General Servicing options at 4 years old

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General Servicing options at 4 years old

pand

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4 year old Panda 4x4.

Hi, wondered if anyone can help

For the first time we have been offered a "standard service" or a "major service". Fifty quid difference (30 if you include getting a voucher back)

Major service adds
spark plug change (apparently a must for Fiats but not in the standard service!
air filter change
fuel filter change
and air con check

Any advice - should we skip the extra stuff or is that asking for reliability trouble?
 
get them to give you a written list of exactly what they do and how it compares to the fiat recommendations - (not the dealers - or garage) !.
Possibly look elsewhere or buy a haynes manual and do it yourself.
You can 'check aircon' in about 1 minute - turn it on, see if it works, look for leaks, check drive belt look ok.. if all ok, it is fine..
When they say 'a must' what they mean is it is a good earner for them ! - nothing more... if it was a 'must' - it would be on the second class citizen service also..

Bleeding con men and shysters.:bang:
 
You can get an oil and filter service anywhere.
Buy your genuine filters via Ebay, pick up the correct grade and spec of oil, sparkplugs can be be picked up at http://spark-plugs.co.uk/

Then ask a few local garages for prices.
While in, get them to change the brake fluid.

Then off to Kwikfit for a free alignment, tyre and brake check.
 
look at the list ! - most items you can do yourself in minutes with no tools !!!. I mean, check lights ?? - thats what the wife is for. :p
I agree with the above re Brake fluid, I would get that changed, also cambelt depending on mileage and / or use it has been put to. It is due at 5 years or 72000 Km, or 4 years if used in harsh conditions.
Also clutch fluid and gearbox oil change.
What that place is offering is not worth bothering with.
The other thing to do / get done / is fully check and clean the rear brake assembly by removing the hub. I would pay someone to do that unless you feel confident. I very much doubt that the con men in your post would do that even though they say inspect cylinder - they probably just look through the inspection cover .. :rolleyes:
 
I agree with the above re Brake fluid, I would get that changed, also cambelt depending on mileage and / or use it has been put to. It is due at 5 years or 72000 Km, or 4 years if used in harsh conditions.
Also clutch fluid and gearbox oil change.

Yes, all of that.

A spark plug change is almost mandatory on the 1.2 Panda/500 after 10000 miles if running on OEM plugs; they will be well worn out by then, particularly if there is any ethanol in the fuel you use (and in the UK there almost certainly will be). If you fit Ir equivalents (less than £30 a set), they will be good for at least four times that.
 
Does anybody know how much it will cost to get the brake fluid changed? Just had mine serviced at fours (oil change, filters, and a general check over) but when I asked them about changing the brake fluid they just said the brakes are working perfectly.

However I know brake fluid doesn't last and it should really be changed but where should I get it done? The stealer wants £80 and I don't trust QuickBuck etc.

PS Got my plugs changed at 15,000 miles and they were shot :).

PS If you do a lot of city driving you will probably find you need new brake pads, mine needed doing at 12,000 miles and I am not a heavy breaker but do exclusively use the car in heavy city traffic.
 
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I would expect a change of brakefluid, coolant and fuel filter at a major service, in addition to all the normal service items.
 
Yes, all of that.

A spark plug change is almost mandatory on the 1.2 Panda/500 after 10000 miles if running on OEM plugs; they will be well worn out by then, particularly if there is any ethanol in the fuel you use (and in the UK there almost certainly will be). If you fit Ir equivalents (less than £30 a set), they will be good for at least four times that.

Hi JK, which do you recommend for a 1.2 8V please ?
Capt'n Joe.
 
Does anybody know how much it will cost to get the brake fluid changed? Just had mine serviced at fours (oil change, filters, and a general check over) but when I asked them about changing the brake fluid they just said the brakes are working perfectly.

However I know brake fluid doesn't last and it should really be changed but where should I get it done? The stealer wants £80 and I don't trust QuickBuck etc.

The local dealer did mine, 25 euros inc Tutela fluid. 'tis an easy job with a ramp / lift and assistant. I think it was about 15 or 20 minutes quoted time ?

Cant say for clutch as mine is cable :)
 
Two years ago my stealer quoted £80!! Not so bothered about the clutch fluid, but the brakes being a safety thing I would like to get done.
 
Two years ago my stealer quoted £80!! Not so bothered about the clutch fluid, but the brakes being a safety thing I would like to get done.

Yeah, trouble with brake fluid is it is Hygroscopic - it attracts and absorbs water - this can then corrode parts of the system, also it can boil causing lots of nasties.
The dealer can check with a tester, but he is only testing the fluid in the res.
Anyone doing the brakes may as well do the clutch if you get chance - Jeez, £80 squids is a total rip though.
It is not a nice job to do, too easy to get fluid in the wrong places - it makes excellent paint stripper and eye remover :eek: - I have done it plenty of times when I was younger, but I wouldnt dream of doing it now.
I would also consider only having it done AFTER a full front and rear brake check, as any front caliper piston seals or rear cylinder / caliper piston seals or replacement cyclinders will necessitate it being redone.
However, as said, with the correct kit and manpower, it is a quick job.
 
Most places will use a vac pump like a Mivivac to bleed the brakes.

It's a shame you aren't near me, I got myself one of them and it's a piece of cake, you don't spill or waste a drop of fluid.

The rest is really easy on one of these engines.
Air filter doesn't actually need any tools to replace.
Oil and oil filter can be done without lifting the car, a female hex socket bit is needed though for the sump plug.
Plugs are accessed once the airbox is off (two 10mm bolts) a rubber pipe helps removing them from the recess and lining up and screwing the new in.
 
I'd forgotten to say it is a 1.2 but many of you sussed.
Not very mechanical so we won't be doing anything ourselves and it does a low mileage (less than 6k a year)
 
I'd forgotten to say it is a 1.2 but many of you sussed.
Not very mechanical so we won't be doing anything ourselves and it does a low mileage (less than 6k a year)
Low mileage per annum cars almost always need MORE attention than High mileage ones. !.
Many items / parts, ie cambelt, brake fluid, Lubricants and associated parts etc are on TIME or Mileage - AND the time depends on the usage environment.
If you are not prepared to do ANYTHING yourself, and you want peace of mind - which seems to be the case with you, then book it into a main dealer and pay for a full service 48 months. not some gold / silver crap kwik fit special as you first quoted.
As you are not even prepared to do the smallest and easiest items - lights - FFS !! then pay main dealer prices.
If you are not 'mechanically minded' you will not be able to assess an independent garage for suitability prior to any work, so again, main dealer.
Enjoy.
 
The Standard / Major options are in fact what main dealers are offering when a car gets to 4 years old not a "crap kwik fit special as you first quoted" (which I didn't).

Like a huge majority of people we are not mechanically minded and rely on dealers to do our annual service. Of course we can check the lights but it's not likely that we would ask a dealer to "do the service but without the light check" as it all comes as part of a package.

Thanks for inputs - sounds like plugs and fuel filter would be sensible to get done over and above the standard service
 
Hi JK, which do you recommend for a 1.2 8V please ?
Capt'n Joe.

NGK DCPR7EIX.

£27.14 for a set of 4 here with free postage.

I've bought from this seller & can recommend.

The current set is still going strong after about 32000 miles (y).

You will know this but to others who may be following this thread, put them in with a smear of anti-seize on the threads as it'll be a long time before you need to change them again & you want them to come out without any issues when the day finally comes.
 
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The Standard / Major options are in fact what main dealers are offering when a car gets to 4 years old not a "crap kwik fit special as you first quoted" (which I didn't).

Like a huge majority of people we are not mechanically minded and rely on dealers to do our annual service. Of course we can check the lights but it's not likely that we would ask a dealer to "do the service but without the light check" as it all comes as part of a package.

Thanks for inputs - sounds like plugs and fuel filter would be sensible to get done over and above the standard service

This depends on your dealer, not like the first type of place you quoted which IS a quick fit special ..
Get them to give you a parts /. time breakdown for a full service as required, this will list everything in minutes - or should - that is how their systems operate - if they dont do that ask them to - if they wont, well, you are stuck, here they do.
From that, you remove what you do not want. - for instance, if you want an oil change, but dont want selenia, then look at the time quoted, and tell them to fill it with the oil you supply - again they should - but if they wont - walk away or pay..
A full service is a list of items timed to give a price, not just a fixed price although it may appear that way to you.
You would be possiblybetter off with an independent, but they are, sadly, mostly cowboys, (as are UK dealers by the sound of it!) finding a good one is extremely difficult for the non technically minded. Unfortunately it doesnt take a lot of IQ to set up as a 'mechanic' - the male version of 'beautician' or 'hairdresser' or 'childminder' as long term careers... :rolleyes:
 
ALso, the car comes with a handbook detailing the service schedule.
IF a main dealer is not operating to that schedule - change the main dealer. !
And let me clarify, the first place you quoted IS a CRAP quick fit special. ! (y)
Dont touch them with a barge pole.
 
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