MOT with frozen windscreen washer jets?
Discussion
Just wondering as it's MOT time in a couple of weeks...
Windscreen washer jets are a testable item - http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_820.htm
Mine haven't worked since the end of November as they're frozen solid. Is there any kind of dispensation for this, or do I need to leave a blow heater in front of the car for an hour to try and melt what's in the bottle before its test?
I wonder how many people have failed MOTs in the last month for this?
Windscreen washer jets are a testable item - http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_820.htm
Mine haven't worked since the end of November as they're frozen solid. Is there any kind of dispensation for this, or do I need to leave a blow heater in front of the car for an hour to try and melt what's in the bottle before its test?
I wonder how many people have failed MOTs in the last month for this?
The tester isn't there to diagnose faults with the car, simply to test the item and note whether it works or not. On some cars, using the washer jets when frozen could blow the fuse, so thawing them out still won't make them work.
Probably the best that the tester can do is to leave the washer check until the end of the test, when hopefully they may have thawed out enough show that they are capable of working.
The vehicle presenter could help themselves by using some hot water in the washer bottle prior to the test. As far as I know there is no special dispensation and to pass an item as working when it is clear it is not is risking a disciplinary from VOSA.
Probably the best that the tester can do is to leave the washer check until the end of the test, when hopefully they may have thawed out enough show that they are capable of working.
The vehicle presenter could help themselves by using some hot water in the washer bottle prior to the test. As far as I know there is no special dispensation and to pass an item as working when it is clear it is not is risking a disciplinary from VOSA.
mcford said:
The tester isn't there to diagnose faults with the car, simply to test the item and note whether it works or not. On some cars, using the washer jets when frozen could blow the fuse, so thawing them out still won't make them work.
Probably the best that the tester can do is to leave the washer check until the end of the test, when hopefully they may have thawed out enough show that they are capable of working.
The vehicle presenter could help themselves by using some hot water in the washer bottle prior to the test. As far as I know there is no special dispensation and to pass an item as working when it is clear it is not is risking a disciplinary from VOSA.
If they do not work we cannot pass them Probably the best that the tester can do is to leave the washer check until the end of the test, when hopefully they may have thawed out enough show that they are capable of working.
The vehicle presenter could help themselves by using some hot water in the washer bottle prior to the test. As far as I know there is no special dispensation and to pass an item as working when it is clear it is not is risking a disciplinary from VOSA.
the motor may be no good or the pipes may have popped of the jets, we see a lot of this during cold spells.I always try them and re-try at the end of test, most will come to life with the heat soak.
I had my MoT last week and was worried about this, I even set an alarm on my phone to prompt me to check the washers.
Luckily it wasn't as cold as it had been the night before so they weren't frozen, but I had run the fluid down a bit and was all ready to go out with some warm water to top it up and hopefully thaw it out.
Shame I had to get the rear brake lines replaced!
Luckily it wasn't as cold as it had been the night before so they weren't frozen, but I had run the fluid down a bit and was all ready to go out with some warm water to top it up and hopefully thaw it out.
Shame I had to get the rear brake lines replaced!
Cars are supposed to have working windscreen washers so that drivers can clear the screen of salt and crud when driving in winter, whatever the temperature. So there's no "common sense" involved here, other than the common sense to get the washers working.
If you can get the system thawed out with a fan-heater one possibility is to sling a bottle of methylated spirit (or vodka) into the washer reservoir to mix with the existing water in there and add some effective anti-freeze.
If you can get the system thawed out with a fan-heater one possibility is to sling a bottle of methylated spirit (or vodka) into the washer reservoir to mix with the existing water in there and add some effective anti-freeze.
Have a word before you turn up. See if they will accept a bottle of water in the car as alternative screen wash facility. I had a car passed this year with non-working jets (switch in stalk had broke) with this method. Friendly MOT man had suggested it. They do have some room to use discretion.
Might be worth making it a bottle of pucker screen wash with anti-freeze properties and a brush given the current weather
Might be worth making it a bottle of pucker screen wash with anti-freeze properties and a brush given the current weather
Vipers said:
Why stop being a tight git 
and buy some screen with antifreeze in, I use stuff from Halfords, all year round, never freeze up.
Did not work in mine early this year when we saw -5 and buy some screen with antifreeze in, I use stuff from Halfords, all year round, never freeze up.
It turned to slush in bottle and froze solid in jets.Tescos pink -9 rated stuff works so far.
John D. said:
Vipers said:
Why stop being a tight git and buy some screen with antifreeze in, I use stuff from Halfords, all year round, never freeze up.
Did not work in mine early this year when we saw -5 and buy some screen with antifreeze in, I use stuff from Halfords, all year round, never freeze up. It turned to slush in bottle and froze solid in jets.Tescos pink -9 rated stuff works so far.
If anyone wants a screenwash recommendation, Halfrauds Double Concentrate is the way to go, does down to -23 on the label and has worked as a 50% mix down to -18 with no problems.
I just dropped my car in for its MOT earlier, washers were working and I tried to get enough snow off the underside as possible, however a nice slushy road for the 100m outside the test centre didnt help.
I just dropped my car in for its MOT earlier, washers were working and I tried to get enough snow off the underside as possible, however a nice slushy road for the 100m outside the test centre didnt help.
MondeoMan1981 said:
If anyone wants a screenwash recommendation, Halfrauds Double Concentrate is the way to go, does down to -23 on the label and has worked as a 50% mix down to -18 with no problems.
I just dropped my car in for its MOT earlier, washers were working and I tried to get enough snow off the underside as possible, however a nice slushy road for the 100m outside the test centre didnt help.
I'm running it as a 50/50 mix and it was frozen solid for a good hour on Sunday.I just dropped my car in for its MOT earlier, washers were working and I tried to get enough snow off the underside as possible, however a nice slushy road for the 100m outside the test centre didnt help.
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