Will They Do The NCT Test?

MadDog76

The fuel gauge needle on my Ford Focus is showing empty (even though I know it's at least 3/4 full) and my Test is coming up in the next couple of days .......... will they still do the Test?
I know they'll probably fail me because of the fuel gauge problem (it's most likely the sensor as the gauge needle works) but will they still do the full Test on everything else?

Also does anybody know if replacing the sensor is a big job (as in how long would a garage take to do it) and if it's expensive?

Cheers

monkeysnapper

My Audi a4 2003 Battery was drained while waiting to go onto a ferry a few months ago , ....was very stressful , I had left lights on and air con going while Queing to get on ferry , they used leads and on I got at back just in time.

Anyway I noticed my needle on fuel gauge had gone down to zero , I knew I had 3/4 in tank, I sheepishly looked under car hoping to God I didn't have a leak, anyway on way off at other end my car still was on empty, digital gauge also said 0 .

When I went to garage to fill car again next day the gauge started working again . It went to half when I knew it was full. So I knew I had roughly 550 miles to a tank and did 450 and filled it again. It reset after that.

MadDog76

I've tried that, refilling it etc. but it's just gone at this stage ......... the sensor needs replacing.

The problem I have is will they take my word for it in the NCT centre that the car has plenty of fuel in it to do the Test or will they just not take the chance?

pudzey101

have u checked all fuses first ?

Should be no issue with test , i brought my car out near empty and they said nothing

MadDog76

pudzey101 wrote: »

have u checked all fuses first ?

Should be no issue with test , i brought my car out near empty and they said nothing

Haven't checked fuses yet (not great with cars) ........ how/where would I check if it's the fuse?

I could see them doing the Test on a "near" empty car but mine has a yellow "this car is f*****g empty" warning light that I doubt would be overlooked

corktina

if it isn't a fail to have the gauge not working, just tell them when you book in you just filled it and there's plenty in there. Fill it on way there and show them receipt if necessary

pudzey101

what year is the focus ? As far as i know (and from what ive read) you have to drop the fuel tank to access the sender unit,

MadDog76

corktina wrote: »

if it isn't a fail to have the gauge not working, just tell them when you book in you just filled it and there's plenty in there. Fill it on way there and show them receipt if necessary

Not sure if it's a fail or not and I don't mind if it is as I do intend to get it sorted anyway ......... but I read somewhere that you must have x amount of fuel in the the tank (think it was 1/4 full?) in order to do the Test and I don't know if me just telling them it has enough fuel will be good enough even with a receipt for a recently filled car???

MadDog76

pudzey101 wrote: »

what year is the focus ? As far as i know (and from what ive read) you have to drop the fuel tank to access the sender unit,

It's a 04 ..........

Whosthis

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

There's no mention of it in that manual, not sure if its been revised since.

MadDog76

Whosthis wrote: »

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

There's no mention of it in that manual, not sure if its been revised since.

I've just trawled through that entire manual and you're right, absolutely no mention of the fuel gauge specifically .......... I think I'll just go ahead with the Test and kick up a fuss if they try refuse to do it

Whosthis

MadDog76 wrote: »

I've just trawled through that entire manual and you're right, absolutely no mention of the fuel gauge specifically .......... I think I'll just go ahead with the Test and kick up a fuss if they try refuse to do it

ctrl+f is your friend

corktina

My 04 plays up like that too...usually comes back though...I always assumed the sender was stuck

biko

To answer the original question - yes they will test everything else if they fail it on the needle.

MadDog76

biko wrote: »

To answer the original question - yes they will test everything else if they fail it on the needle.

I'll hold you to that!!!

Noccy_Mondy

There is or was something on the NCT website saying that each car being presented must have sufficient fuel to carry out the test. I'm assuming that's still the way.

MadDog76

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

There is or was something on the NCT website saying that each car being presented must have sufficient fuel to carry out the test. I'm assuming that's still the way.

That's my worry .......... I do/will have enough fuel to carry out the Test but with the fuel gauge needle reading empty will they refuse to carry out the Test based on them not knowing for sure there is sufficient fuel in the car?

Noccy_Mondy

MadDog76 wrote:

That's my worry .......... I do/will have enough fuel to carry out the Test but with the fuel gauge needle reading empty will they refuse to carry out the Test based on them not knowing for sure there is sufficient fuel in the car?

Like it was said, put some into it just before the test and show the receipt if necessary. Don't think it's a fail if that's not working, but they'd want to be ignorant if they refused to test it if you show them proof there's fuel in it. They mightn't even pass any heed of the fuel gauge if they're busy, just hop in and take off....

foregloss

I had an engine light coming on that I know was nothing, I applied black insulation tape very neatly over it. What they dont see they cant fail on. May work for you. If its a sensor it should be easy to fix after

MadDog76

Did my Test yesterday evening ........... decided on the way to the Test Centre that I would fill the car up (I estimated that it was between half and three quarters full already) and keep the receipt in case they queried the fuel gauge reading empty .......... on the drive over the needle flickered to life reading full!!??!

Ten minutes later was in the Centre, passed no problem!

The thing is after leaving the Test Centre (with new NCT Cert in hand) I went and filled the car to the brim and the needle went back to zero

Anybody any clue what the problem could be???

mgbgt1978

foregloss wrote: »

I had an engine light coming on that I know was nothing, I applied black insulation tape very neatly over it. What they dont see they cant fail on. May work for you. If its a sensor it should be easy to fix after

Emgine light is only a fail on Diesels.

rex-x

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Emgine light is only a fail on Diesels.

Engine light is not a fail on anything? And there is no such thing as an engine light coming on for "nothing"

Anjobe

rex-x wrote: »

Engine light is not a fail on anything? And there is no such thing as an engine light coming on for "nothing"

They will refuse to do the diesel smoke test if the EML is on. It is listed in the manual as one of the pre-checks.

mgbgt1978

They won't test a diesel if the EML is on. Read the Manual....Item no. 2 on page 10

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/NCT/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20JULY%202014.pdf


....and they won't ask why it's on. They will simply refuse to smoke test it.

Stheno

rex-x wrote: »

Engine light is not a fail on anything? And there is no such thing as an engine light coming on for "nothing"

Yes it is on diesels

rex-x

Since when? I have had many tested through work with eml on, no problem

mgbgt1978

Are you sure they were diesel ?

Stheno

rex-x wrote: »

Since when? I have had many tested through work with eml on, no problem

Forever, it's on page ten of the test criteria smoke test will not be done if engine warning light is on

rex-x

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Are you sure they were diesel ?

Yes of course, I work as a diesel specialist :pac: hmm you learn something new every day