Vehicle servicing

[nightrider]

The service light of my campervan which is a 2.5ltr turbo diesel has come on, in the past I have had my van serviced at my local garage but what exactly is the garage supposed to do on a service?

[BGD]

Supposed to do?

 

Charge you a shedload of your money for checking/adjusting/replacing bits and bobs as per the Vehicle manufacturers service Schedule for your type/age/mileage of vehicle.

 

 

Likely to do?

 

Charge you double that shedload of money to get the YTS Chimp to do about half the things they should, knob up 3 of them, break some catches or struts or plastic clips, forget to replace or properly tighten 6 nuts/screws; and scratch the bodywork of your MH.

 

 

 

 

 

Cynical about garages competence and trustworthiness?

After what I seen of them over the years?

Yes indeedee.

 

 

[Dave Newell]

I do so love to read these unbiased and well thought out replies *-) . Truth is there are many small garages and workshops out there who do a very good job at a reasonable price but at the same time there are some that will take the proverbial.

 

As for what a service involves, well it depends on what the vehicle is and how in depth a service you want. We do a full service which includes checking and noting tyre pressures, tread depth and noting tyre age. Replacing engine oil, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter and cabin pollen filter where apropriate. The underside is closely inspected for damage/corrosion as are fuel lines and brake pipes. All road wheels are removed and brakes inspected, cleaned and adjusted where applicable. There is more but these are the major points.

 

D.

[Brock]

Most garages will have a schedule for their servicing so ask. If they do not have one, and you do not know the garage, probably best to look elsewhere. Most will provide a tick list to say the task has been completed and some of these can easily be checked such as fluids and tyres. The last time I strayed on to Brownhills site, it provided a schedule for servicing. Your handbook should have one as well.

 

The point of servicing is to ensure your vehicle runs properly. That is how I assess the quality of the service. There is nothing wrong with having the YTS chimp servicing your van providing he or she is supervised and the work checked. We all have to learn.

 

Several garages have built up a reputation for servicing motorhomes and will often advise on the service you need depending on mileage. A few will go that extra distance and warn you of other potential faults which you can then decide whether to get fixed or not, presumably based on your view of the garage.

[malc d]

My experience is that, generally, the smaller the business, the better the service.

 

I once booked my van in to a 'main dealer' for a service, and topped up my washers before I left home.

 

When I went through the bill afterwards I noticed that they had charged me for topping up the washers.

 

( Haven't been back since).

 

 

;-)

[BGD]

Dave Newell - 2011-05-28 6:50 PM

 

I do so love to read these unbiased and well thought out replies *-) . Truth is there are many small garages and workshops out there who do a very good job at a reasonable price but at the same time there are some that will take the proverbial.

 

 

D.

 

 

 

That was rather my point Dave, so I think we are in agreement.

 

In my experience it has usually been the small, independent, owner run garage that has provided both the most professional, skilled, accurately diagnostic, and least expensive servicing/repairs.

 

The problem is that for most people, who aren't even partial home-mechanics, it is a lottery, both geographically, and over time.

Garage "X" could have done a cracking job on your vehicle last year, but today you are getting a different tecnician, who is making mistakes, or hasn't noticed something, or the job this time requires different diagnostic skills to that previous job.

Or garage "X" was great last time, so this time you go to different branch of that chain, and get charged double, or don't get work done that they said they did....................etc etc, I guess you get my drift.

 

 

 

 

I'm confident that there are very few garages out there whose sole purpose is to rip off customers....'cos I guess they wouldn't stay in business for too long.

But I also have to say that I think there are too many garages out there who do take advantage of customers lack of technical knowledge; or who perform shoddy, or unnecessary, or inadequate work.

 

 

I had an example just a couple of weeks ago.

We've got a Renault Scenic here in Spain. Local big Renault main dealer doing a "special" on oil and filter change.

Usually I do it myself, but their price was very good, so I got it done by them.

Renault technical wrote on job sheet that "both front and rear brake pads urgently require replacement", and that "battery is failing".

This was utter crap, as I'd changed front pads myself last November, and rears still have loads of life left. The battery is also fine.

I challenged the "Service Receptionist" about this, said I wanted to talk to the technician.

He was very evasive, but eventually when we were out of earshot of the office, after I had pointed out the new front pads and got a bit "direct" with him over his trying to dupe me, he admitted that they are all on "targets" to find other work to do with each oil change, so they just write down a couple of good-paying things....the Service Dept make loads of money on selling easy-to fit batteries and brake pads at massive parts markups, so these are a favourite....on each job sheet; and about half of the customers tell them then to go ahead and do those extra, completely un-necessary but well-paying things.

 

 

 

 

 

So I guess that the question becomes: how does a vehicle owner with little or no mechanical or electrical or electronics knowledge:

A. Select the right garage to do whatever servicing/repair/enhancement work?

B. Know if work that the technician says is needed really is needed?

B. Know if the jobs have been done right/safely/efficiently?

 

And therein lies the problem I was trying to point out in my earlier post.

 

 

 

 

[Dave Newell]

The point of my opening line Bruce was that you didn't differentiate between good and bad workshops regardless of size, you simply tarred us all with the same dirty brush. I thank you for clarifying your viewpoint.

 

D.

[nightrider]

I went down to the garage that services and repairs my two vehicles and asked him exactly what I would get in a service and he said all filters changed and of course new oil, coolant checked and topped up if required also washer water and checking wiper blades.

Wheels taken off, brakes checked and adjusted and a visual check underneath while on the ramp and just a good coat of looking at and a written report as to what has been done and any recommendations and the price quoted £120, the garage in question is long established with mature type mechanics, I have used this garage for several years and am happy with their service, its just that I wanted to know what garages usually do.

[nightrider]

Is the service light programmed to come on at certain mileages? my van has done 24,000 miles.

[Guest pelmetman]

Based on personnel experience >:-( .......I will never use a main dealer again ;-)

 

 

[Guest peter]

knight of the road - 2011-05-29 7:05 PM

 

Is the service light programmed to come on at certain mileages? my van has done 24,000 miles.

Yes it is. Some are programmed to come on sooner or later, depending on vehicle usage, light v's heavy. You can turn off the light but you need the kit to do it with, which is a bit of a bummer for those of us that like to do our own servicing.

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

Fully agree with BDG

 

The old saying, if you want a good job doing, then do it yourself is never more relevant than vehicle servicing, as long that is that you know what you are doing.And a routine service is still just about within most peoples abilities. If you do find a good garage then cherish them, in my experiences over 50 years of vehicle ownership they are the exception rather than the rule, that is as true now as it ever was.

[CliveH]

 

Had various company cars in the past and they had to be main dealer serviced. And the work was terrible in general. One car had running problems towards the end of its lease (three years) and broke down miles from home. The garage that recovered it found that the air filter had never been changed (they could prove that by the part number and date stamp on the item) and was so clogged that the engine could not breath.

 

They had suspicions about the oil filter as well but could not prove that. Service records showed that we had been charged for many air filters over the years. The lease company went nuts and I got an apology from the Service manager. But I was not impressed as you can imagine.

 

But to balance that - we had a small car - a Fiat Tipo that was 4 years old, ran well, and was very practical as a run about. During a service at a small independent garage they managed to connect up a diagnostic thingy the wrong way and blew the ECU. The car ran like a bag of nails and the garage owner just got angry with us when we complained. This was particularly upsetting for my wife whose car this was because she had been using this garage for years and we were on first name terms with the guy. But he got very nasty indeed.

 

Had to take it to a Fiat garage in the end where they told us, and showed us what the problem was how it was caused by someone connecting a non Fiat diagnostic tool across the connections in the wrong way. A new ECU was £300 but the Fiat garage said we may be able to get a S/H one from a breakers - which we did at £80 and all was well.

 

Now I think the Fiat main dealer was excellent and I was most impressed with their professionalism. I was also surprised to see the "Menu" of service schedules with the price clearly set out on a board in service reception of the Fiat garage. The cost of a main dealer service for the mileage on our car was £5 less than what we were charged by the small local garage.

 

So I am not so sure that it is black and white. And that, surely is the problem.

 

So now that we have our own cars – I run a 1996 Land Rover that is cheap and easy to service myself. As others have said – if you want a job doing well……………….

 

[flicka]

peter - 2011-05-30 10:38 PM

 

knight of the road - 2011-05-29 7:05 PM

 

Is the service light programmed to come on at certain mileages? my van has done 24,000 miles.

Yes it is. Some are programmed to come on sooner or later, depending on vehicle usage, light v's heavy. You can turn off the light but you need the kit to do it with, which is a bit of a bummer for those of us that like to do our own servicing.

 

Malc,

There was a thread that identified how to reset the "Service" indicator, but it must be about 4 years ago, using a specific sequence on the same button for re-setting the Clock, etc..

 

It worked for me on our previous (pre-2006 Fiat) Van.

Unfortunately I let ithe Code go when we changed Vans & I can't find the thread with the Search facility.

May be worth having a look on the Fiat forum.

[malc d]

I seem to remember this before when someone was asking how to get rid of the 'spanner' which indicates that a service is due.

Try looking under " spanner" in the search facility, under 'motorhome matters' and you may find it.

I reckon it was about two years ago (?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave Newell]

If I recall correctly KOTR's motorhome is a Compass on a VW T4 base so Fiat instructions will be of little use. Or has Malc changed his motorhome?

 

D.

 

 

[ips]

There is allways a simple way of removing service indicator lights. Main dealers will have you beleive that they plug in a laptop and do it that way. Dont know if they do but it can be done by pressing various buttons in various orders I suggest you search a forum for your specific make / model the commercial drivers will know how to do it.

On a similar topic my ford kuga seat belt warning is annoying so I found out that you can get rid of it by fastening and unfastening the seat belt 12 times within something like 80 sec. worked a treat :-D

[Guest ChrisB]

I have reset the service indicator on a number of Fiat and Citroen vehicles in the past (the last time in January when the dealer forgot to re-set after a service and it came on a week later).

Just type "service spanner" (plus make/model to be more specific) into Google and a number of forums giving the required information should pop up.

As a previous poster has indicated this normally requires the use of the ignition switch and buttons on the dash.

[laimeduck]

From T'internet for Fiat 2.8jtd

 

"press the trip button, & turn the ignition on,

keep holding the button in until display reads cfg1,

then release the button. & Pressing it again will allow you to cycle through the various service periods cfg1 to cfg3,

When you get the service interval that you want you simply press & hold the button again untill the mil goes out.

Finally turn off the ignition and job done."

 

Will try this over the weekend

 

Jeremy the L'AimeDuck

 

 

[Dave Newell]

To reset service light on a VW T4:

"with the ignition turned off, u press and hold the mileage reset button.next, with the button still pressed, turn the ignition 2 clicks (but dont start).release the mileage trip button, and turn the clock button clockwise which should reset the "service" indicator. if not thrash the dash with a large scafold tube, then i"tll go off!!!"

 

Shamelessly stolen from another forum.

 

D.

[Dave Newell]

Come on Malc, don't leave us all in suspenders! Did you get your van serviced? did you get the service light extinguished? Did you DIY or use a garage? If the latter did you get ripped off or did they do a proper job for a proper price?

 

D.

[Big Momma]

1footinthegrave - 2011-05-31 6:22 AM

 

Fully agree with BDG

 

The old saying, if you want a good job doing, then do it yourself is never more relevant than vehicle servicing, as long that is that you know what you are doing.And a routine service is still just about within most peoples abilities. If you do find a good garage then cherish them, in my experiences over 50 years of vehicle ownership they are the exception rather than the rule, that is as true now as it ever was.

 

Unfortunately, if you do not know what you are doing you have to put your trust in other's.

 

Unfortunately, a routine service may not be within most people's abilities (I don't know a thing about changing Oil Filters, Air Filters, Pollen Filters, Checking or Adjusting Brakes, Where to get rid of old engine oil and vehicle parts e.g. Oil Filters etc ). Additionally, I do not have the available facilities to conduct such checks and changes, even if I did have the required knowledge and ability.

 

Whenever I have part x'd cars or Motorhomes I am always asked if the vehicle has a full service history, if you do your own then the Service Booklet is not going to reflect this, if you put your own details in as 'Self Service' would that be acceptable ?

 

At the moment my van is only 13 months old and therefore, for the validity of the warranty, I have to have my van dealer serviced (either via an approved Fiat dealer or the Motorhome dealer I purchased it from). When the warranty expires, because I don't have the knowledge or ability, I will still have to put my trust in someone else.

 

There have always been the 'fly by nights' who would take advantage of people like me, and I am sure they are still out there. Finding a good one who does a good job at a fair price is sometimes down to luck or 'word of mouth'.

[nightrider]

Dave Newell - 2011-06-08 8:54 PM

 

Come on Malc, don't leave us all in suspenders! Did you get your van serviced? did you get the service light extinguished? Did you DIY or use a garage? If the latter did you get ripped off or did they do a proper job for a proper price?

 

D.

Dave,

I took my van down to the garage that I have used for the last few years, a family run business staffed by mature type mechanics, I have no probs with young lads working on my vehicles as long as they are supervised by fully trained mechanics (you have to learn somehow) the work specification and price quoted (£120) was acceptable and I am happy with what they have done.

Incidentley the service light indicator went off on its own accord, I am now in the market for a transit van, any recommendations as to which model? what to go for and what to avoid.

[Dave Newell]

Hmmm, which model Transit to go for? New or second user? how much do you want to spend? Do you want a long wheelbase, short wheelbase, medium wheelbase? High top, low top or mid top? Front wheel drive or rear? What features do you want, air con, cruise control, heated seats? At the rear do you want a tailgate or double doors? What max weight do you require?

 

D.

[Guest pelmetman]

Dave Newell - 2011-06-10 7:25 PM

 

Hmmm, which model Transit to go for? New or second user? how much do you want to spend? Do you want a long wheelbase, short wheelbase, medium wheelbase? High top, low top or mid top? Front wheel drive or rear? What features do you want, air con, cruise control, heated seats? At the rear do you want a tailgate or double doors? What max weight do you require?

 

D.

 

Second user 8-) ..........there's a new one Dave is that polite speak for second hand? :D .............Personally I would never buy new again having been shafted by two of the big boys one after the other................................YES it was a painful experience.............................in the wallet >:-)..............Mr Vauxhall & Mr Ford wont see me knocking on their door anytime soon................and judging by this forum Mr Sevel can sod off too ;-)