Failure on NOISE 122dB - Advice needed...

[Dragonheart]

Exactly, thats my point! The test isn't about safety but the whole thing about the NCT is safety! So why is the test in there?!
Whats next? Non standard size wheels? Spoilers? Low suspensions? HIDs?

[holio]

Whats next? Non standard size wheels? Spoilers? Low suspensions? HIDs?

Just on the point of HID's I would almost be inclined to say that unless they are fitted properly they should be banned.
Alot of HID's are retro fitted to the existing reflective headlight unit meaning the arc of light is all over the place and blinds the f*** out of oncoming motorists.
Iv also heard or read someplace that ordinary halogen projection headlights are no good for HID conversions. Again its about the light arc, the halogen light projectors are different to the HID's and HID's require a different projector set up, dont really see how but im inclined to agree.
The HIDs on my FTO were perfectly aligned but yet i still got flashed by passing motorist. Lowered the drivers side by a few degrees and im still blinding oncoming motorists!

*edit* HID's on mine are retro fitted and not factory.

[Dragonheart]

I find the factory HIDs on some Lexus and Audis blinding though. Are they to ban them too?
Maybe they'll ban engine next cause they give off emissions, we can all ride bicycles then so the world will be a healthier place.
Theres a limit, and they're going over it...

[holio]

Alas after a wee bit of research i have discovered that halogen projectors are set up for halogen bulbs and HID's require a completely different projector. Its to do with the cut off points and how the projectors disperse the light. Although some halogen projectors do come close it depends on the brand. One of the cars said to take HID retro fitting very well is the lexus sc300/400.

Back to the original subject.
Would fitting an exhaust off the 1.8 fto make a noticable reduction in exhaust note?

[Myfeckin FTO]

Back to the original subject.
Would fitting an exhaust off the 1.8 fto make a noticable reduction in exhaust note?

Different diameter exhaust. Besides fitting an OE GPX/GPvR exhaust would clearly solve the problem but the issue was the frankly nuts original NCT test and how it was carried out.

[Dragonheart]

Honestly Bernard's car is probably one of the most looked after on the forum, and rarely driven. How a car can have that many 'faults' in the amount of driving its done in the last year is a joke. they should really bring something in for people who don't drive their car much, as in a test every 5 years of something.

[Bernard]

3160 miles since the last NCT

Failing on brake hose mountings was a little annoying, particularly given that it's passed like that twice already.
I have no problem failing on the brakes, the pads are brand new and might need some adjustment/bedding in.
Same story with the tyres, I knew the needed to be changed, I was just chancing my arm.
Number plate, again chancing it (it passed last time).
The only thing I have an issue with was like Shane said, the sound test and how it was carried out.

What I've decided to do is this:
I'll get the brake hoses mounted, change the front number plate (it's held on with velcro anyway), change the tyres and get the brakes checked.

I'm not doing anything about the noise though as I'm 100% sure that they're wrong.
I'll print the procedure and take it with me for the retest, if it fails on noise a second time I'll get stuck in.

[Dragonheart]

Only thing is that its going to cost you every time you go for the noise test as theres a charge if they use equipment for the retest.
Make sure you have the brakes well bedded cause you want everything to pass the next time, just to make sure they're not going to bring you back a 3rd time for anything else. At least if the noise is the only thing failing the next time you can get the cert with an argument.

[holio]

Would applying to a different test centre for the retest be an option? I don't know who governs the nct but maybe a phonecall to the powers above about test procedure not been followed in regards to the noise emissions.
Couldnt hurt.

[goz_83]

They should then stop trying to say its about safety and rather to meet a certain standard of compliance set by old farts and money hungry bureaucrats

[Bernard]

McGon seems to have gone AWOL so I don't know what happened with his retest but I've just had mine.

I passed which I'm delighted about (I drove home like a Cheshire cat) but it just goes to show what a joke the test is.
I went in armed with a print out of their procedure ready for an argument that never happened, they didn't even check the sound for the retest.
It's laughable.

[StewyD32]

Well done berno.
If it failed on noise the first time and they didn't even check it the second time it just shows what a farse it is. Isn't that the whole point of a re test?

[Gerry]

Good Stuff bernard , glad ya passed, im in next week for retest.
I failed on emissons, problem was ect sensor, emissons are ok.

[Dragonheart]

Joke of a system. Least its passed and thats the main thing. Stupid thing is that its only for one year though!

[mcgon1979]

Did u pass Bernard?

[goz_83]

McGon seems to have gone AWOL so I don't know what happened with his retest but I've just had mine.

I passed which I'm delighted about (I drove home like a Cheshire cat) but it just goes to show what a joke the test is.
I went in armed with a print out of their procedure ready for an argument that never happened, they didn't even check the sound for the retest.
It's laughable.

[mcgon1979]

1 year on. NCT time again. I could get no date between Oct 31 and Dec 20th!! (cert expired on 31st Oct). All fully booked.
Emailed them and said put me on the list for a cancellation any work day between 8am-9am please.
Got a email back 3 days later with a confirmation for this morning at 835am.

Went in at 8am on the off chance I'd get in early, yep.. took my car in straight away. I had parked around the back of the business park and tapped in my home made "bung" filled with some steel wool etc, bolted it in too to ensure nobody loses a leg if it comes out at speed while they rev it. Car becomes instantly silent. All you can hear is engine noise, no exhaust noise. You'll remember the hassles I had last year with my allegedly 136db exhaust according to their tests. I must point out that the rare exhaust I have "5zigen pro racer A spec" is actually JASMA stamped. This apparently means it is road legal in Japan and cannot exceed 90dB limit. hmm... I dunno. anyway, bung in, the guy pulls my car into the test area.
Revs it a few times etc, the usual. all the while Im bricking it in case engine cuts out, or blows up, or bung comes out. No problems, but then I hear the rolling stones. blaring out. I can hear it from the waiting area, and when he opens the door it is super loud. The dude is kickingback listening to my CD while he tests the car. This is surely a good sign I think. He has it up full for the entire test as the waiting room (of 4 people now) and the other testers enjoy track ofter track. Jumping jack Flash, Can't get no satisfaction, paint it black etc. Car comes out the other side. Guy comes in. Calls me up, hands over the cert. everythings perfect. here you go. job done.
I reckon if I had of had some hard house in the player he might not have been into it. lol.
Anyway, sorted for another 12 months.
Took 15 mins to get the bung out. even after I removed the bolts, I had to give her quite a few rev's up against a bush before she finally relieved herself at speed.
Might just change the exhaust though and put on a standard stainless twin pipe thing from camskill.
I'm loath to spend much on the car though as it's never going to see it back at this stage. The 5Zigen is amazing, but I guess... well... I guess I'm getting old. I prefer not to have people notice the car as I drive around. I can get away with that, but if I accelerate at any real speed it does sound like a race car, which is lovely in so many ways, but not ideal when leaving an interview or pulling out of Tesco. lol. Car still in epic condition for its age though, I think keeping it garaged for past 5 years has really made the difference. I;m resigned to the fact I'll never get any money back on it so just gonna drive it until I have to get rid of it. Hard to believe I spent 10950 on it when I bought it 5 years back. I might get 2k for it now. might being the key word. Not many people have cash for old cars now. specially not ones that have 2 litre tax and 30mpg economy and high insurance. Still... I'm sure some young lad would be delighted with it.
Anyway, I went off on a diversion there, car passed. Choose your CD wisely in case your tester gives it a listen like mine did.

[Bernard]

Good stuff, I failed mine on noise last time too (long story) and am coming up to NCT time again.
Fingers crossed it'll fly through same as yours, well done.

[mcgon1979]

yeah I remember you saying they didn't even re-check it on the retest. hmmm...
They didn't recheck mine on the retest either, mind you it was silent with the bung in, so the guy just checked the tyres were changed and that was that.
Best of luck with it, and let us know how you get on.

[Kace]

Sounds good. Can we see pictures of the bung please?

Re acceleration noise - I agree with you, esp in the city. I sold my ITG a few years ago and am now back to stock Air Filter. This makes a big difference to the volume of the car, along with the decat.

I have been running quiet for a year or so no and prefer this way so that I don't attract too much attention.

[mcgon1979]

Yeah, I use a K&N Panel filter that just goes in the standard box so that keeps down the induction roar.
I also put the CAT back in for the NCT, but this time, I think I'll leave it in. Not too much hassle to change it each year as I have access to a mate ramp, but fed up doing it, new gaskets each change etc. Plus the car sounds pretty much just as aggressive with it in and I am convinced it feels a bit torque-ier. I may be wrong, but I seem to feel the transition into MIVEC easier now. (Although to be fair, I am trying to convince myself of reasons not to put the decat back in ) Also, I still even get the odd POP/BANG when I lift off after accelerating hard in 2nd or 3rd. Not every time, but occasionally, and thats nice. I'm currently seeing how the fuel is going with the CAT in. I pretty much get very stable figures each fill, so I should notice even a +/- 10km difference over each tankful. the decat I have is a good one though, a MilTEK decat box, not just a pipe.
Regarding the bung, absolutely I'll throw some pics up on imgur.com later and post links. I'm surprised I didn't do that the last time. You'll be impressed at the bung (NOT!). It looks like something off frankensteins car. The bung on its own was not very good for noise suppression at all!!!! So myself and my mate stuffed it with steel wool, but he had to weld in a grill type cross to stop the wool being pushed straight out the back. I then went further and wrapped some wool around the bung. Result was a MASSIVE reduction in dB. From 101 to 87dB. It basically sounds silent at the back so I reckon its quieter than a standard. lol Pics in a few hours.

[mcgon1979]

That whole middle section in the last picture is welded in. A big nut with a cross welded to it. The original hole was the size of the pipe cross section. It did nothing for sound at all. Sounded the same, if anything it sounded louder. So had to slow down and restrict the exit hole.

[Chris_Heilong]

is this you Mcgon? Same exhaust anyhow.
From Youtube.com






Fixed the link- Bernard

[goz_83]

Distracted by your CD? Ha...I have a DVD player in mine. I think i'll put some porn into the slot and lock the controls on full volume. It takes a minute to come on from start up. The poor fecker will run my car through in record time.

[mcgon1979]

yeah Chris, thats my "too loud" exhaust. That's with the CAT in, and thats how I have it setup now.
It sounds deeper with the CAT out. I kinda like it the way it is now so I'll leave it alone to save me swapping out the cat-decat yearly.