What does the NCT actually tell you?

GTE

Howdy,

The car passed the NCT today. Funds are tight, so I'm glad of the result. I have done my usual fluid and filter change a couple of weeks back, brake fluid renewal is on the list for next week.

But what about the rest of the car? Does the visual aspect of the test take into account bearings/bushings etc? Would a bushing which needs replacement pass if it's not the cause of serious danger?

I read a lot about sending the car through to see what's wrong and fix it, I'm just wondering how much is in this and whether the yearly NCT is a substitute for getting the car checked over in a garage every year when I personalty take care of fluids, filters and brakes and know when jobs like timing belts are due.

Thanks

darragh o meara

bbk wrote: »

Howdy,

The car passed the NCT today. Funds are tight, so I'm glad of the result. I have done my usual fluid and filter change a couple of weeks back, brake fluid renewal is on the list for next week.

But what about the rest of the car? Does the visual aspect of the test take into account bearings/bushings etc? Would a bushing which needs replacement pass if it's not the cause of serious danger?

I read a lot about sending the car through to see what's wrong and fix it, I'm just wondering how much is in this and whether the yearly NCT is a substitute for getting the car checked over in a garage every year when I personalty take care of fluids, filters and brakes and know when jobs like timing belts are due.

Thanks

All the Nct is, is a record of what the items they check were like at the exact time of testing. Nothing more. It should not in any circumstances be used to evaluate a cars overall condition. .

A worn bushing will fail the test and a worn bearing should fail too.

I've heard of cars and even had my own car breakdown leaving the test centre, for an item that was tested a few mins previously and found to be okay.

A yearly check up is highly recommended as there are things that will be checked that you might not have checked. Plus failing items can be picked up usually before they fail and in most cases allow for work to be done before the failure occurs and leaves you stranded at the side of the road.

JC01

The NCT means frig all to be honest, it just means the car passed a specific test either through its condition or a lazy tester.

If ya take care of your own fluids etc then look at a few how-tos on youtube and maybe get a Haynes manual for your car. This way you'll learn to check the condition of your bushings/bearings etc. it might feel like your looking at a steel jigsaw puzzle the first few times but you'll quickly get the hang of it, or a "feel" for the condition of the parts your inspecting

alias no.9

Passing the NCT means that it doesn't need to be tested again until the specified date and that if a Garda really want's to do you for something, they'll have to be a bit more creative.

flintash

nct is my lottery. or as many would call money racket. dont worry much about Nct once you have the disk, but if you want to keep the car in good shape- youtubeit and learn. its good place to start with the forums of particular car you have.

billie1b

Money making scam, never trust a word the testers tell you as they're not even mechanics, my car failed on emissions, its was saying 6.125/m on the reading, maximum allowed was 3.0/m for my car, booked it in for 2 days later and everything passed, having to pay an extra €28, never even got anything done to the car to fix it, knew it was just the testers making money for the company

JC01

billie1b wrote: »

Money making scam, never trust a word the testers tell you as they're not even mechanics, my car failed on emissions, its was saying 6.125/m on the reading, maximum allowed was 3.0/m for my car, booked it in for 2 days later and everything passed, having to pay an extra €28, never even got anything done to the car to fix it, knew it was just the testers making money for the company

Clearly your not a mechanic either...

billie1b

JC01 wrote: »

Clearly your not a mechanic either...

Clearly 'you're' not educated either

Guy:Incognito

billie1b wrote: »

Money making scam, never trust a word the testers tell you as they're not even mechanics,

Strange that when they advertise jobs they list being a qualified mechanic as a requirement.

Maybe you should ring them and tell them to correct the ads when they are running them

billie1b

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Strange that when they advertise jobs they list being a qualified mechanic as a requirement.

Maybe you should ring them and tell them to correct the ads when they are running them

Ask your NCT centre to provide proof that your tester is a fully qualified mechanic, it will never happen, they will produce a cert to say your tester is qualified in the testing process.

Toyotafanboi

bbk wrote: »

Howdy,

The car passed the NCT today. Funds are tight, so I'm glad of the result. I have done my usual fluid and filter change a couple of weeks back, brake fluid renewal is on the list for next week.

But what about the rest of the car? Does the visual aspect of the test take into account bearings/bushings etc? Would a bushing which needs replacement pass if it's not the cause of serious danger?

I read a lot about sending the car through to see what's wrong and fix it, I'm just wondering how much is in this and whether the yearly NCT is a substitute for getting the car checked over in a garage every year when I personalty take care of fluids, filters and brakes and know when jobs like timing belts are due.

Thanks

tbh it already sounds like you're two steps ahead of the average irish motorist. if your car passed the NCT and you do your own servicing and keep a vigilant eye yourself, you are doing a good job imo. just get a second opinion, even on here if you're ever unsure.

quadrifoglio verde

bbk wrote: »

Howdy,

The car passed the NCT today. Funds are tight, so I'm glad of the result. I have done my usual fluid and filter change a couple of weeks back, brake fluid renewal is on the list for next week.

But what about the rest of the car? Does the visual aspect of the test take into account bearings/bushings etc? Would a bushing which needs replacement pass if it's not the cause of serious danger?

I read a lot about sending the car through to see what's wrong and fix it, I'm just wondering how much is in this and whether the yearly NCT is a substitute for getting the car checked over in a garage every year when I personalty take care of fluids, filters and brakes and know when jobs like timing belts are due.

Thanks

To be honest if you're doing your own servicing you won't need a garage to tell you what needs replacing. Have a look at stuff like the bushes and disks and pads every so often, as well as tyres and brake lines. A garage isn't going to do much more when you send it in for a service. You'll generally know if a bush needs to be replaced by the way the sound of the suspension

jca

billie1b wrote: »

Money making scam, never trust a word the testers tell you as they're not even mechanics, my car failed on emissions, its was saying 6.125/m on the reading, maximum allowed was 3.0/m for my car, booked it in for 2 days later and everything passed, having to pay an extra €28, never even got anything done to the car to fix it, knew it was just the testers making money for the company

They are qualified Mechanics. How could the tester get your car to produce more smoke to "deliberately" fail the test?

pippip

I'd agree that the nct is a money making racket to a certain extent. But there are bits of the test that your service mechanic wouldn't spot. If your mechanic checked everything that is done in the test they would never make any money as it would all take too long.

It also does try and stop people driving death traps on the road like they used to. You have to remember not everyone services their car, there are plenty of men and women out there who just keep driving till something goes wrong.

From the money point of view they obviously have targets they must meet. One of the mechanics I go to is near one of the centres and he told me he always knows when they need a sudden burst of income as he suddenly gets a flood of retests for stupid things that in many cases he can't see anything really wrong.

jca

pippip wrote: »

I'd agree that the nct is a money making racket to a certain extent. But there are bits of the test that your service mechanic wouldn't spot. If your mechanic checked everything that is done in the test they would never make any money as it would all take too long.

It also does try and stop people driving death traps on the road like they used to. You have to remember not everyone services their car, there are plenty of men and women out there who just keep driving till something goes wrong.

From the money point of view they obviously have targets they must meet. One of the mechanics I go to is near one of the centres and he told me he always knows when they need a sudden burst of income as he suddenly gets a flood of retests for stupid things that in many cases he can't see anything really wrong.

How though? The testers aren't on commission they just work for a weeks wages. Everything they do is dictated to them by the nct manual with bulletins added to it at various times. The centres are regularly inspected by independent inspectors (the AA I think) and those guys take no messing either.

pippip

jca wrote: »

How though? The testers aren't on commission they just work for a weeks wages. Everything they do is dictated to them by the nct manual with bulletins added to it at various times. The centres are regularly inspected by independent inspectors (the AA I think) and those guys take no messing either.

Im just passing on his opinion based on what's comes into him. It may not be extra money in their pocket but they can still be given targets to meet. Plenty of cases on boards of testers missing obvious stuff and the opposite of them knit picking over stupid things.

GTE

Righteo, lets leave all that jazz at the door.

I built this thread with my bare hands and it's designed to help out a DIYer who wants to know if the yearly NCT for a 10+ year old car is good enough to negate the need for a mechanic to check over the car every year for items other than fluids, filters, brakes, timing belts and things which the DIYer has covered.

Essentially, without a ramp or desire to get under the car on stands, the suspension components are the ones I'd be less likely or able to investigate.

jca

bbk wrote: »

Righteo, lets leave all that jazz at the door.

I built this thread with my bare hands and it's designed to help out a DIYer who wants to know if the yearly NCT for a 10+ year old car is good enough to negate the need for a mechanic to check over the car every year for items other than fluids, filters, brakes, timing belts and things which the DIYer has covered.

Essentially, without a ramp or desire to get under the car on stands, the suspension components are the ones I'd be less likely or able to investigate.

I think that's a great plan.

pippip

bbk wrote: »

Righteo, lets leave all that jazz at the door.

I built this thread with my bare hands and it's designed to help out a DIYer who wants to know if the yearly NCT for a 10+ year old car is good enough to negate the need for a mechanic to check over the car every year for items other than fluids, filters, brakes, timing belts and things which the DIYer has covered.

Essentially, without a ramp or desire to get under the car on stands, the suspension components are the ones I'd be less likely or able to investigate.

Your being forced to pay 55euro every year for the nct inspection, there really isn't a need to check yourself. I use the nct to tell me what's wrong each year and then get it fixed.

Even when I know something is wrong with the car I put it in for the test before sending off to a mechanic. that way you have a definite list of the problems and also eliminates the need for your mechanic to waste time investigating the car. Dont get me wrong, if something breaks or i notice the car is not driving right i'll get it fixed straight away.

It's also a lot less stressful when you know you've failed before you head in. (i'm a worrier)