Serious problems unlikely to be picked up in NCT

WITH disposable income at a premium as a result of the downturn in the economy, car servicing centres in the Limerick area warn that many motorists are skimping on maintenance work, which, they argue, could lead to putting themselves and others at risk, as well as the likelihood of very expensive repairs down the road.

When contacted this week, Len Fitzgerald, Windmill Motors, Ballysimon, John Gleeson, Cratloe, and Car Clinic, Windmill Street, stressed the importance of periodic car ‘health’ checks.
All three noted that car maintenance is nowadays viewed as an expense best put on the long finger, an attitude, they say, which could result in serious consequences.
Said Len: “There is an assumption that because a vehicle passed the NCT, that all is well.
“That is not necessarily the case. The NCT test hones in on specifics, and a ‘pass’ only indicates that the vehicle is roadworthy at that particular time”.
An example, all three pointed out, is that a check on a vehicle’s timing belt is not part of an NCT inspection.
If the belt happens to snap, the motorist could, depending on the make of car, be left with a bill between 500 and 1,500 euro.
“That is just one of the reasons why it is important to adhere to recommended service intervals. The belt should be examined in or about every 40,000 miles put on the clock”.
Len told the Limerick Post that he conducted a pre- NCT inspection for a client and unearthed a long list of faults.
“The owner then went to the NCT Centre without spending a cent, and emerged with a clearance certificate”.
To attract business, he added, many workshops were advertising a full car service from 90 euro.
“To the uninitiated, that simply means an oil and filter change-in other words, a basic service.
“Motorists should not believe when they drive away from the garage that their vehicle is in top order. It may not be.
“The advice is to opt for a full service, which can come in between 145 and 199 euro, and provides a more thorough examination”.
Carlos Scheemaecker and Sebastian Cilkowski, Car Clinic, Windmill Street, just off Henry Street, expressed a similar opinion.
“We charge 65 euro for a minor service and 130 euro for a full service.
‘Unfortunately, the reality is that some people think a full service covers the cost of replacement parts-brake pads- for example.
“When told afterwards that items are worn and need to be replaced, they go into mini shock.
“It might have been motoring well before coming in, but a full inspection carries the added bonus of the mechanic being able to identify any hidden problems and to catch them on time.
“Money might not be available to the client to have the work done, and they continue to drive on.
“However, the good news is that more often than not, a full service is all that is required to keep any car ticking over”.
Interjected Carlos.
“In the case of older cars, we recommend that they are first taken for their annual NCT, before being looked at by a mechanic.
“With newer cars, we suggest it is best to have a pre NCT look over.
“On the NCT, we came across a young lady who bought a second hand Volvo car in a Dublin garage two months ago, and within a few days, noticed it was not running well.
“That same car passed the NCT in Dublin two weeks before she purchased it.
“Last week, she paid €2,500 for new parts, including the all important power steering pump. The engine was in a mess.
“NCT computers are not designed to identify the kind of engine problems that her car encountered.
“By the way, the garage concerned denied they had ever sold her the car, which had been crashed”.
According to John Gleeson, there are people who take great pride in their cars and have them looked after regularly, “but we are in recessionary times and for many on a limited budget, a service might be out of their reach.
“It should be borne in mind that the majority of workshops try to ensure that service charges and repairs are made as affordable as possible. We all have a responsibility.
“Statistics show that new car sales have fallen dramatically, which means that more second-hands than ever are on our roads, all the more reason for regular inspection”.
He concluded: “Money speaks all languages. Motorists not exactly flush with cash will get the bare minimum done.
“The first question asked is, how much is a service. An oil and filter change is the norm. If the car is older and there is something more seriously wrong with it, the spend might touch a maximum of 500 euro.
“The main problem as I see it, is that people are not adhering to the service manual and will clock up double the recommended mileage before calling in”.
All three centres contacted concurred that another major issue is a reluctance to replace worn tyres, with an attitude of getting as much out of them as possible.

Carlos Scheemaecker (right) and Sebastian Cilkowski.