NCT question: will missing LEDs from the middle brakelight result in a fail ?

franksm

Hi folks

Have the NCT coming up on Friday and of course the car has started throwing some randomness at me.

The middle brakelight is a generic 32-LED unit. Just now, three out of the 32 have stopped working. Will this result in a fail ?

This is my second generic unit in the car - Chinese items sourced from Ebay. I doubt I have time to get a proper, good quality replacement bought and fitted in time. Someone recommended just removing it - if the lamp unit isn't in the car, it can't be tested and therefore can't be passed.

Any ideas ?

Thanks
Frank

MrFrisp

franksm wrote: »

Hi folks

Have the NCT coming up on Friday and of course the car has started throwing some randomness at me.

The middle brakelight is a generic 32-LED unit. Just now, three out of the 32 have stopped working. Will this result in a fail ?

This is my second generic unit in the car - Chinese items sourced from Ebay. I doubt I have time to get a proper, good quality replacement bought and fitted in time. Someone recommended just removing it - if the lamp unit isn't in the car, it can't be tested and therefore can't be passed.

Any ideas ?

Thanks
Frank

I got my Octavia tested a few weeks ago,,and it has one of those extra brake lights on the back window. I think there is about 10 small bulbs in it,,and no matter how much I tried,I couldn't get them all to work at the same time.

I took it down though,and although about 3 or 4 weren't working,,it still passed the test.

Hope that helps.




.

mullingar

NCT tests for brake light "imbalances".

I'd disconnect the LED light for the test if its not bang in the middle

franksm

Thanks dudes

If I don't get a replacement in time, I'll remove it from the car for the test.

MarkR

From nct manual

Note: For LED matrix lamps, incur a fail for reason (2) above if less than 50% of LEDs are working in any single unit matrix.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CE4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rsa.ie%2FDocuments%2FNCT%2FNCT%2520Manual%2520Revise%2520May%25202012%252028.05.2012.pdf&ei=pC7fT7vLNYO4hAeSreiKCg&usg=AFQjCNEQSPUrVBzJrZEYMQjZ6NxXd6ztEg

franksm

Thanks for the link to the NCT manual. Printed it off and it made good throne reading last night. Looks like all LED clusters are allowed to be <50% broken before it becomes a problem. That doesn't sound ideal for, say, main brake lights but it is what it is. I will leave my unit in the car as is until I get a proper replacement. Again, lesson learned about buying cheap LED tat off Ebay.

The NCT manual has also put me off installing HID bulbs into the car. There's a whole section* dedicated to that, and HID conversions will supposedly fail if there no level-sensors, headlamp-wash etc fitted. Interesting...


*new section as of April 2012

djimi

franksm wrote: »

The NCT manual has also put me off installing HID bulbs into the car. There's a whole section dedicated to that, and HID conversions will supposedly fail if there no level-sensors, headlamp-wash etc fitted. Interesting...

Im fairly sure my HIDs have none of those things! Or is it just for aftermarket HID kits?

franksm

Here's a cut and paste from the doc:

New section as of April 2012: Section 30 - Headlamp condition - changes to include test on HID lights

<snip>
Where HID (High Intensity Discharge) bulbs are fitted switch on the headlights and check that cleaning devices such as headlamp 4. wipers or high pressure water jets are present and work. Check where possible that the headlamp levelling device is working

<snip>
4. HID headlamps must be installed as a complete type-approved system. The system will include automatic cleaning. HID headlamps can be recognised by:
a) the light having a bluish tinge,
b) the light taking a few seconds to reach full intensity,
c) the headlamp having an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp,
d) the headlamp having ”DC” (for HID dipped beam), “DR” (for HID main beam), or “DCR” (if both are HID) marked on the lens. This marking should be visible from the exterior of the vehicle but in some cases the markings may be hidden under the bonnet and this may need opening to obtain a clear view.

<and then in the section for "reasons for failing">
15 HID bulb fitted in a non-HID headlamp.
16 Automatic headlamp levelling device not operating or manual headlamp levelling device cannot be operated from driver’s seat.
17 Mandatory headlamp cleaning device not present.
18 Mandatory headlamp cleaning device not operating.

mullingar

NCT needs to update its website.

As of today the http://www.nct.ie/pdf/nctmanual.pdf has the 2010 test, not this new 2012 test.

Thankfully I put the wifes Focus through the NCT in April with aftermarket HIDs before the new rules come out! (It passed )


@OP, Can you change the title a little to add "with the new 2012 test requirements"?

franksm

Just did the NCT tonight, but the car failed big time on the oddest of things:

- they couldn't find the VIN number on the car, and the one in the windscreen doesn't count, so they failed it on that. These things must be stamped all over the car in various places. WTF ?

- windscreen has a small L-shaped crack in the corner, well out of the 'visible' zone in front of the driver. Something that's always been there and has passed previous NCTs.

- brake pedal has no anti-slip provision (yet passed previous NCTs).


- power steering has continuous leak - which it doesn't, it's just oil from my messy oil-change methods. Oil level for the power-steering has never dropped in the resevoir.


Guess I forgot to leave a 50 euro note in the ashtray, seeing as this was Fonthill...

barneygumble99

what make and year car is it??

franksm

1997 Jag XK8