What are Minor and Major Car services?

To keep your vehicle running smoothly, it needs to be serviced regularly. At certain points in its lifetime, either after a specific period or a set number of kilometres, it will need either a minor or major service. But what is the difference between the two? And when do you need to service your car?

What is a minor service?

Minor services are usually carried out at 10,000km intervals, and can be included in a service plan to keep your new or pre-owned Toyota in tip-top condition. While not as comprehensive as a major service, it looks at things such as fluid levels and checks the condition of your tyres. It also allows a qualified technician to give your vehicle a thorough inspection that may highlight minor issues that need to be fixed before they become a problem.

Generally speaking, a minor service from Al-Futtaim Toyota will include:

• Changing the engine oil and oil filter
• Checking all fluid levels, filters, belts and hoses including brake hoses and suspension
• Check that electrical features are working including lights and ignition
• Checking tyres are in good condition and have the minimum tread depth (3mm)

A minor service only takes a few hours to complete, and your technician will give you a full breakdown of any issues they may have discovered during their checks. Tyre rotation and wheel balancing are also available at an additional cost.

Why carry out a minor service?

As well as keeping all your paperwork and your car’s records up to date (which can be important if you want to sell your car in the UAE at some point), it also keeps your car running correctly. A well-serviced vehicle will deliver better fuel efficiency and smoother running. It also eliminates those little minor problems that can spoil the driving experience or could even be potentially dangerous.

What is a major car service?

Usually performed at 40,000km, 80,000km, and 100000km, a major service is a top-to-bottom check of all the components of your car, inside and out. Without a major service, you may find that your vehicle doesn’t run as efficiently or could even develop dangerous faults. A major car service is carried out by a qualified and highly experienced technician working from a manufacturer-approved checklist. A major service will include:

• A full electrical diagnostic to ensure all lights, electrical components and systems such as ignition are in good working order
• An ‘under-the-bonnet’ examination of the engine for signs of wear
• Checking and replacing all fluids including engine oil, transmission, brake fluid, coolant and all relevant filters
• Checking and replacing air filters for both the engine and the cabin
• Full brake check including condition and replacement if necessary of brake pads, drums, hoses, discs and callipers
• A comprehensive body and chassis check to look for signs of damage, rust or corrosion
• Inspect and replace if necessary all cables
• Checking tyres and wheels, including inspecting rims for any signs of damage or cracking
• The 100000 Kms Service is a major service involving Spark plugs replacement, which requires skill & the job done by a Toyota-trained technician ensures that you get designed Engine performance & fuel efficiency.

Peace of mind with an Al-Futtaim Toyota service package

At Al-Futtaim Toyota, we want our customers not just to enjoy driving pre-owned and new Toyotas, but the whole experience of owning one of the world’s most iconic motoring brands. As part of our commitment to customer care, we offer comprehensive service packages that can spread the cost of maintaining your vehicle.

For new Toyotas, we offer service contract packages that could give you up to 70% savings with a four-year or 80,000km plan. This can be transferred when you sell the car, too. If you already own a Toyota, we offer one, two, three and four-year plans that can save you up to 20% on your servicing and maintenance costs.

To find out more, contact us today and talk to one of our professional advisors.