Garage that does pre-NCT checks cannot measure CO emissions?

Basq

Does this sound suspect to anyone else? Surely any garage that states they do Pre-NCT checks should have a CO meter at the very least.

Put my car into a garage mid-last week to check it before my NCT test last Monday. It failed the NCT on CO emissions.

They told me the cat is gone, and needs to be replaced. And I told them why didn't they detect it last week, and was told they don't have a way to measure CO emissions.

Either I'm being lied to, or this garage should be avoided for pre-NCT checks.

Thoughts?

Alanstrainor

Pre-NCT tests are a waste of time and money. The NCT itself costs 50, and it will give you details on what exactly needs to be fixed if it fails. And a retest would cost at most 28 quid.

Their pre-NCT test is a joke if emissions aren't tested.

Basq

Sorry, I should elaborated. I also think the pre-NCT tests are a waste of time.

But I bought the car off the dealers last November and was told they'd do a pre NCT-check on the car before it went through.

I wouldn't have paid for it.. it's pointless!

But I found it hard to believe they can offer pre-NCT tests if they can't test emissions?

Alanstrainor

It sounds like they are trying to fob you off tbh.

Basq

Yeah, thought so alright.

They can fecking pay for the re-test tbh!

kildare.17hmr

did they guarantee the NCT when a bought the car or just say they would give it a pre test and tell you if anything needed doing?

Basq

They actually said they'd run it through for me.. but never took the car dealer up on it.

I'd have no problem running it through myself provided it passed after the pre-NCT test first time.

I'm gonna go have a wee chat with the dealer this week. I've to wait til next Wednesday before they get a replacement cat in.

kildare.17hmr

so they are payin for the new cat for ya then?

DublinDilbert

The reason the said "they" would put I through the NCT is that the cars seem to pass much easier when a dealer does it, even with faults! We had a thread on this a few weeks back...

Basq

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

so they are payin for the new cat for ya then?

Oh yeah.. jesus, I wouldn't be paying for it.

But I don't think I should pay for a retest if they state they do "pre NCT tests" and can't even measure CO emissions?

DublinDilbert wrote: »

The reason the said "they" would put I through the NCT is that the cars seem to pass much easier when a dealer does it, even with faults! We had a thread on this a few weeks back...

Oh, I've no doubt alright.

Saw a dealer dropping in a car while I was there on Monday and driving back to their dealership in a fancy Beamer they must "put" in the NCT centre for those circumstances.

The way I see it.. I took the knock for the first NCT test despite them saying they'd run it though, and I questioned them on this saying I should run it through, they can take the knock for the re-test.

mickdw

To be honest, there are small garages who cant check the emissions. It seems to me that this garage is acting reasonably enough. They probably dont have the gear t check the emissions.
Still, the car they sold is proven to be in good general condition via the NCT results and the fail item is being looked after by them.
I wouldnt be getting overly upset about the retest fee.
If you compare your situation with that of someone who bought a car from a garage which is later found to be an absolute shed but the garage tells them to F off you should realise that you are in pretty good shape here.
I feel the only thing the garage has done wrong here is not inform you that they were not checking it for emissions. Seeing as its a free check, you would likely have been content with that anyway.

VolvoMan

There is no better NCT pre-test than the NCT itself.

Owen

One small independent place I know that does emmissions test is sick to death of their emmissions testing rig. It's not a cheap one, and it's constantly giving weird reports - there are some liquids and chemicals inside which can go wrong apparently (I know bugger all about how the testing gear works) - and it's been to the UK several times for a fix.

Basq

Well.. here's an update on this:

The catalytic converter was replaced and I booked the car in for a re-test this morning. It failed with even worse results than originally. Was told it's not holding it's rev's.

I ran it out to the test center in low gears and revved like a mo-fo.. so it now has to be re-tested again by March 9th/

To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. I never mentioned this originally but this car was bought from a well known Sligo dealer last November. It's been in their service center at LEAST 8 times now and there's still issues outstanding - both electric wing mirrors still aren't working (waiting on a module apparently). I'm also still waiting on a log book and a motor tax refund (that I'll probably never get) as my old car hasn't been scrapped, despite me telling the car dealer 3 - 4 times to do it.

I get the general feeling from the service center that because I'm not paying for the after-sales service, everything is being bandaged up and put on the long finger.

I'm going in to the car dealers on Monday.. and to be honest, I'm a very patient man. But I'm ready to blow a gasket.

CiniO

How did the garage know that catalythic converter has to be replaced, if they don't even have CO meter?

Basq

CiniO wrote: »

How did the garage know that catalythic converter has to be replaced, if they don't even have CO meter?

Your guess is as good as mine buddy!

I'm gonna find out if the car dealership knows exactly what's going on in their service center on Monday.

I'm sure they won't be happy to know that the car has been in that many times, with various bits and pieces being done. Must be seriously eating into their profits.

sean1141

what kinda car is it?

Basq

sean1141 wrote: »

what kinda car is it?

Polo.

sean1141

to be honest i woud be dropping off the car, looking for a free replacement car while they do the work on yours and get it past the nct...
typical of most irish car dealers.. very bad service.. then they wonder why people go to the uk to buy cars..