MOT Cost Cutting discussion

The article mentions topping up brake fluid. Just wanted to highlight that topping up of brake fluid should not be necessary unless there is a failure which requires repair. The level will drop from max to min as the brake pads wear, and will once again rise when new pads are fitted. It is more important that it is replaced every couple of years - which is a job best left done to a garage unless you feel competent.

Also, low oil is not an MOT fail at all, but those who do not check the oil levels or have the misconception that an engine does not use oil may find themselves with a hefty repair bill should the oil fall dangerously low - which it may well do before the oil pressure warning lights comes up on the dash - as it is not an oil level sensor. The oil pressure warning light means no oil is being delivered to the top of your engine.

Topping up screenwash is a must though, if it happens to drop to empty when in the garage some will happily fill it up with their expensive stuff and bill you for it.

A visual check of the suspension is usually quite easy to do. Check for broken/excessively rusty spring plates, broken springs, and oily residue down the side of the shock absorber.

angel123456 wrote: »

I used to work for Mr Clutch and they are an absolute rip off, if they cant find something wrong with your car they will make something up to get money out of you.
The people that own the company are some of the worst con men Iv'e seen and I've been in the business for over forty years.
Council test centres or some main agents are your best bet.
Dont be fooled by garages offering pre mot testing, take the car for the test yourself then if need be take it to a reputable garage for any repairs.

Perfectly happy with Mr Clutch in Derby.

Excepting the current 2011 MOT (done by National Tyres literally next door - I'll explain why shortly) they've done my last 3 MOTs

This is on what is now an 11 year-old Ford Mondeo estate that has done 165,000 miles
It had already done 128,000 when I bought it in 2006.

Anyway Mr Clutch passed it on the 1st and 3rd occasions without any issues at all.
It ONLY failed on the 2nd test due to a "cracked/perished brake hose" - which was quite obvious when pointed out to me.

I don't even remember Mr Clutch offering to do the repair job - something I actually did myself for under £10 - took the car back the following day and they issued a pass certificate

Every MOT was well less than HALF-PRICE :j

I seem to remember the 1st MOT cost me £18, the 2nd ONLY £16 and the 3rd went back up to £18.

I would have had my current MOT done there - just a few weeks ago (for £25) - BUT I was NOT confident that my car was going to pass FIRST TIME this time and whilst £25 was the cheapest around, BECAUSE they get little reward from the MOTs - EVEN FAILS that need repair work - they have introduced a RETEST FEE of £10 - (something I was sure I was going to happen - a RETEST that is)

Anyway, literally next door is National Tyres and their MOT was £27 with NO Retest Fee.

SO I took it there.

Sure enough - a Retest was needed - 2 broken rear coil springs, a tyre with a "hidden" cut in the inner wall and a stop light bulb (that I'd checked only the day before )

National Tyres showed me the faults - and offered to fix them - at a very reasonable price too ! In fact I was quite surprised at how cheap the quote was.

Having said that I knew I could do it myself for less than half the amount (materials only - no labour charge) so I did.

Took it back a few days later and Pass certificate issued.
On this occasion a good dealing with National Tyres, Pentagon Derby.

However , JUST TO REITERATE - MR CLUTCH - 100% EXCELLENT SERVICE - CHEAPEST MOTs (New current Retest Fee excepted) around - NO FALSE FAULTS FOUND, INVENTED, CREATED or FRAUDULENT activity in my experience - or that of several of my relatives, friends and acquaintances that use the same depot.

Friendly helpful people as well

theloft wrote: »

My wife mislaid her old MOT Certificate and as she thought it was due on 1st October and we are going away, I booked her Vauxhall Corsa in at the local Kwikfit on 8th September.
Now she has found the previous cert. and it was not due until 2nd NOVEMBER ! On a previous occasion previously a local garage advised that the MOT was not due but Kwikfit did not. We have now lost 2 months of MOT. There was nothing wrong with the car but they 'found' a piece missing from the driver's side wiper blade which is a cause of failure.
Are they at fault and should they have told us it was not due for a test yet ? What can I do about it ? I have emailed KW to complain.

unbelievable

you booked an mot
all facilities are at your disposal these days to see when your mot is due
the motman cannot know the date of your mot end until he logs on as doing a test so what did you want him to do? abort give your wife a box of roses and do a quick fit dance?

theloft wrote: »

I have emailed KW to complain.

to complain about what?
that they didn't know when your MOT was due???.......did you?
that they found a fault in a wiper blade that you could easily have checked beforehand?

What exactly would the complaint be about?