Independent Garage & Vehicle Specialists in Cardiff
MOT, servicing, diagnostics and specialist repairs backed by dealer-level technology and over 20 years of experience.
64 Sloper Road, Leckwith, Cardiff CF11 8AB · Mon–Fri 8am–6pm
MOT testingFrom £35 · DVSA approved centre
Car servicingInterim service from £79 · All makes
Clutch replacementAll makes and models
Brakes and ABSFrom £100 · Control units and pumps
Timing chains and beltsCam belt and timing chain replacement
Wet belt replacementFord, Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot
Why choose A1 Diagnostics?
Dealer capability, independent pricing, and a workshop that keeps investing.
Eleven ramps, so your car is not queuing
We know how important it is to get your vehicle back to you. That is why we have invested in eleven vehicle service ramps — capacity is the difference between a car booked in for Tuesday and a car looked at on Tuesday.
Twenty years on the same road
An award-winning independent garage with over twenty years servicing vehicles from mainland Europe and beyond. Long enough that most of the cars we see now, we have seen before.
Accredited, and working to a code of practice
Our Bosch Car Service garage provide specialist vehicle maintenance, repairs and dealer level diagnostics for all makes of vehicles working to an OFT code of conduct. Our technicians are certified by the IMI.
Specialist vehicle brands
Servicing for every make we know inside out
Specialist work
Specialist work we are known for
We can service all types of vehicle, including Ford and Citroen wet belt replacements and blown head gasket repairs. We are also experts in Audi R8 servicing and timing chain repairs, and we are turbo and gearbox experts who service gearboxes of all major brands.
Wet belt replacement Ford wet belt replacement Citroen wet belt replacement Vauxhall wet belt replacement Peugeot wet belt replacement Head gasket repairs Turbo repairs Gearbox repairs DSG servicing Ingenium engine servicing Audi R8 servicing Mercedes A Service Mercedes B Service Mercedes A7 Service VW Golf servicing VW Polo servicing VW Tiguan servicing VW T-Roc servicing VW Touran servicing VW T-Cross servicing VW Passat servicing VW Transporter servicing
Advanced diagnostics & technology
The equipment a main dealer uses. The bill of an independent.
ADAS calibration bayCameras and radar reset to manufacturer tolerance after a screen or suspension job.
Dealer-level diagnosticsLive data across the whole system, not a code read and a guess.
ECU remanufactureRepaired rather than replaced, where a replacement unit would cost far more.
Key and module codingProgramming and adaptations most independents have to send away.
ECU Repairs
ECU stands for Electronic Control Unit. We offer BOSCH ECU repairs. Having been able to re-manufacture many ECU units which fail, this saves you the customer money as many replacement control units can be very expensive.
We offer a one year warranty on any BOSCH ECU repair work that is undertaken. We are also experts in ingenium engine servicing and repair.
Rated 5 out of 5
I visited many garages in and around Cardiff leaving disappointed on many occasions as every garage said they could not help with the modification on my Jaguar XKR. I decided to try and seek out one last garage and thankfully this garage was A1 Diagnostics. From the word go I knew I had found a fantastic garage as everything I mentioned I wanted done to my Jag they said YES THEY CAN DO. A fantastic positive attitude and solution to every given problem! Thank you A1 Diagnostics I 100% recommend this garage
Dave BennettCompany Director
Rated 5 out of 5
I attended A1 today for an MOT on my car. I’m a District Nurse and in need of my car to attend to patients when their in need and unable to leave their home. Not only did A1 fit me in for an MOT with less than 24 hours notice, my car was also sanitised before and after the MOT. My tyres were also provided at cost price!!! This generosity is fantastic and I now can undertake my currently stressful job nursing the countries most vulnerable adults ‘legally’! Thank you A1 diagnostics. Would 100% recommend this garage.
Sarah DaviesDistrict Nurse
Meet our team
The people who look after your car
Rishi Patel heads our team of highly trained independent car specialists.
Rishi PatelManaging Director
Clive MearsHead of Diagnostics
Simon MooreHead of Mechanics
Dip PatelHead of Operations
Vishal PatelHead of Customer Relations
Dean CoombesHead of Digital Marketing
For the trade
Professional Remote Diagnostics for Garages & Bodyshops
We exist to empower garages, body shops and every professional in the motor industry to take control. With our cutting-edge remote cloud platform, you can now carry out in-house vehicle repairs, calibration and coding without ever investing in expensive diagnostic hardware.
Just plug in, connect, and leave the rest to us: our team of expert technicians will handle the coding, programming, ECU adaptations, and ADAS calibration — fast, secure, and efficient.
Why buy a toolbox when you can plug into the cloud? We invest in the tools. You deliver the results.
A1 Advice Centre
Latest advice & guides
Nissan Qashqai – New Engine Injectors
The Nissan Qashqai is one of the most popular family cars around. They’re well constructed by a known and respected manufacturer, and…
Ford Focus – Issues following engine replacement
Ford cars are some of the best workhorses around, and many have performed well over hundreds of thousands of miles. But when…
Volkswagen Tiguan DSG Gearbox Shift Fork Replacement
Perhaps one of the most fundamental parts of a car’s engine are the gears. Whether you’re driving electric, hybrid or manual, all…
Common questions
How much is an MOT?
From £35 for cars, and £58.60 for vans and light commercials. We are a fully approved DVSA test centre. Retest fees apply if a vehicle fails and has to come back.
Do you service my make?
Almost certainly. We hold marque-specific pages for eighteen manufacturers, and we service continental cars and vehicles from outside Europe as well. If your make is not listed, ring and ask — the answer is usually yes.
Will servicing here affect my warranty?
We service in accordance with the manufacturer’s own schedule, and any parts we replace are of the same quality as those originally fitted. That is the condition warranties are written against.
My warning light is on. What happens when I bring it in?
We read live data across the whole system, not just the stored code. A code tells you where to look, not what to replace — swapping the obvious part is how people end up paying twice. You can look your code up here before you call.
When are you open?
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm, at 64 Sloper Road, Leckwith, Cardiff CF11 8AB. Call 02920 220 380 or send an enquiry.
Need help with your vehicle?
Tell us what’s wrong and our team will help.