NCT Service - Prices

Chong

Hello All,

Getting my NCT service done next Saturday with Advance Pitstop, I am not sure whether I am doing right or wrong by doing it with them but its costing 180 euro, firstly is that a good price and is it ok to go to Advance.

Would I be better having my dealer do it, even though they cost 250 euro.

If anyone has any good recommendations for NCT services in Limerick, they would be greatly appreciated.

Will

Seth Brundle

What is an NCT service? If you think its something that will get your car in a condition where its guarranteed to pass the NCT then you are mistaken!
Your best bet when it comes to the NCT is to ensure that your car is serviced as per the manufacturers guidelines and should anything fail in the test then fix it. Whats the point in asking Krap-Fit to fix stuff that could have passed, whilst they miss stuff that the NCT deems to be failure items?

Chong

kbannon wrote: »

What is an NCT service? If you think its something that will get your car in a condition where its guarranteed to pass the NCT then you are mistaken!
Your best bet when it comes to the NCT is to ensure that your car is serviced as per the manufacturers guidelines and should anything fail in the test then fix it. Whats the point in asking Krap-Fit to fix stuff that could have passed, whilst they miss stuff that the NCT deems to be failure items?

They do what they call an NCT service basically check off everything an NCT test does, would you suggest then going to the Dealer and get a full service done by them?

The regular dude I use for servicing my car isnt available at the moment.

Seth Brundle

Chong wrote: »

They do what they call an NCT service basically check off everything an NCT test does, would you suggest then going to the Dealer and get a full service done by them?

The regular dude I use for servicing my car isnt available at the moment.

Check off everything my arse! Nobody can guarrantee that your car will pass an NCT. I did my NCT yesterday. The last time that I had the test, it claimed that my front shocks were close to the failure limit (the limit is 30%). Yesterday, there was an imbalance of 0%! Go figure!

As for dealer servicing - I have no idea what you drive or how old it is. All I meant was that your car should be serviced properly as per the manufacturers guidelines - many people get a 'service' which means change the oil, etc. but brake fluid, coolant, etc are never touched! I would not agree with your choice of location to maintain what I presume was an expensive purchase (your car!)

eringobragh

Chuck it in and fix the failures if the car needs a service then get that done but don't buy into that pre-NCT ****

Chong

kbannon wrote: »

Check off everything my arse! Nobody can guarrantee that your car will pass an NCT. I did my NCT yesterday. The last time that I had the test, it claimed that my front shocks were close to the failure limit (the limit is 30%). Yesterday, there was an imbalance of 0%! Go figure!

As for dealer servicing - I have no idea what you drive or how old it is. All I meant was that your car should be serviced properly as per the manufacturers guidelines - many people get a 'service' which means change the oil, etc. but brake fluid, coolant, etc are never touched! I would not agree with your choice of location to maintain what I presume was an expensive purchase (your car!)

Ok so basically a good Service is what is needed at the end of the day.

I drive an 05 Seat Ibiza btw.

eringobragh wrote: »

Chuck it in and fix the failures if the car needs a service then get that done but don't buy into that pre-NCT ****

Are you saying get the car NCT'ed and fix what it fails on ?

Seth Brundle

Chong wrote: »

Ok so basically a good Service is what is needed at the end of the day.

I drive an 05 Seat Ibiza btw.

Yes - you spent a lot of money buying the car - service it as per the owners handbook (not necessarily at a dealer) to ensure that your 'investment' value stays as healthy as possible!

Chong wrote: »

Are you saying get the car NCT'ed and fix what it fails on ?

Yes! I also said it in my first post! Only the actual NCT can tell you what you will fail on!

friendface

eringobragh wrote: »

Chuck it in and fix the failures if the car needs a service then get that done but don't buy into that pre-NCT ****

I agree. At the end of the day, the NCT is only gonna cost ya 49 quid and you have a list of exactly what needs fixing (if anything). If you do have to go back, it's only 27.50 for a retest or free if its a fault that can be checked visually.

At €180 or €250 you would be mad to put it through the pre-NCT mullarky. If it's been well maintained up to now in accordance with manufacturers guidelines, chances are you won't encounter any problems (assuming the car is relatively new).

Good luck with the NCT anyway. Had mine a few days ago but it failed due to a headlight bulb being inserted incorrectly. Turned out the last owner had the bulb in upside-down so the focus was all off. Still have to pay 27.50 for a retest because they have to wheel out that headlamp checking machine. Was a bit irritating because it only took 5 mins to fix the problem, if that!!

Good Luck !!!

bazz26

I would not waste my money on this type of "service" to be honest. By all means have your car serviced regularly but a service cannot guarantee that the car will pass the NCT.

Just send the car through the NCT and if it fails then at least you know what needs fixing. That is what I will be doing with my car in March.

Darragh29

I've seen posts on this forum before where cars have been brought to Advance or Fast Fit outlets and low and behold, what do they end up needing to get the car through the NCT??? Well it usually happens to be shocks or tyres, the two areas that these fast fit centres specialise in...

OP, these outlets are not properly equipped to pre-NCT a car. They do not test engine emissions, they do not have test lanes to test for brake & suspension imbalance, they do have laser wheel alignment equipment but will not use it to pre-NCT your car unless you fork out another 60-70 Euro.

I'd just put the car in as it is, as it is a 05 car and this will be it's first NCT, you won't be looking at anything major to get it through the test if it does fail.

FrankieD

kbannon wrote: »

Check off everything my arse! Nobody can guarrantee that your car will pass an NCT. I did my NCT yesterday. The last time that I had the test, it claimed that my front shocks were close to the failure limit (the limit is 30%). Yesterday, there was an imbalance of 0%! Go figure!

As for dealer servicing - I have no idea what you drive or how old it is. All I meant was that your car should be serviced properly as per the manufacturers guidelines - many people get a 'service' which means change the oil, etc. but brake fluid, coolant, etc are never touched! I would not agree with your choice of location to maintain what I presume was an expensive purchase (your car!)

if you read you NCT report correctly they are testing for an imbalance in your two front shock absorbers. What this would indicate is the last time your car went for test one of the shocks was 30% more worn than the other, now it indicates they are both as worn as eachother. They are not testing for worn shocks they are testing that the 2 shocks on a paticular axle have the same wear. this is the criterea set down my the transpost authority. Also note that if the tyre preassures are not equal on the same axle will also cause shock absorber readings to be different. Always check your tyre pressures

FrankieD

Chong wrote: »

Hello All,

Getting my NCT service done next Saturday with Advance Pitstop, I am not sure whether I am doing right or wrong by doing it with them but its costing 180 euro, firstly is that a good price and is it ok to go to Advance.

Would I be better having my dealer do it, even though they cost 250 euro.

If anyone has any good recommendations for NCT services in Limerick, they would be greatly appreciated.

Will

the best pre test is an NCT. Put your car through the test get the report fix the work needed and rebook for a retest for an additional 27.70 if fails. Check lights levels and tyre pressures on day of test and see how it goes.
You would end up paying a garage for a pre nct test and probaby charge you for items that would pass the test anyway, plus 99% of garages do not have the same equipment as the NCT, so why would you pay them for an test which is not accurate and will cost you more money.
Cost of test and re test 76.59

crosstownk

As said already - get the NCT done then see what's required to pass. For all you know, your car may pass first time......... Don't waste money on things that might be a potential failure. Let the NCTS tell you what you need to do.

mickdw

A 'service' will not include any repair work on your car. If you are due a service, get a service but please dont go for that NCT service crap.

If you saw your Seat dealer with a sign advertising "Guaranteed nct fault finding €27.50"
I bet you would go for that. Well that is exactly the service that can be had from the real NCT centre. Worst case - you pay for first test €49 and €27.50 for second test, with the first test used as a fault finder.
Dont do anything apart from the obvious for the first test, There is obviously no point going in with a bald tyre or bulbs gone.

At least you found this out before you spent hundreds on possibly unneeded work. Alot of people have come on here complaining about the cost of the 'NCT service' they just had when the car still failed the test.

L-M

Out of curiousity what does that €180 of your hard earned money get you? I can't imagine they have a fixed cost for repairs or anything. Surely it's you're not paying them €180 to tell you what the NCT will tell you for €49?

friendface

Just saw this on the Advance Pitstop website. http://www.advancepitstop.com/index.php?id=169

Free pre-NCT check. It lists what items are not covered on there. I don't know if there's a catch with that but it might be worth inquiring about it.

Perhaps what you are getting for your €180 is your basic oil and filter change coupled with this 'free pre-NCT' check. Would that be correct?

Chong

This is the check I was getting done:

http://www.advancepitstop.com/index.php?id=301

I hear what everyone is saying, so I am going to get the test done first and see what happens.

The only thing that worries me is that the NCT is due the day I get it done, so if I fail I am without an NCT.

Darragh29

Chong wrote: »

This is the check I was getting done:

http://www.advancepitstop.com/index.php?id=301

I hear what everyone is saying, so I am going to get the test done first and see what happens.

The only thing that worries me is that the NCT is due the day I get it done, so if I fail I am without an NCT.

Wise choice. Don't forget to remove hubcaps and clear the boot.

These fast fit operations in the industry have a reputation for being 10% professionals, and 90% salesmen...

Seth Brundle

FrankieD wrote: »

if you read you NCT report correctly they are testing for an imbalance in your two front shock absorbers. What this would indicate is the last time your car went for test one of the shocks was 30% more worn than the other, now it indicates they are both as worn as eachother. They are not testing for worn shocks they are testing that the 2 shocks on a paticular axle have the same wear. this is the criterea set down my the transpost authority. Also note that if the tyre preassures are not equal on the same axle will also cause shock absorber readings to be different. Always check your tyre pressures

I'm aware of that. It also measures the Nm per corner and calculates an axle difference from this. Mine are fine! (see http://bp1.blogger.com/_wb_YCmGfjuo/Rdi3BKJfI9I/AAAAAAAAADU/l9nyTJ9N5e8/s1600-h/DSC03124.JPG for example (not my report))
Anyhow, my point was that on one day the NCT can deem something to be a fail (or near fail) the next day its fine, so no pre-NCT can guarantee a pass given that the NCT can differ so much!

steph1

To be honest I would not waste my money any more on these pre NCT services. I think they are all a gimmick and another money-making racket.

The last two occasions I thought I would have no problem passing the nct having had what I was told was a full service and no problems passing the test but it failed. Best put it through and let the nct guys tell you whats wrong with it (if any) and then go and get those items fixed.

mickdw

Chong wrote: »

This is the check I was getting done:

http://www.advancepitstop.com/index.php?id=301

I hear what everyone is saying, so I am going to get the test done first and see what happens.

The only thing that worries me is that the NCT is due the day I get it done, so if I fail I am without an NCT.

Well I can tell you that by going to advance pitstop you will not be certain to pass either. Just to be sure you know this, the 180 euro they are charging is for the service and checks. You wont get anything repaired for this. They really make their money when they come back and tell you that you need new shocks, brakes, tyres, wipers whatever. So even on an 05 car, I could see you coming out of there €600 + worse off still without a guarantee of passing the test.

Drummerboy08

I put my yoke thru the NCT before Xmas - at that stage it was overdue a service by 2k miles. It failed on a missing bulb only, and that must have only blown soon before it as i had checked the lights.

So these Pre-NCT services are useless IMO.