Another thread in discussion got me thinking about this. When did the car buying public start getting hung up about service histories? Throughout the 60s, 70s and early 80s my dad bought nearly new Fords from main dealers. However they never went back to the dealership for servicing and the service books remained unstamped.
He did his own servicing - oil changes, brake pads, contact breakers, plugs etc etc. Parts all bought from the local motor factors (no Halfords in those days). Only jobs like decokes and new clutches were farmed out. Even when I got my first car in the late 80s (a 7 year old Capri) it had no paperwork other than the current MOT and reg document. My dad bought it on instinct rather than paper evidence of servicing.
So when did all this change - was it started by the car manufacturers themselves?
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Finer tolerances etc I guess needing more specialised parts...? Scraping the barrel here - after all modern cars are more reliable that older ones.
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Funny, isn't it - back in the 70's I never had a car serviced - mainly due to spending my cash on drinking, girls and discos. However, I always, always changed the oil and filter regularly.
I agree the service history didn't seem to matter then as long as the car looked & drove ok. Yet in those days cars actually needed far more reular attention than they do today -- 20k service intervals now - 3k 30 yrs ago. Does a FSH really matter as much as it's claimed(Particularly 'dealer' over indy) Most likely not - but try selling a fairly new car for decent money without one!
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I think you have answered your question - 20 k service intervals.
IF not serviced then a good way of dmaging the car - especially EFI systems which rely on clean filtered fuel and working electronics without corroded connections.
After all 20 years ago, most cars had no aircon, no electric windows, central locking, or cambelts.
We all know about cambelts and the lack of maintenance.
20 years ago a new carburettor was £100 or so. A set of new injectors and a HP fuel pump - fitted - could be £3k on a diesel.
I won't risk those kind of repair costs if something has not been serviced...
madf
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I won't risk those kind of repair costs if something has not been serviced...
I take your point! Engines were mostly pushrod OHV's I recall and as such a snapped cambelt was unheard of. I certainly think that far to much emphasis is placed on a 'dealer' SH particularly for the 'average family car' I do concede some do need specialist servicing though. With very few adjustments now needed do you really need the dealer to do this work. I have used an independent for many years now and I am guaranteed total honesty and excellent workmanship. However the service book doesn't have that dealer stamp in it. I lay odds though that it's been better serviced!
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