Where my wife is from the local mechanic does that. They drop off the car, mechanic takes care of the service and NCT, there was never an issue getting the test done on the day pre-COVID, but I'm not sure what the situation is now.
not great if you live some distance away, some have a hours run each way, that's 4 hours driving if there is a re testWe had a perfectly good windscreen wiper, functioned properly, did the job. Our car failed on it. There is a guy across the road from the Deansgrange test centre who could have replaced it in 5 minutes. We asked the tester could we get this done immediately rather than having to come back (during Covid) to have the replacement checked. We were told "No". We had to go home and make another appointment to have this done.
That's what I do, one week before. This time it was cancelled due to Covid, the next appointment that I made with great difficulty, the power went off during a storm while my car was on the test lane. My third appointment I was way out of my 4 months + date it passed .My practice in the past has been to get my (15 year old) car serviced a week or so before the NCT.
I know that others have recommended getting the NCT first and then getting the faults fixed as part of the service. But I have always passed bar one small issue once.
But when I was booking my car in for its service, the mechanic said that they have become very difficult since resuming testing and he recommended getting the NCT first and then he would fix whatever they pick up.
I was surprised at that and wonder if he has just had an unlucky run. A customer who fails an NCT probably gets annoyed at the mechanic who serviced the car a week earlier.
Brendan
Would a bit of muck not cover up a bit of rust?I have seen cars arriving at the Test Centre with more mud than a tank on the Somme. After mechanical/electronic workings, it's all about appearance; I reckon that's what Fergal Quinn (best sales person ever) would have said.
Would a bit of muck not cover up a bit of rust?
My next step would have been legal proceedings, which I wasn't prepared to take at the time.
I look after my wife's car, our childrens' cars, my sisters-in-law cars and my own car. Back in the day of plugs and points I used to do my own car servicing including adjusting the timing. But, appearance is everything. I do a "visual" test on all the aforementioned cars together with checking the oil, tyre pressure, lights and wiper water. Then I hoover the living daylights out of the car and follow up with a power wash (with emphasis on wheels/tyres) and then shine up the inside with beautiful smelling stuff. Connect the seat belts in the back and drivers seat - just do what you are advised. The following morning I bring the car smelling like Miss World's perfume to the Test Centre. Todate none of "my" cars failed the test.
I have seen cars arriving at the Test Centre with more mud than a tank on the Somme. After mechanical/electronic workings, it's all about appearance; I reckon that's what Fergal Quinn (best sales person ever) would have said.
If anyone is relying on the NCT as a indication of roadworthiness and safe to use, please think again.
It does not replace or purport to replace your responsibility to ensure your car is roadworthy at all times or the regular maintenance that a mechanic needs to carry out on your car.
Any chance the NCT might be nudged gently towards failing older cars in an effort to progress people towards buying new car ( which is more likely to be Electric ? )
Indeed anyone doing so would be naïve, the NCT has never claimed to be an all encompassing verification of roadworthiness. they spell it out quite clearly:
The NCTS are well protected by the terms you have to agree to prior to the test, so it would be tough to have much success without an iron clad case. In your case, who is defining 'almost completely rotten', you would need an engineer to test it against design specifications. That would be expensive, and as you suffered no loss, what would you hope to gain from taking such a case?
I don't get it. The bottom line responsibilty for your car is you.
The NCT/DOE is only a spot check and the relevant bodies do point that out.
I think they were right not to accept liabilty. The responsibility/liabilty for your car is yours.
And you were responsible... you fixed the issue.
The rear wheel was sitting at an acute angle due to the axle being severely compromised due to corrosion.
they failed to detect a serious structural defect.
Maybe because they are being paid to 'spot' such things. The OP is their customer.And I still don't get how you can be agrieved with the NCT for not spotting what is ultimately your responsibility.
So did your mechanic. I'd be more agrieved with my garage/mechanic for failing to spot the defect during its annual service/check.
Based on the information given here, I would have to concur.The point is the NCT failed to fulfil their duty on the most basic level.
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