Red light on dash = automatic NCT fail?

pandamoanium

Have an NCT booked for next week and the airbag light on the dash of my car has just lit up red today.

I know it's not a real airbag warning per se as I've had this happen before - red light comes on for a few days then goes off again for a few weeks, I've researched it and it's a common fault with the car - something to do with the passenger seat disturbing wires or something when it's being moved...

Anyways, does anyone know if a red airbag light on the dashboard is an automatic NCT fail?


I've rang a few mechanics about getting it fixed before the NCT all either said they didn't know what was wrong - or would be a big job and would def not be done before NCT date..

Chuck_Norris

IMO, it would be a fail. Counldn't say for definate. What sort of car is it OP, because if it is a case that the firing line on a side airbag (I'm assuming it is a side airbag), it's not a major job. Bout 15- 20 minute job.

BrianD3

An airbag light is not a fail. This may change when the NCT is revised next year.

The fault may be a loose wire connector under the seat, have a poke around and reseat any connectors that you see.

JHMEG

The NCT test manual is on the NCTS website. It lists fails.

jimmyw

Well I am guessing it would be a fail. After all it is a safety item, when the light is on it means that the air-bag will not deploy.

Smokerkl

Take the bulb out the night before the NCT then replace again the next day??
S..

andyeire

It's not a fail.

I passed NCT in a Honda with airbag and brake warning lights on .

Problems had been fixed but i had not got warning lights reset.

jimmyw

thought they would be safety/roadworthy items. Says it all about the ncts then

caprilicious

Not 100% sure but think it might be a fail alright.
Last time I did an NCT a brake warning light was on the dash, they tested the brakes and even though they were 100% no faults with them, they failed it anyway.

Removing the bulb might be a bit dodge, 'someone' did that with my car and the NCT guy scandalised me! he copped it straight away.:o

I had the airbag light come on in a mini I had and BMW roasted me for €180 to replace an airbag harness.
Had it happen in an MGF and it was just a loose plug under the passenger side seat, I unplugged it, plugged it back in and restarted the engine - light gone.

Fingers crossed it might just be something simple on your car.
Best of luck with the NCT

Lenny

Of course its a fail.
Do you think that an safety airbag light that is illumated means everything is ok?
its a safety warning light.
OP, an option for you to do is maybe remove the light and put a paper/duct tape over the bulb so you can black it out,
also by the way, is the car you drive a fiat stilo?

Seth Brundle

An airbag light IS NOT a fail. It isn't an advisory either. If you think it is or aren't sure then please read the manual.
The only one that is a failure IIRC is the ABS light.
My airbag light has been on for a while now and wasn't mentioned in the test.

BrianD3

Again, the airbag light being on is not a fail. Check the manual. This is a black and white issue, it's not a matter of opinion.

If an ABS light is on, that is a fail. Covering the light with tape or taking out a bulb won't (or shouldn't) fool the tester because he will be looking for it to come on momentarily when the key is turned.

zilog_jones

Lots of misinformation here - only the ABS warning light is a failure as some others have said. The NCT manual is free to download on the NCT website!

mickdw

Just have a good shake around at all the wires under the seats. This is almost certainly the problem. Dont be afraid to really wriggle the connections a bit to clear any bad connection. Do this with ignition off.
If your car is a rover 75 or any peugeot/citroen, I would put money on this being the problem

andyeire

Lenny wrote: »

Of course its a fail.
Do you think that an safety airbag light that is illumated means everything is ok?
its a safety warning light.

The airbag warning light is not listed as a fail in the nct manual. I have passed an NCT with mine on.

A warning light for the anti lock brake system IS a fail.

The only other warning light that is checked for is the high beam warning light if that is not working it IS a fail.

Maybe the lack of a standard airbag light is an issue on a Honda it is a red light that says SRS.

Sorry crossed with everyone above

Seth Brundle

mickdw wrote: »

Just have a good shake around at all the wires under the seats. This is almost certainly the problem. Dont be afraid to really wriggle the connections a bit to clear any bad connection. Do this with ignition off.

IIRC many cars will need a dealer (or specialist) to clear the fault from the system before the light goes out.

Eoin

JHMEG wrote: »

The NCT test manual is on the NCTS website. It lists fails.

Here it is:

http://www.ncts.ie/nctmanual.pdf

aujopimur

There are no advisorys on NCT its passor fail.

Carawaystick

There are advisories for worn out tyres above the legal minimum.

zilog_jones

There are advisories. I have been advised my tyres had less than 3mm tread depth. It was listed at the end of report sheet down where failures go.

Spare tyre defects are also an advisory among other things. Read the manual.

unkel

Does nobody read the charter?

The link to the NCT manual has been there for years...

godtabh

pandamoanium wrote: »

Have an NCT booked for next week and the airbag light on the dash of my car has just lit up red today.

I know it's not a real airbag warning per se as I've had this happen before - red light comes on for a few days then goes off again for a few weeks, I've researched it and it's a common fault with the car - something to do with the passenger seat disturbing wires or something when it's being moved...

Anyways, does anyone know if a red airbag light on the dashboard is an automatic NCT fail?


I've rang a few mechanics about getting it fixed before the NCT all either said they didn't know what was wrong - or would be a big job and would def not be done before NCT date..

same thing happened to me. Airbag sensor went on my Punto. A quick look at a Hayes manual and I was able to disconnect the sensor. The NCT people didnt know and car passed.

zilog_jones

It would have passed if the light was on regardless. Pay attention please

JHMEG

unkel wrote: »

Does nobody read the charter?

The what?

Esel

kbannon wrote: »

The only one that is a failure IIRC is the ABS light.

BrianD3 wrote: »

If an ABS light is on, that is a fail.

zilog_jones wrote: »

only the ABS warning light is a failure

andyeire wrote: »

A warning light for the anti lock brake system IS a fail.

ABS warning light is NOT a fail. It's not in the manual, and I know a car that passed recently with the ABS light on.

Eoin

esel wrote: »

ABS warning light is NOT a fail. It's not in the manual, and I know a car that passed recently with the ABS light on.

From the manual:

Item | Reasons for Failure
Anti-lock Brake System | Warning Light not working or indicates a defect in the anti-lock system.

eoin wrote: »

http://www.ncts.ie/nctmanual.pdf

JHMEG

I failed with the ALB light on, tho I genuinely believe that the tester (whose first language was not English) didn't know what it meant.

bladebrew

it seems to be a case of if the examiner notices it,it fails if he dosent it passes

i remember my dad on about a connection under the passenger seat on a 00 clio,i cant remember if it was the abs or the airbag!
but this was the reason the light on the dash was on,

Esel

eoin wrote: »

From the manual:

Item | Reasons for Failure
Anti-lock Brake System | Warning Light not working or indicates a defect in the anti-lock system.

My bad! I did read the manual recently (carefully, I thought...) and didn't spot that. I do know a car that passed recently with the light on though!

greendom

jimmyw wrote: »

thought they would be safety/roadworthy items. Says it all about the ncts then

I suppose it wouldn't be a fail as it's not obligatory to have an airbag to drive- as not all cars have them that's not likely to change in the near future

Eoin

bladebrew wrote: »

i remember my dad on about a connection under the passenger seat on a 00 clio,i cant remember if it was the abs or the airbag!
but this was the reason the light on the dash was on,

That seems to happen on a good few cars, I think it's the airbag light normally.

Maruney

Lenny wrote: »

Of course its a fail.
Do you think that an safety airbag light that is illumated means everything is ok?


You would think wouldn't you...
I have just put 2 car's through the NCT, both with a warning light on and no time to get diag. done, I rang the day before the test and they told me it wont be a fail, it wasnt even mentioned during the test. Both passed.

It was an air bag light also, on Alfa 156.

Esel

greendom wrote: »

I suppose it wouldn't be a fail as it's not obligatory to have an airbag to drive- as not all cars have them that's not likely to change in the near future

One would think that the same should apply to the ABS light. ABS is not mandatory, and if the brakes are working fine without ABS, it shouldn't really be a fail item.

zilog_jones

zilog_jones wrote: »

There are advisories. I have been advised my tyres had less than 3mm tread depth. It was listed at the end of report sheet down where failures go.

Spare tyre defects are also an advisory among other things. Read the manual.

No requirement to have a spare wheel unless it's a PSV
They can advise you that your spare is in bits if they want to, it's not like the old advisories though that are now fails.

jimmyw

Well whether its a pass or fail leaving out the nct test for the moment, if the light is not on or stays on it means there is a problem with the systems. What if you were in a crash and it didn't deploy and your head hit the steering with the damage that would cause or even death. Same goes for the abs, if the car went into a skid and the wheels locked up and injured or killed someone.These systems are on cars for a reason ie safety, so if there not working as they should then have them fixed, nct or no nct :eek:.

My boss failed on the airbag light being on - and nothing else!

I failed my NCT today