Help create a servicing checklist?

Surely you must be crazy to leave your van at a garage for a service without knowing what they're going to do. A simple question you should have asked?

 

Plugs
Points
Leads
Dizzy cap
Rotor arm
Condenser
Fan belt
Oil filter
Air filter
fuel filter
Valve gaps
Timing
Exhaust emissions
Fuel lines
Vacuum lines
Wiring condition
Battery secure

lights
function, colour, condition, headlight aim.

Brakes
Check condition of
Pedal rubber
Disc
Pads
Brake lines
Drums
Shoes
Wheel cylinders
Backing plates
Servo
Reservoir
Master cylinder
Level of fluid and moisture level
Handbrake operation, seized linkages

Body

Operation of door, opening closing etc
Operation of locks and latches

Windows
Check for cracks, chips, kite marks
Operation of windows and latches, winders

Check rubbers for damage perishing or obvious leaks

Seat belts

Check for free operation and reel return
Check for fraying and damage
Check mounting points for corrosion

Seats
Checks seats for security and damages, sharp edges, poking out springs, adjustment and correct locking of seat back


Dash
Check operation of dash lights speedo and earning lights

Check steering column free play and steering wheel free play

Check door switches and interior lights operation

Check ignition switch and steering lock operation

Check clutch pedal rubber condition

Check throttle pedal rubber condition

Check handbrake free play and operation at the lever

Suspension / steering

Check all Shocks for rebound, damage, leakage, mountings and security

Check for free play in steering box, and all steering joints for movement, check dust covers for condition damage perishing, binding

Check steering damper operation, condition leaks and mounting points

Check
Suspension arms for free play and binding, check ball joints for free play binding and dust covers for condition damage perishing, binding

Check beam for condition corrosion repairs and damage. Grease as appropriate

Check wheel bearings for free play and noisy operation

Check tyres for damage, bulging, tread depth and any defects which could point to other faults elsewhere

Check rear arms for free play binding damage and bushes for movement

Check for corrosion in all components, body and chassis and check for previous repairs and quality of repair


Off the top of my head, this is what I call a service

Oil and filter is not a service!!!

 

Ah, but most people would rather you don't poke your nose into all that lot! It is what it is they say, can you service the engine please and leave that lot to the MOT man.

 

And something to filter out the bum cracks...

 

It's the standard unit of measurement for idiots as per the datum idiot kept in Dublin.

 

Superb! thank you!

 

Yeah I know, then the "well it didn't have all those problems last year" rip off etc

 

Well, yes but I simply don't think the otherwise very pleasant mechanic knows (beyond the obvious) what to look for or do specifically for Bays, even though he looks after a lot. As I don't either it's the blind leading the blind. I was amazed/worried, for instance, that he didn't know about the fuel line connector issue. I showed him the 'Avoid a fire' thread on TLB and now he's checking all the other vans that come to him.
I think he'd appreciate a list so he can have an aide memoir and some organisation - and to perhaps help him appear more on top of things when he services other VWs.
There aren't many alternative VW/classic bay garages in my bit of Kent, unfortunately. And he's a lovely bloke.

 

True. But he/the garage is not a scammer like that. V willing - I just think he could do with a hand organising both the work and its evidence.

 

I'd love to and I'll try. Just a long way away from me - so far down in Kent it's practically Calais. And can't leave me kid alone etc.

 

In fairness if you deal with a garage who knows everything and doesn't take on board or at least consider the owners knowledge then you don't wanna use them, if they are willing to hold their hands up and say the will have to check, find out etc then at least they are open and honest

 

You need @Baysearcher's Techenders kiddie care, just supply him with good cidre.

When I was a boy if my garden had been any longer I'm told I'd been French. I understand its a long way but I think you'd fine it well worth the drive.

 

I'm going from Hayling Island which is pretty Much Le Harve

 

Respect!

 

You is one of them foreign off mainlanders.

 

We has a bridge and water between us and the main land, we're practically French

 

Yes I delivered drugs to a care home place no it was a medical place with dialysis unit. I'd never driven off England before. They did speck funny.

 

Lovely as he might be, might I suggest he doesn't like looking for trouble and prefers to potter through straightforward things. This is all very well until the valve gaps haven't been set for 50,000 miles, the petrol pipe splits, he doesn't noticed the air filter vac hoses are plumbed wrong etc etc. Specialists get a slagging on this forum, but they have their uses.

 

You're probably right: maybe I'm too soft. I'll look around a bit for a specialist...

 

@zed is right, a specialist does know what they are doing. One time the van was broke the local garage said the engine was dead and wanted to pit a new one in we asked a mate who knew old cars and had a van only to find it was the coil so anotjer engine still wouldn't of worked. They may charge a bit more but then they do know a lot more.