Car Servicing and Maintaining your car
If you look after your car properly, you’ll be far less likely to get a hefty repair bill. At Smart Repair situated in the Malahide Road Industrial Estate in Coolock we suggest that your first port of call is to your service manual and then speak to the experts. At Smart Repair we cover all Areas of North Dublin including Artane, Raheny, Beaumont, Santry, Donaghmede, Donnycarney, Clontarf, Malahide, Clongriffin, Kinsealy and Swords amongst others.
How much does a car service cost?
The average cost of a basic car service is around €90 for petrol and diesel oil changes. A full-service ranges from €140 to €210 depending on engine size and whether it’s a petrol or diesel. Diesel cars are more expense due to the price of parts.
However, this does not include the cost of any repairs, replacements or new parts such as brake pads, disc, callipers etc.
How often should a car be serviced?
To keep your vehicle in the best possible condition it should typically be serviced every year.
However, there are some age and mileage milestones you need to be aware of. For example, the distance you can cover between oil changes.
These will be shown in the cars manual, along with the tasks needing to be completed.
Caring for your car saves money
Getting your car serviced each year – and maintaining it between services – is money well spent. Problems are likely to be caught early on when they’re cheaper to fix, and your car will have a better resale value and longer life.
A well-maintained car is also more efficient, so you’ll save money on fuel as well. If you need to claim on a warranty you’ll normally have to show your car’s got a complete service record.
Get to know your car’s service manual
Your car’s service manual is the key to keeping your vehicle in good repair.
Written by the people who designed and built your car, it should show:
- How often you’ll need to get your car serviced.
- When the car’s replaceable parts might need changing.
- How often regular maintenance tasks need to be carried out – for example, oil changes.
It’s also a good idea to use the service manual to plan for the cost of your car’s maintenance and repair bills.
To avoid spending money on your car unnecessarily, always follow the schedule in the service manual.
Watch out for dashboard messages
Most cars now have dashboard warning messages about a wide range of topics, including issues with the braking system, engine, oil and coolant levels, and tyre pressure.
Your car owner’s manual will explain what each lit-up warning message means and what you need to do.
A few of the messages are particularly urgent – they mean you need to pull off the road and stop the engine immediately.
So if you see a lit-up warning message, always check it out straight away.
It could save you hefty repair costs later, or even prevent you being a danger to other motorists and pedestrians.
The cost of skipping servicing
When money’s short it can be tempting to skip servicing your car. But if you do this you risk much bigger bills later.
The cost of a service is far less than the cost of having to replace parts later because of damage through poor maintenance.
For example:
- Radiator – €430
- Water pump – €240
- Engine exchange – €2,575
- Cylinder head gasket – €520
Keep an eye on the Timing Belt or Cambelt
Check your service manual to find out when your car is next due to have its Timing Belt t (the camshaft drive belt) replaced.
This varies from car to car, but is often needed at around 100,000 to 110,000 KMs.
Timing belt or Timing Chain replacement can seem expensive (as much as €400 or more) but if it fails while you’re driving, you could face serious engine damage costing much more to fix than changing it when recommended.
Look after your tyres
Caring for your car’s tyres will not only save you money, but also keep it safe to drive.
If your tyres are in poor condition they could blow out on a busy road or lose traction in poor weather and cause a crash.
Stick to the recommended tyre pressures in your manual and check them regularly.
Tyres over or under pressure wear unevenly and will need to be replaced sooner.
Another cause of uneven tyre wear is the tracking being out of alignment, which can be checked and repaired at any garage.
Depending on your car, tyres can cost anything from €50 each so it makes sense to get maximum mileage out of them.
Top tips to Find a Good Servicing Garage
To help you find an independent garage you can trust, ask friends and work colleagues for their recommendations and experiences.
Look for a garage providing:
- Open and transparent pricing.
- Clear information about any problems.
- Good quality work carried out as agreed and on time.
Think Smart Repair for all your Crash, Scratch, Alloy Wheel Repairs we also specialise in Ceramic Coating for your Vehicle. Covering North Dublin Coolock, Artane, Raheny, Beaumont, Santry, Clongriffin, Doneghmead, Clontarf, Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Marino and beyond.
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