MOT failure?
Author
Discussion

danrc

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

241 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
Quick question.

The bonnet pull on my Bora is playing up and the bonnet isn't opening unless there are two people to do it (one pulls the lever, the other lifts the bonnet). Is this an MOT failure?

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

243 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
I've never seen a tester open the bonnet during an MOT test.

steveo3002

11,242 posts

205 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
they do look under the bonnet...push on the brake resovoir etc

id mention its playing up and show them how its done , or pop up the bonnet in the car park .should be okay

scotty_d

6,795 posts

225 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
It is a Fail i have to open mine through the grill as the cable snaped ,so rigged up a tug line to open it it should open from inside the car, but mine passed as its a mate that does my MOT's and said as long as i am keeping the car which i am any way not a issue.

danrc

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

241 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for the replys, i'll get it looked it i just don't have time before the MOT. It probably needs a new cable as i don't think it can be adjusted.

Jayho

2,441 posts

201 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
scotty_d said:
It is a Fail i have to open mine through the grill as the cable snaped ,so rigged up a tug line to open it it should open from inside the car, but mine passed as its a mate that does my MOT's and said as long as i am keeping the car which i am any way not a issue.
Tut Tut, he can lose his MOT license for that...

Gareth79

9,169 posts

277 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
The tester's manual is a little vague - the safety perspective seems to be that it shouldn't fly open because it would restrict the view from the windscreen - not that you must be able to get to the engine compartment in a hurry. It doesn't specifically say that it must open using the original manufacturer's handle but I guess it could be deemed to be "ineffective":

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m3s08000401.htm

The Manual said:
Bonnet This inspection applies to all vehicles with a bonnet which when opened would obscure the drivers view through the windscreen.

Method of Inspection

1. Check that the bonnet can be secured in the closed position.

2. Check the condition of retaining devices.

Reason for Rejection

1. A bonnet that cannot be safely secured in the closed position.

2. An excessively deteriorated, ineffective or insecure retaining device.

Dr.Doofenshmirtz

16,952 posts

231 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
The MOT man needs to get under the bonnet, that is for sure.
As long as you can show him how to open it you should be fine.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

243 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
So long as it CAN be opened. And can be locked shut. It's a pass with an advise.

littleandy0410

1,745 posts

235 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
Just let them know when you take it in - you never know, they might be kind and fix it for free, if it's an easy fix!

danrc

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

241 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
Rich_W said:
So long as it CAN be opened. And can be locked shut. It's a pass with an advise.
It can do both and i'll be there when it's getting MOT'd so i should be ok.

Cheers for the replies.

Zad

13,024 posts

267 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
The Tuscan inner 'bonnet' has to be unbolted to get access to the engine I believe. So long as the tester can have access when he requires it, I can't see there should be a problem.

jagracer

8,248 posts

267 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
CaptainSlow said:
I've never seen a tester open the bonnet during an MOT test.
You should have gone to specsavers.

We never fail on having two of us to open the bonnet, we would refuse to test if it wouldn't open at all.

jagracer

8,248 posts

267 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
Zad said:
The Tuscan inner 'bonnet' has to be unbolted to get access to the engine I believe. So long as the tester can have access when he requires it, I can't see there should be a problem.
We're not allowed to unbolt stuff so the last one of these I tested was without access to the engine.

Athlon

5,953 posts

237 months

Monday 29th March 2010
quotequote all
jagracer said:
CaptainSlow said:
I've never seen a tester open the bonnet during an MOT test.
You should have gone to specsavers.

We never fail on having two of us to open the bonnet, we would refuse to test if it wouldn't open at all.
Same here.

danrc

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

241 months

Wednesday 31st March 2010
quotequote all
Well - it passed!

No advisories either so the tester obviously wasn't that bothered by the bonnet catch.

Cheers for the input with this.