How a Service Reminder Light Can Save You Money
Using customer information to help you tailor service reminders makes each customer feel special. It also helps you keep your customers informed and engaged with their cars, building loyalty in the process.
Many people are confused when they see a “Service Required” light on their dashboard. This light is a simple indicator that your vehicle needs maintenance, such as an oil change or filter replacement.
It’s a reminder
A service reminder light on your car’s dashboard alerts you when it’s time to get an oil change. This is not a sign that something is wrong, but rather, it’s a reminder that you need to schedule an appointment at your mechanic to ensure your engine continues to run smoothly.
In the same way, a service reminder email is a helpful way to give your customers a little nudge and remind them to book an appointment. Whether they need a yearly maintenance check on an appliance or boiler, or a bi-monthly inspection of their security system, giving them plenty of notice will increase the likelihood that they’ll book a job with your team.
Personalizing emails is key for service reminders. This is where segmentation comes in: you’ll need to group your customers by different criteria, such as residential vs. commercial, different cities or types of systems, and more. This will allow you to send each type of customer their own custom email, which will be more effective.
It’s a warning
While you’re not obligated to service your car when the light comes on, it will improve safety, save you money, reduce emissions, and prolong the life of your vehicle. Ignoring warning lights could lead to severe problems and can result in a much more costly repair bill than you might have anticipated.
For example, a light with the letters ESP or a car with skid marks might indicate that your vehicle’s Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) has a problem and requires immediate attention. Or, a light that looks like two connected loops might mean there’s an issue with the glow plug which is used in some diesel vehicles to help the engine start when cold.
Some dashboard warning lights are easy to understand, such as the one that means your tires have a low air pressure and need to be checked and corrected. But many others aren’t as straightforward and can be confusing. Knowing what the symbols mean will make them easier to interpret and will help you avoid costly problems down the road.
It’s a test
Many car owners attempt do-it-yourself diagnostics and repairs when they see a service required light turn on. This can lead to even worse problems and expensive repair bills.
Most cars have a computer that tracks how many miles you drive and at certain intervals will trigger a service required light to let you know it’s time for an oil change. But that’s not all this light can mean – it could also signal other issues such as low power steering fluid, airbag problems, or a coolant leak.
When you’re in the garage repairing your car, this test light is one of the tools most auto technicians use to quickly determine whether a fuse has power. It’s as simple as touching the ends of a fuse and the light will turn on if it has electricity. The process can save you a lot of time by avoiding replacing the wrong fuse and it can help you determine what other electrical items may be having problems too.
It’s a safety feature
Many dashboard lights are designed to remind you of basic maintenance, such as oil changes. They aren’t just for your convenience either; regular car maintenance can reduce wear and tear on the engine, prolong its life, improve fuel economy, and ensure that you get a good price when it comes time to sell the vehicle.
The seatbelt warning light (usually accompanied by a repetitive dinging sound) reminds you that one of the vehicle’s seatbelts isn’t fastened. This is a very important safety feature to have working because it can dramatically reduce the severity of injuries in a crash.
If the steering wheel icon with the letters ESC appear, it indicates that your electronic stability control system has been activated to assist with the driving dynamics. If this appears on your dashboard and remains lit it may indicate a malfunction of the system that could result in losing control of the vehicle. If you see this light come on, stop the vehicle immediately and contact us to diagnose the issue.