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Free NCT pre test in large franchise store, no such thing as a free lunch

  • 16-09-2012 9:57am
    #1
    the culture of deference
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,196 ✭✭✭


    I stuck the car through one of these free NCT pre test places, near the Kylemore road. After the test the said my front pads and discs may need changing and that I would need a new exhaust. So I got quoted 160 inc fitting for backbox. I rang another depot (same company) and after 2 or 3 calls the price was down to 95 fitted but part nowhere in stock. (I changed the pads and discs 15k ago.)

    So the car went to it's NCT yesterday. I spoke to the tester after. The exhaust is in excellent condition, no blowing, slight covering of rust. The discs and pads were unmarked with 90% left in the pads, with no imbalance anywhere.


Comments

  • #2
    TheBody
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,637 ✭✭✭TheBody


    It just highlights the importance of finding a garage you can trust. It pi$$es me off so much when I hear of stuff like that.


  • #3
    corktina
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    it highlights also the soundness of putting the car in for a test before spending money on it

    shocking but hardly surprising


  • #4
    kippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,145 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    corktina wrote: »
    it highlights also the soundness of putting the car in for a test before spending money on it

    shocking but hardly surprising

    Yep,
    I don't know why these pre NCT Tests are so popular.
    Put it through the NCT, see what, if anything, it fails on, fix those.


  • #5
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,219 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Indeed.
    I'm all for getting free pre nct checks but never spend money before putting it through the actual test, unless it's something obvious like broken glass/bulbs and such.
    These places are notorious for blaming pads, exhaust and stuff that a normal person can't get to, and wouldn't be able to inspect themselves.


  • #6
    the culture of deference
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,196 ✭✭✭the culture of deference


    kippy wrote: »
    Yep,
    I don't know why these pre NCT Tests are so popular.
    Put it through the NCT, see what, if anything, it fails on, fix those.

    I just wanted the light allignment checked correctly. I didn't want to fail on that and have to pay re test fee. As an ex mechanic I wonder how many people get the work recommended done. Has there been any TV show expose's done here about the practise.


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  • #7
    corktina
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    there should be, people who dont know squzt about cars get ripped off all the time


  • #8
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    If anyone is in doubt about what a garage is telling them, always ask to be shown the issue and have it explained to you how and why they have concluded that its an issue.

    Even if you don't fully understand what they are saying you will know if they are being genuine or not by their response to this.


  • #9
    Gary ITR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,801 ✭✭✭✭Gary ITR


    I didn't think condition of pads/discs were inspected? Sure how can they be when the wheel isn't removed. I'm not disputing that the place you were in tried to rip you but I don't see how the nct tester could say you had 90% left in your pads


  • #10
    Vicxas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,526 ✭✭✭✭Vicxas


    Got a free pre-nct test done by a crowd in swords,

    Apparantly i needed my front and rear tyres replaced. Even though i had them checked the week before with no issues.

    Always get a second opinion!


  • #11
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    Gary ITR wrote: »
    I didn't think condition of pads/discs were inspected? Sure how can they be when the wheel isn't removed. I'm not disputing that the place you were in tried to rip you but I don't see how the nct tester could say you had 90% left in your pads


    I once had a DOE tester try to fail me for worn brake pads. I asked him to tell me what he had recorded as the current pad thickness and what was the minimum allowed for my Vehicle(Navara)....he looked at me blankly and his supervisor, who overheard, told him to pass it.


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  • #12
    Gary ITR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,801 ✭✭✭✭Gary ITR


    Nissan doctor wrote: »
    Gary ITR wrote: »
    I didn't think condition of pads/discs were inspected? Sure how can they be when the wheel isn't removed. I'm not disputing that the place you were in tried to rip you but I don't see how the nct tester could say you had 90% left in your pads


    I once had a DOE tester try to fail me for worn brake pads. I asked him to tell me what he had recorded as the current pad thickness and what was the minimum allowed for my Vehicle(Navara)....he looked at me blankly and his supervisor, who overheard, told him to pass it.


    Did he remove the wheel or did he just look through the wheel? No consistency in these 'tests' at all.

    I mean I can bring a car in with two wanked shocks and pass, once they are equally wanked. If I have one bad shock I'll fail


  • #13
    thereitisgone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 445 ✭✭thereitisgone


    the culture of deference wrote: »
    I just wanted the light allignment checked correctly. I didn't want to fail on that and have to pay re test fee. As an ex mechanic I wonder how many people get the work recommended done. Has there been any TV show expose's done here about the practise.

    Not sure if its same company we are thinking about, if they have English depots then it probably is. When i worked for them way back then in England. Watchdog did a program on them which was very very damning. Business was quiet for few months then back to normal.


  • #14
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    Gary ITR wrote: »
    Did he remove the wheel or did he just look through the wheel? No consistency in these 'tests' at all.

    I mean I can bring a car in with two wanked shocks and pass, once they are equally wanked. If I have one bad shock I'll fail


    No, as with the NCT, they didn't remove the wheels, which is why I challenged him on it, and the fact that I knew exactly how much pad was there.


    Agree'd, the NCT test doesn't not give a complete picture of the condition of many of a cars systems. Just because a car passes the brake test doesn't mean its brake pads/disks aren't worn, the same is true, as you say, of shocks etc.


  • #15
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,481 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    This is nothing new unfortunately, it's another way of drumming up new business. Not an honorable practice imo however.


  • #16
    jamescd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,345 ✭✭✭jamescd


    Have my NCT coming up next week. I didn't go to any of these pre-NCT places (and I don't plan to), but I thought it was as good a time as any to have some major work done. Had the timing belt done, water pump, rocker cover gasket. Oil was changed, filters were changed and spark plugs. Several bulbs were changed and also had two new tyres fitted at the front. Mechanic also did some work with the suspension, changed the bushings, etc. Already had the brake pads changed a while ago. I'll be very disappointed if it still fails :pac:

    On a side note, I paid around 450 quid for everything except the tyres. Was that alright or ? The mechanic who is a friend of my Dad offered to do it so I didn't bother ringing around to see how much it would've cost me to get it done elsewhere.


  • #17
    the culture of deference
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,196 ✭✭✭the culture of deference


    Gary ITR wrote: »
    I didn't think condition of pads/discs were inspected? Sure how can they be when the wheel isn't removed. I'm not disputing that the place you were in tried to rip you but I don't see how the nct tester could say you had 90% left in your pads


    I Have Wolfrace alloys (pic included) and from my Opening post

    the culture of deference wrote: »
    I changed the pads and discs 15k ago.)

    jamescd wrote: »
    Had the timing belt done, water pump, rocker cover gasket. Oil was changed, filters were changed and spark plugs. Several bulbs were changed. Mechanic also did some work with the suspension, changed the bushings, etc. Already had the brake pads changed a while ago.....I paid around 450 quid for everything except the tyres. Was that alright or .


    That seems very reasonable. If in any doubt phone a main dealer and see what it could have cost


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