When should I service my Fiat (2009 Fiat Punto Grande 1.4)?
I've had my Punto serviced at the dealer that I bought it from since new so have a full-service history with dealer's stamps.
As ever, reviewing my household finance, I looked at car maintenance costs. My Fiat Service & Warranty book says I should service every 18,000 miles and it lists service requirements at these intervals. My local dealer would love me to do it every twelve months! Since its last service in August 2015 (when I was talked into an annual service!) we have only done about seven thousand miles. It seems a bit over the top to pay for a service at this point.
I'm sure there is some truth in the statement that frequent services, done before any deadline expires (mileage or time) can only be a good thing for the condition of the car but am I throwing good money away with things being unnecessarily replaced and checked before they need to be?
There also seems to be a mystique from the dealer about what is done and what needs to be done. I get vague statements like "oh that will be a small service or a big service". When pressed as to what this means he will quickly reel off a load of things which sound like they should be checked.
What the dealer works to and what is in the Service & Warranty book don't appear to tie up much! If a whole bunch of things needs doing after 18,000 miles, why are they done at a twelve-month interval when a fraction of these miles may have been covered?
I'm sure that someone will say "why don't you do it yourself?" Good question, but at the moment, I have other priorities so can't afford the time.
Has anyone any advice? What can I specify to my dealer to do so that I know where I am with service checks?
Thanks for any replies.
I've had my Punto serviced at the dealer that I bought it from since new so have a full-service history with dealer's stamps.
As ever, reviewing my household finance, I looked at car maintenance costs. My Fiat Service & Warranty book says I should service every 18,000 miles and it lists service requirements at these intervals. My local dealer would love me to do it every twelve months! Since its last service in August 2015 (when I was talked into an annual service!) we have only done about seven thousand miles. It seems a bit over the top to pay for a service at this point.
I'm sure there is some truth in the statement that frequent services, done before any deadline expires (mileage or time) can only be a good thing for the condition of the car but am I throwing good money away with things being unnecessarily replaced and checked before they need to be?
There also seems to be a mystique from the dealer about what is done and what needs to be done. I get vague statements like "oh that will be a small service or a big service". When pressed as to what this means he will quickly reel off a load of things which sound like they should be checked.
What the dealer works to and what is in the Service & Warranty book don't appear to tie up much! If a whole bunch of things needs doing after 18,000 miles, why are they done at a twelve-month interval when a fraction of these miles may have been covered?
I'm sure that someone will say "why don't you do it yourself?" Good question, but at the moment, I have other priorities so can't afford the time.
Has anyone any advice? What can I specify to my dealer to do so that I know where I am with service checks?
Thanks for any replies.