Van services might seem fairly straightforward, but it can be confusing when you come to book one/ Which one do you need, when and why? In this article, we’ll be explaining what a van service is, the different types available and what they include. This will arm you with the information needed to make an informed decision about which van service you need for your vehicle. Let’s dive right in.
What is a van service?
A van service in Nottingham is when your van is taken into the garage for a routine health check. The mechanic will inspect the condition of the vehicle and look for signs of wear and tear. It’s normal for a garage to replace the oil and filters in your vehicle as part of the van service in Nottingham, regardless of the tier you choose. There are normally three different types of van service plans available: interim, full and major. Below is an explanation of each one:
Interim van service
These are typically done every 6 months or every 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. It can include an oil change, oil filter replacement and the inspection of the driver’s belt. As the name would suggest, it’s a service that tides you over in the interim, giving you peace of mind between annual services.
Full van service
A full van service includes everything that your interim van service does, but with some extra jobs added in. A full service should be done once a year, as it will identify issues that have built up over the last few months. As well as an oil change, oil filter replacement and the inspection of the driver’s belt, a full service includes:
- Checking diagnostic codes
- Checking air conditioning and climate control systems
- Checking auxiliary drive belt
- Checking the radiator and coolant hoses
- Inspecting the brakes
- Looking at fuel pipes, the engine, transmission, axle Train Drive, drive shaft joints, gaiters and the exhaust system
Major van service
This is normally done every two years or every 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. It includes all of the checks and services as both the interim and the full service, but there are some extra jobs that are done as part of a major van service, such as:
- Replacement of brake fluid
- Replacement of odour and allergy filters
- Replacement of spark plugs
- Inspection of automatic transmission oil levels
- Battery testing
What does a van service include?
What’s included in a van service depends on the type of van service you’ve been booked in for. Some van services are more in-depth than others, as already discussed. But let’s assume that you’ve booked your van service in Nottingham for the top-tier one, a major service. What’s included, typically, in a major van service in Nottingham? Let’s take a closer look.
A major service is recommended after 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. It will usually include all of the checks and changes in the full and interim service, but there will be some extras attached to it. Here’s everything you can expect to happen as a result of having a full van service in Nottingham:
Everything a major van service includes
- Oil change
- Oil filter replacement
- Inspection of the driver’s belt
- Checking of instruments
- Inspection of gauges
- Looking for warning lights on the dashboard
- Testing the horn
- Checking the windscreen wipers
- Testing the interior lights
- Checking the seatbelts
- Operating a manual clutch
- Running diagnostic checks on the hybrid system on hybrid vans
- Checking exterior lights
- Testing door operation
- Operating the boot and looking for faults
- Making sure the fuel cap is secured
- Checking the condition of your battery
- Looking at the condition of the wiring
- Testing all electrics
- Topping up the windscreen washer fluid
- Conducting a road test
- Thoroughly looking at your engine diagnostic codes and climate control/air conditioning system
- Testing the power steering and topping up fluids if needed
- Checking the auxiliary drive belt and adjusting it when necessary
- Checking the radiator
- Checking the coolant hoses
- Inspecting the brakes
- Looking at fuel pipes
- Checking the engine
- Transmission testing
- Looking at the axle Train Drive
- Checking drive shaft joints and gaiters
- Exhaust system checks
- Fuel filter replacements (for diesel vans)
- Air cleaner replacement
- Alternator hose and vacuum hose inspection
- Inspecting the parking brake shoes
- Removing and rotating road wheels
- Brake fluid replacement
- Odour and allergy filter replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Automatic transmission oil level inspection
- Battery testing, in addition to looking at its overall condition (as already mentioned)
- Putting a stamp in the service book
- Resetting the service light at the end
Is a van service the same as a van MOT?
No. A van MOT and a van service in Nottingham are not the same. An MOT is a complete inspection of your van and its inner workings to make sure that the vehicle is roadworthy and safe to drive. It is a government requirement for your van to have a valid MOT year after year. An MOT is simply a health check, almost.
It does not include the maintenance or repair of the vehicle. Any issues found are noted, and the owner is notified. It’s then up to the van owner to pay to have those problems fixed. You’re not required to use the same garage as where the MOT was done, unless the problems found are serious and need immediate repairs before being roadworthy again.
A service, on the other hand, is optional. You do not have to have your van serviced every year. But there are some benefits to having it done. The two major benefits of van servicing in Nottingham are the elongation of the van’s lifespan and to keep the value of the vehicle up. It will inspect your van for signs of wear and tear, and suggestions will be made to keep your van performing at its best.
You’re not legally obliged to have that work carried out. But it’s in your best interests to make sure those issues are rectified, one way or another. Typically, a van service is done every year, which just includes an oil and filter change. This is the bare minimum required to make sure your engine is running as smoothly as possible, for as long as possible.
How often should I have a van service in Nottingham?
The timings of a van service will largely depend on the type of service you’ve had done, the length of time it’s been since its last one, its age or the miles it has done. Sometimes, it could be a combination of any of the aforementioned things. In summary, however, here’s how often you should have each service type carried out on your van:
- Interim van service – after 6 months or after 6,000 miles; whichever comes first
- Full service – after 12 months or after 12,000 miles; whichever comes first
- Major service – after 14 months ot after 24,000 miles; whichever comes first
For reliable van servicing across the East Midlands, choose VanServ. With extensive experience, we make sure your van runs smoothly and efficiently, offering thorough servicing in Nottingham and the surrounding areas that you can trust. To find out more about van services near you, contact us today – we’re always happy to help.