A couple of questions if I may please:
How much do you expect to pay for a ‘small’ service on your car? You know, the one in between the big main service.
Secondly, I can check my tyre pressures and blow the tyres up, check the oil, and top up my window squirters, but that’s about it.
Years ago we had to top up the radiators as well. They were right in the front when you lifted the bonnet up.
What happened to radiators? 
Radiators are still there at the front (behind the A/C cooler) but they have a reservoir so don’t need topping up like they used to, before, when the water expanded it was lost now it is collected and reused. It still needs checking but it is more like checking your brake fluid ie making sure the water level is between two marks.
Bruce, it used to be a big thing right in the front when you opened the bonnet didn’t it, and it had a fan in front of it.
If you say it is still there - where’s it gone? It’s not where it used to be.
And another question please:
When I’ve had the air con on, sometimes when I park and walk away, some water trickles out from under the car -
Is this supposed to happen?
Where is it coming from?
Do I need to replace it?
Thank you.
Basic service is around £300-400.
Unless I need new coils…then it’ll go up by around an extra £500.
At this point it will be set alight.
It’s condensation Mups…nothing to worry about.
Mups, the water in the radiator expands when hot, and like Bruce says it used to be lost but now goes into an expansion chamber which is visible under the bonnet and probably looks like a small tupperware casserole with a filler cap on top. There should be a mark on the side which tells you the maximum and minimum levels and as long as the water level is somewhere between the two then you are OK. Point to note though check when the engine is cold and never take the cap off when the engine is hot!
As for the aircon, the dribble of water is what the system has removed from the air in your car and it dumps it out underneath, so it is no problem and just goes to show the aircon is working properly.
lhttp://www.halfordsautocentres.com/car-servicing?gclid=COrYlr7V9NQCFULnGwodhCQPNg
hmmm … link doesn’t work
I googled for servicing and Halfords came up
Prices starting at £85
edited.
Interim Service
6 month, 40-point service
From £85.00
Full Service
Annual 69-point service
From £155.00
Major Service
24 month, 71-point service plus parts replacement
From £219.00
Interim Service and MOT
6 month, 40-point service
Service with £20 MOT*
From £105.00
Saving £34.85
Full Service and MOT
Annual 69-point service
Service with £15 MOT*
From £170.00
Saving £39.85
Major Service and MOT
24 month, 71-point service plus parts replacement
Service with £10 MOT*
From £229.00
Saving £44.85
Mobil Premium Upgrade
Upgrade your Service
From £30.00
It always amuses me when the price is quoted “from”, I don’t think I’ve ever been offered the lowest quoted price in my life… 
lol yes … the other one is ‘up to’
eg … ‘you can earn up to £500 per hour’ 
Hi
Halfords would charge £195 for my car.
I paid £110 for the same job, plus another small job on Tuesday.
That was for a 2 litre Ford Turbodiesel.
If the cars still in warranty make sure genuine manufacturer parts are used, if not then shop around for a few quotes, don’t discount the main dealer they may often price match,
Hi
One of the problems with modern caes is the covers on both the top and bottom of the engine.
You can see nothing nor get to anything until they have been removed.
They are a nightmare to try and do yourself, the car really needs to be up on a lift.
Changing my gearbox oil, which now needs to be done, needs some serious specialist kit.
Service costs depend on the make and model of car and also which part of the country you are in and any parts needing replacing. Also it depends if it is a main dealer service or a “local” garage doing it. They can even charge differ prices depending on the overheads.
main dealers usually have specially trained mechanics who know the brand whereas local garages take pot luck on whatever car they are asked to service.
Come getting rid of a car one that has a full and complete service history book is going to fetch a bit more than a service by Joe blogs down the road, and a main dealer service log book a few quid more as it is easier to sell on.
Blimey! That’s a lot Tpin.
The small service I just had done on Tuesday was £107 inc. vat. That was at the main dealers.
The main service last year was £198.
What with the car, the shower, the kettle and the vet, I’ve done nothing but pay out this week. 
I am too old for a sugar daddy. The sugar daddy would have to be about 100.
Ah, thank you Barry. I’ll have a look for that tomorrow.
As I said earlier, I’m OK with doing the oil, tyres and window washers, but I don’t check anything else.
Years ago I used to check the battery as well, but I think they are sealed nowadays aren’t they?
Well Tpin is more than halfway there Mups, and he seems to like dogs. 
But he’d have to be my toy boy Twinks, not my sugar daddy.
Well you are not fussy are you, providing he looks after your car?
