NCT Racket

Looking for advice for the following recent NCT experience:

Vehicle: 05 Kia Sorento

1st NCT: 4 February 2015
Result- Failed (as expected)
- VIN not visible - it was/ is clearly visible when the bonnet is raised (this, I was told by the garage had never come up before but I was their fifth customer who had the same refusal in the previous three weeks)
- Worn tyre
- Brake hose
- Head Beam - not properly aligned

1st Re-Test: 22nd Feb 2015
Result: Failed
- Head Beam - not properly aligned

> It transpired the garage had not completed this task despite being told the contrary.

2nd Re-Test: March 7th
Result: Missed due to an unexpected and urgent business trip abroad. Ended up being away for 2 weeks.

Had asked the wife to bring the car in for the test but for whatever reason she forgot!!! (details best left for another forum!)

Contacted NCT to explain the situation and to note I had evidence to support my missed test in form of two Visa's and numerous entry and exit stamps in my passport.

As the retest was over 30 days a new full test had be retaken.

4th Test: 9th April 2015
Result: Fail
- Worn Wishbones and Bushes

The issue I have is that the tester today told me that they were 'completely worn' and he had to fail the vehicle. When i highlighted the above and queried if the fault was so glaringly obvious how then could the first tester have missed something so obvious to which he replied: "it wadn't me who dun da test".

If have no issues with repairing the faults with the vehicle as it is expected with a car so old but it is a hard pill to swallow having already forked out €600 to repair the first bill in addition to the €166 in NCT fees and whatever the new bill will be to complete the latest repairs...Grim!

Three NCT results below

Where is the "racket" here?

You brought a car to the NCT knowing it would fail. Presumably to get a list of things to repair.

Your mechanic didn't fix one of them.

Your wife forget to bring the car to the NCT.

On the retest they found something that they missed on the first test. This happens.

So who are you accusing of a racket? Yourself, your mechanic or your wife?

Brendan

I can understand the frustrations, but if you check with the RSA website you'll see that the tests and testing procedures can change over time and it is perfectly conceivable that an item they never even tested before now appears on a failure report. The front page of the NCT Manual list tests changed / added by edition. July 2014 is still the current one I think.

Sorry I forgot the link - http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/Your-Vehicle-/NCT/

July 2014 is current

It seems to me you're using the NCT as a means of identifying faults in your car to avoid paying for a full service before getting the test done. As Brendan says, I don't really see what "racket" you're talking about. I'm sure you're not the only one using the NCT like this but tbh I have no sympathy for your situation here. The responsibility of ensuring the car is safe and roadworthy is with you. The NCT is there to verify if you are doing your job or not. It would be far more responsible if you have your car fully serviced before the NCT rather than relying on the NCT pointing out where the car is not roadworthy. At least then you would have cause for complaint (with your garage/mechanic) if the car failed the test.

Both my car and my wife's car failed on Wishbones and Bushes also. With over 50 years driving I had never a problem with Wishbones or Bushes until the NCT came along. Another strange thing. My wife got her test report but noticed a year later when the test was redone that the %'s had actually improved for wheel alignment etc even though she never had her car serviced in between. Self healing.

Ceist Beag said:

It seems to me you're using the NCT as a means of identifying faults in your car to avoid paying for a full service before getting the test done.

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A full service does not guarantee the car will pass the NCT. Get the NCT done, fix what they tell you is wrong , have it retested and then get it serviced at your leisure.

I don't see any evidence of a racket here either. I do think though that the NCT can be infuriatingly inconsistent and niggardly but its hard to argue that it has not contributed to an increase in road safety.

demoivre said:

A full service does not guarantee the car will pass the NCT. Get the NCT done, fix what they tell you is wrong , have it retested and then get it serviced at your leisure.

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Obviously not, but from my point of view I prefer to build up a trust with a good mechanic and put my trust in them to ensure my car is roadworthy. I would not be happy to rely on an NCT test for this. The NCT is all about passing it - there is no liability on the state should an NCT miss anything. So if you want to feel safe in your car it's up to you to ensure this as far as I'm concerned. I don't see any point in blaming the NCT for not finding a fault.

I had pre NCT done at the Toyota dealers and got a proper print out, cost €50 + service. I still failed the NCT on headlight bulb and a small slit in the tyre side wall.
Its cheaper to fail the NCT

The point of the NCT is to ensure that cars on the road are safe. On that front it is a resounding success. The repeated tests have highlighted problems with your car that could have caused a crash. Things like a slit on your type wall (could result in a blow out) , faults with alignment and problems with your suspension (cause crash if breaking suddenly) and other issues highlighted in this thread could kill you.
Ask someone who has been in a crash if they would pay a few hundred euro to have avoided it.

I schedule my annual service for the week before the NCT. This year, he told me that I needed new tyres.

Other that that it was grand, and I passed the NCT.

It would be a big waste of my time, to get it NCTd before the service. It would have failed on tyres and probably on emissions as well.

Brendan