Opel Astra Coupe Bertone - Failed NCT

brianon · 26-03-2009 12:52PM #1

Guys,

My car just failed its NCT this morning. Its an '01 Opel Astra Coupe Bertone.

Reason for failure was 'obstruction'. Basically, the car is down as being a five seater and they could only find two belts in the back.

My wife dropped it in and not me as I'm at work but is that right ? Are they a five seater or a four seater ? Should there be three belts in the back seats or two ?

I can't check until tonight. This is weird !?

Dan_B · 26-03-2009 01:18PM

I used to have one and I am almost certain that it had 3 seatbelts in the back.

brianon · 26-03-2009 01:21PM

Thanks for that.

I've had it 3 years now but have never had a reason to be in the back so never noticed. Hopefully its just stuck under the seat or something.

Alun · 26-03-2009 01:25PM

brianon wrote: »

Thanks for that.

I've had it 3 years now but have never had a reason to be in the back so never noticed. Hopefully its just stuck under the seat or something.

Probably .. they're notorious for getting hidden down between the crack between the seat back and cushion, especially when the back seat is folded down, although, in fairness, the preparation guide for the NCT is quite explicit about making sure all fitted seat belts are visible before presenting a car for the test.

brianon · 26-03-2009 02:43PM

Alun wrote: »

...the preparation guide for the NCT is quite explicit about making sure all fitted seat belts are visible before presenting a car for the test.

I know I know

My own fault if it is down there somewhere :rolleyes:

rocknchef · 26-03-2009 02:48PM

But surely its been through the nct before been 01? has to be there

brianon · 26-03-2009 03:04PM

rocknchef wrote: »

But surely its been through the nct before been 01? has to be there

Yeah. This would be its third nct I guess. It MUST have a 3rd belt. Must be just stuck under the seat. I'll find it tonight and my wife will kick the snot out of me :eek:

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 03:08PM

I had one and I'm certain it had no centre lap belt. I'm sure it should be down as a 4 seater on your VLC.

brianon · 26-03-2009 03:11PM

PauloMN wrote: »

I had one and I'm certain it had no centre lap belt. I'm sure it should be down as a 4 seater on your VLC.

awwww....crap. NCT guy told her it is registered as a 5 seater. I'll just have to check it all out tonight.

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 03:11PM

As for it passing before, I wouldn't read anything into that. The NCT is pretty inconsistent from what I've seen.

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 03:14PM

brianon wrote: »

awwww....crap. NCT guy told her it is registered as a 5 seater. I'll just have to check it all out tonight.

I remember that the coupé didn't seem to be on a lot of systems when I bought mine new in '01. Trying to explain what it was to insurance companies etc. was a pain. Maybe it was recorded as a 1.8 3 door hatch or something, which would be a 5 seater.

I still have a copy of my old VLC for that car at home. Will check mine and see what it says as regards # of seats.

brianon · 26-03-2009 03:16PM

PauloMN wrote: »

I remember that the coupé didn't seem to be on a lot of systems when I bought mine new in '01. Trying to explain what it was to insurance companies etc. was a pain. Maybe it was recorded as a 1.8 3 door hatch or something, which would be a 5 seater.

I still have a copy of my old VLC for that car at home. Will check mine and see what it says as regards # of seats.

Cheers. Just out of interest...If it is a 4 seater but the VLC has it as a 5....what would I do then ?

syboit · 26-03-2009 03:17PM

PauloMN wrote: »

I had one and I'm certain it had no centre lap belt. I'm sure it should be down as a 4 seater on your VLC.

I think your right, had only 2 belts in the back.

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 03:23PM

brianon wrote: »

Cheers. Just out of interest...If it is a 4 seater but the VLC has it as a 5....what would I do then ?

I suppose a new VLC would need to be issued with the data updated to 4 instead of 5. It's the crowd in Shannon, the address will be on top of the VLC. Assuming that is the problem, I'd call them and ask.

I'll try to remember to dig out the copy of that old VLC. It's great being a hoarder...

... I think I still have the original Opel brochure for that car!

brianon · 26-03-2009 03:25PM

PauloMN wrote: »

I suppose a new VLC would need to be issued with the data updated to 4 instead of 5. It's the crowd in Shannon, the address will be on top of the VLC. Assuming that is the problem, I'd call them and ask.

I'll try to remember to dig out the copy of that old VLC. It's great being a hoarder... ... I think I still have the original Opel brochure for that car!

Cheers. That would be appreciated.

Would there be much hassle getting the VLC changed ? Would it cost much ?

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 03:28PM

brianon wrote: »

Cheers. That would be appreciated.

Would there be much hassle getting the VLC changed ? Would it cost much ?

No idea, but I would expect it to be free of charge. Might take a while though, so if that is the case and it needs to be changed, make sure you tell them you need to for an NCT recheck (which is 30 days isn't it?).

brianon · 26-03-2009 03:36PM

PauloMN wrote: »

No idea, but I would expect it to be free of charge. Might take a while though, so if that is the case and it needs to be changed, make sure you tell them you need to for an NCT recheck (which is 30 days isn't it?).

Yeah. They mentioned 30 days to the missus.

Darragh29 · 26-03-2009 03:59PM

brianon wrote: »

Yeah. This would be its third nct I guess. It MUST have a 3rd belt. Must be just stuck under the seat. I'll find it tonight and my wife will kick the snot out of me :eek:

They are probably just down behind the seat OP. These guys are bone lazy sometimes, you can get a decent guy who will make an effort to look for it or sometimes you can get a langer who will fail you for it if the seat belt isn't sitting there looking at them. What I always do with cars I send in for NCT is buckle all the belts in the back up, and that gets rid of that issue...

brianon · 26-03-2009 04:37PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

They are probably just down behind the seat OP. These guys are bone lazy sometimes, you can get a decent guy who will make an effort to look for it or sometimes you can get a langer who will fail you for it if the seat belt isn't sitting there looking at them. What I always do with cars I send in for NCT is buckle all the belts in the back up, and that gets rid of that issue...

Will look as soon as I get home :cool:

brianon · 26-03-2009 05:06PM

brianon wrote: »

Will look as soon as I get home :cool:

The missus managed to get the back seat up and says there was nothing but an empty packet of crisps there.

Looks like the VLC is wrong so !?

Anyone got a number or address or website I can go to to see about getting the VC amended...if indeed thats what I end up having to do.

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 05:20PM

Vehicle Registration Unit,
Department of the Environment and Local Government,
Shannon,
Co Clare.
061-365000

brianon · 26-03-2009 05:25PM

PauloMN wrote: »

Vehicle Registration Unit,
Department of the Environment and Local Government,
Shannon,
Co Clare.
061-365000

Cheers for that. Much appreciated.
I'll double check the car tonight and ring tomorrow if I have to.

Also, I'll see maybe what other owners of the same car had.

PauloMN · 26-03-2009 09:07PM

I checked the copies of the VLC and VRC I have from that car, it's the VRC that the number of seats is listed on. Shows 5 on mine, but there was definitely no middle belt on the car. Mine was through it's first NCT when I owned it, and it failed but on the shocks :rolleyes:, nothing mentioned about the lack of a seat belt though.

Just shows how inconsistent the NCT is.

VolvoMan · 26-03-2009 10:25PM

Coupes, with the fewest exceptions, generally only have two seatbelts in the back.

Carawaystick · 27-03-2009 12:34AM

If you can find out of an Opel source what the number of seats is, then if it's 4 get on to the people in Shannon to change the VLC and lodge an appeal to the NCT as they were testing based on the wrong information, so if the 30 days runs over and you havn't got the updated VLC back to stall time.

brianon · 27-03-2009 10:20AM

Checked the car. 100% sure there are only two belts. I'll ring the VLC crowd later.

brianon · 27-03-2009 12:27PM

Right...
I rang the Vehicle Registration Unit...they told me to ring the Vehicle Registration Office...they told me to ring the Motor Tax Office and to get back to them if they can't help me.

I've rung the Motor Tax Office over and over but just keep getting the message that this number has no voice mail setup

:mad:

brianon · 27-03-2009 03:24PM

Ok. To cut a long story short....

I, one way or another, have to get a third belt installed in the back seats so the car can pass the NCT.

Seems the car is a five seater and as such must have 3 back seat belts.

Anyone else with a similar Opel Astra...be aware

furtzy · 27-03-2009 03:58PM

brianon wrote: »

Right...
I rang the Vehicle Registration Unit...they told me to ring the Vehicle Registration Office...they told me to ring the Motor Tax Office and to get back to them if they can't help me.

I've rung the Motor Tax Office over and over but just keep getting the message that this number has no voice mail setup

:mad:

There was industrial action by the civil service CPSU union today where they weren't anwering phones for an hour between 11am and 12pm......might be worth trying them again

maidhc · 27-03-2009 04:17PM

brianon wrote: »

Ok. To cut a long story short....

I, one way or another, have to get a third belt installed in the back seats so the car can pass the NCT.

Seems the car is a five seater and as such must have 3 back seat belts.

Anyone else with a similar Opel Astra...be aware

They can't make you modify the car from the type approval specifications it had.

brianon · 27-03-2009 04:34PM

maidhc wrote: »

They can't make you modify the car from the type approval specifications it had.

Well I guess they are saying that the cars specs are that it is a 5 seater car and as such must have 5 seatbelts.

Opel Astra Coupe Bertone - Failed NCT

Comments