Straight answers to car questions

Replacing your engine oil, rather than just topping it up, is essential for maintaining your car’s performance and longevity. Over time, engine oil breaks down and becomes contaminated with dirt, debris, and metal particles from the engine, reducing its ability to lubricate and protect the engine components. Simply topping up the oil adds new oil to old, dirty oil, which doesn't restore its full effectiveness.

By replacing the oil completely, you're ensuring that the engine is properly lubricated, which reduces friction, prevents overheating, and protects against wear. Regular oil changes help maintain engine efficiency, extend its lifespan, and prevent costly repairs down the road.

If you don't get your car serviced regularly, it can lead to a range of issues that may compromise your vehicle's performance, safety, and lifespan. Over time, essential fluids like engine oil, brake fluid, and coolant can degrade or run low, causing excessive wear on vital components like the engine, transmission, and brakes. Ignoring routine maintenance could lead to breakdowns, overheating, poor fuel efficiency, and even complete engine failure.

Additionally, safety components like brakes, tyres, and suspension systems may deteriorate without you noticing, which increases the risk of accidents. Regular servicing helps catch small problems before they become expensive repairs, ensuring your car runs smoothly, efficiently, and safely.

We give your car a proper once-over from top to bottom to keep it running smoothly and safely. Here’s what we do:

• Replace the engine oil and oil filter (fresh and clean!)
• Remove wheels to check your brakes properly
• Check brake fluid levels
• Check suspension and tyres for wear or damage
• Check ABS, all interior warning lights, and the horn
• Make sure all your exterior lights are working
• Test front and rear wipers and washers
• Check how the air conditioning’s performing
• Top up the power steering reservoir
• Check PAS, auxiliary, and fan belts
• Check the pollen/cabin filter
• Inspect the air filter
• Check battery condition and that it's secure
• Test the handbrake – make sure it’s holding strong
• Top up gearbox, axle, or transfer box oil if needed
• Top up all under-bonnet fluids
• Check and top up brake and clutch fluid
• Lubricate door hinges, catches, and locks (no more squeaks!)
• Inspect the coolant system for leaks and top it up if needed
• Visually inspect spark plugs and HT leads
• Reset the service light (if the car lets us)

See the guideline below for the cost of a full service (any further filters, bulbs, wipers, parts or services are an additional cost and will not be fitted without your approval): Small to medium Japanese vehicle: from $295 Small to medium European vehicle: from $340

Diesel vehicle: from $360

We are unable to give you more accurate estimate until we know how much oil and fluids your vehicle requires.

We recommend booking a full service every 12 months or every 10,000kms – whichever comes first. Regular servicing keeps everything running smoothly, catches issues early, and helps avoid costly repairs down the track. We check and replace oils and filters, inspect brakes, suspension, tyres, belts, fluids – the whole lot. It’s the best way to make sure your vehicle stays safe, reliable, and performing at its best. Need a reminder when you're due? Just ask – we’ve got your back.

Wheel bearings play a crucial role in your car's performance and safety. These small but mighty components are located at each wheel hub and allow the wheels to rotate smoothly with minimal friction. By supporting the wheel's weight and enabling it to spin freely, wheel bearings help ensure a smooth and quiet ride. They also contribute to the overall stability and handling of your vehicle, making sure your wheels stay securely attached and aligned. Over time, wheel bearings can wear out or become damaged, leading to noise, vibrations, and potentially unsafe driving conditions. Regular maintenance and timely replacement of worn wheel bearings are key to keeping your car running smoothly and safely. If a wheel bearing is noisy or has play, it will not pass a WoF inspection.

We recommend rotating your tyres every 10,000km to help them wear evenly and last longer. Regular rotations can also improve handling and reduce road noise.

If your tread depth is below 1.5mm, there are cracks, or you're noticing vibration while driving, it’s time for a replacement. We’re happy to inspect them and give you an honest recommendation.

Small vehicle: $79

Ute, 4x4, SUV: $89

Lower control arm bushes play a crucial role in your car's suspension system. These rubber or polyurethane components sit between the control arm and the vehicle's frame, providing cushioning and reducing vibrations. They help to absorb the shocks and bumps from the road, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable ride. Additionally, they maintain proper alignment of the control arms, which helps to keep your wheels aligned correctly, enhancing steering stability and handling. Over time, these bushes can wear out or become damaged, leading to a less smooth ride and potential handling issues. Regular inspection and replacement, when necessary, are important to keep your vehicle driving smoothly and safely.

Replacing the engine mounts in your car is essential for maintaining a smooth and safe driving experience. Engine mounts are designed to secure the engine to the vehicle's frame while absorbing vibrations and shocks. Over time, these mounts can wear out or become damaged due to the constant stress and strain they endure. When engine mounts fail, you might notice increased vibrations, clunking noises, or even misalignment of the engine. Replacing worn or damaged engine mounts not only improves the comfort of your ride by reducing vibrations but also ensures that the engine remains properly aligned and securely in place, preventing potential damage to other components and maintaining overall vehicle stability.

If your ride feels bumpy, your car pulls to one side, or there's a knocking noise over bumps, your suspension could be worn. It’s best to get it checked before it affects safety.

You should get a wheel alignment if your vehicle pulls to one side, your steering feels off-centre, or your tyres are wearing unevenly. It's also a good idea to have it done after replacing suspension parts, getting new tyres, or hitting a decent pothole or curb. A proper alignment helps your car drive straight, improves tyre life, and saves fuel too.

A standard WoF inspection usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. Yes, you do need to book in advance. If you need to wait while the inspection is being done, our friendly service advisers will find you a suitable appointment time.

No. A WoF only confirms the vehicle was roadworthy at the time of inspection. If your car develops a fault afterward (e.g. brakes fail, tyre goes bald), it’s still your responsibility to keep it safe. Police can issue fines or order the car off the road even with a valid WoF.

Vehicle $79

Caravan $68

Trailer $58

Click the 'Book Online' button in the website header to choose your booking time.

We recommend having your brakes inspected at least once a year or every 10,000–15,000 km, depending on your driving habits. If you notice squeaking, grinding, vibrations, or your car pulling to one side when braking, it's best to get them checked ASAP.

Brake pads are the components that press against the rotors to slow your car down. The rotors (or discs) are the metal plates that spin with your wheels. Both wear over time - pads usually need replacing more often, but rotors can also wear, warp, or become damaged and may need machining or replacement.

Squealing brakes can be a sign that your brake pads are getting low and might need replacing soon. Many pads have a built-in wear indicator that makes a high-pitched noise to let you know it’s time to check them. It’s not always urgent, but it’s definitely worth getting inspected before it turns into something more serious (and expensive!).

Q: Could it be something else causing the squeal? Absolutely. Sometimes brakes can squeal from dust, rust, or moisture buildup - especially if your car’s been sitting for a while.

Q: Can squealing brakes still stop the car safely? They usually can, but it depends on the cause. If it’s just surface rust or dust, they’ll likely settle down. But if the pads are worn thin or something’s out of alignment, your stopping power could be compromised. Better to be safe than sorry - book a diagnosis and we’ll check them out for you.

This can vary depending on the fault. Some issues can be identified quickly with a scan tool, while others require more in-depth testing and investigation. We always aim to be thorough and keep you informed throughout the process.

Fault codes are just starting points — they don’t tell the full story. A code might point to a general system or sensor, but it takes a trained technician to properly test and confirm what’s actually causing the issue.

Diagnosis costs start from a minimum diagnosis fee of $72 and can be up to $144.

Diagnosis may require a scan which is $75.

If our technicians need more than 1 hour to diagnose your vehicle, our service advisers will be in touch to let you know.

An inspection costs $149

Yes! If any issues are found, you can use the report to negotiate a lower price or ask the seller to fix the problems before you commit to the purchase.