The brief
Mr Ronnie was referred to us for a regular maintenance service on his Audi. A service is the chance to refresh the wear items and go through the car properly, not just drop the oil and send it on its way, and keeping the common parts in stock means a service like this turns around quickly. The engine oil and filter take the brunt of keeping the engine clean and protected, and they wear out with heat and miles, so they go on schedule. The air filter and cabin filter fill up with dirt. And the parts a basic oil change never touches, the brakes, the suspension, the tyres, the belts and the fluids, are the ones worth eyes on every time, because a worn pad or a weeping hose caught now is a small job, and the same fault caught when it fails is not.
The diagnosis
On the ramp the Audi got the full going-over: oil and filter due, the air and cabin filters checked, the brake pads and discs measured, the suspension and steering checked for play, the tyres checked for wear and pressure, the belts and hoses looked over, and the fluid levels and condition checked, brake fluid, coolant, power steering, washer. Nothing was failing, the wear items were simply due, which is what a service is for. So it was the standard service schedule: oil and filters, fluids, a full inspection, and a clean bill of health.
The work
The engine oil was drained and refilled with the correct Audi-spec oil and a new oil filter, the air filter and cabin filter renewed, and the fluid levels checked and topped to spec. The brakes were inspected and measured, the suspension and steering checked for play, the tyres rotated and set to pressure, the belts and hoses looked over, the lights and wipers checked, and the service indicator reset. A road test confirmed a clean start, smooth running, steady braking, and no warning lights.
The outcome
Fresh oil and filters, fluids topped, brakes and suspension checked and sound, tyres set right, the service light reset, and a clean health check. The Audi went home serviced and good to go. A proper service is the cheapest way to keep a car reliable, because the small jobs caught at a service are the big jobs avoided later on.
