NCT What would you do ?

Discodog

My Freelander is due an NCT & has the dreaded "three amigos". This is when the ABS, TC & Hill Decent lights stay on. There are many possible causes. Some are cheap & easy but others can cost a fortune.

I am considering two choices:

1. Pay my main dealer €120 for a 20 min diagnostic check to hopefully define what is causing the fault. Only main dealers can perform the test on this particular model & forums are full of tales of dealers getting the diagnosis wrong. It is not unusual for someone to pay several hundred to correct the wrong fault.

2. Take the three warning lamp bulbs out & hope that the NCT technician does not notice that no ABS light comes on. He is supposed to check it if the vehicle has ABS.

Any thoughts ?

Atlantic Dawn

No warning lights are currently a fail on the NCT, it will pass as is.

Discodog

I believe that as the continual illumination of the ABS indicates a fault it is a definite fail according to the NCT manual

corktina

get the vehicle fixed.....its not acceptable to be looking for ways to get a faulty vehicle through the test

Discodog

The vehicle is not faulty. The ABS, Hill Decent & TC all work. The only faulty bit is the on board diagnostics that illuminate the lights.

You may be able to spend thousands fixing a warning light - I can't.

corktina

"NCT What would you do ? " was your question...




"get the vehicle fixed" is my answer...

Yawns

Have the senors checked, could be off.

My brother's abs sensor was off on his car, the mech said he'd fixed it but he actually didn't do it right. He let my bro borrow the device for resetting the light so the nct fella will clear him. This only worked as it was a visual re-test for the light, so when the light is reset, it will stay off until the car moves then it will come back on.

Car passed the test and the mech fixed the light properly a few mins after the test. I know someone who took out the abs bulb before and passed so some don't check it

biko

Option 1


Sheldon: Your check engine light is on.
Penny: Mmm-hmm.
Sheldon: Typically that's an indicator to ... check your engine.
Penny: It's fine. It's been on for like a month.
Sheldon: (alarmed) Actually that would be all the more reason to ... you know, check your engine.
Penny: Sheldon, it's fine.
Sheldon: If it were fine, the light wouldn't be on. That's why the manufacturer installed that light, to let you know it's not fine.
Penny: Maybe the light's broken.
Sheldon: Is there a check the check engine light light?

Discodog

I agree with option 1. Just the thought of possibly paying out a fortune when the tester might not check the light. I have just read where one guy was told by his dealer that it needed a new ABS unit - megabucks. One week later the lights came on again & the dealer was adamant that it was a different/new fault.

The worry is that the dealer reads off a code & you have to believe him. One of the good things about the NCT is that, unlike UK MOT stations, they do not carry out remedial work so they have no incentive to find fault.

sundodger5

different makes of tyre on the car? not following the tyre change instructions as per the manual will give you the "three amigos"

Atlantic Dawn

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

No warning lights are currently a fail on the NCT, it will pass as is.

They failed a car I put in last summer for the ABS light not coming on at all (I had removed the bulb ). Had to actually fix it then :eek:

Fishtits

Discodog wrote: »

The vehicle is not faulty. The ABS, Hill Decent & TC all work. The only faulty bit is the on board diagnostics that illuminate the lights.

?.

I'd be chasing L/R over that one. Product liability doesn't end with the waranty period, especially if its a known issue.

Discodog

This is a huge known issue. About 30% of Freelanders suffer from it & about 40% of this model suffer from a known subframe fault. There have been class actions in the USA but I am not aware of any successes.

It can need an ABS unit or it can be a €15 brake light switch. The dealers make it worse by charging so much for a 10 minute check. When I was with a main dealer we wouldn't charge for diagnostics. After all it is not a repair.

Fishtits

Fishtits wrote: »

?.

I'd be chasing L/R over that one. Product liability doesn't end with the waranty period, especially if its a known issue.

complete and utter waste of time to chase lr about this issue.

Eoin

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

No warning lights are currently a fail on the NCT, it will pass as is.

It is a fail:

(4) Warning light not working or indicates a defect in the anti-lock system.

From the manual (pdf)

bladespin

I'd get it sorted, especially anything to do with the brakes.

A cheaper option might be found here forums are a great source of knowledge, saved me a fortune over the years, even if it's just down to isolating the problem before going to a mechanic about it, time saved is money saved.

Discodog

With this fault it is the other way around. You have to go to the dealer to get the fault diagnosed & then either find someone to fix it or do it yourself. The Landrover forums are vital & you often get more accurate info that from the dealer.

There is a lot of evidence that dealers either misdiagnose or lie. I have read of people who took their car to two dealers & got a different diagnosis from each one. It is so easy for the dealer to lie as there is no way of proving them wrong. It must be tempting to say that the car needs an ABS unit & lots of labour at €100 per hour than a brake light switch.