light alignment

Lads, failed my NCT on light alignment. I think its stupid that at the time of testing they dont take the extra minute to align the lights for you seeing as they ahve the equipment and all there.

Anyway, anyone know the cheapest places in Dublin to get this done?
Kwik fit were gonna charge me 35quid so i said no way.

challengemaster

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads, failed my NCT on light alignment. I think its stupid that at the time of testing they dont take the extra minute to align the lights for you seeing as they ahve the equipment and all there.

Anyway, anyone know the cheapest places in Dublin to get this done?
Kwik fit were gonna charge me 35quid so i said no way.

Reason they don't do it is that it's not their job

If they did, they wouldn't get an extra €28 retest fee off you, would they?

Why isnt it their job though? they should just fix it (takes seconds) rather than let you drive of with a problem they deem big enough to fail your car on. I think this shows that the NCT is all about the money.

So anyone know a cheap place to get this done?

Boom_Bap

It's not a job that takes seconds, there can be many reasons why the lights are not aligned.

I've been through a bit of pain with light alignment and the NCT recently so I can symphatise. I've ended up having to get a new headlight.

But I was searching for places for aligment and they where all around the €30 mark.

OldmanMondeo

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads, failed my NCT on light alignment. I think its stupid that at the time of testing they dont take the extra minute to align the lights for you seeing as they ahve the equipment and all there.

Anyway, anyone know the cheapest places in Dublin to get this done?
Kwik fit were gonna charge me 35quid so i said no way.

It may depend on what needs to be done something could be seized or you might need a new headlight. So depending on time spent on the job, it depends on the cost.

Also if the NCT tried to fix the headlight and broke it, how pissed off would you be then? Also think of the delays at the centres due to people getting their cars fixed during the test rather than keeping the "road worthy"...

YbFocus

Hey there,

My answer to this would be to park a few feet from a wall tonight with your lights on, this will show you the spread of the light.
You'll be able to see whether the light is focused properly but the beam itself is going in the wrong direction, or if the light is panning out light a fog and there's no definite focus point to it.

Option 1 would mean getting the lights focused, not sure on a price because I've done it myself, just get them looking where they should be ( pointing down to hit the road after maybe 40ft and then also slightly towards the ditch ) and that should be it.
Option 2 would probably mean you need new headlights, but i'd rattle the bulbs a little to see their not sitting wrong etc.

cjt156

Deleted User wrote: »

...the NCT is all about the money.

Yep, 50 of your finest euros once every two years, sure its no wonder we're all broke...

problemchimp

Phoenix tyres on Jones's road beside Croke park is usually very reasonable. Not sure about southside. Kwik Fit and their likes are usually more expensive than smaller outfits.

keithclancy

Deleted User wrote: »

Why isnt it their job though? they should just fix it (takes seconds) rather than let you drive of with a problem they deem big enough to fail your car on. I think this shows that the NCT is all about the money.

So anyone know a cheap place to get this done?

Their job is to test your car, not fix your car.

Where does it stop... should they replace light bulbs too ?

neilthefunkeone

Atlas in templeogue 25 bills.. literally parked car in garage walked to centra directly opposite to grab a coffee.. guy was calling me back already.. DONE!!

Most cases its an easy one to adjust in NCT centre!! Id be happy to pay an extra 10 to get it done during test if they offered that!! Because one big hit of a pothole and bang its gone again!!

cjt156

cjt156 wrote: »

Yep, 50 of your finest euros once every two years, sure its no wonder we're all broke...

its now 50quid every year for me (and 28 for a retest for something fairly trivial) and thats a lot of money to some people in these times.

lads there are exceptions where it would require new headlights etc but in the vast majority of cases its a little adjustment, thats what im talking about.

keithclancy

My buddy got his BMW 318i tested here in Holland.

Went into test center, guy was able to turn the back wheels by hand with the handbrake on. He just adjusted the cable and it was grand.

Good service and it was only 28 euros for the test.

Cost me 50 euros to get my Diesel tested ... bloody particulate test !