A beast of machinery that works on several components operating in harmony, your vehicle needs constant care and maintenance. Without the professional eye and hands, it becomes extremely difficult to keep a track of anything that goes wrong with the car, leading to the blaring ‘check light’ on the dashboard. Even if you drive most smoothly, avoiding all the potholes and bumps, and pay extra attention to all the car fluids, there comes a time when you need to accelerate to the nearest service centre and let professionals have an in-depth look.

One such service that most people opt for is the full car service. As the name suggests, it is an extensive maintenance and repair job carried on by people who understand the various car parts and their working. If you’re looking to know what does a full car service include, and other related queries, we have this extensive blog curated just for you.

Keep reading on!

What is Car Service?

Car Service is similar to a regular health check-up, but for your vehicle. Since the vehicle entails a plethora of car parts that function together to get you from one place to another, there is bound to be a few resistance and wear & tear. An issue in a certain component can affect the working of the other one, and in some cases, a complete breakdown is also possible.

Let’s face it, we don’t like to be stranded in the middle of the road with a car that won’t function. To avoid such situations, and for the safety of the driver and passengers, it is important to go for regular service checks. These include checking for general signs of wear and tear, fluids top-up or change, brakes, engine, and other essential parts check.

There are many types of service available, depending upon your vehicle’s age, make, model, and service history. Most of the manufacturers mention the timeline within which the car should be bought for service. Check your car’s guidelines and opt for the servicing checks whenever necessary.

| Also Read: Car Servicing: What All Does A Car Service Include? |

Why should I have my Car Serviced?

We get this question a lot. I mean, you can always just bring in a car for repair when things are not going right, but why should you indulge in a car service when nothing seems wrong. That might seem like a logical reason, but most of the time, drivers are unaware of the functioning of the car, leading to unpredicted breakdowns.

More importantly, it is for the safety of the car owners and others that you should keep the vehicle in the most optimal and efficient condition.

Here are some of the reasons why you should have your car serviced:

• Pocket the Savings

Car service at regular intervals helps to gauge the potential issues, and problems at a deeper level before they become a huge expense. Moreover, dealing with smaller issues at an early stage is always a better option than dealing with it has blown out of proportion.

• Fuel-Efficient

Car service does not just lead to savings on larger expenses, but also a better fuel economy. When all the components of the car are working in complete harmony, without any additional strain on the engine, your vehicle will consume minimum fuel.

However, on the other hand, if your car is not serviced, the parts will make the engine toil harder, leading to more than necessary fuel consumption.

• Lasts Longer

I think this is an obvious benefit, but a well-serviced car is bound to last longer than a car that is not being paid attention to. For example, if you replace the filters on time, it will avoid the blockage that your car might have to go through. A regularly serviced car will also have all the original parts intact and working, prolonging the life span.

• Resale Value & Insurance

Most of the buyers who opt for second-hand cars go through the service history, to understand the condition of the car. Having a strong service history will allow you to demand a higher price, leading to an increase in its resale value.

On the same line, your insurer may use your car’s service history to gauge its pre-accident worth. A good history will allow you to get a better value.

| Also Read: Car Servicing 101: Top Benefits of Regular Car Servicing |

What does a full-car service include?

Coming to the question of the hour, a full-care service includes 40 checks, which includes everything from the fluid check to the engine check.

Here is the full-service checklist:

Parts Included in the Full-car Service

• Engine Oil
• Oil Filter
• Air Filter

Top-Ups Included

• Windscreen additive
• Coolant
• Brake Fluid
• Power Steering Fluid
• AdBlue (Diesel engines only – extra cost if needed)

General Checks

• External lights, instrument warning lights and horn operation

Internal and Vision Checks

• Operation and condition of windscreen wipers and washers
•  Pollen filter condition and advise if replacement needed (extra cost)
•  Windscreen for cracks and chips
•  External and internal mirror condition
•  Number plate condition
• Seat belt operation

Engine Checks

• General oil leaks and advice
• Antifreeze strength and advice
• Radiator and coolant hoses condition and leaks (including header tank)
• Auxiliary drive belts (NOT timing belt) condition and tension
• Fuel system and tank (if visible)
• Timing belt replacement intervals and advice

Brake Checks

• Brake fluid condition and advise if replacement needed (extra cost)
• Visual check of brake pads for wear
• Visual check of brake disks for wear
• All visible brake pipes and hoses
• Hand brake operation
• Brake callipers for leaks and security

Wheels & Tyres Full-Service Check

• Tyre condition and tyre depths
• Tyre pressure and adjust
• Road springs

Steering & Components Check

• Steering/ suspension components
• Steering rack gaiters condition
• Shock absorber condition
• Wheel bearings

Exhaust Checks

• Exhaust smoke (diesel)
• Exhaust condition and advise

Drive System Check

• Check drive shaft gaiters for security and report leaks
• Clutch fluid level (if applicable)
• Transmission oil leaks

When should I get a full-car service?

Your car service schedule depends on the usage of the vehicle. A person who rarely takes the machine out of the garage might not need much assistance compared to a person who drives in an area with rocky roads and potholes.

The general full-service timeline is every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. For those opting for a more regular car service, interim service (every 6,000 miles or 6 months) is a good option to be carried out in between the full service.

| Also Read: Car Servicing: How Often Should You Service Your Car? |

How much does a full-service cost?

The full-service cost is dependent on the centre providing the service. At Acton Service Centre, the full-service charge ranges between 160-290 GBP. You can also avail a discounted MOT along with the full-service for only £10.

How long will a full-service take?

A full-car service takes somewhere around 3 hours to get done since it entails several checks and top-ups. The best way is to book an appointment with us through our page and get an estimate. You can either leave the car in the garage or simply opt for the free collection and delivery, subject to availability.

What’s the difference between a full-service and MOT?

A Ministry of Transport Test (MOT) is a mandatory check for all vehicles older than 2 years, required by UK law. It is basically a test to gauge the roadworthiness of your car, ensuring that stays well within the minimum required level. This is done to ensure all the vehicles that are out on the road are safe, with all their basic parts working efficiently.

An expired MOT certificate can lead to a hefty fine, along with your insurance being deemed invalid. Thus, this annual check is of great importance and is necessary when you’re out on the road.

There is a misconception among vehicle owners that if they have availed the passed MOT certificate, it negates the need to regularly service the car. A dangerous assumption, I must say! Let me explain this briefly.

If you’re looking for an in-depth guide on the difference between MOT and car service, get it here.

An MOT only checks the essential and basic parts and has a threshold for every check, above which they issue a passed certificate. For example, if your engine oil is above the minimum level, it would earn you a passed certificate. But that does not mean that the engine oil is enough to go around for another year or even a few months.

On the flip side, if you fail the MOT, you will need to get your car serviced to fix the issues. They are both essential to keep a vehicle in the best condition and follow the law. However, one cannot compensate for the other.

To answer the above question, A full car-service entails a higher number of checks and works to resolve any issues, while an MOT is a more basic check that would just fail you if the condition is up to the mark.

This brings us to the end of our article on Full car service.

I hope this answered your question of what a Full Car Service includes and solved your doubts.

For more such articles, keep watching this space.