Mansfield Motors

Yes, if possible.  This can be difficult but it can save time and money. Technicians charge by the hour for time we have to spend driving and diagnosing the car. If we know the problem only happens on the highway at 100 kph, then we'll head straight to the highway for a 100 kph test drive. If we know the problem only happens when the car is cold, we won't waste hours testing a warm car.  Of course, don't worry if you can't duplicate the problem, we will do our best to find it based on the information you provide us.

About half a tank.  There is no point paying us by the hour to fill the tank so we can work on the car.  It's cheaper if you bring it in with enough fuel.

If there is a legitimate reason why you need your car serviced or repaired quickly, then depending on the needs of your car, we can work to a time frame.  But can I ask you this: would you rush a surgeon?  We are not suggesting that we are surgeons, but as with surgeons, we are working on a body (car body!), so when we have enough time to complete the job without tight time pressures, it will increase the quality of the job. We understand that you will occasionally have time pressures, but wherever possible, please allow enough time for the repairs.

Yes.  In the first instance we'll ask you to bring in all your paperwork from the other mechanic, but if need be, we will call the mechanic to find out information about your car's history.

Ironically, the reason something doesn't work or fails is because the car hasn't been regularly serviced in the first place, so it's a false economy.  Over the years we have seen major problems with cars that cost the owner hundreds of dollars (sometimes thousands) to fix, which could have been completely avoided if they'd had their car regularly serviced.

Yes.  Please leave your alarm remote, mag wheel lock nut, master key (not a valet key), and secret kill switch locations. If we can't remove the wheels or start the car easily, it will stop us from working, or at least slow us down. We may need to get into the boot to change your brake light bulbs. Most Toyota ECUs are behind the glove box, so if the glove box is locked, and we only have the valet key, we'll have a problem getting to the ecu. If you're worried about leaving valuables or other personal items in your glove box, then please leave them at home before the service.

Although extremely rare, this can sometimes happen.  Mechanics are only human and we do make mistakes. If you feel we are at fault, please explain the situation calmly to us.  If we caused a problem, we will gladly fix it.

We honestly don't know for sure.  We can only guess the reason why no one has raised the issues is because the company you had been attending previously didn't feel that the issues fell under the fixed price services that you were getting.  It is of grave concern to us that customers are bringing us regularly serviced cars, which have dangerous and unchecked problems with poor quality workmanship.  When you bring your car to us, we will list every issue that we feel needs to be fixed, and then you have the choice to fix it.  It is our responsibility to tell you of the faults, and it is your choice to have us fix them.

Our services include more than just checking the oil and closing the bonnet.  Our service is the most thorough service your car will ever have.  It's very difficult to compare 'apples with apples' when it comes to car servicing because each car service centre has a different idea about what should be done with a car service.  Some car service centres will carry out just a few servicing procedures, while others, like us, will do numerous things in order to keep your car in the safest condition possible.   There is no same '40k' service.  Every car servicing company will do something different.

We'd rather not give a quick quote for a "one size fits all" generic service because it is unlikely that it will address all of a car's particular service needs & might cover things that your car doesn't need, which is a waste of your money.  Every car has different service requirements, so trying to find out what a car needs is a process that will require a vehicle inspection. We'd much rather spend the time to custom tailor a service for your individual car that is based on: the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, your car's past service history, & our own experience with your model of car because it will save you money and ensures that  your car gets all the service & care it needs.