When it comes to vehicle maintenance, delaying essential car repairs can lead to safety issues and higher servicing and repair costs. Here are the top car repairs and maintenance issues you should have fixed immediately.
Safety
What you need to know about car services
Getting your car regularly serviced is incredibly important, but many Victorians don't know what a car service should include, how much a car service should cost, and other vital information. Here's what you need to know about car services as an informed car owner.
Prevention is much better than cure when it comes to your vehicle. Cars need regular servicing to perform safely and properly. While learning some DIY car maintenance is great for basic car care, you should always book in with a trustworthy mechanic to keep your car in tip-top shape.
More: Car repairs and maintenance you shouldn't delay
Your guide to car services
How do I find a trustworthy car mechanic?
Word of mouth is a good way to find a good car mechanic. Ask your family, friends and coworkers for local, reputable car service shops they'd recommend. Reading online reviews is another great way to gauge a mechanic's reputation. You can also visit their workshop to get a sense of how the business is run.
Seek out mechanics who specialise in your make and model of vehicle. You'll often get the best advice and service from a workshop that knows your vehicle inside out and back to front.
When comparing car mechanics, opt for professionalism and good reputation over the cheapest pricing available.
A reputable car workshop should also provide you with:
- A service warranty for the work they do on your car.
- An itemised invoice (also called a work order) that lists all tasks and checks carried out on your vehicle, including any parts or fluids that were replaced plus recommendations of follow-up work.
- A timeframe and estimate for completing work on your car.
- An agreement to contact you before proceeding with any expenses outside of what was originally quoted for your service.
It's best to go with a mechanic that belong to a reputable association whose members must follow a code of conduct, like RACV-accredited auto care centres.
Do I have to take my car to the dealer for servicing?
Dealer servicing requirements are often misunderstood.
Under Australian Consumer Law, a car manufacturer cannot void a warranty if you service your car at an independent mechanic rather than at your dealership mechanic. If you have just bought a new or used vehicle, don't let your dealer tell you that you must have your car serviced there to keep your warranty intact. You only have to ensure that the repairs and replacement parts are consistent with the car manufacturer's standards.
An exception to this is if the dealership offers you a conditional extended warranty, such as Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi offers a 10-year warranty on new vehicles, but years six to 10 are conditional on servicing at a franchised dealership.
A trustworthy car mechanic is worth their weight in gold.
What does a minor car service include?
For conventionally powered vehicles, a minor car service is usually a quick and relatively inexpensive process that only takes a few hours. Minor car services should include:
- Testing the battery to ensure it's holding charge
- Replacing the engine oil and oil filter
- Checking the brakes and topping up the brake fluid
- Inspecting the tyres for damage or wear and tear (and rotating them if needed)
- Testing the lights, steering, suspension, wiper blades and air conditioning system to ensure everything is working
- Checking the air, fuel and pollen filters to ensure they are operating efficiently
- Checking the leads and spark plugs as an indicator of engine condition
- Checking the belts, hoses, exhaust and transmission
- Topping up, flushing or changing the engine coolant, windscreen washer, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, clutch fluid, etc. as required.
What does a major car service include?
A major car service can take most of a working day, with pricing varying depending on the vehicle type and what needs replacing. Major car services on conventionally powered vehicles will include everything in a minor car service, plus:
- Comprehensively checking and testing engine performance
- Fully flushing and changing all fluids and oils
- Cleaning and adjusting the brakes
- Repacking all wheel bearings
- Performing a wheel alignment and a suspension check
- Replacing any parts that have reached their recommended lifespan (e.g. tyres, timing belt, filters, hoses, spark plugs).
What does an electric vehicle service include?
Mechanics need specialised knowledge and equipment to service electric vehicles (EVs). EV services should include:
- Checking the battery's health
- Maintaining the electric motor and inerter
- Inspecting the cooling system
- Checking the brake system
- Updating any necessary software
- Inspecting the high-voltage electrical system
- Inspecting the tyres for damage or wear and tear (and rotating them if needed)
- Testing the lights, steering, suspension, wiper blades and air conditioning system to ensure everything is working
- Checking and topping up brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission oil and battery coolant
- Checking the air and HEPA filters to ensure they are operating efficiently.
What is a logbook service?
A logbook service is a car service that keeps your vehicle warranty valid. The service will include specific checks recommended by your car's manufacturer. The logbook car service needs to be captured in your logbook at the recommended service intervals specified by the owner's manual. Essentially, a logbook service is particular to your vehicle make and model rather than cars in general.
When buying a used car, it's important to check all logbook services have been carried out on time, as these can include important items such as timing belts.
It's worth familiarising yourself with what a minor and major car service should include.
How often should I service my car?
As a general rule, your car should have a minor service every 10,000-15,000 kilometres driven or every 12 months - whichever comes first. Major car services should occur every 30,000-45,000 kilometres driven.
Dependent on your vehicle type, expect additional service intervals to cover major components such as timing belts. These could be at 60,000km, 105,000km or 180,000km. Your mechanic will advise you when one of these critical intervals is coming up to help you budget.
If your car is older, has a very high mileage, is driven hundreds of kilometres every week, or is used for towing a lot, then you should increase service frequency to around every six months.
How much should a car service cost?
Car service prices depend on your car's make and model and what needs to be done during the service. Regular servicing should help keep costs down, as potential problems can be identified and rectified before they become major.
When booking your vehicle service, you may wish to compare costs between mechanics. Make sure you compare like for like by asking if the service quote is based on your logbook. You'll find all reputable workshops will base your service quote on what is required by the manufacturer in your logbook.
Before getting any work done, ask for a written estimate from your mechanic that includes the work to be done, estimated time of completion and estimated parts and labour costs. Make it clear that you should be called before any work commences on repairs that aren't included on the quote.
Mechanics should accept payment after repairs are completed rather than up front. When you pick up your car, make sure to get an invoice detailing what was done to your car and noting the relevant warranties.
Where specialist parts are required to be ordered in for your vehicle (for example, electronic repair parts), your mechanic may request a special order deposit, as these parts may be unique to your vehicle.
What is capped price servicing?
Capped price servicing is an arrangement between a car manufacturer and an authorised dealer that provides car owners with set-price services to be completed at set intervals.
Capped price servicing can give car owners more certainty about service costs.
Make sure to tell your mechanic about any problems you've noticed with your car.
How should I tell my mechanic about a problem with my car?
Intermittent car problems can be frustrating to get fixed, as they aren't always immediately obvious to the mechanic. If you need something concerning checked at your next service, describe the problem to your mechanic. Include details like how long you were driving before the problem started, whether there were any strange noises, smells or vibrations, and whether there were particular circumstances like driving on a gravel road. You should also include environmental factors, like extreme temperatures or rainy weather. Finally, let your mechanic know if any warning lights flashed on and off.
