Where to get headlights aligned?

todolist

Can someone recommend a place in Dublin that will do a proper job of aligning my headlights.I went to fast fit and payed 30 euros to have it done only to fail the nct test 2 days later because they weren't aligned properly.Advice would be much appreciated.

Seth Brundle

I'd just go back to dast fit, lose the head and get them to pay up for the re-test!!!

Raytown Rocks

Hi there

Friend of mine does this, but FYI.
You may have had them alligned correctly, but in the intervening 2 days after they may have moved again based on driving and road surface etc.

DT Motors
Ringsend
6683158 Ask for Dave

Chef

todolist

chef wrote: »

Hi there

Friend of mine does this, but FYI.
You may have had them alligned correctly, but in the intervening 2 days after they may have moved again based on driving and road surface etc.

DT Motors
Ringsend
6683158 Ask for Dave

Chef

After having it done if fast fit I just drove home,5 minute drive and didn't use the car again until i went to the NCT test.They botched the job completely.Should i be entitled to a refund?

alias no.9

todolist wrote: »

After having it done if fast fit I just drove home,5 minute drive and didn't use the car again until i went to the NCT test.They botched the job completely.Should i be entitled to a refund?

I doubt they'll give you a refund but they may repeat the allignment free.

todolist

alias no.9 wrote: »

I doubt they'll give you a refund but they may repeat the allignment free.

I want to ask for a refund because they botched the first job so I'd hardly have any confidence in them trying to get it right a second time.I just want to go somewhere that i can be sure will do a good job so I can pass the NCT test.

Seth Brundle

Alsoi bear in mind that it may have been the NCT at fault.

tmcw

I aligned mine myself for my last NCT. I knew they were out, and figured the car would fail on something subjective like not having the correct smell, so figured it'll probably need to go in for some work anyway.

Found a guide on the internet, and armed with some measuring tape, some chalk, a long plank, a spirit level, and a flat peice of ground with a wall, it was easier than I thought it would be, and the car didn't have any issues in the test.

It's easy to do, and pretty intuitive when you see the throw on the wall what's going to be good and whats going to be bad.

todolist

kbannon wrote: »

Alsoi bear in mind that it may have been the NCT at fault.

Nah,it wasn't NCT people at fault.I actually tried the car this morning in the dark.Parked the car about 20 feet away from the wall and I could actually see how far out the passenger side headlight was out.I cant believe they cant do a simple job like that.I'm really angry because I'm 58 euro down and I have to get the job done again and go back to have the test done again.

todolist

tmcw wrote: »

I aligned mine myself for my last NCT. I knew they were out, and figured the car would fail on something subjective like not having the correct smell, so figured it'll probably need to go in for some work anyway.

Found a guide on the internet, and armed with some measuring tape, some chalk, a long plank, a spirit level, and a flat peice of ground with a wall, it was easier than I thought it would be, and the car didn't have any issues in the test.

It's easy to do, and pretty intuitive when you see the throw on the wall what's going to be good and whats going to be bad.

I might try that myself.Can you remember what website you used?

biko

Try this one
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231914 Mind it's US site

slimjimmc

Magnus wrote: »

Try this one
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231914 Mind it's US site

Yeah, use the technique but don't use the measurements shown in the 4th diagram 'cause they're no good for Ireland. Look at pg 31 of the NCT manual for the correct settings.

From my calculations for an average car, at 7.62m the light cut-off should be between 6mm-26mm (0.5°-2°) below horizontal and between 0mm-26mm (0°-2°) to the left of headlight centre.

todolist

I'm off down to fastfit to ask for the refund.Tell you how i got on later.Thanks for the info on doing it yourself.I will get a garage to do it and check the results myself with the info you guys have given me.

extra-ordinary_

I had this happen to me previously. Garage were all apologies and just redid the job again and the car then passed the NCT - although I think I had to pay a re-test fee which I wasn't happy about.

These days I just do it myself.

todolist

Said they would give me a refund.The guy took my details and said he'd call me tomorrow.We'll see! TBC

todolist

Fastfit held their hands up an admitted they messed up the job.One of their guys did the headlights with the setting at 3 instead of o.They admitted it.Refunded the cost of the alignment and the test fee and did the headlights again and it passed the NCT.They were very reasonable about their mistake and the refund is much appreciated.Fastfit,all is forgiven!