My son is
obsessive about brushing his teeth and having his car serviced, I've always suspected
its largely because I pay for the toothpaste and his visits to our nearest
dealership. Last month his beloved Hyundai Atos graduated from its warranty
period and I felt released from the tyranny of that smug service manual in the
cubby hole.
As I shared with
my friend Gloria, "I know it's important to have a good service record if
we decide to sell, but even a non-petrolhead like me can work out that it's in
the dealership's interest to recommend far more than the car really needs.
Smugly
sipping a good Pinotage, we agreed that there'd be no harm in skipping a
service or two. By the second bottle we were wondering why modern cars need to
be serviced at all. Surely that's what those funny little warning lights on the
dashboard are all about?
Next morning, I
thought said son was going to have an apoplexy over his Weetabix and I was
reminded how a mother's authority diminishes in relation to the number of times
a man shaves in a week. We both had
things to do and places to go but agreed to talk over supper.
My morning was
spent Googling the likes of AA, MotorHappy, Liquid Capital, Bidvest et al. I discovered that, unlike the Kinsey
Report of my youth, the modern one has nothing to do with sexual behaviour. Every
year it lists car part prices in South Africa. But I digress.......
I also chatted to
friends who either have backyard mechanics they swear by or tales of horror
that made me afraid, very afraid. Long story short: I am now convinced that
motor car servicing and regular dental checks are in the same category. If you
don't do them, the pain will be excruciating.
Let me share what I learned in a nutshell:
1) The service
manual that sits so smugly in the cubbyhole, demanding service stamps like a
hungry baby bird is more important that I had ever dreamed. For starters, it's written by the people who
designed and built your car - not the dealerships.
Besides, telling you how often to
get your car serviced, it will highlight replaceable parts that may need
changing and regular maintenance such as oil changes.
2)
It makes sense to shop around for a workshop and even better sense to
deal with an accredited one. (The Motor
Traders Organisation will help)
3) I was interested to learn that,
with higher overheads and staff commission, dealerships are nearly always a
more expensive choice for servicing and repairs than independent garages. But
(there's always a but), a dealership with a franchise for your make of car
could have a better understanding of the faults it tends to develop.
4) Ever heard of a cambelt? I hadn't. Apparently, it's the engine timing
thingamajig. I still haven't found it but now I know that it's the most important maintenance item in your car. It tends to give up the ghost after 100 000 kilometres but it seems
to be a good idea to have it checked sooner. Ask any comedian - timing is
everything.
5) If you
think your dealership is going overboard. RFM (read the flipping manual)
6) Some of those dashboard
messages are important enough for you to pull off the road, switch the engine
off and RFM.
7) I don't know about you, but I
hate the added delay of checking oil levels and tyre pressure when I fill up.
Thanks to good old Google, I'll take more care in future.
8) If your new garage gives
you a long list of extra work that needs doing. Get a second opinion.
9) I you
think you've been scammed speak to the Motor Traders Organisation.
10)
Always remember the difference between an estimate and a quotation - the former
is a guess, the latter is a promise to do the work at the quoted price.
Of
course, if you are like my friend Gloria, you could opt for a maintenance plan
or to extend your existing one. I suspect hers is about to end, more about that
in my next blog.
Keep
safe and resist the temptation to miss a service to save money.
