potential mot changes to effect later TVR's

[ptholt]

Whilst being jonny nice boy and taking my local mot tester to collect a customers car on Saturday (pays to keep on the nice side of them i find), he mentioned that they had received a new dvla notice informing them of forthcoming changes to mot.

This new change states that any vehicle that had cats as standard when it left the factory, must have cats in place for mot's, regardless of gas tests and whether it passes emissions or not.

This gives for some interesting questions as the life expectancy on most cats would mean a replacement is needed, quite how easy that it is to replace on the TVR's i have no idea, also may mean those of us missing one cat may need to fit it back on for mot purposes?

thoughts?

[miniman]

How could they possibly check?

[ptholt]

I did ask this question, the response was that cars from 92 onwards were legally required to have them fitted, but how would they know how many... was my next question

[QBee]

Phew - kinda saw this coming, so kept the main cat (Y piece) when i decatted my Chim. Thanks for the heads up however.

[chris watton]

Sports cats would still be OK, wouldn't they?

[QBee]

Dunno - would these pass an MOT?

[RichB]

Guess this new rule is cool for cats.

[chris watton]

[V8 GRF]

I don't think that's a new one, they've always required teh cats to remain if standard equipment but as mentioned how can they check if they're present if car passes on emissions?

[N7GTX]

This is nothing new. Part of the exhaust check is to ensure that cats were fitted if they were an original equipment item.
There is no dismantling allowed so it is a visual check only. On my Cerb I bought 2 very cheap cats that were useless and then knocked out the honeycomb section and refitted the empty units. So, on an inspection it looks as though they are fitted and this would also get past the D.O.T. roadside checks too as again, it is only a visual. (Doing this was cheaper than buying cat bypass pies from ACT).
While this part of the test may be passed there is still the emissions check and you will still need to find your 'friendly' MOT tester.

The details are in this link:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_710.htm

P.S. the link also gives the official version of the noise limits too

Edited by N7GTX on Tuesday 18th February 21:26