[murphaph]

The NCT is pretty straightforward, they don't even do you for minor oil seeps and so forth (automatic fail in some countries). They tell you what they're gonna test. I have a 96 Megane to go in now and although I'm confident it's a basically sound car but won't be surprised if it fails for a couple of minors. I'll just fix whatever's wrong and retest it. If you can't afford to get a car through the NCT you can't afford a car. Sorry, but it's as simple as that.

The 'small' things you were failed on will have no bearing on the retest cost cos the tie rod end re-inspection means the car has to go up on the lift-full retest cost just for that.

[Kinetic^]

One of the points on my NCT failure a few years back was that the indicators on the side of the car, near the door, the bulbs were white instead of yellow - what an absolute w**k*r

[AMurphy]

[QUOTE=cianclarke]

Originally Posted by Litcagral

....... although yes - it is reasonable to fail it considering it says so in the manual.
I'm not questioning the integrity of the testers (the manners yes) - I'm questioning the ridiculous detail of the test.
....
Thanks again for the replies.

Based on some of the items I read here and elsewhere, some of these testers would fail you for having dust in the ashtray.

I wouldn't like to show up with some of things I have driven successfully for years.
eg, engine bay moved across about 2" after a side impact on the front. Incidentally, even with the chassis bent over, I was able to align it so I could break in a straight line, hands off the wheel, and it did not wear the tyres to one side or another....Aligned it with a pair of planks and a level.
Ignition wires no longer going to the key (as they melted) but routed to a light switch and a door bell (push button start, way ahead of my time).
Bath-tub silicon sealing a stone hole in the headlight, a whole lot of that plastic junk never replaced after replacing the gear stick and linkages and the ECU lying on the floor under the passengers feet, replaced it, but too difficult to get back up under the dash.

Anyway, I'd fix the tie rod bit, part of the steering rack, could be expensive to replace.
As for the rubbers, switch the brake and clutch or rotate them around, just to change the view.

"Not amber enough" a bit vague to say the least, is there a specificaton for the amber required, to which they can refer you.
Some lens get washed our, so are made that way. ie, I've noticed in EU cars with read fog lights sold here, (VW and Audi mainly), and as often as not the clown driving the car does not know they are on. However, the color of the brake and the fog tend to be different shades of red, even though the bulbs are of the same specification. ie 21W
And turn a hairdrier on them to dry them out in advance. Maybe a film of clear silicone caulking about the seam might help also.

Re the broken plastic bit falling off at 120km/h, sure, but there are a lot more incidents of bales of hay, rocks, liquid slurry, grass, grain, cement and wheels falling off vehicles and more lethal than a bit of a plastic bumper.

I tend to agree with you that some of the stuff they bring up is carp and nothing to do with roadworthiness.

[Litcagral]

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze 69

One of the points on my NCT failure a few years back was that the indicators on the side of the car, near the door, the bulbs were white instead of yellow - what an absolute w**k*r

I can't understand your apparent annoyance! It's an obvious failure item. Indicator lights are supposed to be orange (either orange bulb or orange lens) as front lights should be clear and rear lights red. Did you think that the regulations for you should be different from those applicable to everyone else? You seem to be implying that the tester was a "w**k*r" for doing his job. If so, why don't you give up motoring altogether.

[Matt Simis]

Originally Posted by Litcagral

I can't understand your apparent annoyance! It's an obvious failure item. Indicator lights are supposed to be orange (either orange bulb or orange lens) as front lights should be clear and rear lights red. Did you think that the regulations for you should be different from those applicable to everyone else? You seem to be implying that the tester was a "w**k*r" for doing his job. If so, why don't you give up motoring altogether.

Im considering changing the Front indicators for a chrome coloured bulb that flashes amber (just looks chrome when off). Do you think that will be ok?


Matt

[murphaph]

Originally Posted by Matt Simis

Im considering changing the Front indicators for a chrome coloured bulb that flashes amber (just looks chrome when off). Do you think that will be ok?

Yep. It's no different than a clear lens that flashes amber. The light emitted must be amber, bot the lens.

[TempestSabre]

Originally Posted by Shock_treatment

Didn't you get a pre-test? it really does depend on who you get tbh

Pre-tests are a complete waste of time and money.

[Litcagral]

Originally Posted by TempestSabre

Pre-tests are a complete waste of time and money.

I agree with you TempestSabre that pre tests are a waste of money but I can't understand why people put their car through the NCT with basic faults like cracked lights and blown bulbs, bald tyres etc. when they know that these will mean automatic failure. Even someone with no mechanical knowledge should be able to check basic external items like these prior to the test.

[TempestSabre]

True. People are just lazy, its that simple.

[johnplayerblue]

The NCT and the Theroy test are a waste of time and money, period.
29 DEAD and its only the 24th of the 1st. Litcagral should catch on to himself and stop makeing a fool of himself, He sounds like a ****ing civil servant.

[maidhc]

Originally Posted by johnplayerblue

The NCT and the Theroy test are a waste of time and money, period.
29 DEAD and its only the 24 of the first. Litcagral should catch on to himself and stop makeing a fool of himself, He sounds like a ****ing civil servant.

?

Your solution is?

[johnplayerblue]

Hit people where it really hurts with BIG BIG fines, Enforce the laws of the land, send people to jail and take there cars away. There was a case a month or so ago in sligo or there abouts where a drunk driver killed two people and was fined €1000. Now you tell me what kind of a signal that sends out to the thousands of drivers that are going to park there cars in the pub carpark tonight and every night of the week, are the guards blind or do these cars have invisable powers 80% of these drivers are drinking 45% of road deaths are put down to drink driving. The county name not been visable on a reg plate my arse, send these killers to jail for life and see what kind of a signal that sends out.............

[Litcagral]

[QUOTE=johnplayerblue]The NCT and the Theroy test are a waste of time and money,QUOTE]



[QUOTE=johnplayerblue] Enforce the laws of the land, QUOTE]


A bit of a contradiction johnplayerblue???? The NCT and the Theory Test are the "laws of the land" too. Perhaps you think that only the legislation that you agree with should be enforced????? An "a la carte" system of law enforcement.

[johnplayerblue]

A bit of a contradiction johnplayerblue???? The NCT and the Theory Test are the "laws of the land" too. Perhaps you think that only the legislation that you agree with should be enforced????? An "a la carte" system of law enforcement. [/QUOTE]

A different verison of the "a la carte" system that lets 400+ a year die on the roads might be better than whats in place at the moment.
Can it be proven that the millions that are spent on theory and nct tests every month are helping save lives? If i'm not mistaken the numbers have gone and are going up......

[maidhc]

Originally Posted by johnplayerblue

A different verison of the "a la carte" system that lets 400+ a year die on the roads might be better than whats in place at the moment.
Can it be proven that the millions that are spent on theory and nct tests every month are helping save lives? If i'm not mistaken the numbers have gone and are going up......

How do you know they wouldnt be higher without the NCT and Theory test? The number of cars on the road has also gone up and up. I really dont think you can put down all these accidents to drink driving; you have fatigue, drugs, and perhaps the biggest killer: stupidity (which I think encompasses those who try to take bad bends at 70mph). You cannot legislate for these things, the best you can do is provide education, and the theory test is a (totally inadequte) step in this direction.