#tipthursday Book your service with Maitland Motors

Why you should keep up with your vehicle’s service schedule with Maitland Motors

Booking in for a service may feel like an expense that’s just not worth the time or money, however as we say here at Maitland Motors, prevention is always better than cure. By keeping up with your service schedule, you are effectively prolonging your vehicle’s lifespan, efficiency, economy and re-sell value.

Skipping on services can affect how well the vehicle performs, resulting in very costly repairs. We had a 5-year-old car in the workshop that had never been serviced. Upon inspection, below is the condition we found the oil sump in; completely congealed with oil. The repair for this is an expensive one; a whole new engine. At service, the old oil would have been drained out, and replaced with new oil alongside a Forte engine flush that would have removed a lot of contaminants within the oil filtration system. The oil has congealed like this due to dirt, contaminants and carbon build-up.

The oil sump of a 5-year-old vehicle, is completely congealed with oil.

Not forgetting all our services include OE quality and highly reputable parts from Mann Filters and Miller Oils. Also, we take the time to check over the rest of the vehicle for any possible safety issues/ concerns so, you are fully aware of the current condition of your vehicle.

#tipthursday Maitland Motors
New Mann oil filter ready to replace the old one for a Ford Fiesta

For more info on the Importance of Servicing your Vehicle, check this previous post on our blog.

To book your service with Maitland Motors please just call the office or email us.

#tipthursday Book a free brake check

We all know how important having healthy and fully working breaks are. You really want to drive your vehicle feeling 100% confident that if the worst was to happen, it’s going to keep you safe. If your brakes have started to feel different, make noises or have already started to fail, then we’d definitely recommend booking in for a brake check.

Maitland Motors: Pagid/ IMI Brake Specialists
Maitland Motors is proud to be Pagid/ IMI Brake Specialists, so you can be assured that we know about fitting good quality breaks.

Driving conditions, mileage, driving style and general wear and tear of such a used part of a vehicle can cause your brakes to deteriorate. So, getting them checked by a professional every so often will help to ensure your vehicle is well maintained and more importantly, safe to drive.

Checking the brakes is involved during our Free Vehicle Health Check where we visually check the suspension, levels, tyres, exhaust, battery health and lights. Our techs can then give you an overview of your vehicle’s health and a no-obligation quote of any works they recommend be carried out.

To make a booking, call our office on 01592 328848 between 9 am – 5 pm or email maitlandmotors@gamil.com.

#tipthursday

Ever since paper MOT reminders in the post stopped, your MOT due date can be easy to forget. Here at Maitland Motors, we have a text MOT reminder service that reminders our customers of their due date however, you don’t need to wait for this date to get the test done.


You can have a test carried out a month minus a day in advance, and your test date won’t be affected.

For example, if your MOT due date was the 12th of March, you could have your test carried out any time from the 13th of February. Giving you more time to plan ahead and book in for a day that suits your schedule. We’d defo recommend making use of this extra time.


To sign up to our MOT reminder service we just need your name, reg and mobile number and at the end of the month prior to your MOT date, we’ll ping you a reminder with our contact details.


For more details, please call our office or send us an email.

Should I service my car?

Here at Maitland Motors, we understand that sometimes you have to priorities where and when you spend your money. Often, the family vehicle is near the bottom of those priorities; a birthday, new school shoes or an unexpected bill often needs paying first. However, keeping your vehicle maintained is a proactive way to prevent unexpected garage bills and can help the funds you do spend go further.


Following your manufacturer’s service schedule is an easy and effective way to get the most from your vehicle. (You’ll find this in your vehicle’s manual or your dash might pop up with a reminder.)

Why should I service my car?
Regular servicing ensures that essential parts (brakes, suspension, etc) are running efficiently and to your needs and requirements. The more miles you drive, the more you should expect parts to deteriorate due to wear and tear. It can also give our technicians the chance to spot and nip potential problems in the bud before they develop into an expensive, lengthy repair that otherwise could have been avoided. Regular servicing also helps the vehicle maintain its value price if you decide to resale.


My car passed its MOT, does it still need a service?
Your MOT is a legal requirement set out by the DVLA that checks the roadworthiness of a vehicle. To pass, it only needs to meet the minimum road safety and environmental standards. Some MOT checks will overlap with a service, however, not everything is checked such as testing the condition of your oil and filters. The main difference is your MOT ensures your car is safe at the time of testing, services are a maintenance measure to help prolong its lifespan, improve efficiency and lower economic costs.


Meaning if you want to save money in the long run, we would always recommend servicing your vehicle. Like we say here in the workshop, prevention is always better than cure. Especially, when it comes to cars!!
To help spread the cost of your service we also offer Payment Assist where you can spread the cost of your bill over 4 monthly payments, fee and interest-free. (Please ask for more details.)


To book a service here at Maitland Motors drop us an email or call our office. We always use OE quality parts on all services such as Millers Oil and Mann Filters. Your vehicle is also given a Free Health Check as standard, breaking down our findings & costs involved.

#TIPTHURSDAY Do you know your vehicle’s preferred oil?

Did you know that each make and model of vehicle has a preferred oil as per the manufactures specifications?

Due to each make/ model being designed differently with individual stresses and strains to deal with on engine components. Manufacturers have designed the vehicle to work with oil of a certain grade and viscosity to help your engine cope.


It is vitally important that the correct engine oils are used, especially in modern engines to ensure engine longevity, better emissions, and prevent internal carbon build-up. Using the incorrect oil results in poor lubrication, affecting the performance of your engine, and incurring costly repairs.


Here at Maitland Motors, we are proud to work with leading industry expert, Miller Oils. They have a very handy search tool on their website where you can check which oil your vehicle is designed to take. (Click here to check now.) You just pop in your reg and it provides you with which product is best to use.

Otherwise, we are always more than happy to check and supply the correct oil for you and your vehicle.

Please share this post with friends and family or if you have any further questions just get in touch.

#tipthursday Check your Discs & Pads

It’s essential to keep your brakes well maintained and in good working order to help ensure your vehicle is safe to dive. Discs and Pads are integral parts of your vehicle’s braking system and can last anywhere between 25,000 – 60,000 miles depending on driving style and the vehicle. (More info for your make & model can be found in your owner manual.)

New vs old brake pads, showing just how worn out they can get.

If you hear any noises while braking such as squealing, your vehicle is pulling to one side or any dash warnings come on, it may be time to get your Discs & Pads changed.

The good news is that Maitland Motors are a Pagid/IMI Professionally Accredited Brake Specialist and checking the condition of your brakes is something we do for FREE during our Vehicle Health Checks.

We are proud to work with industry experts, Pagid and only fit their brake Pads and Discs that come with a 25-month/25-thousand-mile guarantee.

If you have any questions about your breaks, call or email the office and we’d be happy to chat you through any solutions.

#tipthursday What is wheel alignment and should I get it done?

Wheel alignment (also known as tracking) ensures that your wheels are sitting at the correct angles as per the manufacturer’s specifications for your vehicle. Over time, general use and wear & tear of your vehicle mean your wheels can become misaligned and inefficient. Every make & model has a slightly different alignment set up with manufacturers recommending that alignment is carried out every 8000 miles or every other year.


A sign of poor alignment is uneven tyre wear that can impact the handling, maintenance costs and most importantly, vehicle safety. Pulling to one side while driving is also another warning sign to look out for.

We use a handly bit of kit called a Laser Wheel Alignment Gauge which uses lasers to show us how straight your wheels are sitting.

Benefits of having properly aligned wheels are,

  • reduced tyre wear (meaning they’ll be more efficient and need replacing less often)
  • a smoother and safer drive
  • reduced fuel consumption (as the vehicle doesn’t have to work as hard to power forward)

If you would like us to check your wheel alignment please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling the office or sending an email.

Top 3 reasons to book an Air Con Service

When was the last time your air conditioning system was serviced?

Restrictions are easing and better weather is on the way (fingers crossed), so road trips are on the cards again. Sitting in a hot, stuffy car is not fun so keep cool by making sure your Air Conditioning System is up for the job by booking in for an Air Con Service. Here are our top 3 reasons why,

  • AC services help to keep your air conditioning system working at its best. Over time the system won’t blow as cold air as it should, getting it serviced will help keep it efficient and maintained. A must for any staycation or travel plans during the warm summer months.
  • Helps to ensure the air in your vehicle is clean. If left, the air conditioning system can build up contaminants, which you can end up breathing in. This can also affect those with allergies.
  • Some of the more modern cars, such as hybrids may rely on the air conditioning system to cool the battery. Making sure the air conditioning is performing to its best will help to ensure the vehicle as a whole is well maintained. As we always say prevention is better than cure when it comes to vehicles and maintenance, such as an air conditioning service, will help prolong life span, limit wear and tear and maximum saleable value in the future.
An air con service in action on this Ford Fiesta.
An aircon service in action on this Ford Fiesta.

The guys are fully qualified and have undertaken the Automotive Air Conditioning System Diagnosis course, so have the essential knowledge to service vehicle air conditioning systems. EU legislation requires all technicians who service, recharge and repair vehicle air conditioning to be certified to carry out this work. So you can be assured your car is in safe hands with us.

We are currently in the process of expanding our air con capabilities by investing in an upgraded AC machine which will allow us to carry out service and repairs on vehicles with R123YF gas. 90% of vehicles from 2016 are fitted with this gas. If you are unsure which gas your vehicle is fitted with we can check before any work is carried out to ensure the correct procedures are carried out.

If you would like to know more about an air conditioning service or would like to book your vehicle in for one, please just get in touch by calling the office, DM us or leave a comment below.

#tipthursday Book your service

Maitland Motors’ #tipthursday for this week: Book your service.

We recommend serving your car at least once a year depending on mileage, age and driving conditions. After the past few years, most of our vehicles have probably been stuck parked up or on driveways and, understandably, booking in for a service just hasn’t been a priority. With restrictions lifting and life getting “back to normal” a service will prepare your vehicle for the roads again, helping keep you safe, prolong the lifespan of your vehicle, and prevent further more costly repairs that lack of maintenance often cause. Pop on over to a recent post about the importance of servicing your vehicle here for more details. Having a full-service history also makes your vehicle more desirable and sellable if/when it comes to reselling.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, leave a comment below, email or call the office.

#tipthursday Follow Our Basic Vehicle Maintenance Schedule

Follow our basic vehicle maintenance to help get the best from your car.

Here at Maitland Motors, we believe that maintaining your car is the most effective way to get the most from it. Following our basic maintenance schedule will help keep your car performing at its best and more importantly, safe on the roads.

Your Basic Car Maintenance Schedule by Maitland Motors

Full Service – 6 months prior MOT (This will depend on when you last had a full service, it may just need an interim. We can check beforehand and advise on the appropriate service required.)

Free Vehicle Health Check – 3 months prior to MOT

Pre-MOT 1 month before MOT

MOT (sign up for our reminder text service)

We recommend following this as a minimum depending on your mileage and how you drive. Most car manuals will have details of your make/model’s service schedule as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

If you have any questions or would like to book in for a Service, Free Vehicle Health Check, Pre-MOT or MOT then call us in the office, email us or leave a comment below.