NCT test, bonnet lock

Oil_drip

Hi All
I am going for NCT this week with an 08 diesel Focus. The bonnet lock which used to open with the key has been removed and you can open it with a flat screw driver. Will this fail the NCT test.

bazz26

My understanding is that if they cannot open the bonnet as per the way the manufacturer intended to open then it will fail.

Old Perry

Page 62 of nct manual.reason for failure. Bonnet or boot catches missing or defective. So I guess it could go either way. Yours is defective but working. Have you it booked in?

Stoolbend

I can't see it failing if it opens and closes and the safety catch works.

No reason for it to need a key. It'd only be a visual fail anyway.

kbell

Attach a small screwdriver that opens the lock to your keys.
And tell the tester what it’s for as he takes your keys.

cruizer101

What kbell said or even go into a locksmith and pick up some key blank that would do the job

honda boi

My cmax has a dodgy bonnet lock and had its Nct last month.
Your man couldn't open it so he called me into where they test the cars and asked me to open it.
I'd say you,d be alright,if not I think they can't do the emissions test?

Car99

Stoolbend wrote: »

I can't see it failing if it opens and closes and the safety catch works.

No reason for it to need a key. It'd only be a visual fail anyway.

Wouldn't be tested for emissions unless they can open bonnet to check fluids so full retest if that was the save.

Car99

Stoolbend wrote: »

I can't see it failing if it opens and closes and the safety catch works.

No reason for it to need a key. It'd only be a visual fail anyway.

Wouldn't be tested for emissions unless they can open bonnet to check fluids so full retest if that was the save.

Oil_drip

Old Perry wrote: »

Page 62 of nct manual.reason for failure. Bonnet or boot catches missing or defective. So I guess it could go either way. Yours is defective but working. Have you it booked in?

Booked it for Weds

Stoolbend

Car99 wrote: »

Wouldn't be tested for emissions unless they can open bonnet to check fluids so full retest if that was the save.

It can be opened though! It says it in the op.

Car99

Stoolbend wrote: »

Car99 wrote: »

Wouldn't be tested for emissions unless they can open bonnet to check fluids so full retest if that was the save.

It can be opened though! It says it in the op.

Yep it can be opened using a tool , that's not the testers job while testing .

nd

For my last test I had it open already and told the tester I opened it as it can be tricky to open and he said that was grand.

Oil_drip

nd wrote: »

For my last test I had it open already and told the tester I opened it as it can be tricky to open and he said that was grand.

Thanks ND. Opened bonnet with long screwdriver and put cloth on top of latch so that it would not close. Told the Tester that the bonnet was very hard to open so I have open it for him. He said thats grand. No issues with bonnet.
Failed for wishbone bush and a towbar bolt that was in the wrong position. Towbar fitted by Ford ten years ago and four Nct test before they found it. Sharp

paddydriver

Funny how it's all the Ford's here.. I have an S-Max and bonnet wouldn't lock properly. They told me it was a fail that prevented me from driving away but that if I could use my "technique" to close it then all was good.

They parked it in a corner and I locked it using the way I know and all was good. In a nutshell.. If your bonnet will not lock then they will fail you and won't let you drive the car out of there... or whatever way they can prevent you.

Esel

Not a fail if the bonnet can be opened and can close securely. Just meet the tester at the car and explain.

Del2005

paddydriver wrote: »

Funny how it's all the Ford's here.. I have an S-Max and bonnet wouldn't lock properly. They told me it was a fail that prevented me from driving away but that if I could use my "technique" to close it then all was good.

They parked it in a corner and I locked it using the way I know and all was good. In a nutshell.. If your bonnet will not lock then they will fail you and won't let you drive the car out of there... or whatever way they can prevent you.

They'll say that the car is dangerous and not road worthy, which with an unsecured bonnet it definitely is, so if you drive off you have no insurance and should have the Gardai called to stop you and confiscate your car.

9935452

Del2005 wrote: »

They'll say that the car is dangerous and not road worthy, which with an unsecured bonnet it definitely is, so if you drive off you have no insurance and should have the Gardai called to stop you and confiscate your car.

To be fair you will have insurance.
An insurance company has a 3rd party obligation to take care of the 3rd party no matter what is wrong. They may look to claim back the cost of the claim off you then.

That said anyone would be stupid for driving a car that has been declared dangerous by the nct

biko

NCT can "fail dangerous" a car and put a sticker on it.
If you were to still drive it they call the gardas and:

It is an offence to drive a dangerously defective vehicle on the public road. The penalty for such an offence is a fine of up to €2,500 and 5 penalty points on conviction and/or 3 months imprisonment,

About the insurance - not sure about your own car coverage but unlikely. Other cars will still be covered if you hit them.

Dr_Colossus

Oil_drip wrote: »

Thanks ND. Opened bonnet with long screwdriver and put cloth on top of latch so that it would not close. Told the Tester that the bonnet was very hard to open so I have open it for him. He said thats grand. No issues with bonnet.
Failed for wishbone bush and a towbar bolt that was in the wrong position. Towbar fitted by Ford ten years ago and four Nct test before they found it. Sharp

You were lucky, I failed the NCT yesterday evening because bonnet catch was "stiff". Opened and closed no problem and it was never mentioned in previous NCT tests despite catch having the same stiffness.

honda boi

I've a focus cmax and the bonnet is a c**t.
You need to have a perfect technique to open it.
Brought for nct a few months ago.
Nct lad just brought me into the testing lane and got me to open it.
Only failed on 2 missing wheel nuts

Dr_Colossus

well missing wheel nuts is a safety concern and a fail I can understand. I was raging with my bonnet clip however as the bonnet itself opens and locks fine, it's only the secondary clip underneath that was a little stiff and didn't spring back immediately.

Alun

honda boi wrote: »

Only failed on 2 missing wheel nuts

"Only" two? :eek:

honda boi

Yep.
Was working on the brakes before the Nct and 2 of the wheel nuts on one of the wheels was rounded off and f**led.
So took one of One of the other wheels.
Car has 5 nuts on each wheel.
Motor factors said they,d have to order them in.
Went to Nct ,failed, went to scrapyard and got 2,it passed.
Job done

wingnut

honda boi wrote: »

My cmax has a dodgy bonnet lock and had its Nct last month.
Your man couldn't open it so he called me into where they test the cars and asked me to open it.
I'd say you,d be alright,if not I think they can't do the emissions test?

My Cmax bonnet lock was about to go so I removed the lock today and join the screwdriver brigade. The catch is still 100% just you are turning the with a driver instead of a flimsy key - cable - plastic grommit setup. NCT is a bit away guess I'll pick one up on eBay if the make a stink. Seems very common on Ford's from reading online.

honda boi

wingnut wrote: »

My Cmax bonnet lock was about to go so I removed the lock today and join the screwdriver brigade. The catch is still 100% just you are turning the with a driver instead of a flimsy key - cable - plastic grommit setup. NCT is a bit away guess I'll pick one up on eBay if the make a stink. Seems very common on Ford's from reading online.

My bonnet lock is fairly f**ked now so need to sort it at some stage meself.
Only opens 1 out of 20 times now!!