Ford service book - Do you keep track of the service history?
It is recommended that you regularly have service carried out and registered on Ford cars in a service book, so that you can maintain the car’s warranty. However, if both mechanic and car owner should be able to access the service history it does matter which solution is used. Did you know that there are solutions other than the Ford service book? Find out more about the different solutions here.
What are the requirements for servicing a Ford?
Like all other cars, Ford vehicles need to be serviced after a fixed service interval. They typically follow the manufacturer’s instructions based on the number of kilometers driven since the last service – usually somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 km. Alternatively, the car is called in for service based on an annual interval of typically every or every other year, if the car is not driven that much. A Ford must be serviced for the first time no later than 1 year after registration, depending on how much it is driven.
It is important that the service recommendations on Ford are followed, as this ensures that the car remains safe to drive. During a service inspection, a mechanic can spot any problems before they occur or cause further damage, as well as provide insight into any future repairs, that may be necessary. Regular service at Ford also contributes to the car driving more economically by reducing fuel consumption, as the oil lubricates more optimally or ensures that the brakes do not seize. The service tasks on the Ford models are often very different, as it depends a lot on which model, variant and how much the car has been driven.
As a car owner you are free to decide for yourself where to have your Ford serviced. However, you must be aware of which spare parts, oil etc. used in connection with service, as the warranty on the car with certain car brands is void if original/OE-approved spare parts are not used.
How does registering service on a Ford take place?
Previously, registration of service at Ford took place with a stamp in the paper service book, but Ford has long since moved away from this, as they have launched their own electronic service book, the Ford Digital Service Record (DSR) system, in 2013. This avoids some of the problems that previously arose if the service book was forgotten at home or lost, which meant that the service history was often incomplete. Of course, the car owner still receives an invoice after the service has been carried out, but very few people save these, and they can therefore rarely be used to get an overview of the service history.
As with all other cars, registration of service at Ford is a requirement if you want the warranty to be maintained. If you are involved in a warranty case, you as a car owner must be able to document that service intervals have been observed and that service has been carried out in accordance with the regulations with approved spare parts, oil etc.
Ford's digital service book
Today, workshops – both Ford’s own, but also independent workshops – can register service at Ford in a digital service book. However, it is not a requirement that you use Ford’s own digital service book, Digital Service Record. Therefore, the service history is often not complete when searching for information about a car. There may be workshops that have not used Ford DSR due to lack of knowledge, time or desire to do so.
In 2022, Ford switched to a new online service book, after which it became possible for Ford owners to access e.g. service history, which was previously not possible. In the past, it was common practice for workshops that registered in the DSR to simply hand over a paper printout from there to the car owner. It was then the car owner’s responsibility to keep track of these prints in order to maintain an overview of the service history of his Ford.
Ford service history
Despite Ford’s measures regarding registration of service, it is not unusual to find a Ford car with a root or missing service history. And it can be a big challenge for Ford owners as well as workshops.
As previously mentioned, it is good to be able to document a Ford’s service history if you end up in the midst of a warranty case. However, there are also several other relevant reasons why you need to keep track of your Ford service history. If you are employed at a workshop, it can be advantageous to know a car’s service history, so that you know what has previously been carried out in terms of service and any repairs. This gives you the best conditions for providing the right service to the customer as well as troubleshooting and diagnosing the car when you, for example, know which of the car’s parts have previously been replaced or which could face replacement.
If you are a Ford owner or are planning to buy a used Ford, a complete Ford service record can help ensure that the car is traded for the right price, as it provides greater assurance that the car is well maintained and that there are no has fiddled with the trip counter to give the car an artificially low mileage.
Ford service book vs. Digital Servicebook
However, there are also other valid options for registering service on Ford, which are easier and more accessible to both workshops and car owners. Digital Servicebook is a Danish-developed software platform that makes the old paper service books and other digital service books redundant. With Digital Servicebook, the service history for Ford (and all other car brands) is gathered in one platform, one single solution.
Digital Servicebook is recommended by e.g. Danish Automotive Council and is used today by more than 2,000 workshops across the Nordic region.
For car owners
No more having to remember the paper service book when it’s time for service or the hassle of saving old invoices to keep some sort of overview. Digital Servicebook is always close at hand and available both on PC and in a mobile app. In addition, previous services from other digital or paper service books or old invoices can be added to the service history, so that it is collected in one place for all the car owner’s cars.
Pros for car owners:
- Valid documentation of service history
- Reminder about upcoming service via SMS
- Higher resale value of the car
- Prevents odometer fraud
For workshops
Mechanics can also benefit from using the Digital Servicebook. There is a lot of time saved by registering service in the Digital Servicebook compared to the car manufacturers’ electronic service books. Digital Servicebook has integration with a wide range of workshop systems, making it easy to transfer service data from the invoice to Digital Servicebook.
Pros for workshops:
- Faster registration of service
- Full access to service history of all cars
- OE data and campaign searches
- Upload service photos directly from the phone
Try Digital Servicebook today
Have you wanted to try Digital Servicebook? See the clear advantages for you – regardless of whether you are a car owner or a mechanic – by pressing the buttons below.
Are you a car owner?
Car owners can register their car(s) for free with Digital Servicebook. It is simple and easy to get started. Read more via the link below!
Are you a mechanic?
We offer workshops a free 30-day trial period with full access to Digital Servicebook. See how much time you can save. Sign up here!
