Garage for NCT (Cork)

lukin

Maybe I should have posted this on the Cork City/County forum but here goes anyway. I've got my NCT coming up soon and I want to have it given a quick check over beforehand. The place where I normally get it serviced are always ripping me off (€220 for a replacement electric window switch?FFS) so I want to look elsewhere.
It's a 05 Corolla and it has to be in Cork city or county (not too far outside the city if poss). If anyone knows of someone I'd be grateful, thanks.

Kenny Logins

NCT first, they'll check it over for you.

As above, nct will tell you what's needed to pass if it fails. Recommendation wise, con forde by greenmount school, automotif across from Harvey Normans, Powell motor services forge hill are all decent outfits.

lukin

I know if it fails they will tell me what is wrong and when I come back not charge me the test fee again (if they are nice) but I'd rather not have to take another day/half-day off work. I'd prefer to pass the first time.I'll check the palces RoverJames recommended, thanks.

Kenny Logins

Won't you have to take time off to go to the mechanic though?

IMHO it makes more sense to NCT first. It might even pass... and stop the place you normally go (or anywhere else) 'ripping you off'?

EDIT: Unless there is something that it will obviously fail on.

biko

www.advancepitstop.com has a free pre-nct check but wait to fix anything they find until after NCT, unless it's something obvious like a broken light.
If they say you have low threads on the tyres, wait for NCT to mention it too.

lifer_sean

lukin wrote: »

I know if it fails they will tell me what is wrong and when I come back not charge me the test fee again (if they are nice) but I'd rather not have to take another day/half-day off work. I'd prefer to pass the first time.I'll check the palces RoverJames recommended, thanks.

+1 for just doing the NCT and then re-testing if necessary. The fee is only 28 euro or so. If a mechanic were to do any unnecessary task it will cost you more than 28 euro.

The NCt will have weekend and evening slots, so you should be able to re-test without having to take time off work.

On the window switch, I don't know about the 05 Corollas, but this was a common problem on the prior model. Secondhand switches were almost impossible to get (and 50-60 secondhand), and the only source for a new one is the main dealer. So maybe your mechanic was just passing on the main dealer price of the part to you, and it's not his fault ???

A good mechanic would tell you first before fitting an expensive part, giving you a choice to spend the money or not. I hope your mechanic didn't spring the 220 euro bill on you.

lifer_sean

biko wrote: »

www.advancepitstop.com has a free pre-nct check but wait to fix anything they find until after NCT, unless it's something obvious like a broken light.
If they say you have low threads on the tyres, wait for NCT to mention it too.

Many of these type offers result in a long list of repairs that are "needed" for the NCT but may not be. That "free" pre-nct has to be paid for somehow. Experience has made me cynical !

M44B19

Check your lights for blown bulbs,
Check tyres (1.6mm minimum) So use a coin to judge if it's over that.
Good wash so it's clean and presentable,
Remove all random stuff from boot/seats,

And just try the NCT and if it fails, they'll tell you what it needs.

A re-test is €27 (IIRC) but only applies if you need to reuse equipment.

bazz26

lukin wrote: »

I know if it fails they will tell me what is wrong and when I come back not charge me the test fee again (if they are nice) but I'd rather not have to take another day/half-day off work. I'd prefer to pass the first time.I'll check the palces RoverJames recommended, thanks.

Garages don't have all the same testing equipment as the NCT centre so they can only rely on knowledge of common or typical NCT failures which your car might not fail on. You can pay some garage to give your car a pre NCT but it can still fail and you will still end up going back. This is why letting the NCT tell you what exactly it fails on so that you can get it fixed, is the recommended way of doing it.

corktina

+1 for NCT first

the NCT re-test fee is a lot less than you'll waste with a mechanic finding lots of jobs that don't need doing and as someone said, evening and weekend slots mean you might need no time off work.

lukin

I'm in two minds about what to do now. It's just that when I've had an NCT due before I always take it to a garage first. I always passed first time.
Ye may well be right and I should just go to the NCT first and let them find out what is wrong.

zapata

NCT 1st. It makes sense.

Check the basic yourself like bulbs, tyres, wiper blades, all fluid levels under the bonnet, remove wheel covers. Empty the boot, clean the car. Bring your licence to centre.
€50 is the best value for a pre nct done by the nct themselves.

Stheno

lukin wrote: »

I know if it fails they will tell me what is wrong and when I come back not charge me the test fee again (if they are nice) but I'd rather not have to take another day/half-day off work. I'd prefer to pass the first time.I'll check the palces RoverJames recommended, thanks.

They've no charge if you need to re-use the equipment after a fail, it's €28 for the retest

cletus

biko wrote: »

www.advancepitstop.com has a free pre-nct check but wait to fix anything they find until after NCT, unless it's something obvious like a broken light.
If they say you have low threads on the tyres, wait for NCT to mention it too.

This makes no sense. What would be the point in doing a pre-NCT test and then not doing any of the repairs flagged until they are flagged by the NCT.

As said above, "free" is not free they'll just give you a (long) list of things that need to be "repaired"

I have seen people do these pre tests and still fail the NCT

Just put it through the NCT, see what, if anything needs to be done

biko

The only point is that pre-nct check might catch obvious stuff you'd fail on but can fix right now.

I never bother with it either and just put car through but OP asked so I answered.

_Kaiser_

As above do your NCT first and then get whatever they flag fixed and bring it back to them for €28 retest fee

You could go to a garage now, spend a fortune on stuff that may or may not need doing and the NCT crowd could fail it on something else anyway!

Poulgorm

If you want the name of a capable, honest garage, try John McGrath, Douglas Street. No connection with the man, just a very satisfied customer.

SteelyDanJalapeno

Absolutely NCT first, obviously do the obvious stuff, bulbs, check tire depth with a coin or ruler, remove wheel caps, clean the inside of the car etc.

Places previously mentioned will fix a lot more than is necessary to pass, you could easily spend 300 - 400 preparing for the test, then pay 50 for the test and it could still fail, where as you could spend just 50 euro and you might get lucky and it could pass, or if it doesnt at least you know what specifically you need to get fixed for it to pass the next time.

As said you dont have to take a half day from work they do have evening and weekend slots.

Kaiser2000

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

As above do your NCT first and then get whatever they flag fixed and bring it back to them for €28 retest fee

You could go to a garage now, spend a fortune on stuff that may or may not need doing and the NCT crowd could fail it on something else anyway!

Presumably we all know a car passing the nct doesn't necessarily mean it needs nothing doing....

JohnBoy26

Stheno wrote: »

They've no charge if you need to re-use the equipment after a fail, it's €28 for the retest

The €28 retest is specifically for re use of the equipment. Where no equipment is used there is no charge.

Nonoperational

If it's due a service anyway you may as well get it done. If not then don't bother.

I had a car go through the NCT recently. Needed a service first and told them about the NCT the next day. They focused the lights for free, said one was miles out and wouldn't pass. Passed then first time. It's still nice to get it passed first time.

lukin

It's not due a service for another thousand miles so I won't get it serviced before the NCT. I know nowt about what stuff the NCT would check for; about all I could do is check the oil and the tyre threads and lights.
I just always took it for a "pre-NCT" before so I was going to do the same again but from what you guys have told me maybe it's better to let it fail and then I know exactly what has to be done to pass it.
Thanks for the replies anyways.