Fuse in or out for NCT?

the_rourkster

Hmmm...

I'm having issues with some lighting in my 06 skoda estate.

The back lighting of my speedometer/revs counter, and the backlighting on the AC dials has gone wonky. They stay on permanently, even with the key out and car locked. Presumably this is not good?

If I take the fuse out for the rear registration plate light, those speedometer etc backlights then go off (according to the manual they shouldn't be linked). With the fuse in, the reg' light along with the speedo lights stay on permanently (even with key out).

So, for the nct, is it better to leave the fuse in and have all those lights on permanently or take it out and have none of them on?

Nct is in a few days. It's a great car. I'll aim to fix the problem regardless after that unless it fails in other expensive ways in which case it'll v sadly be scraped.

:)Any suggestions be much appreciated...

Toyotafanboi

I would leave it in.

grogi

I would take it permanently out.

vw4life

It'll will fail the test if you take the fuse out. Just put it in before the test

Doublebusy

Strange one to tell as depends on the tester what visual re-test he may say is wrong "if any".
If you leave it out and if it fails on one of them you could plug the fuse in after the test and say "look its fixed"...
But if fails it on them constantly on - well then you have to fix the entire problem
If im reading the post correctly

vw4life

It won't fail for the lights staying on

Toyotafanboi

For me,

Would you fail for the instrument cluster backlighting not working? Yes.

Would you fail for reg plate lighting not working? Yes (or possibly pass advisory now?)

Will the tester notice the lights stay on after he gets out of the car? Very unlikely.

Doublebusy

Its such an odd one it will be pot luck

Mech1

Check your bulbs at the rear, sounds like wrong one fitted and backfeeding somehow.
Replace them all with the correct ones not just the same as already fitted.

Mech1

Could be front sidelight bulb problems also so have a good check.

Sir Galahad

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I would leave it in.

grogi wrote: »

I would take it permanently out.

You have to love boards

Dirty Nails

Mech1 wrote: »

Check your bulbs at the rear, sounds like wrong one fitted and backfeeding somehow.
Replace them all with the correct ones not just the same as already fitted.

Had that thought too about the back feed. It's unlikely to be a fault as far out as the bulbs though,they aren't powered when the fault is present.
Gut feeling would send me back nearer the fuse box to see why that fuse is powering up,might have got a drop of water in it.

Snotty

No brainer, leave the fuse in, it will 100% fail with the fuse out, it's very unlikely to fail with the fuse in even if the tester noticed the lights stay on, that wouldn't be a reason to fail you.

Doublebusy

Snotty wrote: »

No brainer, leave the fuse in, it will 100% fail with the fuse out, it's very unlikely to fail with the fuse in even if the tester noticed the lights stay on, that wouldn't be a reason to fail you.

Reg bulb is only a visual - plug fuse in = pass
I can picture a few nct testers ive experienced failing it on something stupid with lights constantly on.....
I can see the thinking to leave fuse in or take fuse out

Dirty Nails

There is another option,of course. Nip the feed to the number plate lights & feed it to the tail lamp.
Still a failure on dash lights not working.
Jeez,you just can't win

Doublebusy

I really hope you update us all OP with how you sent the car for test and the result. This one is interesting

Dirty Nails

the_rourkster wrote: »

Hmmm...

I'm having issues with some lighting in my 06 skoda estate.

The back lighting of my speedometer/revs counter, and the backlighting on the AC dials has gone wonky. They stay on permanently, even with the key out and car locked. Presumably this is not good?

If I take the fuse out for the rear registration plate light, those speedometer etc backlights then go off (according to the manual they shouldn't be linked). With the fuse in, the reg' light along with the speedo lights stay on permanently (even with key out).

So, for the nct, is it better to leave the fuse in and have all those lights on permanently or take it out and have none of them on?

Nct is in a few days. It's a great car. I'll aim to fix the problem regardless after that unless it fails in other expensive ways in which case it'll v sadly be scraped.

:)Any suggestions be much appreciated...

One last thought,try pulling the fuse for the rear wiper or the central locking.
It might have a permanent feed for something in the tailgate & damaged loom at the hinges.

grogi

Number plate light is not a NCT fail. Don't panic about that.

I'd remove that fuse simply because it will drain the battery.

Dirty Nails

grogi wrote: »

Number plate light is not a NCT fail. Don't panic about that.

I'd remove that fuse simply because it will drain the battery.

Just to correct that,reg plate lamps & speedo backlight not working are classed as major defects. According to the NCT Manual anyway

Mango Joe

Option Z - Find some way to blame the NCT Centre for borking your cars electrical system - Sue for millions!!!!

starlit

You fail the test if your lights aren't working or not doing what it's meant to do properly. Other drivers need to see your lights clearly I suppose. If the light and fuse is working maybe leave it on going in but it could blow!? If it does then you fail the nct.

Lights especially bulbs need to be sorted otherwise you have to get it fixed and go back to NCT again though you have a month I think to get it checked again just that and they will pass you as you don't have to go through the full test if you go back within the month. If you leave it too late you have to do the full test again not sure if you have to pay full price though. I think for a full recheck they reduce the price if something fails?

It has happened to me despite servicing before hand, a bulb blew on me replaced and went back to nct within a week and it passed. I know it's happened to others so best to get it sorted rather than going back to nct twice!

the_rourkster

Thanks for the input! Consensus here seems to be pretty much what I arrived at too.

It's been like this for the last few months but in present times I've been doing next to no driving so forgot about it. When it first arose I just took the fuse out and have little leds to illuminate the speedometer if driving at night. I did replace the fuses that are supposed to link to the instrument backlighting but that made no difference, no light unless reg' plate fuse is in.

I'll put the fuse in so prior to the test.

I'm hoping everything else will pass, I got a service/check 5 months ago before I realised nct dates were pushed back 4 months.

Interesting the points re other bulbs. The last few months I've changed 3 in the rear and yesterday morn a parking light.
Could definitely have gotten a drop of water where it shouldn't be. I do a bit of work by the sea and sometimes get out of soaking wet salty gear in the front seat.

starlit

Best of luck with your NCT OP!

You can go for a voluntary NCT even if its pushed back by 4 months I did that and I'm glad I did. Original date would been July so was pushed back to November but I brought forward my date by 3 months despite only a months delay from original date. So I did my NCT in August. I didn't know how things would be during the winter in case of another lockdown. So I did mine earlier. I was a while before I could secure a date due to the backlog after the first lockdown as they had completely shut. They at least stayed open for 2nd and 3rd lockdown.

zg3409

This fault can be caused by wrong bulb. Putting an indicator lamp in, instead of a stop tail lamp will short connection. I recommend getting help and check tail, brake, tail with brake all work as intended. You will fail nct if they don't. Bad earth connections can also cause issues. Lamps feed from.one to another if body earth is rusty or bad. Try hazard lights at same time and see if anything weird shows

CoBo55

The stop and tail bulb in some Octavia's are a double offset pin arrangement and can have all sorts of bulbs jammed into the holder, as was stated earlier start by taking all bulbs out and checking for mangled bulb holders. Before doing that I'd remove the light switch completely with the fuse in and see do the lights go out. The switches can go faulty giving your exact symptoms, more so in aging Passat's than Octavia's but the switches are identical. Worth a try. Press the switch in and turn anticlockwise to remove it.

Bazzy

I had a problem years ago when i pressed the brakes the parking lights at the front came on and lit the dashboard.

It was a faulty brake light bulb

Replaced the bulb and she was as good as new

mikeecho

Reminds me of a guy I worked with many years ago.

He had the wrong type of bulb in his brake lights.
Every time he braked, his full beams came on.

Guy:Incognito

grogi wrote: »

I would take it permanently out.

And not be able to read the speedo in the dark?

the_rourkster

Thanks for the comments, definitely helped, changed all the bulbs to see if that made a difference but no dice.

I left the fuse in anyway and that did the job, no marks on the report sheet.

I failed it for numerous (what I consider to be fairly stupid) reasons. My headlights have these pointless motorised wiper blades. They're broken. Failed it on same 4 years ago and was a pricey fix for something never used. Also rear fog light fault, a defective wiper blade and colour on an indicator bulb has faded.