Service and Parts

Regular care and maintenance of your vehicle will ensure years of trouble-free, happy motoring. At Francis Motor Group, we employ highly trained technicians who use state-of-the-art equipment to maintain our customers' vehicles to the highest safety standards

• Why Choose Francis Motor Group?
• Car Care Tips
• Why Servicing is so Important
• MOTs - Essential Information
• Preparing your car for an MOT test

Why Choose Francis Motor Group?

Offering excellence in car maintenance

• Excellent value for money
  Our hourly rate will offer you the best value service. With our wealth of brand specific knowledge we are able to diagnose faults quickly and fix them first time in many cases.
• Customer service
  From booking your car in at a time convenient to you, to offering a full explanation of your invoice and a follow-up call to ensure everything is to your satisfaction, our teams are entirely customer-focused. Other services we offer include:
  • MOT and service reminders
  • Full approval prior to work commencing
  • Fixed price servicing
  • Whilst you wait servicing and MOTs
  • A collection and delivery facility
  • Courtesy cars
• Genuine parts
  When servicing or repairing your car we use only genuine parts* to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety.
• Manufacturer trained technicians
  Our technicians are fully conversant with all ages and models of vehicle and receive regular manufacturer training to ensure they are aware of any current issues and are able to use the latest techniques to resolve them. With sophisticated technology now utilised in most cars, this training is essential.
• State-of-the-art workshops
  We have invested heavily in the after sales operations to ensure customers are delighted with the service they receive and to adhere to strict manufacturer standards. From diagnostic computers to state-of-the-art tooling, you are assured of the very best attention to your car.

Car Care Tips

Top tips to keep your car in perfect condition

Air Conditioning
By servicing your air conditioning at least once every two years you will ensure that the correct temperatures are being reached. Pollen and pollution entering your car will be reduced, the amount of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) emitted into the atmosphere is minimised and finally the life of your vehicle's air conditioning system will be extended.

Brakes
For your own safety, it is important that your brakes and brake pads are tested regularly. Over periods of time the pads can wear unevenly causing your car to pull to the side. Why not contact your local Francis Motor Group Service Centre and ask about our competitive, while-you-wait brake tests?

Servicing
It is important to have your car serviced regularly and the recommended service intervals can be found in your car's information pack. If you are in doubt, contact your nearest Francis Motor Group Service Centre.

Fuel
It may sound obvious but breaking down through lack of fuel is one of the most common causes of breakdown. Always ensure you have enough for the journey ahead.

Oil
It is very important to keep the oil in your engine at its optimum level, too much or too little can hinder the effective working of your vehicle. Premium lubricants are good value and can save you money in the long term. All Francis Motor Group service centre's stock a range of competitively priced lubricants, why not call in when you're next passing?

Why Servicing is so Important

Service your car regularly to ensure peak performance

Just as your body needs top-up's of fuel and regular health checks, so does your car, with its intricate technology, moving parts and the demands that are placed on it from the weather and the journeys you undertake.

A relatively small investment in regular vehicle servicing plus a little care and attention can ensure you don't fall foul of more costly repairs as your vehicle gets older.

Regular servicing will ensure:

• Reduced risk of breakdown and subsequent problems
• A safer car with less risk of accidents
• Fewer unforeseen expenses and inconvenience
• Reduced cost of repairs over the lifetime of your vehicle
• Reduced risk of your vehicle being off the road
• Potentially greater fuel economy
• An enhanced part-exchange value when you come to sell your car

MOTs - Essential Information

If your car is aged three years or over, it will require a valid MOT (Ministry of Transport) certificate by law to state that your car meets the minimum standards to drive on public roads, the standards and conditions for which are set by the Vehicle Inspectorate. If your car does not have an MOT you cannot have it taxed and you will be breaking the law. Find out more about what happens during an MOT test and how to prepare your car for a test.

Handy Hint
It's useful to know that MOT tests can be carried out on your car up to one month prior to the expiry date of your existing UK MOT Certificate provided that a current MOT certificate is presented to the examiner at the time of the test. On passing the MOT test, you will be given a new certificate valid from the expiry date of your existing one.

Preparing your car for an MOT test

If your vehicle has been serviced regularly by your authorised Francis Motor Group Service Centre to the manufacturer's specification it should pass its MOT test. However it can be frustrating to fail a test for something that you could easily rectify e.g. an empty washer bottle. Read on to find out what you can do to help your vehicle pass:

• Check your windscreen washers, wipers, horn, mirrors, seatbelts, fuel and tyres (including pressures) just prior to the test.
• Get someone to stand outside the car while all lights - front, rear, indicators and hazard are checked. Replace or repair if broken or faulty.
• Ensure that the number plates and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plates are clean and legible.
• Check suspension by applying your weight to each corner of the car, then release. The car should settle down quickly.
• Check the operation of footbrakes and handbrakes. Also check the Anti Lock Braking Systems (ABS) light operation if fitted.
• Check that seatbelts operate correctly.
• A tyre depth of 1.6mm is the legal minimum requirement. Check tyres and ensure they are free from damage. Whilst the spare tyre is not part of the test it is advisable to carry a correctly inflated and legal tyre.
• Check the driver's view for damage to the windscreen.
• Check the exhaust by starting the engine and listening at the rear of the vehicle for any excessive noise which could indicate an exhaust leak. Emission checks are an important part of the test. Regular servicing should alleviate problems with emissions.
• Check under the bonnet to ensure that the brake fluid, windscreen washer fluid and engine oil is topped up correctly.
• A general check around the vehicle should be made to ensure that the car's fuel cap is secure, mirrors are in good condition, wipers are not damaged or split and locks work.

And finally...

Don't forget to take your V5C Vehicle Registration Document and current MOT certificate to the test.

Remember, the MOT Test is not a substitute for the servicing of a vehicle or a statement of the condition of a vehicle offered for sale.