NCT - will tester remove a cover to inspect battery

BrianD3 · 17-01-2023 9:14am #1

While I was changing the battery in my car, one of the captive nuts for the securing clamp broke off and it looks like a balls of a job to fix. I have done a makeshift repair and the battery is secure IMO but I highly doubt it would pass the NCT (which is due soon) if a tester sees what I've done.

The battery is hidden under a plastic cover in the engine bay which clips off by hand - will the tester remove this? The NCT manual is vague enough on this, it seems as though covers may be removed if the removal can be done by hand. I'm not going to try to be a smart arse and screw down the cover so it needs tools to remove.

Rows Grower · 17-01-2023 9:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058280007/nct-will-tester-remove-a-cover-to-inspect-battery

I don't think that has anything to do with an NCT test but why not screw it down?

Deregos. · 17-01-2023 9:48am

Let it go through the test and see if they cop it, which even if they do, a new pair of battery terminals is about a tenner.

Arnout · 17-01-2023 10:04am

From what I read the terminals are fine, but the battery isn't fixated in place anymore as per factory standards. I don't know what the DYI job looks like, but secure is secure (and a tie-wrap or duct tape doesn't cut it). Maybe OP can elaborate on that/post a photo to get a more meaningful reply?

And yes it's a safety issue, so it's an NCT issue. Whether the tester will remove the cover (he can) I don't know.

BrianD3 · 17-01-2023 10:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120118946#Comment_120118946

Yes, that's right and yes, it's a cable tie...

17-01-2023 10:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120118980#Comment_120118980

oh dear lord

Arnout · 17-01-2023 10:23am

A cable tie is for tying cables. Or maybe to keep a hubcap in place. What you need is a battery tie and those haven't been invented yet as far as I'm aware.

Can you post a photo so we can see the situation? There are a number of different ways car manufacturers bolt down a battery. Maybe someone can provide some inspiration on how to deal with it.

Calahonda52 · 17-01-2023 10:26am

GET A REPLACEMENT FROM LOCAL SCRAP YARD

antodeco · 17-01-2023 10:26am

In one of mine, used a metal strip across the battery (nowhere need the terminals) and that strip was screwed into place. Unfortunately the original "bar" to hold it into place is long gone.

BrianD3 · 17-01-2023 10:51am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119015#Comment_120119015

It's a Mk3 Megane. Here's a pic I found online of a battery box for the car, you can see where the clamp attaches. It require a fair amount of dismantling to get the box of the car. I can't even see well with it in place but it seems as though there is a captive nut under plastic/metal which has com loose on one side. I think the nut slots into place and is not permanently attached to the housing so maybe if I can take out the housing, and find the nut I can put it back in place.

Arnout · 17-01-2023 11:17am

I'm not familiar with the Megane, but from the looks of it your talking about the hole in the middle where the bracket in this photo is not attached (and it seems the nut might be missing here as well)?

Can't you just hold a nut in place while putting the bolt back in (can be a tight fit to get your hand in there of course)?

BrianD3 · 17-01-2023 11:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119278#Comment_120119278

Yes it is the hole that you refer to. The captive nut is (or should be) under the hole. Access is far too tight to hold a nut in there with the battery in situ or even not in situ.

Rows Grower · 17-01-2023 11:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120118946#Comment_120118946

The tester won't remove the cover, he/she is forbidden by law to remove it. Screw it down or use a cable tie, it'll be fine.

17-01-2023 12:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119470#Comment_120119470

Which law is that exactly?

I’ll wait.

spaceHopper · 17-01-2023 1:03pm

The battery will be sitting on top of the hole, to see it they would have to take out the battery. They won't do that. Just do the test.

Fann Linn · 17-01-2023 1:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119769#Comment_120119769

I think it's the same law that states the guards can't arrest you unless they're wearing their hats👍.

greasepalm · 17-01-2023 1:53pm

As said dont worry about that hole under battery as i thought that was a battery drain with tube underneath to avoid landing down on metal items underneath it.

Hard to see if battery box has a square mounting up top for short 10mm bold or lower down and needing a longer method.

BrianD3 · 17-01-2023 4:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119790#Comment_120119790

The hole in question is not the one under the battery - that seems to be for mounting the battery tray to the car.

The hole with the problem is roughly 1/3rd up from the bottom of the photo.Missing captive nut means the bolt of the battery securing clamp will not screw in. This would be very apparent to an NCT tester assuming he has removed the top cover.

Rows Grower · 17-01-2023 4:39pm

https://www.myvehicle.ie/car-news/nct-test---everything-you-need-to-know-about-ireland---s-national-car-test

MarkR · 17-01-2023 4:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120936#Comment_120120936

It must be remembered that the NCT test is a basic roadworthiness test of a vehicle and not a forensic inspection of every hidden aspect of the vehicle. During the test, the inspectors are not permitted by law to dismantle or remove any panels on a vehicle. It is fundamentally a visual test of the roadworthiness of the vehicle and just because a car passes an NCT test, does not mean that the vehicle has not had a coloured past?

I don't know is it a law, but I do know that they don't remove any panels. NCT friend of mine mentioned it about how it's not a guarantee of safety, as they can only test what they can see. They won't remove panels etc to look at the underside for example.

17-01-2023 5:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120936#Comment_120120936

Okay, but that’s not the actual law, that’s a website saying it’s the law. That’s very similar to what you did actually.

As for the OP, please don’t be driving a car with a battery half arse secured indefinitely. Chance it through the NCT if you don’t have time to get it sorted but really you shouldn’t be doing something if you’re worried it wouldn’t pass an NCT over it. I’d really encourage you to get it fixed asap though.

Rows Grower · 17-01-2023 6:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121229#Comment_120121229

You're welcome.

PsychoPete · 17-01-2023 6:48pm

They won't take the cover off, main thing is that the battery is secure and can't move move around. It will be grand with a cable tie

FDave · 18-01-2023 11:49pm

It isn't grand with a cable tie. The reasons for securing the battery are so it doesn't become a potential missile in a crash or short off the bonnet potentially causing a fire, especially when there could be fuel or oil leeks. It's grand until it isn't.

BrianD3 · 30-07-2023 8:12pm

With the absurd delays in NCT tests I only got it tested today. The cover could have been removed easily by hand but wasn't and the car passed. I had to undo the cable tie to get the cover to fit properly so the battery was definitely unsecured under the cover. Now that it has passed, I will leave the cover off and refit the cable tie.

If anyone wants to lecture me on that - you are wasting your time. The purpose of this post is to show that the NCT won't/may not remove an easily removable battery cover to check the battery,

NCT - will tester remove a cover to inspect battery

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