Pre- NCT servicing..your thoughts?

cazzzzz

Hey all,

I am just wondering about Pre- NCT servicing.

My car is in good condition, was recently serviced in Mid- September. My NCT is booked for the 20th of January and was wondering would it be worth my while to send my car for a pre-NCT service?

My lights etc are all working properly to my knowledge. Has anybody had one and thinks it would be a good idea?

My car is an 04- Toyota Yaris (had it for a year and a half) next service is recommended for 70,000 miles and I'm at 65,000.

Thanks in advance

Gophur

Save your money. Put the car through the test and attend to anything it may throw up.

That said, do the basics, like check your lights, oil level, washer fluid level and check your tyres. (If your tyres are over 6 years old you'll fail your NCT)

cazzzzz

Gophur wrote: »

Save your money. Put the car through the test and attend to anything it may throw up.

That said, do the basics, like check your lights, oil level, washer fluid level and check your tyres. (If your tyres are over 6 years old you'll fail your NCT)

Thanks for the reply.

Will definitely do the basics. Not sure about my tyres. Have had no trouble with them in the year and a half I have owned it (apart from putting air into them) That said I don't know how old the tyres are. Would I be better off getting them checked/replaced?

pa990

+1

just make sure that the basics are in order

Hub caps off
Seat belts not stuck under rear seat
Lights working
Number plate in order
Fluids all ok (oil, windscreen wash, etc)
Tyre thread
Boot is empty.

The NCT isn't as scary as some people think

i have brought lots of complete bangers thru without a hitch, and all i do is check the basics

Third_Echelon

cazzzzz wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Will definitely do the basics. Not sure about my tyres. Have had no trouble with them in the year and a half I have owned it (apart from putting air into them) That said I don't know how old the tyres are. Would I be better off getting them checked/replaced?

Check to see if they are going bald and check the tread depth. If you run your finger along one of the grooves you should reach a little bridge of rubber. If the height of the bit of rubber is the same level as the rest of the tyre, then you need to change them...

As far as I know, the manufacturing date of the tyre is written on the tyre.

Video showing what I mean: http://youtu.be/Qp2kpXnKL_Y

cazzzzz

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Check to see if they are going bald and check the tread depth. If you run your finger along one of the grooves you should reach a little bridge of rubber. If the height of the bit of rubber is the same level as the rest of the tyre, then you need to change them...

As far as I know, the manufacturing date of the tyre is written on the tyre.

Video showing what I mean: http://youtu.be/Qp2kpXnKL_Y

Thanks a million. That clears it up a lot will do that later.

Third_Echelon

cazzzzz wrote: »

Thanks a million. That clears it up a lot will do that later.

No probs....

devilshalo

Hi, my car is 12 years old. I did a pre-NCT test last week and was told of 4 problems. Three were minor but 1 was more serious (they said) - wheel barrings. I did the NCT this week and it passed with no problems!!

Any explanations? I got a free pre-NCT test so didn't fully trust what they said. Should I bring it to another mechanic to double check this?

Seve OB

devilshalo wrote: »

Hi, my car is 12 years old. I did a pre-NCT test last week and was told of 4 problems. Three were minor but 1 was more serious (they said) - wheel barrings. I did the NCT this week and it passed with no problems!!

Any explanations? I got a free pre-NCT test so didn't fully trust what they said. Should I bring it to another mechanic to double check this?

I think this is a perfect example of why you should just run it through the NCT without worrying about it to much beforehand.

Like other posters say, just check the basics yourself and don't bother going to a garage because they cam tell you anything to make you spend a few quid with them... and it looks like that is what is happening here.

If you are in doubt, get it checked by a couple of people and if a few come up with the same major problem, well then and only then is when I would start to take notice!

corktina

i didnt bother with a pre NCT on my 21 year old car I had just bought and it passed first time...saved a packet.

swhyte027

devilshalo wrote: »

Hi, my car is 12 years old. I did a pre-NCT test last week and was told of 4 problems. Three were minor but 1 was more serious (they said) - wheel barrings. I did the NCT this week and it passed with no problems!!

Any explanations? I got a free pre-NCT test so didn't fully trust what they said. Should I bring it to another mechanic to double check this?

I've seen plenty of cars in our garage that we have warned the customer that would be a nct faliure and for private reasons or money problems the person can't afford to get the work done so just sends the car through the test and it PASSED like wtf the people in the nct centre and I say people as I don't beleave some of them are genuinely fully qualified mechanics do miss things or for one reason or another fail to spot a problem.there only human and can make mistakes to.so don't listen to any excuse that people give u saying oh the garage are trying to make money.that is rubish and boils my blood.if they wanted to make money they would say something a lot worse then a wheel bearing that costs 50e.grow up and cop on with silly antics

alastair

Gophur wrote: »

That said, do the basics, like check your lights, oil level, washer fluid level and check your tyres. (If your tyres are over 6 years old you'll fail your NCT)

They won't fail on tyres that age (assuming they're in good nick) - it's an advisory only.

EPM

swhyte027 wrote: »

I've seen plenty of cars in our garage that we have warned the customer that would be a nct faliure and for private reasons or money problems the person can't afford to get the work done so just sends the car through the test and it PASSED like wtf the people in the nct centre and I say people as I don't beleave some of them are genuinely fully qualified mechanics do miss things or for one reason or another fail to spot a problem.there only human and can make mistakes to.so don't listen to any excuse that people give u saying oh the garage are trying to make money.that is rubish and boils my blood.if they wanted to make money they would say something a lot worse then a wheel bearing that costs 50e.grow up and cop on with silly antics

Any chance you'd put a space after full stops? Makes it a lot easier to read!

devilshalo

"grow up and cop on with silly antics"

Is this comment directed at me?

I think it's fair enough not to fully trust a garage that you've never been to before. When the labour costs are twice the price of the part also, I think it's fair to question it.

I'm bringing it to another garage for a further check - despite the fact that it's just passed the NCT. The car is barely worth 4 figures and I'll be selling it on - I don't want someone coming back to me saying it had problems I honestly didn't know about.

I think that's extremely fair!

Del2005

devilshalo wrote: »

Hi, my car is 12 years old. I did a pre-NCT test last week and was told of 4 problems. Three were minor but 1 was more serious (they said) - wheel barrings. I did the NCT this week and it passed with no problems!!

Any explanations? I got a free pre-NCT test so didn't fully trust what they said. Should I bring it to another mechanic to double check this?

The wheel bearings may be about to fail but still meet the NCT requirements. In the same way that 2 shot shocks on the front or back will pass, but if you replace 1 it'll fail.

Easiest way to find out if the garage was telling porkies is to get your jack out of the boot. Lift the tyre on the wheel they said was dodgy off the ground and try and move the wheel. Any movement and your bearings are going.

Wolverine_1999

There's only 1 pre-NCT check you need.. make sure you have €50 to throw away on paying the farce of a test.

The NCT test itself is the only test you need!

swhyte027

Del2005 wrote: »

devilshalo wrote: »

Hi, my car is 12 years old. I did a pre-NCT test last week and was told of 4 problems. Three were minor but 1 was more serious (they said) - wheel barrings. I did the NCT this week and it passed with no problems!!

Any explanations? I got a free pre-NCT test so didn't fully trust what they said. Should I bring it to another mechanic to double check this?

The wheel bearings may be about to fail but still meet the NCT requirements. In the same way that 2 shot shocks on the front or back will pass, but if you replace 1 it'll fail.

Easiest way to find out if the garage was telling porkies is to get your jack out of the boot. Lift the tyre on the wheel they said was dodgy off the ground and try and move the wheel. Any movement and your bearings are going.

It doesn't only have to be movement.play in a bearing isn't the only thing to check many people make that mistake the bearing could be running ruff on the balls so it's noisy that the start of it so check for noise and play not just noise.

Del2005

swhyte027 wrote: »

It doesn't only have to be movement.play in a bearing isn't the only thing to check many people make that mistake the bearing could be running ruff on the balls so it's noisy that the start of it so check for noise and play not just noise.

I'd hope that someone would be able to hear their bearings going, especially when turning, and have the sense to ask what the strange grinding noise from my car is.

I was also trying to simplify it, no point in going into too much detail as youtube will have a video of how to do it correctly if someone really wanted to find out for themselves.

Seve OB

devilshalo wrote: »

"grow up and cop on with silly antics"

Is this comment directed at me?

Na, I think it was aimed at me.. se what I wrote above

swhyte027 wrote: »

I've seen plenty of cars in our garage that we have warned the customer that would be a nct faliure and for private reasons or money problems the person can't afford to get the work done so just sends the car through the test and it PASSED like wtf the people in the nct centre and I say people as I don't beleave some of them are genuinely fully qualified mechanics do miss things or for one reason or another fail to spot a problem.there only human and can make mistakes to.so don't listen to any excuse that people give u saying oh the garage are trying to make money.that is rubish and boils my blood.if they wanted to make money they would say something a lot worse then a wheel bearing that costs 50e.grow up and cop on with silly antics

If you read what I said about not trusting, you will also read what I said about getting second and third opinions to back up any mistrust!

And if they told porkies of about €50 to every customer, that could make a hell of a lot of €50 by the end of the year. Say a small operation doing 3 jobs a day, that 3*€50*6 days a week * 52 weeks a year = €46,800 - - handy money for nothing aint it....

devilshalo

Del2005 wrote: »

I'd hope that someone would be able to hear their bearings going, especially when turning, and have the sense to ask what the strange grinding noise from my car is.

I was also trying to simplify it, no point in going into too much detail as youtube will have a video of how to do it correctly if someone really wanted to find out for themselves.

Yeah I was told that the noise is the most obvious clue - and I haven't heard anything. Anyway, I'll get that second opinion.:)

Nissan doctor

Garages/mechanics can say things are needed when they are not....but in equal measure, the NCT can pass things which obviously need attention.

It can be a pain in the arse for decent garages as people always assume you want to rip them off and that the NCT is gospel. Most people also couldn't give a dam about the actual condition of their car...once it has a green bit of paper in the window then its perfect.

The best solution, I find, is to show the customer the issue with their car and properly explain the issue, that way, pass or fail, they are under no false impressions about something being worn/damaged.


As for a pre NCT 'service' I'm not sure where this term came from but there is no reason to have your car serviced just because you are going for an NCT. Having your car serviced is done at regular intervals/mileage and should be done regardless of if you have an NCT due or not. If your car is going for a test you can have a check of all NCT fail items done in a garage. In any reputable garage an NCT pre-check should be free and any repairs recommended are always without obligation.

DermoMIO

just on nct topic i'm due one this month (dont see the need to make a new thread) I'm driving an '08 Golf with 31k on the clock got it serviced last just over a year ago and car's computer says when ignition is turned on it needs a new service even though it deoesnt, long story short do i need to get the computer reset so as this doesnt show when i put it through nct ? thanks

heate

I often have a chuckle when people tell me they are going for a service cause the nct's next week! I often wonder if it didn't exist would peope simply not service their cars?
I would NCT then fix the NCT issues and get it retested!
A Swiss joke (they are all crap) is why does a Swiss person do when their car is due a service or an MFK(NCT) why they just pop into their local Porsche dealer and buy a new one!

Nissan doctor

DermoMIO wrote: »

just on nct topic i'm due one this month (dont see the need to make a new thread) I'm driving an '08 Golf with 31k on the clock got it serviced last just over a year ago and car's computer says when ignition is turned on it needs a new service even though it deoesnt, long story short do i need to get the computer reset so as this doesnt show when i put it through nct ? thanks

If you last got it serviced over a year ago then it does need a service.

If on the standard service schedule then its every 15k OR 1 year and if on the longlife intervals then its every 2 years or when the service indicator comes on.


The service interval display coming on is of no relevance to the NCT.

Fiona

I wash it, do the levels and thats it. And then say a small prayer. Have to put the two of them through at the end of February. Do you get a reminder letter? I dont recal ever getting one.

pippip

I got a letter notification in December for my February expiry.

Cpt. Kelloggs

I have never received a reminder over the years. I usually just ring and book the test. Can also be booked online as well as far as I recall.

dr.fuzzenstein

devilshalo wrote: »

Hi, my car is 12 years old. I did a pre-NCT test last week and was told of 4 problems. Three were minor but 1 was more serious (they said) - wheel barrings. I did the NCT this week and it passed with no problems!!

Any explanations? I got a free pre-NCT test so didn't fully trust what they said. Should I bring it to another mechanic to double check this?

Co-worker of mine also did the pre-NCT scam test.
Also was told wheel bearings. Asked her if the car made any noise either on the straight or during cornering, was told no.
I call bollox on that.
She put her car through the NCT (or will soon) and with tyres and pre-NCT service it cost her the guts of a grand.
I also put my car through (both CMaxeseseses), except I did naught with it.
Not even adjusting the lights.
Why not the lights?
Was told they can only be done 30 minutes prior to the test, otherwise they will be out.
So called bollox on that and moved on.
Was told need two new rear tires (which I knew), got them replaced and sailed through the test.
My costs:
E160 for a pair of tires.
Her cost:
Guts of a grand.
SCAM!

Get your car serviced when it's due, NEVER mention the NCT when getting it serviced, as for the actual test:
Check your fluids and lights, throw them the money and hope for the best.

DieselPower

Tracking/Alignment is usually worth the investment before the nct. tracking can be altered by potholes kerbs speedbumps etc. Usually costs 50 euro at most, which isnt too much if you consider the 28 euro retest charge that will apply if you fail on it

eringobragh

Pre-NCT =

devilshalo

DieselPower wrote: »

Tracking/Alignment is usually worth the investment before the nct. tracking can be altered by potholes kerbs speedbumps etc. Usually costs 50 euro at most, which isnt too much if you consider the 28 euro retest charge that will apply if you fail on it

Agreed, but if you're told it costs E50 and E115 labour costs??Also noticed after the NCT, 1 of my dips bulbs was nearly gone - no mention at all in the NCT.

smash

You don't pay a consultant for a check up before you go to a dentist, why pay a garage for a check up before you go to the NCT?