MOT Test Fail. How much to fix these issues?

MOT Test Fail. How much to fix these issues?

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MicroSDMan

Original Poster:

6 posts

105 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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I had my MOT test today and it failed on these 6 points:

"Rear position lamp not working offside rear"

"Both front direction indicators wrong colour"

"Axle beam cracked nearside front (Subframe corroded)"

"Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases front and rear"

"Rear parking brake recording little or no effort offside rear".

Only the Axle beam cracked part was an advisory last year, and passed first time. I also had a new exhaust fitted about 8 months ago, so I don't know why it's "leaking majorly" now. None of the indicators were picked up as "wrong colour" last year. The fella said there are literal holes in the axle that you can fit most of your hand through.

Now, first off are they taking me for a ride? A lot seems particularly picky or unnecessary to me. Also, how much would you estimate it would be for everything to be fixed?

Car is a Fiat Grande Punto 2006 if that makes a difference.

Trabi601

4,865 posts

94 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Looks reasonable to me - painted indicator bulbs fade over time, so need replacing. I've had a Fiat fail on similar, too. Bulbs are cheap and easy to replace, though. Rear position light - surely you knew you had a blown bulb before the test?

Handbrake efficiency is a common Fiat issue, too - but should be cheap to fix.

Leaking exhaust gas is probably because they didn't use fitting paste and / or correctly tighten clamps when it was fitted. 10 minutes to fix on a ramp.

The axle beam sounds serious, though.

DKS

1,670 posts

183 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Bulbs blow, orange bulbs fade, exhausts rust and really so do Fiats. Fords are also bad for subframe rot.

Some bulbs and a second hand rear beam or subframe for a few hundred and you're sorted. The exhaust blow might be a clamp missing or broken.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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MicroSDMan said:
I had my MOT test today and it failed on these 6 points:

"Rear position lamp not working offside rear"

"Both front direction indicators wrong colour"
"Axle beam cracked nearside front (Subframe corroded)"

"Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases front and rear"

"Rear parking brake recording little or no effort offside rear".

MicroSDMan said:
Only the Axle beam cracked part was an advisory last year
So last year the front subframe was rotting. Now it's rotten and cracked. The front subframe attaches the engine/gearbox, steering and front suspension/brakes/wheels to the bodyshell... Nothing terribly important, then.

MicroSDMan said:
I also had a new exhaust fitted about 8 months ago, so I don't know why it's "leaking majorly" now.
Two options.
1. It wasn't the entire exhaust that was replaced, just one section.
2. The person who fitted it was an incompetent halfwit.

MicroSDMan said:
None of the indicators were picked up as "wrong colour" last year.
Maybe the orange has faded... Are they all illuminating orange? Be honest...

MicroSDMan said:
The fella said there are literal holes in the axle that you can fit most of your hand through.
Did he put it on the ramp and show you?

MicroSDMan said:
Now, first off are they taking me for a ride?
I have no idea, since I've not seen the car.

[quote]A lot seems particularly picky or unnecessary to me.
The MOT is a bare minimum of acceptable condition, not some unattainable highpoint...

MicroSDMan said:
Also, how much would you estimate it would be for everything to be fixed?

Car is a Fiat Grande Punto 2006 if that makes a difference.
If the front subframe's as bad as it sounds, it's scrap. It would cost more to do than the car is worth.

Jim AK

4,029 posts

123 months

Friday 24th February 2017
quotequote all
MicroSDMan said:
I had my MOT test today and it failed on these 6 points:

"Rear position lamp not working offside rear"

"Both front direction indicators wrong colour"

"Axle beam cracked nearside front (Subframe corroded)"

"Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases front and rear"

"Rear parking brake recording little or no effort offside rear".

Only the Axle beam cracked part was an advisory last year, and passed first time. I also had a new exhaust fitted about 8 months ago, so I don't know why it's "leaking majorly" now. None of the indicators were picked up as "wrong colour" last year. The fella said there are literal holes in the axle that you can fit most of your hand through.

Now, first off are they taking me for a ride? A lot seems particularly picky or unnecessary to me. Also, how much would you estimate it would be for everything to be fixed?

Car is a Fiat Grande Punto 2006 if that makes a difference.
1'bulb doesn't work & needs replacing, will take a few minutes, indicator bulbs get colour fade & need replacing & will also,take a few minutes exhaust sounds like it needs tightening up on joints again a few minutes, rear brakes need adjusting/replacing and/or have seized pistons, competent mechanic wouldn't need long to sort it & if the axle was advisory last year it was only going to deteriorate.

If you think the MOT was 'picky' you'd better complain to VOSA!!

Aside from the axle beam they are all fairly minor things.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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DKS said:
a second hand rear beam or subframe for a few hundred
Seems ambitious. Even if you source your own used front subframe and find a mechanic willing to fit it.

InitialDave

11,856 posts

118 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Parts aren't going to be that expensive - if it were my car, it'd cost me about £200 plus some whisky for my mate to help out - but I'm guessing you're not in a position to work on things yourself, and the labour is going to hurt a bit.

You may be best served by selling the car to someone on a spares/repairs basis and buying something else.

TooMany2cvs said:
If the front subframe's as bad as it sounds, it's scrap. It would cost more to do than the car is worth.
Yeah. Good used subframe? Under £100. Paying someone to do the swap? Oh dear...

MicroSDMan

Original Poster:

6 posts

105 months

Friday 24th February 2017
quotequote all
Only reason I'm confused about a lot of this is that I was 99.99% sure all the lights were working and yes all the indicators are illuminating orange. I know the axle is bad, however he said to me that it may be able to be welded, which seems to me that it could be worse. Also I had a brake check yesterday and nothing about the handbrake not working was mentioned to me.

PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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A brake check by who? Most tyre/brake places that offer a brake check is just a quick visual inspection of the wear on the discs and pads, nothing more.

MicroSDMan

Original Poster:

6 posts

105 months

Friday 24th February 2017
quotequote all
PhillipM said:
A brake check by who? Most tyre/brake places that offer a brake check is just a quick visual inspection of the wear on the discs and pads, nothing more.
Was the same garage that performed the MOT check. Well, same company but a different branch about 15 mins away from the other. I didn't know a brake check was that simple though, cheers

lost in espace

6,136 posts

206 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Council MOT station, impartial.

MicroSDMan

Original Poster:

6 posts

105 months

Friday 24th February 2017
quotequote all
lost in espace said:
Council MOT station, impartial.
Funnily enough I usually go there. Last year I went there and only got the axle corrosion as an advisory and I had mine booked there today but I had to get a taxi to my car (parked elsewhere) and the driver was late so I got there 10 mins late. Refused to do the test and as the MOT expired yesterday I had to take it to any place I could find.

To be fair though if the axle really is as bad as the garage is making out then it wouldn't have passed at the Council one anyway I assume

Jim AK

4,029 posts

123 months

Friday 24th February 2017
quotequote all
MicroSDMan said:
Only reason I'm confused about a lot of this is that I was 99.99% sure all the lights were working and yes all the indicators are illuminating orange. I know the axle is bad, however he said to me that it may be able to be welded, which seems to me that it could be worse. Also I had a brake check yesterday and nothing about the handbrake not working was mentioned to me.
Can't imagine they are making it up about 3 bulbs!

Brakes & exhaust won't make them rich either.

Don't understand the comments from the Tester over Subframe either. If you can get your hand through the holes, it doesn't sound like there's much to weld to.


Dr Doofenshmirtz

15,186 posts

199 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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The subframe is very easy to replace...there's one on ebay now for £80 incl postage.
I can't see it taking more than two hours labour to swap out. The bulbs and other bits are easy fixes.
You should really get the tracking done afterwards...but if money is tight that can wait.

dzernski

122 posts

93 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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RE bulbs I had my import in for an MOT yesterday which it would have failed on the colour of the rear fog light bulb (and something around the washers for the xenon headlights). I thought this was odd as I had't touched the any of this since I bought the car (with full MOT). Then I remembered - there are people who do the test and people who actually do it. Given the MOT is a minimum standard, I'd rather everyone was the latter rather than the guy you can pass a few twenties to, as annoying and expensive as that can be at times.