Services and prices

Pads are replaced on one axle, and the rotors are measured against the minimum thickness stamped on them before anyone decides whether they are resurfaced or replaced. Caliper slide pins are cleaned and greased, the pad hardware is renewed and the brake fluid is tested for moisture. The car is road tested before it is handed back, and any rotor or caliper needed beyond the pad price is quoted before it is fitted.

Time About 1.5 to 2 hours per axle.

Suits a pedal that squeals, grinds, pulls to one side or sinks further than it used to.

The engine oil is drained warm and replaced with the grade and specification the manufacturer lists for the engine, up to five quarts of full synthetic, with a new filter and a new drain plug washer. The same visit covers every other fluid level, the tire pressures, the wiper blades, the lights and a look underneath for leaks. Anything found is written on the checklist rather than fitted on the spot.

Time About 45 minutes.

Suits a car due by date or mileage, or one showing the maintenance reminder on the dash.

The car goes up on the lift and the front end is checked with the weight off the wheels: ball joints, tie-rod ends, control-arm bushings, struts, shocks and sway-bar links, each for play or leaks. Worn parts are replaced in pairs across the axle where that is how they wear, and any repair that disturbs the steering geometry is followed by a four-wheel alignment, quoted as part of the same job.

Time Half a day to a full day, depending on the parts.

Suits a clunk over bumps, a steering wheel that wanders, or tires wearing on one edge.

The battery is load tested rather than judged by its voltage, the alternator output is measured at idle and under load, and the starter draw is checked, so a tired battery and a failing charging system are told apart before anything is bought. Where a new battery is needed it is fitted with the terminals cleaned, the vehicle memory held and, on cars that require it, the battery registered to the charging module. The price includes a standard battery for most cars; AGM batteries are quoted.

Time About 1 hour.

Suits slow cranking on cold mornings, a battery warning light, or a battery that has gone flat more than once.

A warning light or symptom is traced to its cause instead of being answered with a code. Stored and pending codes are read, the freeze-frame and live sensor data are reviewed, the car is driven if the fault only shows on the road, and the suspect circuit or component is tested directly. The result is a written finding with a repair estimate, and the fee is credited against the repair if it goes ahead within 30 days.

Time About 1 hour.

Suits a check-engine light, a rough idle, a hesitation or a noise without an obvious cause.

A used car is examined for a buyer before money changes hands: a road test, a scan of every module for stored faults, the car on the lift for leaks, rust, accident repair and worn suspension, the brakes measured and the tires dated. The buyer receives a written report with photographs of anything that matters and a rough cost for each item, so the price can be negotiated on facts. The seller has to agree to the car coming to the shop.

Time About 1.5 hours.

Suits anyone buying a used car privately or from a lot who wants an independent opinion first.