NCT coming up

lodgepole

I bought my first car just over a year ago, the NCT and the suggested first service are coming up. I know nothing about cars but I do know it could do with a bit of a once over. It's an 01 Focus in good condition but I learnt how to drive in it so I gave it a bit of a hammering.

My question is... Where should I go before my NCT and what should I ask for? They could pretty much tell me anything they wanted and i'd have to believe them because I wouldn't know any better. And while it's probably a horrible generalisation to assume that a mechanic will try to rip an idiot off, I can't afford to take the risk as i've an upcoming wedding to pay for.

I'm in Goatstown in Dublin and I work in the city centre. Any recomendations of places to go? Specific things I should mention? Advice to make myself sound like I know what i'm talking about? And what should something like this cost me, assuming there's nothing major wrong with the car?

Thanks in advance.

ChristyCent

just run it through the nct and get everything sorted then. At least then they can tell you what needs to be done

garyt24

Put the car through the n.c.t and get the report of whats wrong then bring that list to a garage.I recently got my car serviced as my n.c.t is this Friday. I went to Castlerock Motors which is beside me and i asked them to check the car over for the n.c.t as well as a standard service. They will tell you if there is anything wrong with the car befor they go ahead with fixing the problem. It was a good price and i felt they knew what they were doing and not ripping me of.They log down everything they did and put it on your receipt. Check your local car sale garages as most of them are doing great deals on servicing due to the recession. Most of these garages have a great name behind them so i doubt it if they would rip you of. Hope this helps

lodgepole

I don't really want to wait for the NCT people to let me know as i'm working full time, starting back at college and getting married so i've got bugger all time to be worrying about getting out to the centre once let alone a second time. How much should I expect to pay for a standard service assuming nothing major is wrong with the car?

Tipsy Mac

Id bring it in for the service, tell them nothing about the NCT, they should be sending your car out roadworthy in a state to pass the NCT. Alternatively check all your lights work and see that your tyres have the correct thread depth and send it in for the NCT, service or fix faults found afterwards.

felim

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Id bring it in for the service, tell them nothing about the NCT, they should be sending your car out roadworthy in a state to pass the NCT. Alternatively check all your lights work and see that your tyres have the correct thread depth and send it in for the NCT, service or fix faults found afterwards.

Actually most garages would only do oil, oil filter, air filter, plugs and check the brake pads for a standard service...expecting them to spot every thing that could fail an NCT is wishful thinking.

rebel.ranter

I would tell the garage you have an NCT coming up if you are dropping the car in for a service.

Just remember a service only covers oil/filter change & some routine checks. A service is not a "cover all" fix it no matter what event.

If you get a recommendation of a garage on here & you do decide to use tem given your limited knowledge on the subject you really have no choice but to put your trust in the garage. You need them to tell you what is wrong.

If the car is due a service request a service to be carried out, but also request them to do a complete check of the car for you in case there is additional work over & above the normal service that is required.

I would specifically ask to check:
- brakes (fluid change requirement, pad/disc thickness)
- tyres (uneven wear, tread depth)
- suspension ( leaking shocks, broken springs, worn/loose ball joints, bent arms)
- timing belt (if relevant)
- wipers (blades & operation, including washer jet adjustment)
- lights bulbs & possibly headlight alignment (have yet to have a car fail on alignment, done many tests)
- gearbox oil for leaks and/or top up/oil change
- fuel filter, air filter & plugs change (depending on mileage)
- electronic fault diagnosis

You should ask them to ring you with details of any necessary aditional work that needs doing (with a quote for the work) BEFORE they start working on it.
Remember car maintenance is not just about getting the car through the NCT. Failure to identify a worn component can have a knock on effect on other components making the repair considerably more expensive than it coudl have been had the original problem been dealt with sooner.
An example a worn ball joint tat is not replaced can cause uneven/premature tyre wear & premature wear to various bushes, so you can see how the costs rise when things are left undone.
Best of luck.

BeardyGit

PM'd you a mechanic in Sandyford who's looked after a good few boardsies in the past.

patrickc

i passed mine today:D:D

I just put it through, it's the handiest rather than looking for niggly things that could be wrong IMO.

mickdw

put it through first regarless of how stuck for time you are. you will most likely save hundreds on this method. After all the second test is only costing 28 euro approx so you are getting a definite list of faults for €28. try to find a garage who will give you an exact list of repairs required for €28! Its impossible as they cannot ever be sure whether something is ok or will just fail.
ITs madness having works other than obvious defects fixed before test.

rebel.ranter

patrickc wrote: »

i passed mine today:D:D

Ditto! Was finished by 8.20am this morning! They failed me initially on a blown brake light bulb. I had checked all the bulbs last night & all was good, I even saw the same bulb lighting when it was on the lift in the NCT test centre. I went out to the car checked to see if i had a spare bulb (in the car), had evey spare, headlight, fog, orange indicator, side light, etc. except single filament large bulb!). Checked the light myself & it was lighting!!
Called the tester out & showed him it working & he gave me my cert.
I looked at the bulb afterwards & it was a bit brown looking so I'll change it anyway. Blown bulbs is one of my bug bears!

bazz26

patrickc wrote: »

i passed mine today:D:D

I just put it through, it's the handiest rather than looking for niggly things that could be wrong IMO.

Indeed, I put mine through last Saturday. All I got done prior to the test was the headlights aligned and two new front tyres which it needed anyway. Sailed through.