A van should be booked in for a service every year, or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, it’s not always feasible for a van owner to routinely take their vehicle in for a service.
From running a booming business to having too much fun taking family leisure trips, it can be difficult to schedule a van service. This makes them easy to forget about. But what if we told you that your van will “tell” you when a service is due?
In this article, we’ll be explaining all of the signs to look out for that suggest your vehicle is in desperate need of a professional van service. Here are ten signs you need to book a van service in Nottingham:
1. Lights are appearing on the dashboard
A common sign that your vehicle needs a van service in Nottingham is a dashboard light. It might appear on the instrument planes, in modern vans. The light can appear in the form of a spanner, an oil lamp or simply the word “service”.
The light will often be accompanied by text telling you how many days or miles you have left until van servicing in Nottingham is needed. Alongside the aforementioned dashboard light shapes mentioned, they might also come in the form of:
- The check engine light
- Oil pressure warning light
- Brake systems
- ABS warning light
- Coolant temperature light
- General red lights
- General flashing lights
It’s imperative that you do not ignore these lights. When you see them appear on the dashboard, you need to schedule a van service in Nottingham as soon as possible with the team here at VanServ.
2. You’re hearing strange noises
If you’re hearing clicks, hisses, ticks or squeaking, it could indicate a problem. If you hear anything of the sort, you need to take your van to a specialist for closer inspection. The team here at VanServ can help with this. It could be something as simple as needing an oil change or a top-up.
While it could be something as straightforward as van servicing in Nottingham, it could be something more serious. This is why you should have the vehicle checked over by a professional. This ensures you don’t face hefty bills in the long run. It also helps to keep yourself safe and your van roadworthy.
This is paramount if you need your van for business purposes or if you’re taking your van out for leisure purposes with your family. Basically, no matter if you need your van for domestic or commercial purposes, van servicing in Nottingham is a great way of keeping your van running smoothly, while identifying other issues that might be at play.
3. You notice liquid dripping & mysterious puddles on the ground
If you find a puddle on the floor, after you’ve driven the van away from the parked area, then get out and inspect it. Check to see whether it’s been formed as a result of the British weather or if something has been leaking from your van. If you find that it’s brown in colour or smells strong, then it’s likely liquid that has come as a result of a van vault.
However, it could be something harmless if it’s just water. Usually, a harmless explanation is that the water has come from the air conditioning system in the summer or the exhaust pipe in the winter. This is just a result of condensation.
Although if it’s not simply water, then it’s a sure sign that you need to undergo van servicing in Nottingham as soon as possible. Not only will it help in terms of changing the oil and filters, but it will also involve a health check. This is where problems will be identified and resolutions advised.
4. There’s a loss of power & the van stalls frequently
Undergoing regular van servicing in Nottingham will help to prevent the constant stalling of your vehicle. It normally comes as a result of the engine struggling to generate power. It could be anything from problems with your spark plugs to a malfunctioning fuel injection system. A clogged catalytic converter could also be the culprit.
However, a meticulous van service in Nottingham will be able to eliminate problems and identify why such issues are occurring. While the van service in Nottingham itself won’t include the repairs, it will help get to the bottom of the problem at hand. In addition, it can play a role in the prevention of the same issue in the future.
5. Braking feels different
Van brakes are the most important safety feature on the vehicle. If you find yourself pressing harder to get the same braking response, then it could be down to one of two reasons: leaking brake fluid or worn brake pads.
Van servicing in Nottingham will include a health check of your vehicle, where the condition of the brake pads and fluid will be inspected and noted. Normally, a standard van service doesn’t include the changing of brake pads or the top-up of fluid.
But you can book this in as a separate job at another time. Where you might be wondering how a van service in Nottingham can help with this, it identifies the issues you have, before they become evident to you, the owner.
6. The engine cuts out
If your van engine stalls or just stops working, especially when pulling away, then it’s a sign that a van service in Nottingham and a general health check are needed. A van health check will be included as part of the van service you’re having. This will be able to identify the issue at hand, and advice will be given with regard to any necessary repairs that need to be made. However, most engine stalling culprits can be easily rectified during the van service in Nottingham itself, depending on the problem.
7. Smoke is coming out of the exhaust
Smoke clouds escaping from van bonnets or exhaust pipes could be occurring for any number of reasons. It could be as a result of your van burning oil. Take your van in for a service as soon as possible if you notice smoke coming out of either the front or the back of your van, and tell the technician the problem you’re having. In addition, before you go to the garage, make a note of the following things about the smoke coming out of your vehicle:
- The colour
- Where it’s coming from
- When it occurs
- If the van is overheating
8. Vibrations occur regularly
Vibrating or juddering of your van will signal to you that a van service in Nottingham is needed. Regular servicing will, however, prevent this from happening in the future. But there could be a wide range of reasons for a vibrating or juddering van. It could be as a result of a pressure plate defect, worn-out friction material, deteriorating spark plugs or a combination of all three.
By having your van serviced, a health check can be done on the vehicle, uncovering the issues that may be causing the juddering in the first place. Either way, servicing the van is a great way of getting to the root of the problem. So, if you’re noticing vibrations or judders, have a van service in Nottingham today.
9. You’re doing fewer miles to the gallon
If your van is getting significantly lower miles per gallon, then it could be down to some technical faults. Those issues can include things like dirty air filters, worn ignition coils or even clogged fuel filters. While a van service in Nottingham will identify these issues, it’s not always included as part of that service to replace or repair the items at fault. It might mean having to book a separate appointment, but it will prevent the problem from worsening, leaving you with an even more considerable bill than before. This is the advantage of a van service – catching problems early.
10. The gears are grinding
Are you finding it difficult to change gears when out and about in your van? If so, then it could be a sign that your van needs to be serviced. This is because it could be a result of gears grinding together. This signals an issue with the clutch, the transmission or the gear linkage. If you ignore those grinding gears, then even more damage could be done, leading to considerable bills or even the write-off of your van. By having a van service in Nottingham, these problems can be identified as soon as possible, and a resolution can be offered to prolong the lifespan of your van.
If you’re looking for van servicing in the East Midlands, then look to VanServ. We’re experienced in ensuring your van is running as it should, providing meticulous van servicing in Nottingham and beyond that you’ll always be able to count upon. If you would like further information about a van service near you, then get in touch with us today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.