NCT...What a joke

Went for my NCT yesterday hoping they wouldn't notice the steering box needs changing, front suspension yada yada yada...
Yeah right...
I could have pushed a dead donkey in with a range rover sticker on him and it would have passed
They had no program for testing CO2 levels etc So all they had was 'Engine Temp 80' and 'Turbo Installed'
No testing of the brakes, drove right through it
Checked underneath, didn't notice anything
The guy spent more time looking for the windscreen washer button than actually checking the vehicle...

So, moral of the story - if buying a range in Ireland, do not trust that it's good just because it has an NCT
It might mean it's passed but it doesn't mean it has brakes:doh:

So... are you annoyed that it passed, or they didn't find the faults you know about..?!

It's also the responsibilty of the owner to ensure the car is road-worthy.. are happy to drive around in something that has 'faulty steering and suspension'?!

I admit, in the real world the road worthy-ness check should pick up faults, but it's nowhere near perfect.. MoT/ NCT is all about satisfying public concerns/ generating revenue in the form of tax.. it's up to us ultimately to make sure we're responsible enough to be driving a 2.5t boat anchor!

Thats a strange one re the NCT mate. Mine went through it last November. Obviously because of the differential thing, they didn't use their rolling road brake test thing (I'm not even sure of the right term to use here ) but they did take it out for a test spin once finished & used some other machine to test the brakes. They also went through it with a fine tooth comb on the inside. Must just be bad luck with the test centre

irish medic said:

Thats a strange one re the NCT mate. Mine went through it last November. Obviously because of the differential thing, they didn't use their rolling road brake test thing (I'm not even sure of the right term to use here ) but they did take it out for a test spin once finished & used some other machine to test the brakes. They also went through it with a fine tooth comb on the inside. Must just be bad luck with the test centre

Click to expand...

Or..Good Luck depending on your point of view.

where is that nct center drscoundrel? might swing by there if i need a favorable NCT report.....!

Took two attempts to get mine through the NCT. Initially failed on Lamba; reading 1.15 (hole in the exhaust I missed - was more concerned with a leaking manifold), Tracking was out; 19m/km and headlight out of alignment.
As to the brakes, they do test them. They cannot use a single roller dyno obviously, so they use an accelerometer when they take for a drive. Up to 30mph and stand of the brakes - the change in G-force gives them a reading of the efficiency of the brakes.
Got through the second time though - new downpipes, Cats & Centre Box, and my tracking saga is discussed on another section of the forum - just make sure you centre the box ala RAVE, ensure the centre uses RAVE figures, and make sure your suspensions target heights are all the same - surprisingly mine were up and down, so the car could never level, and hence put the suspension out of alignemnt.
Never so pleased to get an NCT cert - the only down side it is only valid till 07/11. Just got it in March. That's the stupid situation with the NCT - its only valid until it is next due for test, whether it was tested or not Stupid bloody system.

David_cooper: Don't get me wrong, i'm happy it passed. I suppose the point i was making is that it's fine for us who know our vehicles. I know the steering box is slightly out, needs replacing at some point, not dangerous, but the fact they didn't road test it or pick up on things they should have makes the 'test' a complete joke.

irish medic: As above, no road test, no test for brakes, WTF...

P38_Ireland: Test centre is Little Island, Cork

KMCE: Sorry for your troubles with yours...at least you got them sorted. Know what you mean about that eeling of passing, like passing your first spelling tset

I agree with the test to a point, brakes shld be priority along with wheel bearings etc, anything that can cause injury.
I'd just hate to see some guy go looking at one of our beasts, see an NCT cert and think, well if it just got the cert it must be pretty good. I mean we all know how much can be wrong with these To not be able to do a CO2 check etc is crazy, my thing could have been smoking the garage out and still passed... good ole Eire, another wasted tax... thank crunchy it's Friday