Now I know the nct is rubbish!

pred racer

My car failed the nct last week ( 01 c5 2.0 hdi 175,000mls)
Failed, front imbalance
Rear imbalance,
Smoke test,
And headlight alignment.

I thought this quite strange, as I changed the front discs and pads a month ago, rear discs and pads 6 months ago, (I also got a ball joint and a track rod end changed but that's neither here nor there) I've never seen any smoke coming out of it.
So I brought it to a mechanic, he checked everything and could find nothing wrong, so I put a bottle of injector cleaner in it and booked a retest.

This morning (in a different centre)
Front imbalance 5%
rear imbalance 7% (limit is 30%)
Smoke test .49/m (limit is 3)
Headlights pass

WTF???

Iron Hide

NCT is a ****in money making machine, plus its (afaik) mainly computerised so the tiniest bit of dust/dirt/oil on a sensor or robot arm or whatever could render the thing useless.

YouTookMyName

peasant

pred racer wrote: »

My car failed the nct last week ( 01 c5 2.0 hdi 175,000mls)
Failed, front imbalance
Rear imbalance,
Smoke test,
And headlight alignment.

I thought this quite strange, as I changed the front discs and pads a month ago, rear discs and pads 6 months ago, (I also got a ball joint and a track rod end changed but that's neither here nor there) I've never seen any smoke coming out of it.
So I brought it to a mechanic, he checked everything and could find nothing wrong, so I put a bottle of injector cleaner in it and booked a retest.

This morning (in a different centre)
Front imbalance 5%
rear imbalance 7% (limit is 30%)
Smoke test .49/m (limit is 3)
Headlights pass

WTF???

Only possible explanation is that you brought it to the first test with a cold engine and rusty brakes (from not having used them properly for a while)

HAMMERCURRENT

That’s unbelievable! In fact I don’t believe it!

pred racer

peasant wrote: »

Only possible explanation is that you brought it to the first test with a cold engine and rusty brakes (from not having used them properly for a while)

It had been sitting idle for 2 weeks, but I'd done over 500 miles the weekend before the first test, it was driven aggressively to both tests (and the rest of the time aswell )

I'd hope that it was something like that though,
I got such a shock when I got the first results, I was pretty sure it would sail through!

pred racer

HAMMERCURRENT wrote: »

That’s unbelievable! In fact I don’t believe it!

Don't then, makes no difference to me.

Divorce Referendum

Scan the two test results and post them up here, that should silence most doubters. Im not surprised with the nct. Have heard similar stories from other people.

Let's not forget the mechanic having a looksee in between the tests. Was it the same mechanic that did the brakes etc?

slimjimmc

So, are you going to lodge a complaint and try to get a refund for one of the tests?

LOTTOWINNER

RoverJames wrote: »

Let's not forget the mechanic having a looksee in between the tests. Was it the same mechanic that did the brakes etc?

Agree, maybe mechanic intervened, also why did you use 2 different test centres?

greenermetals

Had a Ford brought in here last month, passed the nct a month ago, and the chassis was rotten, it had broken, literally broken in two, and the back axle had come off the chassis. Shouldve taken pics. Couldnt believe it.

Skatedude

the nct is a bit of a joke at times. They tried to fail me for a slipping clutch once. Took nearly an hour or arguing with them to get to sit in the car for a second and to point out the problem to me.

He couldnt as it was an automatic.:rolleyes:

Gabbo57

Yet instead of complaining and having the NCT investigate to try and get to the root of your problem, you've kept schtum and paid out more money for the re-test. Your the bigger fool.

I guarantee you, if you went back to the center and spoke to someone in charge they would've looked into it for you.

This is the problem with this country, too many people quick enough to bad mouth the NCT yet won't do anything about it if they feel hard done by, man up and speak up. Procedures are put in place for these situations, for these problems, for a reason.

The lads testing your car have no incentive to fail your car, they don't make any extra money by failing it.

mickey mac

pred racer wrote: »

I thought this quite strange, as I changed the front discs and pads a month ago, rear discs and pads 6 months ago, (I also got a ball joint and a track rod end changed but that's neither here nor there) I've never seen any smoke coming out of it.
So I brought it to a mechanic, he checked everything and could find nothing wrong, so I put a bottle of injector cleaner in it and booked a retest.

If my car failed like this after having pads and discs replaced, I too would be very surprised, I would be looking for an explaination from the mechanic who carried out the work, and request that he paid for the retest.
Btw, why did you not have the retest done at the same centre that failed your car?

GTE

What is the big deal about using a different centre?
Of all the questions in this thread that makes the least sense.

mickey mac

bbk wrote: »

What is the big deal about using a different centre?
Of all the questions in this thread that makes the least sense.

I didn't realise that using one test centre for a test and another for the retest was standard practice, I had assumed that bringing the car back to the same centre was the norm, well! I learned something new today, thanks for that!

JustAddWater

How about a 2nd opinion? Or compelte mistrust of the first centre? If they failed me like that i'd certainly be taking it to another place

You wouldn't go back to a mechanic if he did a crap job would you? Why go back to the same NCT who obviously didn't do a good job?

I would have thought that was blindingly obvious! :rolleyes:

mickey mac wrote: »

I didn't realise that using one test centre for a test and another for the retest was standard practice, I had assumed that bringing the car back to the same centre was the norm, well! I learned something new today, thanks for that!

mickey mac

JustAddWater wrote: »

How about a 2nd opinion? Or compelte mistrust of the first centre? If they failed me like that i'd certainly be taking it to another place

You wouldn't go back to a mechanic if he did a crap job would you? Why go back to the same NCT who obviously didn't do a good job?

I would have thought that was ! :rolleyes:

But how would you know if another test centre was better or worse than the one you weren't happy with, would it not be better to explain to the testers that the brakes have all been renewed and can they explain why the car failed.
It could be a fault with their test equipment or possibly operator error, but just moving from center to center until your car passes doesn't sound blindingly obvious to me.

LOTTOWINNER

bbk wrote: »

What is the big deal about using a different centre?
Of all the questions in this thread that makes the least sense.

My question was directed at the OP, and I thought it was prefectly reasonable question to ask, but thanks for acting as pred racer's spokesperson.

mickey mac

mickey mac wrote: »

But how would you know if another test centre was better or worse than the one you weren't happy with, would it not be better to explain to the testers that the brakes have all been renewed and can they explain why the car failed.
It could be a fault with their test equipment or possibly operator error, but just moving from center to center until your car passes doesn't sound blindingly obvious to me.

Its actually quite common, it has been mentioned on here a number of times and Ive head it from one or two people also where they failed in one NCT center and did the nct in another without doing anything with the car and passed.

If you were just over the limit on some emission test say, its far from impossible that a machine in another center may read a small bit different but enough to get you through.

mickey mac

Maddux Curved Rugby wrote: »

Its actually quite common, it has been mentioned on here a number of times and Ive head it from one or two people also where they failed in one NCT center and did the nct in another without doing anything with the car and passed.

If you were just over the limit on some emission test say, its far from impossible that a machine in another center may read a small bit different but enough to get you through.

Thanks for reply Maddux Curved Rugby,
I still find this pretty amazing, I can understand tests that are visual being subjective depending on different testers opinions, but I had thought that all the test equipment would be calibrated to the same standard in all test centres.
The industry that I work in also has test equipment, which must have a valid calibration cert when the ISO inspectors call to do an audit, I thought this would be exactly the same in the NCT test centres. :eek:

mickey mac

mickey mac wrote: »

Thanks for reply Maddux Curved Rugby,
I still find this pretty amazing, I can understand tests that are visual being subjective depending on different testers opinions, but I had thought that all the test equipment would be calibrated to the same standard in all test centres.
The industry that I work in also has test equipment, which must have a valid calibration cert when the ISO inspectors call to do an audit, I thought this would be exactly the same in the NCT test centres. :eek:

You would assume that they would read the same but I'm fairly sure (not 100% as its a while since I was told) that different centers can give different emissions readings, it could be down to the operator.

Same as yourself with equipment I use a work if its not calibrated to a very strict standard results are of little use.

I think averall its may be different operators that probably make the difference and maybe some centres pass cars easier for what ever reason.

mickey mac

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Scan the two test results and post them up here, Im not surprised with the nct. Have heard similar stories from other people.

This would be interesting! cause it would be possible to calculate the percentage error between the two test centres, even if the OP just typed both sets of results into the thread, no need to scan the certs.

LOTTOWINNER

mickey mac wrote: »

This would be interesting! cause it would be possible to calculate the percentage error between the two test centres, even if the OP just typed both sets of results into the thread, no need to scan the certs.

Front imbalance 5%
rear imbalance 7% (limit is 30%)
Smoke test .49/m (limit is 3)
Headlights pass

31%+ TO 5%
31%+ TO 7%
3 + TO 0.49

These are very large differences from 1 test centre to another, there has to be numerous cars failing at this centre which should be passing. Hope it's not my local test centre:D

GTE

LOTTOWINNER wrote: »

My question was directed at the OP, and I thought it was prefectly reasonable question to ask, but thanks for acting as pred racer's spokesperson.

You're welcome.

Moving back onto a reasoned debate about the topic, since the OP had the car checked by a mechanic after the first failed test it makes sense to then question the trust put into the first centre and then go for another to see if they agree with the mechanic or the first centre. If the car failed again then I would be wondering how good that mechanic is but it didn't so the original test centre needs to be put under pressure.
If the OP is to be believed then the first centre is not giving the standard of work that is expected which is wrong considering we are paying for it.

Has the OP contacted the centre or higher up the chain of command about it?

route66

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Scan the two test results and post them up here, that should silence most doubters. Im not surprised with the nct. Have heard similar stories from other people.

Name and shame!

stee.mc79

How regular are there test equipment inspected you'd have to wonder? The smallest imbalance can throw the results off by along way. I might be wrong jst an idea.

LOTTOWINNER

bbk wrote: »

What is the big deal about using a different centre?
Of all the questions in this thread that makes the least sense.

bbk wrote: »

Moving back onto a reasoned debate about the topic

If only I was also a Sage.:)

GTE

LOTTOWINNER wrote: »

If only I was also a Sage.:)

Quote and remark all you want but at the end of the day I have given a reason for what I think and you haven't done a thing towards proving your question to the OP had any intelligence to it, at least yet.

All I am looking for from the people who advise retesting in the same centre is a good reason why it is advisable to do a retest in the same centre when one is questioning the fundamental testing ability of it. It does not put the independent mechanics ability under scrutiny.

Bruthal

Gabbo57 wrote: »

Yet instead of complaining and having the NCT investigate to try and get to the root of your problem, you've kept schtum and paid out more money for the re-test. Your the bigger fool.

Well when a car fails an NCT, the usual procedure is to have a re-test. How would you complain about failing a test and somehow avoid paying for a re-test? He can only complain after the completely different results of the re-test, by which time he has already paid the second time.