Business Categories
Vehicle Repairs and Servicing
Mobile mechanics, garages and car servicing: what a good repair service looks like, which jobs can be done at home and how to keep a car running well all year.
Vehicle repairs and servicing
Keeping a car safe and reliable means regular servicing, prompt repairs and a few simple checks between visits. More drivers now use mobile mechanics who come to their home or workplace, while others prefer a traditional garage. Either way, the same principles apply: clear quotes, quality parts and work that is explained before it starts.
Servicing
Oil, filters, fluids and a full set of safety checks, carried out to the manufacturer's schedule to keep the service history intact.
Brakes
Pads, discs, calipers and brake fluid. Pads on the same axle are always replaced together, and fluid is usually changed every two years.
Clutches
Slipping, juddering or a high biting point are the usual signs. Many diesels also need a new dual mass flywheel at the same time.
Exhausts
Rattles, a louder engine note or a smell of fumes point to a leak, which is also an MOT failure if left unrepaired.
Air conditioning
Systems slowly lose gas, so cooling fades. A recharge every couple of years keeps the air cold and the seals healthy.
Diagnostics
Warning lights and fault codes read with diagnostic equipment, so the real cause is found before any parts are replaced.
Mobile mechanic or garage?
A well-equipped mobile mechanic can handle most routine work and many repairs on a driveway or in a car park, saving the time and cost of getting the car to a garage. Jobs that need a ramp or specialist equipment, such as wheel alignment or some engine and gearbox work, are still better done in a workshop.
- Usually mobile: servicing, brakes, batteries, diagnostics, air con regas and many exhaust repairs
- Often mobile: clutch replacement and alternators, with the right equipment and space
- Usually workshop: wheel alignment, bodywork and major engine or gearbox rebuilds
Many mobile mechanics also run a workshop for the bigger jobs. In Berkshire, for example, a mobile mechanic in Reading can carry out servicing, brakes, clutches, exhausts and air con regas at homes and workplaces across Reading, Caversham, Earley and Woodley, with a workshop for the jobs that need one.
Choosing a mechanic
- ask for a written quote and what happens if something else is found
- check whether parts are original or quality equivalents
- ask what guarantee covers the parts and the labour
- look for recent reviews that mention the type of job you need
- make sure the service will be stamped in your service history