Full Service [and passing NCT?]

cathorio

Next moth my car is due for a full service at the same time it is also due for the NCT.
My question is, if I have the full service done will this guarantee I pass the NCT?
Thank you.

Yawns

Simple answer = No.


Longer answer:

There's no guarantee any car will pass an NCT no matter who tells you it will. Avoid paying for any PRE-NCT ****e either.

Get the car serviced when it's due and if it's been maintained correctly, serviced on the button and any repairs carried out when / if any issue arose, then it should have a very good chance of passing.

AvonEnniskerry

A full service only means your oil and filters are changed. They do not check if lights/wipers are working, or the tyre thread on a car, etc. This is up to you as the driver. If the car has been looked after there should be no need for a pre nct check.
But if you're asking this question then maybe a pre nct check would be best....

nc19

AvonEnniskerry wrote:

A full service only means your oil and filters are changed. They do not check if lights/wipers are working, or the tyre thread on a car, etc.

Ridiculous!

Lights, wipers and tyres are fundamental checks on any service.

A full service including an NCT check over is a good idea before an NCT. Any decent garage will also set your headlights which is an easy money maker for the NCT.

Dark sun

Why not get the NCT test before your service then if it fails on anything you can get the service and and repairs done in one go. Might save you the hassle.

AvonEnniskerry

I'm sorry how am I being ridiculous. The garage will check if the lights work but are not authorised to carry out any extra chargeable work without your authorisation. They might say it to you that a bulb needs replacing. However most would not check that the lights are aimed correctly during a service. Same goes for the wipers. They may check the motor is working but won't necessarily tell you they need replacing due to streaking so which could fall you in an nct. It is up to you as a driver to take responsibility for these things unless you come to an agreement with the garage to check these things.

dieselbug

AvonEnniskerry wrote: »

I'm sorry how am I being ridiculous. The garage will check if the lights work but are not authorised to carry out any extra chargeable work without your authorisation. They might say it to you that a bulb needs replacing. However most would not check that the lights are aimed correctly during a service. Same goes for the wipers. They may check the motor is working but won't necessarily tell you they need replacing due to streaking so which could fall you in an nct. It is up to you as a driver to take responsibility for these things unless you come to an agreement with the garage to check these things.

What kind of garage would not change a blown bulb when serviceing your car and checking the headlight alignment would be a routine item if it was a winter service.

Also, any garage worth their salt will check the windscreen for nct renewal date and act accordinally.

dr.fuzzenstein

cathorio wrote: »

Next moth my car is due for a full service at the same time it is also due for the NCT.
My question is, if I have the full service done will this guarantee I pass the NCT?
Thank you.

It can't and won't. The garage will most likely not check headlight alignment (well, maybe), wheel alignment, brake efficiency and balance, shock imbalance, emissions or poke around the suspension with a crowbar as part of a regular service.
You could get most of that done as part of a pre-NCT check, but why pay twice to have the same tests carried out? Have the car serviced, put it through the NCT and see what it needs.

cathorio

To everyone who replied, my sincere appreciation.

Noccy_Mondy

Sometimes both clash for me, last July for example car needed a service and was due NCT. Due a service now again, but not the NCT until July 16. Anyway, at thr time I asked for a service and pre NCT check. All of that was done for the price of the service. Flew through the test, guaranteed it's still a fairly fresh car.

Kevin McCloud

Dark sun wrote: »

Why not get the NCT test before your service then if it fails on anything you can get the service and and repairs done in one go. Might save you the hassle.

Is this logic alot of the problem with nct back logs? Replacing just what the nct tester fails you on passes your car fair enough but he may miss something and you be driving around with with compromised handling or comfort.
I have seen several cars that have passed ncts that should have not and maybe its because im a little ocd but i could not drive with a defective or worn part.

nc19

AvonEnniskerry wrote: »

I'm sorry how am I being ridiculous. The garage will check if the lights work but are not authorised to carry out any extra chargeable work without your authorisation. They might say it to you that a bulb needs replacing. However most would not check that the lights are aimed correctly during a service. Same goes for the wipers. They may check the motor is working but won't necessarily tell you they need replacing due to streaking so which could fall you in an nct. It is up to you as a driver to take responsibility for these things unless you come to an agreement with the garage to check these things.

how many garages have you worked in?

im up to 7 now and all of them have acted as i stated

CiniO

nc19 wrote: »

Ridiculous!

Lights, wipers and tyres are fundamental checks on any service.

A full service including an NCT check over is a good idea before an NCT. Any decent garage will also set your headlights which is an easy money maker for the NCT.

This actually should be part of NCT.
When car is already there with open bonnet and light adjustment measuring equipment, then there is no reason for NCT tester not to twist the screw by half a turn to adjust the lights. It would take no more than 15-20 seconds for tester to have lights adjusted in most cases, and it would prevent unadjusted lights from being easy money maker for NCT.
This should be introduced.

Kevin McCloud

CiniO wrote: »

This should be introduced.

The Union would go on strike if this was even proposed. Proposing an nct tester to do some work are you mad?

Pov06

I agree with CiniO. If you fail with misaligned lights you'll still be allowed to drive out of the test centre and only get them fixed later...

nct tester

Not all lights fail because they are incorrectly adjusted, a lot fail because someone has fitted the bulb incorrectly in the first place. Have you ever come across an adjuster that's seized or broken??? There's a reason why some garages charge up to €20 or €30 to align headlights.

CiniO

nct tester wrote: »

Not all lights fail because they are incorrectly adjusted, a lot fail because someone has fitted the bulb incorrectly in the first place. Have you ever come across an adjuster that's seized or broken??? There's a reason why some garages charge up to €20 or €30 to align headlights.

Not all - yes.
But I'm guessing it's vast majority of cases where only basic adjustment is needed.
And that's where NCT tester could spend this extra 15 seconds to adjust them.
If adjuster is broken or bulb incorrectly fitted - then it's a fail.. simple

Kevin McCloud

There is no single excuse for any car to fail its headlight alignment unless you are on of those people who runs the car through the test and fix what it fails on.

nct tester

CiniO wrote: »

Not all - yes.
But I'm guessing it's vast majority of cases where only basic adjustment is needed.
And that's where NCT tester could spend this extra 15 seconds to adjust them.
If adjuster is broken or bulb incorrectly fitted - then it's a fail.. simple[/quote

What's simple is either have the car as best prepared as possible by having it pre nct'd at a competent garage before it comes in for test or else leave it in and see how it goes. It's easy track a car on the lift also but then you can get track rod ends and inner tie rods seized.
If we were to try adjust them most people would appreciate it, but then you'll get a car that you go to adjust and the adjusters broken and customer starts giving you grief saying it wasn't broke or it was aligned correctly beforehand or we did something to make it fail. It's easier just have the same method of testing for every car.

CiniO

nct tester wrote: »

What's simple is either have the car as best prepared as possible by having it pre nct'd at a competent garage before it comes in for test or else leave it in and see how it goes.

I always prepare my cars for NCT myself.
And while I'm able to check many things myself, some need specialist equipment which I don't have and lights are one of them.
I'm doing my best to always adjust them using home-methods, and these seem to work as I never failed NCT on lights, but I believe this is bit overkill and most people are not going to do it.

It's easy track a car on the lift also but then you can get track rod ends and inner tie rods seized.

Well that's not that simple.
I'd for NCT test centres adjusting lights, but not for adjusting tracking. Tracking is not as simple.

If we were to try adjust them most people would appreciate it, but then you'll get a car that you go to adjust and the adjusters broken and customer starts giving you grief saying it wasn't broke or it was aligned correctly beforehand or we did something to make it fail.

Well, you could get a customer to sign a form that he agrees to let you adjust the lights if they are out of adjustment, but you take no responsibility for faulty adjusters or incorrectly fitted bulbs. Should work good.
And don't get me wrong - I'm not saying it should be NCT testers initiative. I know you can't do that.
It should be introduced from the top by Applaus or whatever is the operator of NCT.

It's easier just have the same method of testing for every car.

Yes, same method, including adjusting the lights.
In other countries many test centres will adjust your lights if they are out of adjust during the test. And the reason for it, is just because it's so simple to do in most cases.

Jesus.

AvonEnniskerry wrote: »

But if you're asking this question then maybe a pre nct check would be best....

Pre NCT checks are pointless.

OP, run it through and if it fails you'll know exactly what to get fixed.

dr.fuzzenstein

nct tester wrote: »

Not all lights fail because they are incorrectly adjusted, a lot fail because someone has fitted the bulb incorrectly in the first place. Have you ever come across an adjuster that's seized or broken??? There's a reason why some garages charge up to €20 or €30 to align headlights.

Leaving aside the question whether the NCT should do it*(see below), but it's the same reason why the same garage will probably charge you €100 to plug in their diagnostic to say "Yep, it's error code xyz" in about 2 minutes.
The reason is that they wave their arms around and say "Ooooh, this is the latest and greatest in super-high-tech equipment, 'tis reaaallly expensive and adjusting your lights is a huuuuge process, jaysus, could take us 2 hours, you're lucky we're only charging you 30 quid for that, 'tis a bargain!"
And your eyes are supposed to glaze over upon hearing this and you go "wooow! This is spiffing, here's my keys and my wallet, go ahead with this fabulous and very, very cheap procedure, I am spellbound!"
So they plug in the computher and adjust the lights, entire length of both procedures combined is < 5 minutes and they get to pocket €130.
It's a great scam if you can get away with it. And a lot do, because 90% of people simply don't know any better and they trust their garage implicitly. Which is always a mistake.
I would never even pay a tenner for a procedure that takes 2 minutes (on a slow day) and can be carried out by a monkey.
The last time it was done, it was at a tire place, I bought 4 new rubbers and the guy said "let me check your lights, yep, they're fine". And they where.

*
I'm leaning towards no. Lights should be maintained and kept in order by the owner. Maybe if they have to trudge down to the garage and have them adjusted and having to do a retest will teach them to look after their lights.

nct tester

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Leaving aside the question whether the NCT should do it*(see below), but it's the same reason why the same garage will probably charge you €100 to plug in their diagnostic to say "Yep, it's error code xyz" in about 2 minutes.
The reason is that they wave their arms around and say "Ooooh, this is the latest and greatest in super-high-tech equipment, 'tis reaaallly expensive and adjusting your lights is a huuuuge process, jaysus, could take us 2 hours, you're lucky we're only charging you 30 quid for that, 'tis a bargain!"
And your eyes are supposed to glaze over upon hearing this and you go "wooow! This is spiffing, here's my keys and my wallet, go ahead with this fabulous and very, very cheap procedure, I am spellbound!"
So they plug in the computher and adjust the lights, entire length of both procedures combined is < 5 minutes and they get to pocket €130.
It's a great scam if you can get away with it. And a lot do, because 90% of people simply don't know any better and they trust their garage implicitly. Which is always a mistake.
I would never even pay a tenner for a procedure that takes 2 minutes (on a slow day) and can be carried out by a monkey.
The last time it was done, it was at a tire place, I bought 4 new rubbers and the guy said "let me check your lights, yep, they're fine". And they where.

*
I'm leaning towards no. Lights should be maintained and kept in order by the owner. Maybe if they have to trudge down to the garage and have them adjusted and having to do a retest will teach them to look after their lights.

To be fair to all the qualified mechanics on the forum, a monkey wouldn't be able to focus lights.

kippy

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

There is no single excuse for any car to fail its headlight alignment unless you are on of those people who runs the car through the test and fix what it fails on.

Which along with an annual service and checking/fixing the obvious/simple things yourself is the most efficient way to run a car.

Special Circumstances

The limits for headlight alignment must be fairly barn door in fairness - because that's what I used to line up both our cars and neither have failed on headlight alignment. Considering zee german headlight motors are flakey well before their time I wouldn't be surprised if it passed at least once with one "normal" light and one looking at the floor.

dr.fuzzenstein

nct tester wrote: »

To be fair to all the qualified mechanics on the forum, a monkey wouldn't be able to focus lights.

Given enough training and time, though I wouldn't want my lights to be focused by one. I do like seeing where I'm going...