course, to all those who have answered my questions. I really am grateful, although I am going to have to be a little bit more aware when it comes to servicing.
Without this forum I just do not know - however, I had the oil and filter done maybe 6 months ago.
My lights seem to work. Underneath of car - what am I looking for?
After that I can see that it requires someone who 'knows'.
What High Street chain will do me a proper service? Kwik Fit?
Thank you very much to all of you. Everything is being taken down into the HF brain (yeah there is one) to be used when necessary. And thanks again to Cluchlochladden(sorry if name slightly wrong) for allowing me to steal his thread.
HF
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does anyone know a reason why every time my car does a long (600 mile plus) journey, the clutch hits against the floor noisily, for a couple of days after the journey, before returning to normal, and the other pedals feel looser? HWMO told me it was because I was suddenly pressing the pedals wrong, but it's not the case. It's just every time it goes up north the car behaves erratically for a few days.
HF - It's to do with taking the car out of its natural environment. Every time I used to have to drive from 'oop north' to anywhere within 100 miles of the south coast, when i got home, the car always sounded as if someone had thrown a shovel full of nuts and bolts into a washing machine and set it to 'fast spin'. That said, if he's done a couple of trips back to the County Palatine and not suffered any major problems, then he's probably doing more good than harm. (got to be worth a pint that, Rob)
Bora - what Bora ?
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>>got to be worth a pint that, Rob
More than that, Bora, to convince me he's not killing the car! ;)
But it is reassuring to know it's not just me. Thanks for that!
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HF - get him to do the long journeys in the Golf. Ignore him saying it won't make it - it got down to Kent didn't it?!
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A friend of mine with an Audi TT was horrified to find out he'd been stung for £230 to change front brake pads and a floor mat. Part of the bill was £3.17 + VAT on Plaslube, which I assume is like Copperslip. Now I bought a big pot of copperslip for about £9 ten years ago and I've still got 97% of the pot left, so are the dealers putting 3 lbs of the stuff in, with it oozing out of the callipers every time you brake? His verdict was that it was a good price for a Ferrari service, but pricey for what is basically a fancy Golf!
After this shock he went to a Maserati dealer, because the TT replacement could be a 3200GT. A 60,000 mile service on a 3200, assuming NOTHING else requires attention (which mihgt be unlikely) costs over £2000 - ouch!
When he walked through the service bay there was a 3200 in for what the salesman described as a "big service"
So, there's your nice 3 year old Maser, up on the lift, front suspension and steering out, engine out, turbos off, cylinder heads off, crank on the workshop floor in a pool of it's own oil, and some poor owner is being charged over 100 quid an hour for the privelidge. Now that's expensive!
Gareth
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My way of thinking precisely, DB. The Golf is lovely, anyway, unless one needs to use first gear.
Having seen my beloved car suddenly go up to 140,000 instead of 135,000 miles on the clock, I will do my ultimate persuasion. Don't think it's gonna work though. :(
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HF - get him to do the long journeys in the Golf. Ignore him saying it won't make it - it got down to Kent didn't it?!
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Oi!! Whose side are you on?! ;-)
I'd have thought that you of all people would be painfully aware of how nasty a 650 mile round trip in 36 hours would be in my Golf!
Cheers
Rob
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It's a good, reliable work horse, after all that work that was done to it. Go on, admit it!
Okay - it smells like it's been sat on a farm for six months and could do with more a gap between reverse and first, but hey, £100? That's only the price of 45 pints!
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