Decoding the Dealership Experience: What Really Happens During a Chery Certified Service at Sandton & Northcliff?

For most vehicle owners, dropping off a car for its annual service follows a familiar routine: handing over the keys at the service desk in the morning, grabbing a quick cup of coffee, and returning late in the afternoon to collect a freshly washed vehicle.

While general maintenance tips are widely discussed online, what actually takes place behind the workshop doors remains a mystery to many motorists. What diagnostic tools are plugged into your car? Which components are inspected? How does a scheduled service safeguard Chery’s famous 10-year / 1,000,000 km engine warranty?

At Chery Sandton & Northcliff, we believe in complete transparency. As part of the Digi Cars Group, our state-of-the-art service centers at 168 Grayston Drive in Sandton and Cresta Corner in Northcliff are designed to provide certified care.

Step inside the workshop with us as we walk through the exact, step-by-step process your vehicle undergoes during a Chery Certified Service.

Your service experience begins the moment you pull into our service reception area at either our Sandton or Northcliff branches.

Before any mechanical work begins, a dedicated service advisor conducts an initial walk-around inspection alongside you.

• The Digital Intake: Using specialized tablet software linked directly to Chery’s national database, the service advisor logs your vehicle’s exact mileage, checks for active factory service campaigns, and records any specific observations or requests you may have.
• Exterior & Interior Assessment: We inspect exterior lighting, wiper blade condition, windscreen integrity, and tire tread depth across all four wheels (including the spare tire).

Modern Chery vehicles, particularly advanced internal combustion models, self-charging hybrids, and plug-in hybrids like the Tiggo CSH series, function as sophisticated computers on wheels.

Once your vehicle is moved into an active service bay, a Chery-certified technician connects Chery’s proprietary diagnostic equipment directly to the vehicle’s OBD-II port.

• ECU & TCU Health Check: The diagnostic tool performs a full system sweep, analyzing the Engine Control Unit (ECU), Transmission Control Unit (TCU), airbag modules, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
• Firmware & Module Updates: Automotive software is continuously refined. During a certified service, your vehicle receives mandatory software updates sent directly from the manufacturer. These updates optimize fuel delivery algorithms, refine gear-shift points on dual-clutch or DHT transmissions, and enhance infotainment responsiveness.

With the digital diagnostics complete, the technician begins the core mechanical maintenance protocol according to your vehicle’s specific mileage interval.

• Engine Oil Drain and Replacement: Engine oil is drained and replaced with high-grade, fully synthetic oil engineered specifically to meet Chery’s strict viscosity and thermal efficiency standards.
• Genuine OEM Filter Installation: The factory oil filter is replaced with an authentic OEM Chery filter. Genuine filters feature internal check valves designed to maintain correct oil pressure during cold engine starts, protecting sensitive turbocharger bearings.
• Multi-Filter Replacement: Depending on your service interval, air intake filters, fuel filters, and cabin air filters (including pharmaceutical-grade N95 cabin filters) are inspected and replaced to ensure clean air enters both the engine combustion chambers and the passenger cabin.

The vehicle is elevated on a hydraulic hoist to allow a detailed examination of the undercarriage:

• Brake System Care: Brake pads, rotors, and calipers are inspected for wear, fluid leaks, and thickness. Brakes are cleaned to remove built-up road dust.
• Suspension & Steering: Technicians inspect shock absorbers, ball joints, steering racks, tie-rod ends, and rubber bushings for wear, ensuring your ride remains firm, smooth, and quiet.
• Drivetrain Check: Drive shafts, CV boots, and exhaust mountings are thoroughly checked for signs of damage or wear.

If you drive a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model, your service includes specialized high-voltage maintenance protocols performed by qualified high-voltage technicians.

• Battery Cell Balancing: Technicians analyze individual cell voltages within the main lithium-ion battery pack to ensure balanced charging and optimal longevity.
• Thermal Management Systems: The liquid cooling loops that regulate battery temperature during fast charging and heavy performance driving are checked for correct coolant levels, pressure, and purity.
• High-Voltage Cabling: All orange high-voltage harnesses and safety isolators are visually inspected to guarantee complete electrical insulation and passenger safety.

No vehicle leaves a Digi Cars workshop based on visual checks alone. Quality assurance is an integral part of the process.

Once the technician completes all mechanical work and resets the vehicle’s service interval indicator, a quality control supervisor takes the vehicle on a standardized road test.

This test verifies real-world driving behavior: smooth gear transitions, accurate wheel alignment, responsive braking, steering stability, and the absence of any unusual cabin rattles or engine noises.

One of the greatest benefits of servicing your vehicle at Chery Sandton & Northcliff is protecting your factory warranties.

Chery’s signature 10-year / 1,000,000 km engine warranty (provided to the original vehicle owner) relies on maintaining an uninterrupted, factory-compliant service history using genuine OEM parts.

By keeping your scheduled service appointments at an authorized dealership, every intervention, software update, and genuine part installation is digitally logged in Chery’s central database. This immutable service record protects your vehicle’s resale value and guarantees that your long-term engine and battery warranties remain valid.

While our certified technicians take care of your vehicle, we ensure your day remains uninterrupted.

• Work & Relax: Both our Sandton (Grayston Drive) and Northcliff (Cresta Corner) locations feature comfortable customer lounges equipped with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, work desks, and premium coffee, making it easy to manage your workday while you wait.
• Local Shuttle Service: Need to get to the office or head home? We offer complimentary local shuttle services to key hubs around Sandton and Northcliff.
• Complimentary Wash: Every service concludes with a complimentary exterior wash and vacuum, ensuring your Chery returns to you performing at its best and looking immaculate.

Whether your Tiggo is due for its routine annual check-up or a major service milestone, our dedicated aftersales team is ready to deliver expert care.

Contact Chery Sandton on 010 900 1805 or Chery Northcliff on 010 753 3006 to schedule your next service appointment, or book online via our website today. Experience the confidence of certified engineering care!