NCT Pre Check - DIY

INEEDANID

Hi All

I have my NCT coming up soon and was wondering did anyone know where to find a checklist of things that you can check your self before the NCT.

I searched but could not find one.

I'll make one and post it up if needs be.

djimi

Im sure somone will be able to post a more definitive list, but start with the obvious things such as bulbs, tires, seatbelts, doors, windows etc.

Also make sure that the car is clean (not excessively dirty outside), that the back seat and boot are empty and that hubcaps have been removed.

Supergurrier

NCT pre-tests are a waste of time, service your car when it needs it and when you put the car through NCT if there is a problem you get it diagnosed for free and can bring it back after fixing it.

Biggest motoring racket going

djimi

Supergurrier wrote: »

NCT pre-tests are a waste of time, service your car when it needs it and when you put the car through NCT if there is a problem you get it diagnosed for free and can bring it back after fixing it.

Biggest motoring racket going

Thats not really what the OP is asking to be fair; they are looking for a list of things that they can look for themselves before the NCT. You shouldnt need the NCT to tell you that have a light blown for example...

INEEDANID

I meant that it would be handy to have a check list of say 40 things you could check yourself.

Save it failing on a small thing that could be easily forgot about

CiniO

I usually check.

-tyres
-lights including adjustment
-wheel allignment

from underneath the car (pit)
-leaks
-rust (especially on brakelines)
-play in suspension (balljoints, bushes)
-exhaus for air-leaks

and all obvious other things that I can't think off now.

Supergurrier

Supergurrier wrote: »

.......

Biggest motoring racket going

That'd be Terraclean :pac:

seamus

It really depends on the facilities available to you in terms of what you can check yourself.

I was sitting in a busy test centre for nearly an hour and about 15 people were called up for their results within earshot of everyone else. About half of them passed. 3 of them were told to remove their hubcaps and come back, one or two had broken lights and the rest had a series of faults. One guy was using the NCT as a way of finding out what needed to be fixed

All of the easiest things to fail on are also the easiest things to check. The majority of this is stuff you will be aware of from driving the car day-to-day;

1. Lights - do all of your lights work? Including brake lights, fog lights, side lights, etc. Are any of them cracked? There's no point in presenting a vehicle for testing with a blown or cracked light. It's a fail, no wiggle room.
NB: There are usually lights for your reg plate, at the back. You'll fail if these aren't working.

2. Tyres - Do they have enough tread? A depth checker is €5 from Halfords. Are they inflated correctly? If in doubt, stick 30psi in all your tyres, but it helps to know the recommended inflation for your tyres and vehicle.

3. Remove your hubcaps. Check your wheel nuts, ensure that they're all present and they're all the same type of nut. Give them a quick go of your wheel spanner, make sure they haven't come loose.

4. Check your engine oil. Check your coolant.

5. Engine on - there should be no warning lights on the dash and no smoke coming out of the exhaust. When the engine is warmed up, the temperature gauge should read normal.

6. Check your pedals. They have an anti-slip cover on them. If this is damaged, missing or badly worn you'll need to replace it. They should also obviously move freely when you push them with your feet.

7. Brakes - your handbrake should lock easily and not release without you pressing button. If it's prone to releasing itself, you're in trouble. Park the vehicle on a steep hill, engage the handbrake and release the footbrake. The car should obviously not move. If you want you can remove your wheel to inspect your brake pads, but unless you know what you're looking at that could be a waste of time.

8. Your horn should work. (The one on your car)

9. Your window wipers should move when operated, they should actually clean your windscreen, and your wiper fluid bottle should be full and the fluid should spray out of the nozzles.

10. Mirrors. Should obviously be present, clean and secure. They can be cracked provided that the quality of the reflection isn't compromised.

11. Seatbelts. They need to be undamaged (i.e. not frayed), they need to lock when you pull hard on them, and the retraction mechanism should be working (i.e. they shouldn't hang slack). They should lock into the catch easily and release easily when you press the button.

12. Doors - need to securely latch when you close them and open when you pull the handle.

13. Boot - empty your boot completely and check the condition of your spare tyre - tread depth and inflation. It's actually only advisory if that wheel is off, but worth looking at.

Full list of checks here. If you have a pit or a lift available to you, you'll be able to do more than the above checks.

http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf

landcrzr

RoverJames wrote: »

That'd be Terraclean :pac:

Have you tried Terraclean? I was considering it.

Kencollins

Thats a pretty good list seamus.

As far as I know the number plate lights are no longer a fail/refusal, just a fail/advisory. Happened with a car that I serviced a few weeks ago and both lights were not working.

As for the warning lights, the MIL or check engine light is not a fail once the emissions test checks out ok

shooter88

Here's everything you need to know,its no 11. Download doc in Orange writing


http://nct.ie/faq.html

johnayo

seamus wrote: »

It really depends on the facilities available to you in terms of what you can check yourself.

I was sitting in a busy test centre for nearly an hour and about 15 people were called up for their results within earshot of everyone else. About half of them passed. 3 of them were told to remove their hubcaps and come back, one or two had broken lights and the rest had a series of faults. One guy was using the NCT as a way of finding out what needed to be fixed

All of the easiest things to fail on are also the easiest things to check. The majority of this is stuff you will be aware of from driving the car day-to-day;

1. Lights - do all of your lights work? Including brake lights, fog lights, side lights, etc. Are any of them cracked? There's no point in presenting a vehicle for testing with a blown or cracked light. It's a fail, no wiggle room.
NB: There are usually lights for your reg plate, at the back. You'll fail if these aren't working.

2. Tyres - Do they have enough tread? A depth checker is €5 from Halfords. Are they inflated correctly? If in doubt, stick 30psi in all your tyres, but it helps to know the recommended inflation for your tyres and vehicle.

3. Remove your hubcaps. Check your wheel nuts, ensure that they're all present and they're all the same type of nut. Give them a quick go of your wheel spanner, make sure they haven't come loose.

4. Check your engine oil. Check your coolant.

5. Engine on - there should be no warning lights on the dash and no smoke coming out of the exhaust. When the engine is warmed up, the temperature gauge should read normal.

6. Check your pedals. They have an anti-slip cover on them. If this is damaged, missing or badly worn you'll need to replace it. They should also obviously move freely when you push them with your feet.

7. Brakes - your handbrake should lock easily and not release without you pressing button. If it's prone to releasing itself, you're in trouble. Park the vehicle on a steep hill, engage the handbrake and release the footbrake. The car should obviously not move. If you want you can remove your wheel to inspect your brake pads, but unless you know what you're looking at that could be a waste of time.

8. Your horn should work. (The one on your car)

9. Your window wipers should move when operated, they should actually clean your windscreen, and your wiper fluid bottle should be full and the fluid should spray out of the nozzles.

10. Mirrors. Should obviously be present, clean and secure. They can be cracked provided that the quality of the reflection isn't compromised.

11. Seatbelts. They need to be undamaged (i.e. not frayed), they need to lock when you pull hard on them, and the retraction mechanism should be working (i.e. they shouldn't hang slack). They should lock into the catch easily and release easily when you press the button.

12. Doors - need to securely latch when you close them and open when you pull the handle.

13. Boot - empty your boot completely and check the condition of your spare tyre - tread depth and inflation. It's actually only advisory if that wheel is off, but worth looking at.

Full list of checks here. If you have a pit or a lift available to you, you'll be able to do more than the above checks.

http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf

And just remember that if the bit in item no.8(in brackets) is not working... You'll need to book in for an NCT on yourself.:cool: