NCT Could it be a dodgy one, and not a fake?

georgefalls

What do you lads make of this..?

Bought a 2001 Alfa Spider on Tuesday 30th August. The NCT was issued the same morning, and passed.

Drove it home, and its been sat there since.

Its been in getting belts today. Mechanic rang me first thing, to come andhave a look at what he'd found.

O/S inner CV boot split, and dry inside. Hadn't just happened.
N/S outer CV boot split almost in half.
O/S brake pipe almost split through. Not a fresh cut either.
N/S side light not working. Ok bulbs can blow at any time & it is an Alfa..!

How the hell did they manage to miss all four defects..?
I'm guessing it a case of "mates rates". The guy I bought from is a car dealer.

It makes me wonder, what else might have been "let slip through".

I'm ringing the NCT customer line in the morning. See what they have to say.
Mullingar NCT test centre if any one was wondering. Inspectors ID is "edited"

Any thoughts..?

mgbgt1978

From the facts you stated it would appear that the words "car dealer" are the biggest hint here.
BTW the split in the brake pipe would be my biggest worry...not that it's "almost cut through", but what caused the cut in the first place?
Apart from that ,if it's just a couple of CV boots and a brake hose (on top of the cost of the timing belts:eek:) then good luck with the car, they look well and not too many about.

georgefalls

I knew before I bought it, that I'd be doing the belts. So I'd factored for that.

My main concern really is, that if the NCT cert was done as a "favour" just to shift the car. Is the car actually roadworthy at all?

mgbgt1978

As long as the engine isn't rattling it's brains out and the car isn't riddled with rust then you are probably fine.
You should probably edit the Tester's ID out of your original post. They are the guy's initials and immediately identify him (or her) to anybody familiar with the test centre....it could have been an oversight rather than a shoddy test for a dealer.
Apart from all that they are a great looking car and rare enough to be a future classic....sooner ,rather than later.:)

georgefalls

Never thought of the name bit. I've edited it out. Thanks.

Did I mention, its bright red as well. The best colour for an Alfa..LOL

georgefalls

georgefalls wrote: »

What do you lads make of this..?

Bought a 2001 Alfa Spider on Tuesday 30th August. The NCT was issued the same morning, and passed.
.................................

O/S inner CV boot split, and dry inside. Hadn't just happened.
N/S outer CV boot split almost in half.
.................
It makes me wonder, what else might have been "let slip through".

I'm ringing the NCT customer line in the morning. See what they have to say.
Mullingar NCT test centre if any one was wondering. Inspectors ID is "edited"

Any thoughts..?

Most definitely slipped through as a favour/cash in hand me thinks. They fail cars on CV boots for fun and it's not the sort of thing that you'd miss if you took a propor look. In fairness though as other folk have mentioned if the car is sound otherwise no major harm done, I wonder how the NCT folk will react to your call. If the mileage on the cert is only a few miles less than what's on it now it makes it awkward enough for them. They could well just claim that the boots could have split anytime and that they might not have gotten a lash of grease when installed.

Gophur

georgefalls wrote: »

I knew before I bought it, that I'd be doing the belts. So I'd factored for that.

My main concern really is, that if the NCT cert was done as a "favour" just to shift the car. Is the car actually roadworthy at all?

You seem to be under the mistaken impression the NCT cert is a certificate of road-worthiness? It's not. It's just a piece of paper required by Law.

For a car to be road-worthy, the onus is on you to make sure.

mgbgt1978

Also , if you really want to complain you should take the car back to the original test centre and have a chat (a nice long chat) with the supervisor there.
If you ring the helpline you will only get through to somebody who is definitely not a trained mechanic and will only read from a script until you get p1ssed off.
After all that;
DON'T ring Joe Duffy
DON'T tell the Sunday World
DO send off a nice email to the RSA, The AA, and the Dept. of Transport.
If you want to, send a copy to the NCT.
Please keep us informed of any news regarding the issue.

georgefalls

Lads, it gets WORSE..!

The dealer selling the Spider told me on the day, that he'd replaced the N/S front bearing. My mechanic was in there earlier, changing the break pipe. The bearing wasn't actually replaced, the whole hub was. Trouble is its not the right one. Looks like one off a 156 or something.

The ABS sensor is just hanging there, not connected to anything. This would of course show on the dash, when the ignition is turned on. It doesn't. So, either the bulbs been taken out, or sticky taped up. Would still be a NCT failure.

Its looking more and more like the NCT is dodgy. Before I bought it I did a carcheck on it. I've since been back and put the details of the NCT in, and it is coming back as number not known. I contacted the carcheck people, and they said it depends how quick the NCT computer is updated. He was surprised, because it usually it only takes a few days to appear. Its been a whole week now.

I'm going to ring the dealer in the morning, before I inform the NCT people, to give him a chance to correct things. Or at least come up with a viable explanation. I'm not holding out much hope at this point though.

I knew it would be too good to be true. I feel a bit gutted at the moment

The dealer seemed like a genuine sort of guy as well..

I drove the car from Meath to Carlow, 75 miles as the google map crow flies. And it never moved since.

ottostreet

I was there with George for the purchase and was the one who drove the car back, very disappointed to hear this.

mondeo

Sorry to hear about this op, my gf bought a 3 series from a cockney Villain of a car dealer out in Lucan direction at start of year.It had a new nct on it and the car was plagued with oil and coolant leaks which were nothing new according to our own mechanic. He reckoned also the dealer knew somone who did him a favour and got his auction special passed.The car has since been sold on as it was a absolute pig!

Did you get a warranty with the car? If it's one if those 3 month engine and gearbox ones then it will be as useful as that pigeon on your roof sh!tting down your chimney..

flutered

no wonder people are of the opinion that the nct is a rip off, a money making item for the gov and a cosy relationship with the dealers.

georgefalls

No warranty, I bought the car knowing the belts needed doing. Which I was willing to undertake. Just wasn't prepared for the rest of the little "surprises".
The dealer is away until Monday, so I'll have to wait till then to have a word.
I've spend all day looking for a replacement hub assembly, no luck. So, if anyone knows of a breaking GTV, Spider, 145, 146 or 155. Could they get in touch.
Cheers

Wolverine_1999

georgefalls wrote: »

No warranty, I bought the car knowing the belts needed doing. Which I was willing to undertake. Just wasn't prepared for the rest of the little "surprises".
The dealer is away until Monday, so I'll have to wait till then to have a word.
I've spend all day looking for a replacement hub assembly, no luck. So, if anyone knows of a breaking GTV, Spider, 145, 146 or 155. Could they get in touch.
Cheers

A dealer can't sell without warranty.. or at least a "guarantee". The sale of goods act covers you for that.

I would put any of the other costs that were not agreed upon or talked about in their pocket. Just act ignorant like they would if they try to play the "sold as seen" game..

Veloce

Sorry to hear it George I hope you get the car sorted. You'll have to bring it to the next alfa meet when it is!

georgefalls

I'll be talking to the guy on Monday. See what he has to say.

Next Alfa meet is 24th September. In portlaoise.

MagicSean

I recently got my car NCT'd and it failed on the window tint. Removed the tint and brought it back. Guy just looked at it and said "Fine" and it passed. Brought it to a mechanic for a service and discovered there was a cv boot split and completely dry and one of the wheel barings was going. In addition one of the alloys was slightly buckled (****ing potholes). How the NCT mechanic missed all of that I'll never know.