Pre-, or not to Pre-

Antigone05

I'm torn at the minute, NCT coming up soon and everyone telling me to do the NCT and use the fault list then get it worked on..

The thing is i know it will fail with my back wiper broken. A electrical fault developed a while ago, water doesn't run to it either, seems to be a leak under the car (a puddle appear after i try)

Had a small crash in last years bad snow, between the driver seat and back passenger door has a big bad dent. there is no damage done to locks etc..how will that be viewed??

My spare is ..well..i don't have one. i cant remember if they check for a spare?

Anyway..im considering just going to a garage, getting the back wiper fixed, 2 new tires..then running it off to the NCT.


Suggestions?

Stoolbend

Antigone05 wrote: »

I'm torn at the minute, NCT coming up soon and everyone telling me to do the NCT and use the fault list then get it worked on..

The thing is i know it will fail with my back wiper broken. A electrical fault developed a while ago, water doesn't run to it either, seems to be a leek under the car (a puddle appear after i try)

Had a small crash in last years bad snow, between the driver seat and back passenger door has a big bad dent. there is no damage done to locks etc..how will that be viewed??

My spare is ..well..i don't have one. i cant remember if they check for a spare?

Anyway..im considering just going to a garage, getting the back wiper fixed, 2 new tires..then running it off to the NCT.


Suggestions?

Just do that and see how you get on. There's no point sending it down with obvious things that it'll fail on, but the cost of the retest is cheaper than a pre nct check.

Atomic Pineapple

I think if theres no spare then they just dont have to check its thread depth, I dont think not having one is a fail.

If the dent has the potential to harm, as in if it has sharp edges that can cut it will be a fail.

You need to get your wiper fixed and new tires anyway so get them done and put it in and work off what it fails on then (if it fails)

sogood

As far as I know, you must have a road legal spare, where applicable, provided that is you dont have one of those "aerosol can fixes" as is the case with some cars, or unless you're running on "run flats". Get the things fixed that you know for sure will fail and see how you get on. A decent spare could be gotten from a breakers, wheel and tyre complete. Best of luck with it!

Stoolbend

sogood wrote: »

As far as I know, you must have a road legal spare, where applicable, provided that is you dont have one of those "aerosol can fixes" as is the case with some cars, or unless you're running on "run flats". Get the things fixed that you know for sure will fail and see how you get on. A decent spare could be gotten from a breakers, wheel and tyre complete. Best of luck with it!

I think it's only PSV's that have to have a spare!
Saying that, you should really look into getting a spare wheel OP.

Fizman

OP, only advice to give here is to do it. Take my experience as an example of why.

I got my car serviced in a reputable VW main dealer garage on Friday night. NCT was Saturday afternoon.

Garage gave me a bit of bad news after the service:

-Front left shock leaking so replace front 2
-Rear left wishbone bushing damaged so replace rear bushes
-4 tyres need replacing
-Left wheels are buckled

Put my car in regardless (if I didn't turn up I'd be paying a penalty fee for when I did turn up anyway).

Passed, not a bother.

I'd recommend getting the wiper looked at first off though as something small like that would annoy me if that was all that it failed on!

zilog_jones

Rear wipers are not tested.

Body damage might be OK but there are many conditions for failure - see the NCT manual on the website. Notably it says "Areas within 100 mm of door locks or hinges would be considered primary structure", which could be a problem for you.

A spare wheel is not required. Defects on the spare tyre (if present) are an advisory but not a fail. If an external spare wheel carrier is present it will be examined for damage and security, regardless if a wheel is present or not.

salamander27

As an owner of many bangers in my time i would suggest you get the test done first, get the list of faults and go from there.
Having spent money on it before the test it could come back with a fail for something that is beyond (or uneconomical to) repair and therefore you have wasted your money. The problems you list would not require a retest fee so if you have to get them fixed you'll just have to turn up and show they were fixed.

Antigone05

zilog_jones wrote: »

Rear wipers are not tested.

Body damage might be OK but there are many conditions for failure - see the NCT manual on the website. Notably it says "Areas within 100 mm of door locks or hinges would be considered primary structure", which could be a problem for you.

A spare wheel is not required. Defects on the spare tyre (if present) are an advisory but not a fail. If an external spare wheel carrier is present it will be examined for damage and security, regardless if a wheel is present or not.

thanks for everyone input. very helpful

the main issue (after the rear wiper, but would seem that its not tested) would be the front right tyre. i definitely need to change that, thread is going on the right edge of it..

.. for peace of mind ill replace the spare. Can anyone recommend anywhere in particular to get 2 VW Polo tyres? (im a pleb when it comes to car stuff BTW..radiator is the thing that heats the car and all that )

Its worrying about the dent near the two right side doors. sure ill put a photo up and see what ya think!

zilog_jones

Antigone05 wrote: »

the main issue ... would be the front right tyre. i definitely need to change that, thread is going on the right edge of it.

Uneven tread wear suggests there's a problem elsewhere, e.g. improper inflation, tracking or suspension problem.

Can anyone recommend anywhere in particular to get 2 VW Polo tyres?

Anywhere that sells tyres will have tyres for a Polo
Surely you'll also need a wheel for the spare, or do you have that?

radiator is the thing that heats the car and all that

The radiator takes heat away from the engine

Tea 1000

Fizman wrote: »

OP, only advice to give here is to do it. Take my experience as an example of why.

I got my car serviced in a reputable VW main dealer garage on Friday night. NCT was Saturday afternoon.

Garage gave me a bit of bad news after the service:

-Front left shock leaking so replace front 2
-Rear left wishbone bushing damaged so replace rear bushes
-4 tyres need replacing
-Left wheels are buckled

Put my car in regardless (if I didn't turn up I'd be paying a penalty fee for when I did turn up anyway).

Passed, not a bother.

I'd recommend getting the wiper looked at first off though as something small like that would annoy me if that was all that it failed on!

This is exactly why I don't give a flying crap if a car I'm buying has an NCT, even if "it only passed yesterday". All those above things are things that need to be done to keep a car in mechanically good condition. Anything less is neglect. When buying, always inspect the car mechanically, don't pass any heed on an NCT cert.
Put your car through and chance it if you just want a cert. Get it sorted if you want a good car.

Antigone05

zilog_jones wrote: »

The radiator takes heat away from the engine

i havent learnt how to use sarcasm on the internet yet then!! :P

the thread went due to low pressure. with regards to the spare tyre, as said above im lookin to get 2, one for the front right and then to replace my spare.ive never purchased a tyre (a new enough driver) ..would my local mechanic order them? or will i go to advanced pitstop? doubtful at some online stores. anywhere in dublin 16/14 if anyone knows!

Would i need to rotate the front right tyre? as in take one from the back etc...

zilog_jones

Antigone05 wrote: »

i havent learnt how to use sarcasm on the internet yet then!! :P

I suspected you were joking, but one can never be so sure on the internet - sorry I doubted you

with regards to the spare tyre, as said above im lookin to get 2, one for the front right and then to replace my spare.

Yes but do you have a spare wheel? You'll need a wheel to put the spare tyre on Any breaker's yard should have some, don't know if some tyre shop have spares too.

ive never purchased a tyre (a new enough driver) ..would my local mechanic order them? or will i go to advanced pitstop? doubtful at some online stores.

Advance, Fast Fit, etc. can be hit and miss - some are complete cowboys, and generally they aren't great value. Try and find some reputable local independant tyre shop (you're probably better off making a new thread if you want to ask here).

Would i need to rotate the front right tyre? as in take one from the back etc...

Ideally you should have two matching tyres on the one axle, so you should replace both front tyres at the same time (unless the other one is very new). If you just replace the one tyre you'll have uneven amounts of tread, which can adversely affect grip. I'd put the new tyres on the rear axle, although some will argue that it's better to have them on the front.

Antigone05

zilog_jones wrote: »

Yes but do you have a spare wheel? You'll need a wheel to put the spare tyre on Any breaker's yard should have some, don't know if some tyre shop have spares too.

.

Durrh!! sorry. yeah. i popped a tyre last year, put the spare on and never fixed or replaced the flat.

Would it be easier to get it repaired? its a 1inch tear.

zilog_jones

I don't think any tear can be repaired, definately not if it's on the sidewall. If you're going to replace the two front tyres you can put the other old tyre on the spare wheel.