Vehicle Servicing

Have you ever wonder what have the workshop being doing to your car when you send your vehicle for servicing?

What are the items/ services being provided by the workshops when a vehicle is being serviced?

What are the main job to be carried out to ensure that your car is safe to drive on road?

Different workshops have different list of stuffs to check but genearlly pretty similar.
Below is a list of items/jobs where I normally perform on my customer's car.

PASSENGER CAR SERVICING JOB LIST

a) Engine compartment (Under the hood)

• Engine oil (Change)
• Engine oil filter (Change)
• Air filter
• Radiator coolant level
• Radiator reservoir coolant level
• Radiator hoses and hose clips conditions
• Radiator cap condition
• Power steering fluid level (If any)
• Automatic transmission fluid level (If any)
• Brake fluid level
• Clutch fluid level (If any)
• Battery water level (If any)
• Wiper washer reservoir fluid level
• Belts tension and conditions (I.e alternator, fan, aircon, power steering and etc.)
• Any fluid leakages

b) Vehicle roadwheels

• Tyre pressure
• Tyre thread wear
• Tyre rotation (If any)
• Front brake disc pad
• Rear brake disc pad / brake drum lining
• Cleaning of rear drum brake and adjustment (If any)
• Brake fluid leakages
• Shock absorbers leakage

c) Vehicle exterior

• Vehicle body damage (If any)
• Wiper condition checks
• Number plates damages

d) Vehicle lightning

• Front side lights
• Rear side lights
• Signals (Left & right, front & rear)
• Number plate lights
• Headlamp (normal beam)
• Headlamp (high beam)
• Rear brake lamps
• Reverse lamps
• Reverse sensor (If any)
• Cracks on covers
• Panel lightning (in vehicle)
• Dome light (in vehicle)

Items in red are required to change in all servicing!

Others only need to check.

Replace only when NECESSARY!

* The above list is just for reference not a guide!*

Next question is can vehicle owners perform their own servicing?
Well everyone has the capabilities to do it but you must have the correct knowledge and tools to do it.

Car Tools? Extra Tools?

Car Tools

I believe almost all cars will have some tools in them. Be it standard issue or personal preferred tools.

This is my topic and sharing in this article. Hope it is helpful.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What kind of car related tools do I have in my vehicle?
• Are they useful enough to handle the possible forecasted scenerios?
• Are they stored in appropriate locations?
• When is the last time you service/ check on the tools conditions?

When I first received my vehicle, these are what I found in my car boot as part of the standard issued items:

*From top, counterclockwise.

1. 01 pcs warning triangle
2. 01 pcs tool bag
3. 01 pcs mechanical/scissors jack
4. 01 pcs open-end spanner, 10mm,12mm (I lost mine and got a replacement)
5. 01 pcs open-end spanner, 12mm,14mm
6. 01 pcs dual head screwdriver, philip and flat tip
7. 01 pcs handle for screwdrivers
8. 01 pcs tyre wrench (Also double up as part of jack raising tool)
9. 01 pcs jack extension rod (Part of jack raising tool)

*Note: Not all vehicle are equipped with exactly the same type of tools!

After keeping them in my car boot for close to a year, I realised the standard issue set is not really sufficient to for me to handle some other situations and maintainenace job. That is when I throw in some extra items.

*From left to right

1. 01 pcs groundsheet
2. 01 pair working gloves
3. 01 pcs torchlight, with batteries
4. 01 pcs mulit-purpose knife
5. 01 pcs wide plier
6. 01 pcs long-nose plier
7. 01 pcs adjustable spanner
8. 01 pcs bungee cord with hooks

Functions of the extra items:

Groundsheet - To give you a clean and dry place to sit or kneel while working. Also useful when placed under the area you are working on to catch any dropped screws or nuts.

Gloves - To prevent cuts and minimise my hand from getting too dirty.

Torchlights - Useful when you need to search for things in your car. Also good if you need to perform any repairs in dark situations.

Multi-purpose knife - A good tool when you need a knife, scissors and etc.

Wide plier and long-nose plier - Serve the same purpose but of different situation.

Bungee cord with hooks - Good when you overload your boot and need something to keep it closed.

Items to further enhance:

• Electical tape
• "White tape" (Normally used for plumbering purpose)
• Plastic bags/ paper bags (In case of ermengency and as a temporary rubbish bin)
• Water bottle with water (At least 1 liter) (For hand wash and as a source of coolant in ermengency)

Conclusion:

It is up to individual to assemble and customise their own tool kits. There is no right or wrong. It just depend on the situation that might arise. However avoid overloading your vehicle as fuel price nowadays can be pretty scary.

Always check that you are having serviceable tools in your boot! Especially if you include items like first-aid kit and fire extinguishers.

Keep them in sensible locations!(Imagine leaving your first-aid kit in exposure to the sun, damaging contents inside!)

Besides having the right tool for the right situation, knowing how to use the tools effectively is also equally important and critical. So learn how to use the tools in your own vehicle not tools of other vehicles.