I have recently bought a secondhand car (2001) from a large Nissan dealer.
"Just had a full service,Sir"
Service record stamped both for this service and last years.
I checked the air filter and plugs and both had not been changed.
(The air filter looks like it has never been changed)
I am concerned that the oil and filter may also have been missed as there is no sign of the drain plug having been recently disturbed.
I have not, as yet, looked at the brakes, although as the vehicle is of fairly low mileage, I don't expect any horrors.
I am due to return to the dealer to sort out other matters and will point out these findings for his comment then.
It seems to me that a dealer stamp is no guarantee that the work has actually been carried out!
Buying a car with a 'full service history' is of little benefit if this is common.
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I wonder how many cars there are out there with apparently "full" service histories that consist of some stamps in the book with the mileages all written with the same pen?
Not saying this is what's happened to yours, as the air filter and sparkies may not have been due for a service this time round.
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Doc - It may well be that the air filter element isn't scheduled for a change until 40,000 or even 60,000 miles! And the spark plugs certainly won't need doing until at least that mileage. The first 3 or 4 services on a car consist of little more than changing the oil and oil filter, and giving the car a once-over for any faults, such is the build quality of most cars these days.
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Doc - It may well be that the air filter element isn't scheduled for a change until 40,000 or even 60,000 miles! And the spark plugs certainly won't need doing until at least that mileage. The first 3 or 4 services on a car consist of little more than changing the oil and oil filter,
All the manuals I read say service at x,000 miles, or 12/24 months whichever comes first.
So on that basis, both the plugs and air filter should be changed.
And surely at a service, items should at least be checked and changed if they are clearly past their useful life.
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If the manufacturers service schedule says "change plugs at 36,000 miles or 3 years" what do you think happens at the two year or 24,000 mile service?
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Doc, I agree with your comments, the same thing happened to me. I bought 2 year old a Nissan Micra from a main dealer, at the time I was looking at it the weather was terrible, rain and wind. The salesman said don't worry it will have a service and anything that needs sorting out will be. Went to collect it, the service book was stamped and signed, went to have a final look at the car, both front tyres were well worn (unevenly), one was illegal. The service had consisted of a oil change and i'm not even certain that was done.
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I bought my 6 month old Mondeo under Ford Direct. It had 12,900 miles on it. It was an ex "Ford Management" car. The first service had been done at 12,500 miles as per schedule (by an independent garage surprisingly) and the service book stamped but no receipt came with the car. Under the deal I got the next 2 services free (25k & 37.5k) When I took the car in for the 25k service I got the book stamped but no receipt as I hadn't paid for anything.
Hope whoever takes the car off me when I get rid doesn't want receipts.
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Usually when a car belongs to a company, the company needs the receipt for its accounts (or so I understand). Therefore future owners will get nothing more than a stamped service book.
My own strategy is to give any car I buy a full service myself, no matter what the service book says. I then start the service cycle afresh.
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Usually when a car belongs to a company, the company needs the receipt for its accounts (or so I understand). Therefore future owners will get nothing more than a stamped service book. My own strategy is to give any car I buy a full service myself, no matter what the service book says. I then start the service cycle afresh.
I have bought 2 cars from auction which were direct from the leasing company and both came with computer printouts of everything that has been done from servicing (including all components allegedly replaced) to tyre and bulb replacement - well worth having, this was in addition to fully stamped up service books,you can\'t get any more really... In addition to cars I have bought at auction if you are looking at a car with a stamped up FSH, ring the servicing dealers and confirm the history, have done this several times at without exception the dealers ahve been at least moderately helpful, and a re normally very helpful - don\'t believe a stamped up service book at face value as they can easily be forged...
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quite right never take a book full of service stamps without back up from invoices etc as "proof" of fsh, i used to have a mate in the printing game who could supply you with a perfect copy of any dealers stamp you care to name in 24hrs for £20!
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