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Notes on the trade, the MOT, and how we look after cars in Luton.
9 February 2020
Twelve inspirational apprentices from across the UK proved their mettle in a hotly fought test of automotive skills, and were crowned winners of the IMI Skill Auto competition held at the WorldSkills UK Live exhibition, NEC, Birmingham.
Read the full noteServicing
Generally, your car should be serviced once a year or every 10,000–12,000 miles. A full service is highly recommended. If the vehicle is already serviced regularly, a basic service will still help to keep it running smoothly and hassle-free.
A car service can involve up to 50 or more components, system checks and adjustments, including an engine oil change and filter replacement. At Wigmore MOT Centre that work is offered as a major, interim or minor service for any make and model. We reset the service interval and stamp the book so the record stays up to date.
The same visit can cover the jobs that keep a car feeling settled: power steering, an oil change, tyre balancing, and a look at the emissions. Fleet cars are welcome alongside private vehicles. If the engine itself needs more than a service, ask about overhaul work rather than hoping the next oil change will hide it.
Book the car when the mileage or the date arrives, not when a noise has already made the decision for you. We try to finish when we said we would, because your day matters as much as the invoice.
MOT test centre
We are an approved DVSA MOT test centre for Class 4 vehicles, and we provide the yearly inspection at a very affordable price. The inspection includes the main car systems — brakes, suspension, lights and steering — as well as emissions and the presence of mandatory equipment.
An MOT involves dozens of checks, ranging from the brakes and fuel system to lights, mirrors, seatbelts, windscreen wipers and the exhaust. None of those items is optional on the day. If something fails, we say what failed. If something is only an advisory, we say that too, including when a repair can sensibly wait.
Drivers who use us year after year often mention the same things: being fitted in at short notice, a clear explanation, and no unexpected charge. That is the standard we aim for on every Class 4 test that leaves Ashcroft Road.
Gearbox / clutch
If you are trying to change gears and the clutch keeps slipping, or the car will not go above a certain speed, or it takes longer than usual to move off from a stationary position, it needs a clutch replacement.
Those three symptoms are the workshop version of the same fault: the clutch is no longer gripping the flywheel fully. Continuing to drive it usually polishes the friction surface and turns a straightforward replacement into a larger job. Call for a quote with the registration, and we will tell you what the car needs.
While the gearbox is apart we can also look at related wear. Steering racks, linkages and hydraulic power steering are a separate conversation, but if the car feels vague as well as slow to pull away, mention both and we will troubleshoot them properly, including an EPC fault find through diagnostics.