Suspicion re Fresh NCT on Used Car

The Muppet · 18-06-2015 12:13pm #1

Is the €50 quid in the ashtary trick still in play regarding obtaining a NCT?

I asked because I viewed a used car last night which a family member was interested in buying . This car had a fresh NCT which was only done in the last week according to the cert.

My suspicion was raised when I noticed the rear center lap belt was caught under the back seat, Suppose that could have happended after the test but it did make me look more closely at other things.

I then discovered that the 02 sensor had been disconnected and the wires were taped up . I started the car and there was a plume of blue smoke.

I'd seen enough and I walked away at this point assuming the NCT cert was bogus. This morning out of curiosity I checked the reg on the NCT site and the cert is genuine.

Just goes to show that if you are buying a car, a fresh nct cert is not to be trusted.

celica00 · 18-06-2015 12:25pm

you are absolutely right, at this stage everybody should know, that a fresh NCT cert doesn't mean the car is safe.

There a few possibilities for this:

1) car owner knows someone in NCT centre
2) car has been brought to mechanic who should have put the car through but he also knows someone in the NCT centre
3) car owner paid (ashtray) to get the NCT cert
4) lazy NCT mechanic who doesn't care or simply overlooked it

etc

mullingar · 18-06-2015 1:40pm

Just type the reg into www.ncts.ie and see if its test is due.

TheDoc · 18-06-2015 2:04pm

Is the €50 in the ashtray actually real or is that a total urban myth?

I've never known anyone who tried this, or had it work, but heard plenty of "ow a lad I know did it".

The Muppet · 18-06-2015 2:43pm

mullingar wrote: »

Just type the reg into www.ncts.ie and see if its test is due.

I did that this morning , the cert is legit. The test is due next year

testicle · 18-06-2015 2:50pm

mullingar wrote: »

Just type the reg into www.ncts.ie and see if its test is due.

Did you even read the OP?

ironclaw · 18-06-2015 2:50pm

TheDoc wrote: »

Is the €50 in the ashtray actually real or is that a total urban myth?

I have it on good terms from a few mechanics that it was rampant a number of years ago in Dublin, a few people were caught over it, and a little bit of a shake up. Around the same time of the taxi NCT fiasco that RTE covered.

obezyana · 19-06-2015 12:28am

Apparently my brothers friends cousin etc..... knows a tester who will pass any piece of scrap for money, he supposedly runs his own car through in order to get a cert........maybe a load of BS...i suspect it is.

rex-x · 19-06-2015 12:32am

TheDoc wrote: »

Is the €50 in the ashtray actually real or is that a total urban myth?

I've never known anyone who tried this, or had it work, but heard plenty of "ow a lad I know did it".

Its real and still happens despite the shakeup, though its not as simple as anyone throwing 50 quid in the ashtray, the tester in question knows beforehand the car is coming in and the problems he may have to overlook.

CiniO · 19-06-2015 12:36am

I never heard of it.
I actually often keep some small cash in ashtray, just in case I need it.
Are you saying that if I leave 50 quid there and forgot about it, put car through NCT then my €50 would be gone?

Pov06 · 19-06-2015 10:32am

I don't have an ashtray

nct tester · 19-06-2015 10:30pm

I would not risk my job for €50. There are cameras fitted to every lane which takes a photo of every car as its being tested. Those cameras are also accessible to internal auditors who can look whenever they want.
Also, as soon as a car is tested an auditor, either from the AA or NCT can 'hold' that car for full re inspection and it happens regularly. And you don't know they are coming until the test is finished so too late to change anything.

CiniO · 19-06-2015 10:32pm

nct tester wrote: »

I would not risk my job for €50. There are cameras fitted to every lane which takes a photo of every car as its being tested. Those cameras are also accessible to internal auditors who can look whenever they want.
Also, as soon as a car is tested an auditor, either from the AA or NCT can 'hold' that car for full re inspection and it happens regularly. And you don't know they are coming until the test is finished so too late to change anything.

Surely it is a risk, but question is how much risk?

Approximately how many cars average tester can test during one week work, and how many times does it happen to average tester that auditor rechecks the car?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 19-06-2015 10:36pm

What about the waiting customer. I'd have no interest in being the guinea pig of the AA or NCT auditor. Just gimme back my keys and let me be on my way.

nct tester · 19-06-2015 11:15pm

CiniO wrote: »

Surely it is a risk, but question is how much risk?

Approximately how many cars average tester can test during one week work, and how many times does it happen to average tester that auditor rechecks the car?

Average about 75 cars a week. Could happen once a week, u don't know when there are coming. Doesn't make sense to take money from an ashtray, could be a hidden camera in the car, customer with a grudge. For the sake of €50 I wouldn't.

nct tester · 19-06-2015 11:16pm

The Cunning Linguist wrote: »

What about the waiting customer. I'd have no interest in being the guinea pig of the AA or NCT auditor. Just gimme back my keys and let me be on my way.

I've never seen a customer refuse yet strangely enough.

CiniO · 19-06-2015 11:18pm

nct tester wrote: »

Average about 75 cars a week. Could happen once a week, u don't know when there are coming. Doesn't make sense to take money from an ashtray, could be a hidden camera in the car, customer with a grudge. For the sake of €50 I wouldn't.

Once a week?
Are you saying that your get an auditor to recheck the car you just tested once a week on average, so about 50 times a year?

nct tester · 19-06-2015 11:21pm

CiniO wrote: »

Once a week?
Are you saying that your get an auditor to recheck the car you just tested once a week on average, so about 50 times a year?

Between internal and external auditors yes we would have regular visits. Plus cameras also.

Fred Swanson · 19-06-2015 11:45pm

This post has been deleted.

The Muppet · 22-06-2015 12:36pm

nct tester wrote: »

I would not risk my job for €50. There are cameras fitted to every lane which takes a photo of every car as its being tested. Those cameras are also accessible to internal auditors who can look whenever they want.
Also, as soon as a car is tested an auditor, either from the AA or NCT can 'hold' that car for full re inspection and it happens regularly. And you don't know they are coming until the test is finished so too late to change anything.

How do you think the heap of junk I was looking at pass the test ? Could emissions be withing the pass range with a disconnected 02 sensor ?

StereoSound · 22-06-2015 12:58pm

Could good parts of been swapped onto the car and swapped off again after the test?

Del2005 · 22-06-2015 1:23pm

The Muppet wrote: »

How do you think the heap of junk I was looking at pass the test ? Could emissions be withing the pass range with a disconnected 02 sensor ?

I know some garages lean a car off for the test to make it pass, car can only be driven to the centre and back but it'll pass.. Plenty of tricks to get a car to pass any test or quick inspection, which is why the NCT isn't a good indication of the vehicle.

Judge the car on its current condition and the seller not pieces of paper which are easily forged.

Tefral · 22-06-2015 1:27pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I have! Just recently in fact. The gardai were called along with the RSA to enforce the car going back for a retest as the owner was saying no.

Panrich · 22-06-2015 1:39pm

nct tester wrote: »

I've never seen a customer refuse yet strangely enough.

If they were in league with the tester, it would influence their decision.

the_syco · 22-06-2015 2:03pm

The Muppet wrote: »

I then discovered that the 02 sensor had been disconnected and the wires were taped up . I started the car and there was a plume of blue smoke.

Once there was no lights coming up on the dash, and there are probably tricks to get rid of the smoke temporarily...

No Voter And Proud · 22-06-2015 2:33pm

Sure it's the old "turn the pump down" job, we been doin it for years with the jeeps at the DOE
Makes getting up hills on the way to the DOE test a bit hard but sure once you got the cert thats all that matters.

joujoujou · 22-06-2015 2:43pm

cronin_j wrote: »

[...] The gardai were called along with the RSA to enforce the car going back for a retest as the owner was saying no.

I wonder how'd they enforce it if owner (for example) pulled an engine out of it.

nct tester · 22-06-2015 2:45pm

The Muppet wrote: »

How do you think the heap of junk I was looking at pass the test ? Could emissions be withing the pass range with a disconnected 02 sensor ?

It's possible it would pass yeah. Same way a diesel car could easily pass with a cat or dpf removed.

Fred Swanson · 22-06-2015 4:04pm

This post has been deleted.

Fred Swanson · 22-06-2015 4:04pm

This post has been deleted.

ShadowHearth · 22-06-2015 4:59pm

TheDoc wrote: »

Is the €50 in the ashtray actually real or is that a total urban myth?

I've never known anyone who tried this, or had it work, but heard plenty of "ow a lad I know did it".

50 in an ashtray won't give you anything. 50 in an ashtray, when you know someone and arranged it, will get you fresh nct.

I got a guy who will get me an nct cert for 70 in ash tray. Never used him yet though.

Suspicion re Fresh NCT on Used Car

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