NCT bonnet catch question.

my3cents

What happens if the bonnet catch is broken on an NCT but there is another way to open the bonnet.

Old VW Polo and the cable has come off at the end. I got in by taking the grill off and just put a hole in the metal work in front of the catch so if you know where to look you can just pop the bonnet with a screw driver.

Great I thought saves me getting a new cable and the hassle of fitting it the it dawned on me it could be a problem for the NCT

I guess I just have to get a new cable and fix it?

Mech1

When your cars on fire, who's gonna tell the fireman how to wiggle the screwdriver?

colm_mcm

I wouldn't bother putting an old polo out.

tossy

Mech1 wrote: »

When your cars on fire, who's gonna tell the fireman how to wiggle the screwdriver?

By the time the fire brigade arrive they'll have little interest in opening the bonnet.

You will however probably fail OP.

boardsuser1

my3cents wrote: »

What happens if the bonnet catch is broken on an NCT but there is another way to open the bonnet.

Old VW Polo and the cable has come off at the end. I got in by taking the grill off and just put a hole in the metal work in front of the catch so if you know where to look you can just pop the bonnet with a screw driver.

Great I thought saves me getting a new cable and the hassle of fitting it the it dawned on me it could be a problem for the NCT

I guess I just have to get a new cable and fix it?

Has to work to the manufacturers specifications otherwise it isn't safe. VW didn't design bonnets to open with screwdrivers in this day and age, that is how the tester will look at it. I had an issue exactly like yours on a megane, cost me 90e to get it sorted all in, that was including a genuine Renault cable.

Esel

As long as the bonnet opens and closes securely it is not a fail. Forget the fire brigade...

my3cents

I think I'll spend an afternoon of frustration the next time we have some decent weather and see if I can do something with whats there first. I have the cable and the crimp on the end of it but on the cold wet day I was working on the engine I wanted to get something else fixed and couldn't for the life of me work out how it attached. It looks like the catch needs to be pushed which of course you can't do with a cable. Once I can see how its meant to go together if I can't fix it I'll get a new cable. NCT is six months away so no desperate rush.

Del2005

Esel wrote: »

As long as the bonnet opens and closes securely it is not a fail. Forget the fire brigade...

The tester is going to look for the clip that holds every other bonnet down if they can't find it they will fail the car, they aren't going to get a screwdriver to open the bonnet.

Esel

Del2005 wrote: »

The tester is going to look for the clip that holds every other bonnet down if they can't find it they will fail the car, they aren't going to get a screwdriver to open the bonnet.

They did with mine - twice. Actually they let me open the bonnet for them.

boardsuser1

Esel wrote: »

They did with mine - twice. Actually they let me open the bonnet for them.

Which test centre was this at? I was done for mine not working.

tanko

Esel wrote: »

As long as the bonnet opens and closes securely it is not a fail. Forget the fire brigade...

Actually it is a fail. I got an Octavia tested recently and the lever to lift the bonnet wasn't coming out the whole way through the grill, but it was easy enough to get it out all the same.
The spring was stiff and needed to be oiled.
The car failed on a worn bushen as well. It would have been a pain just to go back for a visual on the bonnet catch.

Esel

Car was a Ford. Bonnet wouldn't open with key (common problem). Work-around was to remove the barrel and use a long flat screwdriver to activate opening mechanism.

I checked the NCT manual. In relation to the bonnet, the relevant entries say:

"Check that the bonnet and boot lid catches are operating properly. In the case of front opening bonnets, ensure that the safety catch is fitted and operating properly."

Fail if "Bonnet or boot catches defective or bonnet safety catch missing or defective"

The catches themselves were working perfectly. I spoke to the tester before he took the car in and explained the situation. He just had me open the bonnet for him (it's a bit tricky...).

It passed two tests in this condition no problem. If it hasn't, I would have argued the point based on the manual.

JohnBoy26

tanko wrote: »

Actually it is a fail. I got an Octavia tested recently and the lever to lift the bonnet wasn't coming out the whole way through the grill, but it was easy enough to get it out all the same.
The spring was stiff and needed to be oiled.
The car failed on a worn bushen as well. It would have been a pain just to go back for a visual on the bonnet catch.

And it's less of a pain having to replace bushings and pay for a retest?

tanko

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

And it's less of a pain having to replace bushings and pay for a retest?

Yeah, I didn't put that very well. When I think about it the alignment was almost perfect on the first test, it was the worn bushing that was the problem. It should really only have been a visual inspection to check that the bushing had been replaced on the retest.
It's amazing how often the NCT testers manage to find an excuse to ensure that their equipment has to be used for re tests and €28 has to be handed over.

paddydriver

My 2008 S-Max was in earlier in the year and bonnet catch would not close once opened - the safety catch was fine but would not fully lock down. Fix was to just get in under it and loosen up the cable and then try again, and then it would lock. I knew of the issue but totally forgot on the day.

Put it into NCT and they failed it and would not let me drive it away as it was classed as dangerous. Told them I was able to get it locked and they said if I can do that then they will pass it - it was parked up in a corner so I took tester over and showed him that I had it closed OK.. only for him to then open it again.. Aargh.. thought I was fooked now.. anyway, he let me do my thing and get it locked again, and gave me my pass cert.

Cannot be sure all test centre's will be same.

my3cents

my3cents wrote: »

What happens if the bonnet catch is broken on an NCT but there is another way to open the bonnet.

Old VW Polo and the cable has come off at the end. I got in by taking the grill off and just put a hole in the metal work in front of the catch so if you know where to look you can just pop the bonnet with a screw driver.

Great I thought saves me getting a new cable and the hassle of fitting it the it dawned on me it could be a problem for the NCT

I guess I just have to get a new cable and fix it?

Esel wrote: »

As long as the bonnet opens and closes securely it is not a fail. Forget the fire brigade...

Esel wrote: »

Car was a Ford. Bonnet wouldn't open with key (common problem). Work-around was to remove the barrel and use a long flat screwdriver to activate opening mechanism.

I checked the NCT manual. In relation to the bonnet, the relevant entries say:

"Check that the bonnet and boot lid catches are operating properly. In the case of front opening bonnets, ensure that the safety catch is fitted and operating properly."

Fail if "Bonnet or boot catches defective or bonnet safety catch missing or defective"

The catches themselves were working perfectly. I spoke to the tester before he took the car in and explained the situation. He just had me open the bonnet for him (it's a bit tricky...).

It passed two tests in this condition no problem. If it hasn't, I would have argued the point based on the manual.

HTH

Esel

Augeo wrote: »

HTH

WTF does HTH mean?

Had to google that arcane (to me) acronym:

"HTH means "Hope That Helps" or "How The Hell"

I don't ever plan to use it - LTS!

Still not sure what your point is though - something related to what you bolded, but what exactly?

Edit: The OP's catch wasn't actually broken - the opening mechanism was just disconnected. Not the same thing at all.

Special Circumstances

HTH
Hands. Touching Hands.

Reaching out.

Touching meee..... touching youu.


HTH.

Esel

Esel wrote: »

.......

Edit: The OP's catch wasn't actually broken - the opening mechanism was just disconnected. Not the same thing at all.

the OPs situation is an NCT fail.

HTH is happy to help, many who need it aren't happy to receive though

jca

Esel wrote: »

WTF does HTH mean?

Had to google that arcane (to me) acronym:

"HTH means "Hope That Helps" or "How The Hell"

I don't ever plan to use it - LTS!

Still not sure what your point is though - something related to what you bolded, but what exactly?

Edit: The OP's catch wasn't actually broken - the opening mechanism was just disconnected. Not the same thing at all.

What does LTS mean? Why don't people speak/write English anymore?

my3cents

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I had a autotesting Ford KA that had a broken catch. I installed a hook like device that you could use. Passed the NCT no problems.

That was something I was thinking about doing. I think I need to drill the catch to secure a short bar I can put a ring on the end of but just in case I mess it up and have to put a new cable in I don't want to damage or modify the slot that the original cable slips into.

Esel

jca wrote: »

What does LTS mean? Why don't people speak/write English anymore?

Life's too short - I might have made that one up.

jca

Esel wrote: »

Life's too short - I might have made that one up.

Ha ha 10/10 for that one!!