NCT rear third/centre/high brake light

[TRS30]

For what it is worth, mine failed as one of the wiring pins in the towbar wasn't working. Rather then get it repaired (only use towbar for small bike rack), i removed the towbar and plug socket, brought it back and was passed.

 

[Wandering_Dazed]

Thanks. I'd already gone through the relevant parts of the NCT manual but it's still unclear if (a) removing the third brake light would satisfy the visual re-inspection or if there was ever a factory installed third brake light then it needs to be present and working and (b) if more than one visual re-inspection visits are allowed.

I feel your pain! My Alfa 147 didn't have a NCT for 2 years because as I sorted one problem another came up. I could spend hours talking about the airbag light that just wouldn't go out on the dash!

AFAIK the answer to your b)question is yes, visual inspections don't need appointments and more than one are allowed. The car either passes that issue or does not. However once the car doesn't pass within the time frame then it has to go through a full NCT test again.

To answer a) should the answer to something not functioning be to remove it? Similar to my Alfa airbag issue...the airbags weren't the problem it was the wiring and the comms to same.

Have you posted the tailgate issues you have on any Dacia forums? From what you have shared you have multiple issues from that loom. I am no expert but it might be easy relatively to fix the loom or replace it. Or equally you could be lucky and Dacia cover faults or have issued a recall.

Is this similar to the problems you have?

Rear tailgate wiring, suspected broken wires

www.daciaforum.co.uk

 

[ClubMan]

I feel your pain! My Alfa 147 didn't have a NCT for 2 years because as I sorted one problem another came up. I could spend hours talking about the airbag light that just wouldn't go out on the dash!

Hah! I had that too recently but just disconnecting, cleaning, and reconnecting the various connectors under the passenger seat (after first disconnecting the battery and letting any residual charge discharge first!) sorted it out so I presume that the connector got slightly dislodged or dusty or something.

AFAIK the answer to your b)question is yes, visual inspections don't need appointments and more than one are allowed. The car either passes that issue or does not. However once the car doesn't pass within the time frame then it has to go through a full NCT test again.

Thanks. That's good to know. I think I'll try removing the third/centre brake light altogether and see if they pass it. I still intend to address the rear wiring issues but maybe under less pressure!

To answer a) should the answer to something not functioning be to remove it? Similar to my Alfa airbag issue...the airbags weren't the problem it was the wiring and the comms to same.

Isn't there a difference here though? Aren't airbags mandatory on most or all modern cars whereas the third brake light isn't?

Have you posted the tailgate issues you have on any Dacia forums? From what you have shared you have multiple issues from that loom. I am no expert but it might be easy relatively to fix the loom or replace it. Or equally you could be lucky and Dacia cover faults or have issued a recall.

I've just read existing threads on the various forums. I doubt that Dacia would help with a 142 reg car. I've seen others with the same issue but then again I've seen others with non-Dacia cars with it too.

Is this similar to the problems you have?

Rear tailgate wiring, suspected broken wires

www.daciaforum.co.uk

Yes, I've already seen that thread an a few other similar ones.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll update the thread when I've tried the visual re-inspection with the light removed.

 

[Sue Ellen]

Thanks for your feedback. I'll update the thread when I've tried the visual re-inspection with the light removed.

Easier just to stick with the bike and keep Eamonn and Greta happy

 

[ClubMan]

It's a failure (with a visual re-inspection required) if it's installed and not working, but it's not a mandatory requirement to have a third/centre/high brake light in the first place. (I've checked the NCT manual for details on this). So if it's removed then does that satisfy the visual re-inspection does anybody know? A few Boards and Reddit threads suggest that this might/should work but nothing authoritative that I could find.

To answer my own question, "no". At least according to the guy that I got. He said that if the third rear/centre/high brake light is factory installed (as I think it is on most relatively modern cars) then it has to be present, correct and working. I'll have to splice the wires together and go back again so.

 

[AndroidMan]

Similar scenario is possible with the spare wheel.
I believe the NCT cheks inflation and tread of the spare wheel.
However Teslas dont have spare wheels.

 

[ClubMan]

Similar scenario is possible with the spare wheel.
I believe the NCT cheks inflation and tread of the spare wheel.

Indeed...

Yeah, that's the reason that I always remove my spare wheel for the test. I'm sure it's fine and if I ever used it I'd double check the tyre pressure and inflate as needed, but I didn't want it to be present for the test in case it became a potential point of failure.

 

[ClubMan]

Just to close this one, I patched the two wires to the centre brake light to get it working temporarily, passed the visual inspection, and got the cert issued. I was under a bit of pressure to get this sorted before the end of this month in order to qualify for a final two year cert via the early voluntary test even though the car is 10 years old this month and was due the "normal" test in December. Happy to get that done but l will still need to get the hatchback wiring fixed properly so that at least the centre brake light and washer/wiper are working whatever about the rear window demister. Thanks for all the comments.