NCT workaround?

wet-paint

Hey folks,

So I've a question regarding a stopgap I have in mind for the car. They failed me last month for, among other things, the middle brake light on the rear window not working. I took a look at it this afternoon, and it's a loose cable between the boot and the body, up at the hinge (it's a hatchback). It works if I push on it, but stops when I take my hand off, and I'm wondering if it'd pass if I just remove the entire light? I'd like to try and fix it, but it's all enclosed in a rubber hose that I can't detach at either end.

Both regular brake lights work fine, and the middle one is superfluous as far as I can see, so my point of view is that sure, if it doesn't work, then fail me, no worries, but if it's simply not there, would it not be examined as if it's a car that only has the two regular lights?

Has anyone any experience with this? Has it worked out for ye?

Cheers,
WP

650Ginge

wet-paint wrote: »

Hey folks,

So I've a question regarding a stopgap I have in mind for the car. They failed me last month for, among other things, the middle brake light on the rear window not working. I took a look at it this afternoon, and it's a loose cable between the boot and the body, up at the hinge (it's a hatchback). It works if I push on it, but stops when I take my hand off, and I'm wondering if it'd pass if I just remove the entire light? I'd like to try and fix it, but it's all enclosed in a rubber hose that I can't detach at either end.

Both regular brake lights work fine, and the middle one is superfluous as far as I can see, so my point of view is that sure, if it doesn't work, then fail me, no worries, but if it's simply not there, would it not be examined as if it's a car that only has the two regular lights?

Has anyone any experience with this? Has it worked out for ye?

Cheers,
WP

no third brake light no nct.

wet-paint

Cheers for the reply. And is that for every car?

pablo128

If someone runs into the back of you, and it's discovered that you removed one of your brake lights, the nct will be the least of your worries.

wet-paint

Well, that goes without saying.

CiniO

If car was originally equipped with third brake light, then you will fail if you remove it.

I think all car in the EU were required to have third brake light somewhere from mid-90's.
Unless your car is older than that, then you will need to fix it.

Some quotes from NCT manual:

2. Additional stop lamps (other than those fitted by the vehicle manufacturer) are not part of the test.

Which generally means that those fitted by manufacturer are part of the test.

And next:

REASONS FOR FAILURE
Stop Lamps 1 Missing or not clearly visible.

http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/NCT%20Manual%20July%202014.pdf

wet-paint

Lovely stuff, thanks for that.

wet-paint

You said it yourself, to save a few quid. I'll have a go at it so and see if I can get it working.

corktina

can you not rig a temproary cable up from the other lights?

650Ginge

Eu directive since 1998.

wet-paint

corktina wrote: »

can you not rig a temproary cable up from the other lights?

Good call, that's what I'll try, cheers.

CiniO

650Ginge wrote: »

Eu directive since 1998.

I said mid-90's, but then I realised I had Cinquecento from 1997 which didn't have 3rd brake light.

wet-paint

And I a Fiesta with only the two, '97 too.

ardle1

Cable tie it into the position you held it in when it worked.

Sobanek

CiniO wrote: »

I said mid-90's, but then I realised I had Cinquecento from 1997 which didn't have 3rd brake light.

Our 99 Tico didn't have a 3rd brake light!

CiniO

Sobanek wrote: »

Our 99 Tico didn't have a 3rd brake light!

Maybe it only applied to vehicles first "type approved" after 1998.
F.e. the same as obligatory DRLs came in in 2012 AFAIR, but it only applied to vehicles first type approved after that date, so even until today some models are sold without DRLs as just they kept manufacturing those models from before 2012.

debabyjesus

Had a 99 avensis with the 3rd brake light on the boot spoiler, bit of a pig to replace so i just sprayed it, passed nct no bother.