151 passat failed NCT

pnpweirdo · 14-12-2018 2:29pm #1

This is just a big rant .So my car failed the NCT this morning. I couldn't believe it walking out of the test centre in limerick. It failed because the break lights were sticking on. MAJOR FAULT. The car was very recently serviced and the last thing I needed in the run up to Christmas was the car to go back to the main dealers to get fixed. I sucked it up and decided to stop in the dealership and book it in as I was passing. So I told them the problem, they took one look at it which is surprising because it usually costs 200 if they have to do anything and started laughing at me. The break light stays on until you start to move because the automatic handbrake is on. I felt like a right fool. So back I had to go to the NCT. I had to explain to them what it was. No apology or nothing just they had never seen it before because it was a newer car. What a load of sh$te. I was 4 hours and 60kms sorting it all out and it could of easily cost me a lot more.

zilog_jones · 14-12-2018 4:07pm

Whatever it is about the NCT tester being clueless, in all fairness you should know how your own car works. It sounds like you've never checked your rear lights?

Stallingrad · 14-12-2018 4:21pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

in all fairness you should know how your own car works. It sounds like you've never checked your rear lights?

Pretty insulting response. Not everyone knows their auto handbrake operates the rear brake lights. The NCT centre should be well versed on this, it has been a feature on cars for years.

Turbohymac · 14-12-2018 4:24pm

A brake light switch can go in anycar..regular servicing means feck all as a switch or bulb can go faulty the following day..brake light sticking would be fair annoying for someone traveling behind you..its like all the vehicles in general traveling the roads with front lights out.. cant fault nct. Just get fixed and rebook don't forget to retest within 28 days

Pelvis · 14-12-2018 4:24pm

Sounds like a pointless feature tbh, and very annoying for the people behind you in traffic.

Pelvis · 14-12-2018 4:25pm

Turbohymac wrote: »

A brake light switch can go in anycar..regular servicing means feck all as a switch or bulb can go faulty the following day..brake light sticking would be fair annoying for someone traveling behind you..its like all the vehicles in general traveling the roads with front lights out.. cant fault nct. Just get fixed and rebook don't forget to retest within 28 days

You might want to read the full OP.

zilog_jones · 14-12-2018 4:29pm

Stallingrad wrote: »

Pretty insulting response. Not everyone knows their auto handbrake operates the rear brake lights. The NCT centre should be well versed on this, it has been a feature on cars for years.

Brake lights are a critical safety feature - you should know when they are expected to be functioning and when they're not. I didn't need an NCT to tell me my brake lights were in fact sticking on.

Stallingrad · 14-12-2018 4:34pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

Brake lights are a critical safety feature - you should know when they are expected to be functioning and when they're not. I didn't need an NCT to tell me my brake lights were in fact sticking on.

There is nothing wrong with the car. Nothing broken, nothing at fault. The OP is right to be pissed off the 'trained' inspector failed the car because they don't know their job.

zilog_jones · 14-12-2018 4:40pm

Stallingrad wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with the car.

My point is the OP should know how their brake lights work, and be able to tell when (if) there's something wrong with them or if they are working as expected.

NSAman · 14-12-2018 4:46pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

My point is the OP should know how their brake lights work, and be able to tell when (if) there's something wrong with them or if they are working as expected.

Thats, excuse me french, is BS.

Modern cars have so many systems that are changing all the time. "experienced" NCT personnel who do this for a living should know these things. That is what you are paying them for.

Do I know all the systems work on my new car, like other cars ??? NO! As is evidenced by a small issue that came to light in a call from the Garage that sold me the car. Yes I know the lights etc work, do I know the nuances between my car and something else? NO.

It is easy to say people should know, but it is imperative that paid professionals should know especially if it is their job to know.

legrand · 14-12-2018 4:47pm

Hmm, will need check mine I figure. Clearly break light will come on when you break, but I would expect light to go off once you lift your foot off brake pedal, car stopped and auto-hand break on. No?

bazz26 · 14-12-2018 4:49pm

Pelvis wrote: »

Sounds like a pointless feature tbh, and very annoying for the people behind you in traffic.

How is the brake lights staying on when the parking brake auto hold is engaged a pointless feature? Putting your foot on the brake pedal to keep the car from moving does the same thing except the auto hold feature eliminates the risk of the car rolling back or forward accidently.

Audioslaven · 14-12-2018 5:05pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

My point is the OP should know how their brake lights work, and be able to tell when (if) there's something wrong with them or if they are working as expected.

You point is valid imo. People make mistakes even the professional people so you "as the owner" should know how your vehicle works.

zilog_jones · 14-12-2018 5:14pm

NSAman wrote: »

Thats, excuse me french, is BS.

Modern cars have so many systems that are changing all the time. "experienced" NCT personnel who do this for a living should know these things. That is what you are paying them for.

Do I know all the systems work on my new car, like other cars ??? NO! As is evidenced by a small issue that came to light in a call from the Garage that sold me the car. Yes I know the lights etc work, do I know the nuances between my car and something else? NO.

It is easy to say people should know, but it is imperative that paid professionals should know especially if it is their job to know.

I'm not defending the NCT tester's lack of knowledge. If you drive a car on public roads, it's your responsibility to make sure the lights are operable. If you don't know what normal expected functionality is, then that's a problem.

Isambard · 14-12-2018 5:18pm

99% of drivers have no idea how their car works and have no need to. They rely on their garage and the NCT to know what they are doing, clearly here the NCT didn't.

Wishbone Ash · 14-12-2018 5:20pm

bazz26 wrote: »

How is the brake lights staying on when the parking brake auto hold is engaged a pointless feature?...

Because, at night, when stopped at traffic lights, as a courtesy to the driver behind, it's good practice to engage the parking brake. Utterly pointless doing so if the brake lights remain on.

riemann · 14-12-2018 5:22pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

I'm not defending the NCT tester's lack of knowledge. If you drive a car on public roads, it's your responsibility to make sure the lights are operable. If you don't know what normal expected functionality is, then that's a problem.

Are you arguing with yourself?

No one cares bud. It's Friday, no need to be so angry.

Pelvis · 14-12-2018 5:24pm

bazz26 wrote: »

How is the brake lights staying on when the parking brake auto hold is engaged a pointless feature? Putting your foot on the brake pedal to keep the car from moving does the same thing except the auto hold feature eliminates the risk of the car rolling back or forward accidently.

The purpose of brake lights is to warn those behind you that you are breaking. They serve no purpose when you are stationary, other than to half blind those behind you. That's why when you come to a stop you (are supposed to) release the brake and apply the handbrake.

zilog_jones · 14-12-2018 5:28pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Because, at night, when stopped at traffic lights, as a courtesy to the driver behind, it's good practice to engage the parking brake. Utterly pointless doing so if the brake lights remain on.

The car in question has a parking brake switch, if you want to actually use the parking brake.

bazz26 · 14-12-2018 5:41pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Because, at night, when stopped at traffic lights, as a courtesy to the driver behind, it's good practice to engage the parking brake. Utterly pointless doing so if the brake lights remain on.

Good practice yes, common practice not always. Plenty of lazy drivers out there who sit on the brake pedal while stationary and roll when they take their foot off the pedal before engaging gear. The auto hold eliminates that so I see it as a useful feature and a car with their rear brake lights on in front of me doesn't really bother me anyway.

Pelvis wrote: »

The purpose of brake lights is to warn those behind you that you are breaking. They serve no purpose when you are stationary, other than to half blind those behind you. That's why when you come to a stop you (are supposed to) release the brake and apply the handbrake.

So how are approaching cars from behind supposed to know your stationary ahead of them if your brake lights are not on? And half blind from them? I think some people get annoyed more easier that others.

Also most modern cars now have an electric parking brake with an auto hold function instead of a stupid hand brake lever that will engage automatically when the car stops. I recommend trying a car with this feature and you might then think a bit differently.

Squeaksoutloud · 14-12-2018 5:43pm

I have a passat and didn't know my car does this either!

knipex · 14-12-2018 5:47pm

Stallingrad wrote: »

Pretty insulting response. Not everyone knows their auto handbrake operates the rear brake lights. The NCT centre should be well versed on this, it has been a feature on cars for years.

Do you ever or have you ever checked your lights ??

I'm not judging, when I started to drive ( not that very long ago) I was taught to check my lights at least once a week and also to check oil, coolant tyres etc. I still do but have realised that I am very much in a minority.

Pelvis · 14-12-2018 5:51pm

bazz26 wrote: »

So how are approaching cars from behind supposed to know your stationary ahead of them if your brake lights are not on?

By using their eyes.

Next stupid question.

ednwireland · 14-12-2018 5:51pm

knipex wrote: »

Do you ever or have you ever checked your lights ??

I'm not judging, when I started to drive ( not that very long ago) I was taught to check my lights at least once a week and also to check oil, coolant tyres etc. I still do but have realised that I am very much in a minority.

you press the brake pedal to check the brake lights not check them on autohold - must check the OH tiguan assuming it does this as well.

pnpweirdo · 14-12-2018 6:00pm

zilog_jones wrote: »

Whatever it is about the NCT tester being clueless, in all fairness you should know how your own car works. It sounds like you've never checked your rear lights?

I did check the lights but when you get the piece of paper saying major fault it stumps you. I taught the break lights were staying on as I was driving.

Wibbs · 14-12-2018 6:01pm

Pelvis wrote: »

By using their eyes.

Next stupid question.

Given that in my years of driving I've seen a fair number of rear ended cars at traffic lights, it seems enough people have difficulty using their eyes. If I'm the last in the line at the back I'll keep my foot on the brake pedal. I'm unlikely to blind anyone as my brake light bulbs are old style, never mind that I'd be lower to the ground than most and have never been dazzled by brake lights that would be at my eye level. Gobshites with fog lights on yeah, brake lights no.

SBPhoto · 14-12-2018 6:02pm

Pelvis wrote: »

The purpose of brake lights is to warn those behind you that you are breaking. They serve no purpose when you are stationary, other than to half blind those behind you. That's why when you come to a stop you (are supposed to) release the brake and apply the handbrake.

If a simple thing like brake lights half blind you when there on then all oncoming traffic with their lights on must blind also, i suggest anyone blinded by brake lights get an eyetest done, i am nearly 70 wears glasses and brake lights dont bother me at all?

Ultimanemo · 14-12-2018 6:02pm

Thank you for the post, my care is probably the same

bazz26 · 14-12-2018 6:12pm

Pelvis wrote: »

By using their eyes.

Next stupid question.

The accidental irony in your response, says it all really. Jog on.

Odyssey 2005 · 14-12-2018 6:45pm

The brake lights on Mrs.O's car stay on when it's on auto/hill hold. They only go off when the accelerator is pressed. It's a pain in the hole applying the foot break every time you stop at a set of lights,so I use the hill hold all the time,it's a pain for those behind me,but...

With regard to the op,I feel he should have known this feature of the car. He at the very least should have noticed it in reflections in the mirror at night time.
As for the tester...he was being a duck. Bet he had a right giggle failing a car on its first test. He also should know the features on the cars he's testing....that's part of his job.

Emmersonn · 14-12-2018 7:00pm

Turbohymac wrote: »

A brake light switch can go in anycar..regular servicing means feck all as a switch or bulb can go faulty the following day..brake light sticking would be fair annoying for someone traveling behind you..its like all the vehicles in general traveling the roads with front lights out.. cant fault nct. Just get fixed and rebook don't forget to retest within 28 days

Did you not read the op's entire post. Read the entire post in full before giving a solution. :P

pnpweirdo · 14-12-2018 7:09pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

The brake lights on Mrs.O's car stay on when it's on auto/hill hold. They only go off when the accelerator is pressed. It's a pain in the hole applying the foot break every time you stop at a set of lights,so I use the hill hold all the time,it's a pain for those behind me,but...

With regard to the op,I feel he should have known this feature of the car. He at the very least should have noticed it in reflections in the mirror at night time.
As for the tester...he was being a duck. Bet he had a right giggle failing a car on its first test. He also should know the features on the cars he's testing....that's part of his job.

Did Mrs O know her car did this if so if Mrs o car failed for this reason would she of known and corrected the tester there and then.

Odyssey 2005 · 14-12-2018 7:10pm

Emmersonn wrote: »

Did you not read the op's entire post. Read the entire post in full before giving a solution. :P

You're expecting a lot

:)

Odyssey 2005 · 14-12-2018 7:11pm

pnpweirdo wrote: »

Did Mrs O know her car did this if so if Mrs o car failed for this reason would she of known and corrected the tester there and then.

Emm yes !;)

pnpweirdo · 14-12-2018 7:16pm

Turbohymac wrote: »

A brake light switch can go in anycar..regular servicing means feck all as a switch or bulb can go faulty the following day..brake light sticking would be fair annoying for someone traveling behind you..its like all the vehicles in general traveling the roads with front lights out.. cant fault nct. Just get fixed and rebook don't forget to retest within 28 days[/quote

Thanks for that positive feed back.
When a bulb goes in the car you get a warming every time you turn on the car. Not only does it tell you you have a bulb out it tells you which bulb and what side

pnpweirdo · 14-12-2018 7:21pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Emm yes !;)

Well she does now anyway and so do the NCT centre so at least she hopefully wont have the same problem I did.

Odyssey 2005 · 14-12-2018 7:23pm

pnpweirdo wrote: »

Well she does now anyway and so do the NCT centre so at least she hopefully wont have the same problem I did.

Hope not. It's in next week.

DaveyDave · 14-12-2018 7:24pm

Didn't realise brake lights being on at a red light was an issue for people. Or are people just running out of things to complain about against other drivers?

Are we against Scandinavian rear daytime lights too?

I understand some rear LED brake lights can be bright but you can just look away if you need to, as the theory test suggests you do with high beam.

I've never once had an issue with this but I don't spend an entire red light cycle staring into a bright light.

Odyssey 2005 · 14-12-2018 7:28pm

DaveyDave wrote: »

Didn't realise brake lights being on at a red light was an issue for people. Or are people just running out of things to complain about against other drivers?

Are we against Scandinavian rear daytime lights too?

I understand some rear LED brake lights can be bright but you can just look away if you need to, as the theory test suggests you do with high beams.

I can understand that the led lights nowadays are a bitch to be stuck behind at lights,especially the high ones in the window of moat of the vag models. As you say look away,even considerate drivers cant help it sometimes

heroics · 14-12-2018 7:49pm

legrand wrote: »

Hmm, will need check mine I figure. Clearly break light will come on when you break, but I would expect light to go off once you lift your foot off brake pedal, car stopped and auto-hand break on. No?

Normally auto hold uses the main brakes not the hand brake. the brake lights stay illuminated.

Guy:Incognito · 14-12-2018 7:59pm

OSI wrote: »

Auto-hold doesn't apply the handbrake, it applies the regular brakes, hence the brake lights being on.

Others don't have the brake lights staying on though do they? I rented a qashqai in England a couple of months ago and I'm 99% sure the lights went off when auto hold came on.

Or possibly they do. Trying to remember something I didn't 0ay much attention to at the time,

That seems the logical way to me.

Guy:Incognito · 14-12-2018 8:02pm

DaveyDave wrote: »

Didn't realise brake lights being on at a red light was an issue for people. Or are people just running out of things to complain about against other drivers?
ht.

Brake lights are as bright as fog lights. Idiots driving around with fog lights on is very annoying , especially at night.

theguzman · 14-12-2018 8:34pm

There was roadworks recently near my place with traffic lights and I noticed loads of cars with their brake lights on and was thinking there must be an upsurge in Automatics, I drive an Automatic but in such a situation where I know I'll be held like 5 mins I pop it in Neutral and pull the handbrake.

MadYaker · 14-12-2018 9:30pm

That's fúcking hilarious!

topmanamillion · 14-12-2018 9:36pm

NCT Centres are notorious for this kind of stuff.

I was once told by an inspector that a break light bulb was gone.
Grand I thought, I'll just pop to the garage across the road and be back in a few minutes.

Went over to the garage and the mechanic told me my lights were perfect.

Drove back into the centre and the fella that had failed me happened to be outside and saw me coming in and looked at the back of the car as I was parking.
I got out of the car and he said "That's fine now, they'll give you the cert in the office".

peasant · 14-12-2018 9:59pm

Isambard wrote: »

99% of drivers have no idea how their car works and have no need to.

That explains an awful lot....:D

Graniteville · 14-12-2018 10:06pm

Stallingrad wrote: »

Pretty insulting response. Not everyone knows their auto handbrake operates the rear brake lights. The NCT centre should be well versed on this, it has been a feature on cars for years.

If you know it's been a feature for years, why did you not tell them.

Maybe the truth is YOU had not a clue about a feature of a car YOU have been driving for almost 4 years, but expect everyone else to know???

Seriously???

No wonder the dealer laughed

iamtony · 14-12-2018 10:10pm

A large percentage of cars on the road these days are auto and you can't expect them to put them into neutral at every set of lights, if anything you get more annoyed if you had to wait for everyone to out it back into drive because its not and quick as selecting 1st gear in a manual, especially in a dsg.
Brake lights are bright deal with it and stop moaning about it folks. P. S the only car I've ever notice had really bright brake lights was a Prius and I don't even notice that now.

Op the story is hilarious btw:D

mgbgt1978 · 14-12-2018 10:13pm

Graniteville wrote: »

If you know it's been a feature for years, why did you not tell them.

Maybe the truth is YOU had not a clue about a feature of a car YOU have been driving for almost 4 years, but expect everyone else to know???

Seriously???

No wonder the dealer laughed

Probably because he's not he OP

Seriously !!!!

GustavoFring · 14-12-2018 10:35pm

Graniteville wrote: »

If you know it's been a feature for years, why did you not tell them.

Maybe the truth is YOU had not a clue about a feature of a car YOU have been driving for almost 4 years, but expect everyone else to know???

Seriously???

No wonder the dealer laughed

I'm laughing here tbh.

TheRiverman · 14-12-2018 10:52pm

Stallingrad wrote: »

Pretty insulting response. Not everyone knows their auto handbrake operates the rear brake lights. The NCT centre should be well versed on this, it has been a feature on cars for years.

"It has been a feature on cars for years".All the more reason the driver/owner of the car should know this.

151 passat failed NCT

Comments