Vehicle maintenance is one of life’s inevitable necessities. Whether you own a fleet of multiple vehicles or are a single-car owner, maintenance is key! You may use the car as a daily solution getting you from A to B or consider yourself more of a ‘drive when you really have to’ person. Whichever category of user you are, maintenance should never be far from your mind. As a responsible vehicle owner, you really ought to stay on top of it!

At Delany’s, we can’t stress enough how many avoidable issues we see first-hand that result from a lack of regular maintenance. We urge you as a driver to keep a log of this and will explain the best ways to do so, without too much stress or strain being added to your everyday life. As much as we offer maintenance reminders and always recommend future dates you may wish to book, we also understand how busy our lives are and these can sometimes fall by the wayside.

If you find you have more unanswered questions which relate to your vehicle’s service, feel free to visit our designated Service FAQ page. 

How do I check my vehicle’s service history?

If ever you’re unsure, your vehicles’ service history should either be detailed in your service book or on your digital service record. Vehicles manufactured after a certain date have online digital service records which the owner can access, and here at John Delany Motors, we can update this for you. With some brands, we need to read your dash to determine which service is due. If you can’t find details of any previous servicing it’s worth giving us a call so we can look into your history and determine which service would be best.

Start off with a simple paper trail maintenance log

To start with, keep a log/record of your vehicle’s maintenance and service details, simply with a pen and paper. Just remember to keep it somewhere easily obtainable! Within this log, you should track and record each vehicle repair, maintenance and any work that has been completed. Try to include as much detail as possible, such as dates of work completed, garage name and any details you deem as important. The more information, the better, as this will help to inform your future scheduled maintenance appointments.

If you’re feeling unsure on how to get started with your maintenance log, template archive provide a range of free template versions which provide great starting inspiration.

If all of your vehicle’s maintenance has been carried out at John Delany Motors you will have been provided with a detailed invoice for each job. If you require additional copies of these just get in touch.

What should I include in a maintenance log?

• Dates (in chronological order; from oldest repair/check to most recent)
• Oil changes
• Tyres – rotation and balancing as well as any replacements
• Wheel alignment
• Fuel filter
• Brakes Servicing
• Wiper blades check
• Spark plugs
• Air filter
• Transmission
• Belts and hoses
• Batteries
• Mileage – always something to note, depending on how many miles you drive per week or month

Maintenance Apps – Using Technology to Log

The saying goes, ‘there’s an app for everything these days!’ At Delany’s we say thank goodness for that! If you’re savvy with your phone, maybe trying a vehicle maintenance app to track and log your records is the way for you.

At your fingertips, there are tens of apps. Some of them being free apps, or at least offering free trial periods, which take away the overwhelming feeling of manual record keeping. We’ve collated a list of three great choices, to take the guesswork out of this for you.

Fuelly (or aCar)

Fuelly enables its users to track your vehicle records, which include fuel, trips, odometer readings and services. You have the freedom to write out notes of varying lengths as well as setting handy reminders. It’s particularly focused on fuel costs and usage and tracking this to drive smarter and more economically. We found it’s quite a simple, straight-forward app to use.

AUTOsist

This is a particularly useful app, for those who own a fleet of vehicles, as it allows the user to add multiple vehicles (for which there are varying monthly subscription charges). You can distinguish each vehicle by adding specific details, such as the type, license plate number and VIN number (even adding nicknames too!) Like the other apps, you can input notes, reminders and any key information that you deem significant. It’s clear to use and very user-friendly.

CARFAX

On the surface, CARFAX is mostly associated with purchasing a new car. However, it’s far more than that, with clever tools that enable the user to track of chronological services, without entering much information at all. All you need is your car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Then the system cleverly retrieves all of your car’s service information and uploads it for you to instantly see. We feel this is a real unique selling point to this app!

Our Conclusion

However, you choose to design and keep your maintenance log, we urge you to do so. It’s never too late to create one, so why not do it today? If this is something you still feel unsure of, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you already trust us with your vehicle, we will happily share maintenance details and records of your vehicle that we hold here at Delany’s, which will give you a great starting position.

Keeping a maintenance log enables you as the driver to monitor your vehicle(s) performance, integrity and longevity. The first half in ensuring this is choosing a reliable, trustworthy auto repair and vehicle maintenance service. Then, the second half is made possible by your own, detailed log, in whichever form you choose to record it.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, prevention is always better than cure. Don’t wait until there’s an emergency. Contact us today for any help or support with regard to maintaining your vehicle and exploring your options.

You can book your appointment here online or give us a call to get started with your maintenance log today!