recommend a garage to get a car serviced in North Co. Dublin

aniascor

I have to get my car NCT'd next month, and want to get it serviced beforehand, but have no idea what garages near Balbriggan do this (I don't think there's any place in the town that does). So I was hoping for some suggestions for good places to go.
The car had a lot of work done in its last service, incl. timing belt change, so I'm hoping there's not much to be done this time. Should I mention to them that it's a pre-NCT service - or will that result in a lot of expensive unnecessary things being done to the car?

green123

maybe try advance pitstop , they advertise a free pre nct check up
http://www.advancepitstop.com/index.php?id=169

but id say just put it through the nct first and let them tell you what is wrong.
like you say garages will find faults and that will cost you

a re-test only costs about €30 euro and who knows you might not even need it

good luck

meathstevie

Firststop at the new M1 retail park in Drogheda or Blakes Cross service station in Lusk. They're both good and have the equipment to check alignment and headlights. The cost of a full service with them is very reasonable ( exact price depends on the typical car ) and I I've experienced them to be competent.

If you want emission testing and all before putting it through I'm afraid you're going to be looking at the real specialist stuff and it's going to cost you. Just get your service done, the footwear, brakes, lights and alignment checked and if there's no obvious defects you stand a decent chance of passing first time.

blastman

There's a guy near the recycling centre in Balbriggan that does oil changes, tyres and servicing. I'm sure he'll do a pre-NCT for you.

aniascor

Thanks for all the replies guys - much appreciated!

groupb

Does your car need a service? The NCT only check the fluid and emission levels as far as your engine is concerned. My cousin brought his vectra into a garage for a pre Nct. They replaced a bolt in the suspension and told him the car was fine. It cost him 150 euros and then failed on 12 items , which I ended up fixing. I put a fiesta through the test today and all I did was check the fluid levels , the lights and pumped the tyres. Passed with flying colours. I always put a car through if there are no glaring faults and see what the testers come up with. By the way I find Drogheda ,the handiest place to go if you live in the Balbriggan area.

aniascor

To be honest, if the NCT wasn't coming up, I wouldn't have considered servicing it yet - it was serviced late last March, and I've only done about 3000 miles since then. And it seems fine to me - but as you can probably tell, I don't know much about cars other than how to get from a to b in one.

Not sure what to do now. I think I'll probably leave it and see what comes up in the NCT.

Esel

aniascor wrote: »

I think I'll probably leave it and see what comes up in the NCT.

Best thing to do, IMO. Just check the oil level and coolant level (or have a friend show you how), check all lights/indicators (incl interior light and number plate light, remove hub-caps (if any, and put them back on afterwards!). Also be sure all seat belts are operating freely. Check the tread and pressure of your spare wheel too. Probably a good idea to drive it at fairly high revs for a while beforehand to clean the exhaust out. Use 3rd gear, revs around 4-5K. No need to get up to mad speeds!

I'd be prepared to bet it will fly through if it has been regularly serviced. If it does fail, you will know what you have to get sorted before the re-test.

IMO, people are crazy getting a load of work done pre-NCT (unless it's obviously going to fail otherwise). Some places do a heap of expensive work, only for the car to still fail!

aniascor

Thanks esel - sounds like good advice.

bcmf

I would try Glen tyres in Balbriggan.He is on the road o the way out from the train station,beside the milestone pub in the 1 way system.I have used him for years and he is sound enough.Only prob is that he is usually v busy and will have to book you in.
Another 1 to try is Round Towers garage.A little further out,down by the Man'o'War pub on the left just before the bend.its hard to see coming from Balrothery but a lot easier to spot coming from Ballough/Lusk.Both Stephen and Alan are both great mechanics and will do you right.
HTH