Failed NCT twice

JAMM222

Hi all

Just wondering where I stand with this....
I failed my NCT 3 weeks ago on a track rod end and a link arm for my rear suspension. I ordered the parts from England and had them fitted. My mechanic noticed that I needed another track rod and and another arm on different sides so I ordered these but didn't have time to have them before the re test. My car went through the retest today and failed on exactly what my mechanic said they should have failed my on in the first place. Now I have to have the new parts put in and rechecked by Thursday otherwise I have to pay another fifty euro on top of the 78 that I have paid already and go through the entire test again. I think it's very unfair and I think it's very irresponsible for them to have me driving around in a car that isn't roadworthy

Jamm

Vanbis

JAMM222 wrote: »

I think it's very unfair and I think it's very irresponsible for them to have me driving around in a car that isn't roadworthy

Unfair on who exactly? If the car failed then it is not roadworthy. If you choose to continue to drive around in your car then that is your own choice and responsibilty.

JAMM222

JAMM222 wrote: »

.............. I think it's very unfair and I think it's very irresponsible for them to have me driving around in a car that isn't roadworthy

I can see your point. If you are so concerned about roadworthiness though you should get the car checked out more often, especially when your mechanic is on the ball. Also surely your mechanic could have sourced the bits locally for you when the car was with him.

Vanbis

Vanbis wrote: »

Unfair on who exactly? If the car failed then it is not roadworthy. If you choose to continue to drive around in your car then that is your own choice and responsibilty.

The NCT folk didn't spot the full extent of the unroadworthiness

JAMM222

It's unfair that they only spotted half the problem the first time...... I fixed what they told me I needed to get fixed it failed on something different the second time

JAMM222

RoverJames wrote: »

I can see your point. If you are so concerned about roadworthiness though you should get the car checked out more often, especially when your mechanic is on the ball. Also surely your mechanic could have sourced the bits locally for you when the car was with him.

Cheers I only realised when I failed the NCT and I had to order the parts from the UK as it's impossible to find an upper arm for the rear suspension of an MGTF here! Sam with the front upper arm that I had to order.... They are expensive as well!!!

Vanbis

RoverJames wrote: »

The NCT folk didn't spot the full extent of the unroadworthiness

Ah ok. Well we all know the NCT is just another money racket making machine for those in power.

Personally I've only ever had one bad (ish) experience in over 10 years and about the same number of cars, they failed a car that I was after getting a new cat for on emissions. Other than that I have found them fine really.

TestTransmission

RoverJames wrote: »

Personally I've only ever had one bad (ish) experience in over 10 years and about the same number of cars, they failed a car that I was after getting a new cat for on emissions. Other than that I have found them fine really.

I don't think I've had any tbh.,they actually let one issue kinda slide as they knew the car was well looked after. I could of easily been failed that day

JAMM222

TestTransmission wrote: »

I don't think I've had any tbh.,they actually let one issue kinda slide as they knew the car was well looked after. I could of easily been failed that day

That's fair enough I look after my car as well as I can and have no problem getting the work done on it I just think it's very unfair that they didn't find all the problems the first time around. Think I will give them a shout tomorrow and ask them to extend my deadline until my mechanic has time to put the new parts in... If they don't agree to that I am going to get onto the consumer rights agency....... I will be getting the parts put in ASAP as my priority is to make sure that my car is running correctly and safely

afaik they should only have been retesting what it failed on strictly speaking, I would thing the first tester was incompetent and the 2nd is just doing his job, pity about the 28 day thing though.

JAMM222

RoverJames wrote: »

afaik they should only have been retesting what it failed on strictly speaking, I would thing the first tester was incompetent and the 2nd is just doing his job, pity about the 28 day thing though.

That's exactly how I see it...... Very annoying

couldntthink

The NCT is very unpredictable. It would be impossible to list all the stupid things I've seen from them in the past 8 or 9 years. I have seen quite a few dangerous cars pass the NCT and also plenty of perfect cars fail it. All depends on who you get on the day, and what kind of mood they are in. Consistency is out the door in that organisation.

Brilliant money spinner for mechanics though, despite it's flaws.

johndaman66

JAMM222 wrote: »

TestTransmission wrote: »

I don't think I've had any tbh.,they actually let one issue kinda slide as they knew the car was well looked after. I could of easily been failed that day

That's fair enough

Is it though?

No doubt it depends on the severity of the problem. I'd have no quams about the NCT testers using their personal disgression if they did so in a sensible and somewhat intellegent manner but many I've come across simply don't. They failed me for a corroded brake line once. When I got under the car the worst I could say about the brake line was that it was somewhat tarnished, solid out. A light rub of some emery cloth, brasso and and an old tooth brush later and it passed next time round. Meanwhile theres a petrol hose underneath the car that looks like it about to crumble away with the rust and it goes unmentioned.

A friend once failed for a worn steering rack. He took it off sanded it and painted it. Low and behold they passed him second time round. Now I'm not condoning what my friend did, not by any means, if the steering rack needed replacing (which I don't know). My point is that it doesn't particularly paint a very good picture of the competence of the NCT tester(s) who examined the car.

The above is just a snapshot of a few bad stories of mine and that I've heard. Many more where they came from. I used to assume that people who complained about NCT were only looking for excuses to complain, but now I can certainly see their points.

CiniO

RoverJames wrote: »

afaik they should only have been retesting what it failed on strictly speaking,

And so they did.
It failed on track rod so they couldn't check wheel allignment with loose track rod.
Now this track rod was fine, but other one was gone, so they still couldn't check alignment.

I would thing the first tester was incompetent and the 2nd is just doing his job, pity about the 28 day thing though.

Maybe at the time of first test other track rod was fine, and just went in the mean time.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

I think it's very unfair and I think it's very irresponsible for them to have me driving around in a car that isn't roadworthy

Jamm:eek:


Its' irresponsible of THEM for you to be driving around???

I have had a lot of experience of the NCT over the years and I have failed on everything from emmissions to a split pin. I also have failed on a brake line that only had tarnishing on it. A rub of a cloth and it was fine. However I have never seen anyony fail on a retest for something that was passed the first time.

You seem to think of the NCT as an engineers report. If you have faith in what they told you put the car off the road until the repairs are carried out. It costs less than €30 for a retest. Cheap for independent advice!

However, if you think it's a money making racket continue to drive but it's a bit rich to blame them for your continued driving, and this is coming from someone who is no fan of NCTS

JAMM222

I think their job is to tell me if my car is safe to drive or not and on this occasion they got it wrong.... I'm not disputing that the work needs to be done believe me I will have the new parts put in ASAP but I don't think I should have to give them another 50 euro.... Times are hard enough on people at the moment.... The parts and the labour are expensive enough without having to give them more money I think if you fail you should get a free retest within 30 days after all if you do fail it's going to cost you more money to get your car fixed and up to scratch....€128 for an NCT that doesn't include parts and labour is a rip off as far as I am concerned

2 stroke

Yes, the nct is a rip off, but I can't understand how someone can show up with the problem you describe without knowing that the car isn't roadworthy.

eringobragh

As much as I hate the NCT €50 for a full check on your motor is peanuts..sucks now I have to do it yearly..:o brake hoses seem to be there thing the last few years, my friend failed heres and I checked it..a speck of surface rust! not heavily corroded.

A light sand and a polish of the cable and good as new.. to be fair it was absolutely fine...bit of a racket that carry on now.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

Ok.. You failed the test...Was this not the first hint that you car was unsafe...Or would you prefer a sliding scale..I'm sorry sir but your car is a little bit unsafe today???

It's not their fault you are still driving around!!!!!!!!

Thank you Boards. I never thought I would ever have to defend NCTS. I will wake up in the morning and blieve it's all a dream:o

Wheres My ForkandKnife

OK I am sorry if I came across as a bit harsh. I am more of a lurker than a poster. I am amazed that you failed on something that passed previously.

I know things are tight. I would love to have a pot to piss in (honestly I'm looking for pots as we speak).Take comfort in the fact that you will two years NCT free and clear.

And if if makes you feel any better think of all those people who pay for an NCT check when really an NCT check is just part of a service