The importance of service & vehicle maintenance

WHAT EXACTLY IS A VEHICLE SERVICE?

A vehicle service is a set of maintenance procedures performed at regular intervals by a reputable car service centre. These procedures help extend the life of your vehicle's mechanical components and increase your car's safety and roadworthiness, as well as its reliability and lifespan.

Regular servicing makes financial sense because it identifies and addresses potential flaws before they cause costly vehicle breakdowns.  

MINOR VS MAJOR CAR SERVICE

A "minor" car service typically entails taking care of the minor details of your car, such as replacing the oil and oil filter, inspecting belts, checking brakes and brake fluid, testing the cooling system, and examining the tyres, lights and windscreen wipers, among other things.

A major service, in contrast, is essentially a “top-to-tail” check of your vehicle, including the bodywork, fan belts, doors, shock absorbers, wheel balance, CV joints, and so on.

WHEN AND HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD I SERVICE MY VEHICLE?

When to service your vehicle will be determined by the age of your vehicle, the distance you drive daily, the surface and quality of the road you travel on, and how well you maintain your vehicle.

Most vehicles have a service schedule, and different vehicle manufacturers may have different service interval requirements. These recommended service intervals and service operations can be found in your vehicle's logbook. 

Depending on how much you drive, a car should be serviced at least once a year, preferably every six months (twice a year).

motus.cars recommend you have your vehicle undergo a Minor Service (every 10,000 km), an Intermediate Service (every 20,000 km), and a Major Service (every 40 000 km). 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SERVICE A VEHICLE?

The service of a vehicle may differ depending on its make and model. The length of time will also be determined by the type of service your vehicle will receive. 

For example, a Minor Service often requires the least amount of work and can be completed in a short period (an hour or so); an Intermediate Service will most likely take longer (a few hours), while a Major Service necessitates far more complex work and may require you to leave your vehicle (a few days).

THE BOTTOM LINE 

Your vehicle is responsible for your safety and the safety of everyone inside. You certainly do not want your vehicle to fail you and endanger your life and the lives of others! Caring for your car should be as important as caring for your own health.

Regular services at a reputable service centre will yield the same result: peace of mind about vehicle health.

Of course, it helps to purchase a roadworthy vehicle you can trust. motus.cars provide a convenient, straightforward, and secure car-buying experience. A network of more than 300 reputable vehicle dealerships in South Africa, representing more than 30 automobile manufacturers, provides consumers with an abundance of options.

Each motus.cars dealership is Motus-certified and has more than 70 years of experience in the car retail industry, so you can buy, sell, finance, and repair your next vehicle with confidence – with just one click!

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