NCT visual re-check

Danandrew

Hi everyone,
I hope I'm in the right place. I'm just looking for a few opinions on the following. Had a visual re check today as I had to replace tyres on my car. That was the only fail so got new tyres immediately. I never removed the hubcaps as I figured it was a visual & surely it's clear to see if the tyres are new without removing hubcaps?? Anyway, I passed the NCT, was given my cert & went out only to find the 4 hubcaps lying on the ground behind the car. I was quite annoyed but just put them in the boot & took off. I think the tester was just being a b*****d!😡😡

So is my irritation justified? I thought removal of the hubcaps for the NCT is to facilitate the tester in checking the wheel nuts, not checking tyre tread? PS don't worry...this is just for my peace of mind, I don't intend kicking up a fuss over 4 pieces of plastic😊

Saucy McKetchup

Danandrew wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I hope I'm in the right place. I'm just looking for a few opinions on the following. Had a visual re check today as I had to replace tyres on my car. That was the only fail so got new tyres immediately. I never removed the hubcaps as I figured it was a visual & surely it's clear to see if the tyres are new without removing hubcaps?? Anyway, I passed the NCT, was given my cert & went out only to find the 4 hubcaps lying on the ground behind the car. I was quite annoyed but just put them in the boot & took off. I think the tester was just being a b*****d!😡😡

So is my irritation justified? I thought removal of the hubcaps for the NCT is to facilitate the tester in checking the wheel nuts, not checking tyre tread? PS don't worry...this is just for my peace of mind, I don't intend kicking up a fuss over 4 pieces of plastic😊

They still needed to check if the nuts were tightened correctly after you had your tyres changed!

toyotaavensis

Sounds to me like the tester was sound to take them off for you but do you really expect him to put them back on for you.

Perhaps you would also like him to wash your car and change the oil?

Danandrew

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Sounds to me like the tester was sound to take them off for you but do you really expect him to put them back on for you.

Perhaps you would also like him to wash your car and change the oil?

God, the sarcasm!! No, I did not expect him to put them back on. Or to change the oil. Or to wash the car. I simply wondered if it were necessary for him to remove the hubcaps when it was quite obvious to anyone that the tyres were new. Thanks for your reply

toyotaavensis

Sorry lad. I dropped a nine inch cavity block on my foot this morning (I was wearing sandals).
I shouldnt have taken out my sore foot on you.

djimi

Danandrew wrote: »

God, the sarcasm!! No, I did not expect him to put them back on. Or to change the oil. Or to wash the car. I simply wondered if it were necessary for him to remove the hubcaps when it was quite obvious to anyone that the tyres were new. Thanks for your reply

The fact that the wheels have been off the car recently is all the more reason to check the nuts in fairness.

Soarer

It failed on the tyres, so IMHO he shouldn't have checked the nuts. They'd already passed the test the first time 'round.

Like if it had failed on passenger side brake light bulb being blown, that's what they check at the retest. They don't look at the driver's side.

dougie-lampkin

Soarer wrote: »

It failed on the tyres, so IMHO he shouldn't have checked the nuts. They'd already passed the test the first time 'round.

Like if it had failed on passenger side brake light bulb being blown, that's what they check at the retest. They don't look at the driver's side.

But you don't have to take out the driver's side bulb to change the passenger's side bulb.

If you pass the brake force test and then fail on a bulged hose spotted on the ramp, they'll repeat the brake test after the repair for obvious reasons. I would have thought checking wheel nuts after getting tyres fitted was just as obvious?

Del2005

Soarer wrote: »

It failed on the tyres, so IMHO he shouldn't have checked the nuts. They'd already passed the test the first time 'round.

Like if it had failed on passenger side brake light bulb being blown, that's what they check at the retest. They don't look at the driver's side.

In order to change the tyres the wheels have to come off. What would happen if they didn't check the wheels were put on correctly, how many motorists check the nuts after a few km driving, and the car crashes with a fresh NCT due to wheel coming off?

IMO a car should be presented for a visual as for the test, therefore hubcaps off.

truedoom

Apologies for the other dicks in the thread.

I'd assume he needed to check if all the wheel nuts were in place, so that's why he took them off. No idea tbh.

Should have went back in and asked

Danandrew

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Sorry lad. I dropped a nine inch cavity block on my foot this morning (I was wearing sandals).
I shouldnt have taken out my sore foot on you.

Ouch, sounds sore!! Given the circumstances, you're forgiven!!!

Danandrew

truedoom wrote: »

Apologies for the other dicks in the thread.

I'd assume he needed to check if all the wheel nuts were in place, so that's why he took them off. No idea tbh.

Should have went back in and asked

TBH I was in a bit of a rush, the place was packed & I did wonder in hindsight if they should've been removed & that maybe he was right until I mulled it over later & concluded he was a bit of an ass!!!
The wheel nut suggestion would make complete sense in fairness and is very understandable...were it not for the fact that he removed all 4 hubcaps despite the fact that 1 was perfectly fine. And (just for my own info), is it possible to check by hand if wheel nuts are tight enough?

Saucy McKetchup

Danandrew wrote: »

And (just for my own info), is it possible to check by hand if wheel nuts are tight enough?

Check with a wheel brace

Del2005

Danandrew wrote: »

TBH I was in a bit of a rush, the place was packed & I did wonder in hindsight if they should've been removed & that maybe he was right until I mulled it over later & concluded he was a bit of an ass!!!
The wheel nut suggestion would make complete sense in fairness and is very understandable...were it not for the fact that he removed all 4 hubcaps despite the fact that 1 was perfectly fine. And (just for my own info), is it possible to check by hand if wheel nuts are tight enough?

If you can move the nuts with your hand they are definitely too loose. But you should really give them a squeeze with a wheel brace to be sure.

Page 64 of the manual gives the wheel check. They only do a visual and could have refused the test if you refuse to remove the hud caps, the tester did you a favour yet you complain!


https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=LaHGU4OpFOGV7AaZyoGoCw&url=http://www.ncts.ie/NCT%2520Manual%2520Revise%2520May%25202012.pdf&cd=1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNGUsbPuWx_ofwtVV9Qrz46NtUKlfg&sig2=hZzqJGNLk7FDXblRBLJxDA

BrensBenz

djimi wrote: »

The fact that the wheels have been off the car recently is all the more reason to check the nuts in fairness.

Correct. And you should check them again in a week or two, not just that they are tight but that they are at the correct torque.

Oh, how we laughed when my daughter couldn't undo the wheel nuts of her punctured tyre. Trouble is, no-one else could undo them either! After breaking a wheel brace and a socket, we had to use a heat gun to loosen the nuts. Tyre shops are not known for torquing wheel nuts properly so either DIY or insist that the torque is correct. HINT: The correct torque is in the owners manual!

spiggotpaddy

I put the bro,s Octavia through the test. Stuck on two new track rod ends , they were looking a bit tired.l told him to get it tracked, he didn't, so it failed on alignment and A Worn Track rod end.
FFS
Got it tracked and it passed.
Fuking NCt wannabe mechanics putting two and two together and getting ****.
Visual me arse.

Stella Virgo

Danandrew wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I hope I'm in the right place. I'm just looking for a few opinions on the following. Had a visual re check today as I had to replace tyres on my car. That was the only fail so got new tyres immediately. I never removed the hubcaps as I figured it was a visual & surely it's clear to see if the tyres are new without removing hubcaps?? Anyway, I passed the NCT, was given my cert & went out only to find the 4 hubcaps lying on the ground behind the car. I was quite annoyed but just put them in the boot & took off. I think the tester was just being a b*****d!😡😡

So is my irritation justified? I thought removal of the hubcaps for the NCT is to facilitate the tester in checking the wheel nuts, not checking tyre tread? PS don't worry...this is just for my peace of mind, I don't intend kicking up a fuss over 4 pieces of plastic😊

NCT mechanics do not remove hubcaps! consider yourself very lucky, he could have refused to test it .

mgbgt1978

....and the reason he didn't put the wheel trims back on is for the same reason that the NCT require you to bring the car in without them.
If one was to fall off later you can not come back and blame them for fitting them incorrectly and demand a new wheel trim.


Some testers would refuse to perform the (admittedly simple) retest because the wheel nuts were not visible.