NCT before timing belt service

LeChienMefiant

Usually I would NCT my car before servicing in case anything comes up in NCT that needs attention. Is there any risk in putting car through NCT when it's due timing belt change? I'm not entirely familiar with the stresses put on the car during the test.

Car is 2011 Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI

kilianmanning

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

Usually I would NCT my car before servicing in case anything comes up in NCT that needs attention. Is there any risk in putting car through NCT when it's due timing belt change? I'm not entirely familiar with the stresses put on the car during the test.

Car is 2011 Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI

Yes. To do smoke test your engine will have to be revved to 3k rpm. You will have to sign a sheet at centre to say that if the belt snaps or turbo runs away it isn't their fault. Nct isn't a great way of making sure a car is mechanically sound by the way, they aren't too fussy in my local centre.

FishOnABike

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

Usually I would NCT my car before servicing in case anything comes up in NCT that needs attention. Is there any risk in putting car through NCT when it's due timing belt change? I'm not entirely familiar with the stresses put on the car during the test.

Car is 2011 Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI

Reccomended interval seems to be 80,000 miles (some say 75,000 or 120 for fleet cars) or 4 / 5 years depending on source.

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/66461-When-is-a-2-0tdi-timing-belt-due

What's on the clock and how far away is the NCT ?

If you're worried about any stress that might be put on it by the NCT shouldn't you be equally worried about the prospect of the timing belt failing in everyday driving. Given the potential cost of a failure it's not something I'd be inclined to put on the long finger.

grogi

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

Usually I would NCT my car before servicing in case anything comes up in NCT that needs attention. Is there any risk in putting car through NCT when it's due timing belt change? I'm not entirely familiar with the stresses put on the car during the test.

As much risk as driving it there. Have the belt done and be over it.

bazz26

If your timing belt is due a change then the advice is get it changed imo irrespective of whether there is a pending NCT or not.

LeChienMefiant

FishOnABike wrote: »

What's on the clock and how far away is the NCT ?

NCT due by 31/08. 80,000km on the clock.

Didn't want making two trips to garage if there are any issues on the NCT, but better to get it sorted first.

grogi

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

NCT due by 31/08. 80,000km on the clock.

Didn't want making two trips to garage if there are any issues on the NCT, but better to get it sorted first.

Go to the garage, have the car serviced, belt changed etc. and fixed what needs to be fixed, then go to NCT and simply pass.

REALLY THAT SIMPLE!

LeChienMefiant

grogi wrote: »

Go to the garage, have the car serviced, belt changed etc. and fixed what needs to be fixed, then go to NCT and simply pass.

REALLY THAT SIMPLE!

I'm not paying the garage to do a "pre-NCT" and invent spurious issues. Determining any issues is the responsibility of the tester.

Francie Barrett

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

NCT due by 31/08. 80,000km on the clock.

Didn't want making two trips to garage if there are any issues on the NCT, but better to get it sorted first.

Assuming you don't run up a lot of miles, you will be fine hanging off for 2 weeks.

grogi

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

I'm not paying the garage to do a "pre-NCT" and invent spurious issues. Determining any issues is the responsibility of the tester.

Why we even wonder why insurance avoid 15 years old bangers, when an owner of 6yo A5 exhibits such attitude...

la ultima guagua

kilianmanning wrote: »

Yes. To do smoke test your engine will have to be revved to 3k rpm. .......

Is it really that low ?

zilog_jones

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

I'm not paying the garage to do a "pre-NCT" and invent spurious issues. Determining any issues is the responsibility of the tester.

He didn't say anything about a pre-NCT check.

la ultima guagua wrote: »

Is it really that low ?

No:

NCT Manual wrote:

2. With the engine at normal operating temperature, raise the engine speed slowly to 2,500 rpm or half the engine manufacturer’s
recommended governed speed whichever is less and hold for 20 seconds in order to purge the exhaust system. If the engine
emits any unusual noises the test should be abandoned. Slowly raise the engine speed to its maximum rpm and note if the
governor operates within the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended rpm setting. If not the test should be discontinued.
Do not hold the engine at maximum rpm for any length of time.
3. Connect the diesel smoke meter to the vehicle following the smoke meter manufacturer’s instructions. Depress the accelerator
pedal firmly from the idling position to the maximum fuel delivery position following the prompts of the smoke meter. The
smoke meter is programmed to ignore the first reading. The operation is repeated and if the reading on this occasion is less
than 60% of the acceptable limit the test is ended. If the reading is not less than 60% of the acceptable limit, the operation is
repeated. If the average of this and the previous reading is within the acceptable limit the test is ended. If the average readings
are not within the limits the operation is repeated up to a maximum of three more times taking the average of the last two
readings after which the test is ended.

Basically, the test procedure involves a period of hitting the limiter, and full throttle multiple times.

LeChienMefiant

zilog_jones wrote: »

He didn't say anything about a pre-NCT check.

I said "pre-NCT" check. Note inverted commas. How else would mechanic know my tail lights are out? I'm only paying him to change timing belt etc, oil and oil filters.

vandriver

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

I said "pre-NCT" check. Note inverted commas. How else would mechanic know my tail lights are out? I'm only paying him to change timing belt etc, oil and oil filters.

A mechanic would know by doing a full service.This includes lights.

Del2005

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

I said "pre-NCT" check. Note inverted commas. How else would mechanic know my tail lights are out? I'm only paying him to change timing belt etc, oil and oil filters.

They have eyes. Even if you are only looking for an oil and filter change a decent mechanic will inform you of anything else that needs work.

bazz26

Timing belts are made of rubber which perishes over time as well as mileage. I think the interval on those TDi engines is every 5 years where you don't do enough mileage to reach the mileage interval. Some might argue that the 5 year interval is a bit conservative but your 2011 A5 is now at least 6 years old so your at least a year over the recommended interval meaning the risk of it snapping and causing expensive damage to your engine grows and grows.

Will it last another 2 weeks until after your NCT? Who knows, it probably will but it could easily snap between now and then too, the reality is that nobody knows for sure. It's really a case of wait and see if you don't want to get it done now, it's your car and ultimately your decision.

mikeecho

Just nct the car, if it passes.. great , get the timing belt done

If it fails, get whatever it fails on fixed, and get the timing belt done at the same time,
Return for your retest, and get your nct cert.

barneygumble99

They don't have to hit the limiter as some experts here like scaremonger. Think it's 4500 rpm but in the case of the engine being discussed here, it has a limiter so the engine will only get a very low rev. So no chance of timing belt snapping in this case.

Pkiernan

zilog_jones wrote: »

He didn't say anything about a pre-NCT check.



No:



Basically, the test procedure involves a period of hitting the limiter, and full throttle multiple times.

And it reality they often rev the sheeite out of it.

wonski

barneygumble99 wrote: »

They don't have to hit the limiter as some experts here like scaremonger. Think it's 4500 rpm but in the case of the engine being discussed here, it has a limiter so the engine will only get a very low rev. So no chance of timing belt snapping in this case.

Really?

Would you mind explaining this? "No chance" is a pretty strong statement.

zilog_jones

barneygumble99 wrote: »

They don't have to hit the limiter as some experts here like scaremonger. Think it's 4500 rpm but in the case of the engine being discussed here, it has a limiter so the engine will only get a very low rev. So no chance of timing belt snapping in this case.

Are you saying the procedure described in the NCT manual is wrong?

https://www.ncts.ie/media/1004/nct-manual-july-2014.pdf

Slowly raise the engine speed to its maximum rpm and note if the
governor operates within the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended rpm setting.

What else could this possibly mean?

Black_Knight

zilog_jones wrote: »

Are you saying the procedure described in the NCT manual is wrong?

https://www.ncts.ie/media/1004/nct-manual-july-2014.pdf


What else could this possibly mean?

VW have a limiter in my 2009 CC. When standing still it only revs to about 3k RPM. Might be something similar in other VAG cars.

Helps with emissions I guess. :rolleyes:

TheShow

if your worried about the belt, just get it done and get the car serviced now. then if you've maintained it properly during your ownership there should be no other issues and it should pass the NCT without problems.

Del2005

barneygumble99 wrote: »

They don't have to hit the limiter as some experts here like scaremonger. Think it's 4500 rpm but in the case of the engine being discussed here, it has a limiter so the engine will only get a very low rev. So no chance of timing belt snapping in this case.

A timing belt can snap at anytime. The recommended time frame is an average calculated from years of experience, but with all statistics there are always outliers. The risk of it snapping increase the older it gets.

Gravelly

I wouldn't be "taking a chance" with a 2011 A5 personally. Our garage sees a lot of cars of people who take that chance. If you put your car in for a service and it comes back with a blown light bulb, you need a new mechanic.

TheShow

Gravelly wrote: »

I wouldn't be "taking a chance" with a 2011 A5 personally. Our garage sees a lot of cars of people who take that chance. If you put your car in for a service and it comes back with a blown light bulb, you need a new mechanic.

Exactly.

mikeybrennan

Mad to delay timing belt on that

An old banger you'd take a chance