Minor Car Service - What do you expect

[impulsive]

I dropped my car off for a service today at Carline Enoggera for the basic once over, Oil Change and the rest. We are driving to townsville soon, so fresh oil wont hurt.

Now i know you pay for what you get, we paid $60 per car for two minor services and a bunch of other inspections/labour free replacements that come with it. Im about to pick the car up and know to expect nothing else done, door hinges greased, handbrake tightened, wheels rotated, change the windscreen wipers and that other usual poop you do on a hungover sunday morning. well that's what i expect from a minor service, best service i ever got was from Aspley Holden, but i paid for it.

What do you expect from a routine minor service? what are your experiences?

[Adds_05]

to me a minor service is oil,filter,maybe other fluids topped up and a quick inspection over the car incase anything will need replacing soon or is already stuffed.
as for experiences, i took my vy in for a free minor service the other day and all they did was oil and filter, then gave me a list of about 10 things that needed doing to the car which i basically new about anyway. i think thats the only time ive actually ever have gotten a service instead of doing it myself.

[Mirkz]

These days in my experience, even with bikes, you literally have to tell them exactly what you want done, or it wont happen.

There was only once when I got a mobile bike mechanic to come out and he did all sorts of stuff, it was a major service, but he did a whole bunch of things I didn't even think about.

[alex2_s]

These days in my experience, even with bikes, you literally have to tell them exactly what you want done, or it wont happen.

I know what you mean.... IMO, they should be checking for things like radiator hoses getting old/worn out, and certainly a quick test drive (transmission about to fail? bad need of wheel alignment?) that some car owners may not pick up on.....

Some mechanics are certainly more thorough... for eg, my brother dropped off his old Camira for a rear wheel bearing to be replaced, yet the mechanic mentioned he topped up the engine oil as it was getting low, and wrote on the invoice that the front brake pads were getting low and a slight coolant leak... so there you go.... yet others will undo the sump plug, drain the oil, replace the plug, fill the oil up then get you out of there....

[Blown V6 Hatch]

When we/I do a minor service, it consists of:

Oil & Oil filter change (we always replace the sump plug washer at every service)
Check/Top up fluid levels e.g battery, brake fluid, coolant, water washers etc..
Check wipers & blades (replace if required at extra cost)
General checkover, tyres, brakes, suspension, exhaust, radiator & coolant hoses etc.
Check/adjust tyre pressures
Check all lights are working (replace globes if required at extra cost)
Remove & clean air filter element.

Note down anything that requires attention (or ring the customer and ask if they want it done if it's something we can do on the spot).

[Krisp]

and dont be surprised if a mechanic didnt work on it more than likely an apprentice

[Blown V6 Hatch]

and dont be surprised if a mechanic didnt work on it more than likely an apprentice

Thats not always the case mate. Anyway, that's how apprentices learn, by working on cars....If the apprentice is supervised by a qualified mechanic (as they're supposed to be), what's the problem?

[Krisp]

Thats not always the case mate. Anyway, that's how apprentices learn, by working on cars....If the apprentice is supervised by a qualified mechanic (as they're supposed to be), what's the problem?

apprentices arent supervised 24/7

[Blown V6 Hatch]

No they're not supervised "24/7" they go home after work, they don't work 24 hours a day

Jokes aside though I'll ask again, what's wrong with apprentices working on cars? Or do you live in the stone age where apprentices push brooms and that's it?

[Krisp]

No they're not supervised "24/7" they go home after work, they don't work 24 hours a day

Jokes aside though I'll ask again, what's wrong with apprentices working on cars? Or do you live in the stone age where apprentices push brooms and that's it?

whats with the attitude? maybe you have never had a bad experience from an apprentice working on your car? rather they pushed the broom instead of me.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

No attitude, i just don't see what the point of this post was?

and dont be surprised if a mechanic didnt work on it more than likely an apprentice

Fact of the matter is, apprentices are going to work on cars, end of story. Because if they don't work on cars and only push a broom for the first 3 years of their apprenticeship, what sort of tradesman do you think they'll be? No, I've never had a bad experience with an apprentice working on my car, because I'm the mechanic teaching the apprentice. I work on my cars, no one else

[Krisp]

on that note there isnt many decent tradies out there either. the courses are made to pass ,the country is getting flooded with useless imports .There is nothing wrong with them pushing a broom, teaches them cleanliness in their work area.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

I'm not going to push the issue anymore, but 1 thing, the reason why there is a lack of good tradesman out there is because apprentices don't get given a chance to work. They push brooms and never learn anything, real catch 22.

You obviously do everything yourself i take it? Sounds like no one would be good enough to do work for you. Anyway, this is all way off topic, so I'll leave it there.

[zedda]

What do you expect from a routine minor service?

I would expect at least what you paid for as listed on your receipt.

what are your experiences?

I have learned the hard way if you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself! My last "service" included oil & filter change. They didn't change the filter. How I know this because I did the next change and had to use a breaker bar to remove the top off the filter canister. The filter was nearly black, but the sump oil was several shades lighter!

[azazeldeath]

and dont be surprised if a mechanic didnt work on it more than likely an apprentice

That is so true, when I was an apprentic I was normally put onto minor services and rebuilds (long story short I could do the job). But I will say and I know that this sounds cocky but I seemed to pay more attention to the rest of the job then the fully qualified mechanics. I was eager to check out the rest of the car so I could learn, if I saw something was wrong I put it in the notes. I normally did 2-3 pages of notes per service.

[Krisp]

That is so true, when I was an apprentic I was normally put onto minor services and rebuilds (long story short I could do the job). But I will say and I know that this sounds cocky but I seemed to pay more attention to the rest of the job then the fully qualified mechanics. I was eager to check out the rest of the car so I could learn, if I saw something was wrong I put it in the notes. I normally did 2-3 pages of notes per service.

Thats unusual, a young fella taking pride in their work. keep it up

[Sabbath']

Thats unusual, a young fella taking pride in their work. keep it up

How is it unusual? I see plenty of young people who take pride in their work day in day out. Maybe get up and walk away from ACA/TT and witness something for yourself instead of making useless comments.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

How is it unusual? I see plenty of young people who take pride in their work day in day out. Maybe get up and walk away from ACA/TT and witness something for yourself instead of making useless comments.

Totally agree.

[karlos]

on that note there isnt many decent tradies out there either. the courses are made to pass ,the country is getting flooded with useless imports .There is nothing wrong with them pushing a broom, teaches them cleanliness in their work area.

Classic lol,that gave me a good laugh cheers.Somewhat true really.

[Krisp]

was working with a couple if indians over the years. one thought it was common practise to use my new geared spanners as a hammer. the other was just a nut and bolt fitter, if it didnt have either he was stumped. on a note to everything else said, if a grumpy old fart that hates his life