Lights adjustment vs NCT.

CiniO

Many people seem to fail their NCT for improper dipped lights adjustment.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you go to garage to adjust your light, all they do is position car on level surface, and put equipment for measuring if beam is right. If it isn't, then small adjustments are done with screws on your lights. Obviously sometimes there might be bigger problem (like lights adjustment screws broken, etc) but usually it's as simple as described above.

Then you go NCT centre, and what they do is position your car on level surface and put equipment for measuring if beam is right. (same as above) If it is, then it's OK. If it isn't then it's a NCT fail. But...

At this stage when all is setuped anyway, it would be only a minute job or even less for NCT tester to adjust the light with screws. Surely this extra minute wouldn't make any difference for the operation of NCT centre, and it would be a huge saving in time and money for all of us.

It's just one of those things, which would cost NCT centres nearly nothing, while it would be great improvement for nearly all car owners.

Why don't they do it then? It would even persuade to do their NCT more gladly.
Would it sound great - GET YOUR CAR NCTed for €55 and get your lights adjustment for free

Or am I just a dreamer?

Marcusm

This is the difference between Irish NCT and UK MOT; the latter is carried out in normal garages licenced to do the test and there are lists of the types of remedial work which can be carried out during the test and which still permit a pass.

Anan1

Many people seem unable to get their heads around the idea than the NCT is a test as things stand, I think your idea would only breed further ignorance and resentment.

challengemaster

Ah but see, if they do that then they can't fail the car on lights being set wrong, which means they can't charge another €28 for a retest to use the lane/equipment again.

Which means they'll never do it.

-Corkie-

Good point Cinio I often thought about it also why dont they sell bulbs??. How many people have checked there bulbs only to arrive at the test centre to find out one isnt working. Most DOE centres supply such a service at a inflated price obviously but who cares its a good service.

I know you are supposed to carry spare bulbs which I do but most motorists dont..

nct tester

I think the most important things to remember here is that nct workers do not get extra money for failing more cars and secondly not many car owners would be impressed to look out at a tester trying to adjust their lights because if the adjuster is broken for some reason and the lights still fail , the customer will accuse the tester of adjusting them to fail. A lot of car owners bring their cars to the test center, and have nothing done to prepare them, tyre pressures can range from 10psi to 80psi on the same axle, dip beam bulbs not working, seatbelts stuck behind seats , no water in the washer bottle etc If you dont get your car prepared properly beforehand ,then you cant expect an nct worker to start adjusting lights.

CiniO

nct tester wrote: »

I think the most important things to remember here is that nct workers do not get extra money for failing more cars

Would be really strange if they did.

and secondly not many car owners would be impressed to look out at a tester trying to adjust their lights because if the adjuster is broken for some reason and the lights still fail , the customer will accuse the tester of adjusting them to fail.

It doesn't really make sense.
If lights are misalligned, NCT tester could try to adjust them, but if adjusters are broken, then obviously he can't and therefore fail for it.
I can't see any problem here.

A lot of car owners bring their cars to the test center, and have nothing done to prepare them, tyre pressures can range from 10psi to 80psi on the same axle, dip beam bulbs not working, seatbelts stuck behind seats , no water in the washer bottle etc If you dont get your car prepared properly beforehand ,then you cant expect an nct worker to start adjusting lights.

Surely you can't expect NCT worker to start adjusting light if one of the lights is not working. But generally I assume most cars presented for NCT have their lights working.

enumbers

I would say that at least half of the headlight aim fails we see are wrongly fitted bulbs. You can't expect a tester to starting messing with bulbs, also out of the other half you will have broken adjusters, frosted lenses, burnt reflectors etc..

nct tester

CiniO wrote: »

Would be really strange if they did.


It doesn't really make sense.
If lights are misalligned, NCT tester could try to adjust them, but if adjusters are broken, then obviously he can't and therefore fail for it.
I can't see any problem here.


the problem arises when you try to adjust lights that the adjuster is broken on, while a customer is staring out the window at you, and when u fail to adjust them, then you are accused of failing them intentionally , and then the whole 'money racket' argument kicks off. If people are happy enough to drive around for a long time with incorrectly focused lights , then they are hardly too bothered with passing the test. You would be surprised how many cars come in with dip beam bulbs not working, bulbs fitted incorrectly and headlamps only held onto the car by the wiring connection.