MOT and general woe

[chess]

I need to get my car MOT'd soon; I could just take it back to the place who did the boot and the gears and were nice and not too expensive for that, but I don't know what the standard operating procedure is for getting MOTs, and I'd appreciate some advice. (For reference, it was Cambridge Vehicle Services that I took it to.)

In other news, I am currently really quite depressed: not miserable, much, just like I'm having to smash through brick walls with my head just to do anything at all, and I keep getting so strung out that I start screaming and crying and generally throwing temper tantrums at really stupid things because I can barely cope with life when it's going okay. Unfortunately I'm still convinced that I'm just lazy and simultaneously that if I lay low and don't stress myself out too much it will all be okay.

Comments

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

Cambridge Vehicle Services is where I get my car done at.

I've used them for a few years now, and they seem quite good, but be warned that you'll need to tell them exactly what to do and what not to do in any service, or you might end up with unneccessary stuff done (eg not very old spark plugs changing)

[chess]

Um. Will they understand 'Perform an MOT so I can get my MOT certificate renewed, and don't actually *do* anything unless a) I tell you that you can, seperately, and b) it's absolutely necessary for it to pass its MOT, or you can explain to me exactly what it will improve.'?

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

They've always rung me up with a detailed breakdown of the work that needs doing before it gets done, yes.

The time I had a full service done, when I came in to pick it up, they had a long list of stuff they'd recommend getting done at some point (or it might eventually break), but they didn't pressure me to get any of it done, and they didn't tell me I needed to get it done.

The time I said "Do X, Y and Z, and make it pass its MOT", they did X, Y and Z and the minimum work done to pass its MOT.

(Similarly, when I've said "This specific component has broken, please replace it", they did. They did ask me whether or not I wanted them to check whether the AA man had been mistaken in his assessment that that was the problem before replacing it.)

[emperor]

I get my car down at Hayward's Garage on Huntingdon Rd, but you may need to book in advance, as they're often busy. 01223 277949

[dr-vannacutt.livejournal.com]

Just go to a place that does MOTs while you wate. the shabbier the better if you cant get one for some reason i know a place that does them for fifty quid no questions asked ;-)

Good luck getting it sorted.

[dreema.livejournal.com]

Getting an MOT is fairly painless, you ring up your target garage, ask them to book it in for an MOT, usually give the car's details, etc and when the MOT expires. When you take the car to them, if you have the MOT with you, they can add on any remaining days you have on it onto your new one, otherwise the MOT runs for one year from the date they do the test.

If it should fail, they will let you know, and give you a breakdown list of exactly what it failed on (my last one failed on emissions and a defective rear seatbelt buckle, yes, they are that pendantic). They should be able to give you a quote for any work that's needing done. Most places will offer a free retest if your car fails on certain things (I can't remember what these are offhand, sorry), but it's worth checking that all your bulbs are working, your tyres are roadworthy, and your wiperblades work. For emissions, it's usually best if the engine is warm, and has had a fairly decent run before you take it in (quick blast up and down the a14 should do it)

Hope it passes first time

[ahsu.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling bad, Chessie. You know you have my sympathy and my good thoughts.

Go easy on tossing around the word "lazy." Abysmally low energy goes along with depression like fish and chips. And yes, it does make you feel like you're breaking through brick walls and climbing high mountains just to get the littlest things done. Trust me, it's not laziness -- fix the depression and the "laziness" will almost certainly disappear like mist on a sunny day.

Hang in there ...

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