The ask an MOT tester thread

[andburg]

cant see how it would unless i throws a light the MOT tests brake efficiency not ABS

[Little Pete]

Nealio said:

If you have a car that from the factory had no ABS and a brake force compensator valve fitted at the rear axle, but you then retrofit ABS from a later vehicle where the compensation is done in the ABS unit, will it fail the MOT if you remove the compensator valve at the rear axle?

Yes it will. If a vehicle should have a load sensing valve as standard, it is not just a fail, it is classed as a dangerous defect if it is missing.

[Hoofy]

How accurate does a speedo have to be? My shed's speedo is 5mph out. Not an issue for me but is it an issue for the MOT?

[Trustmeimadoctor]

What way under or over

[cuprabob]

Hoofy said:

How accurate does a speedo have to be? My shed's speedo is 5mph out. Not an issue for me but is it an issue for the MOT?

I'm sure they only test it functions, not the accuracy therefore I very much doubt it will be picked up.

[Little Pete]

Hoofy said:

How accurate does a speedo have to be? My shed's speedo is 5mph out. Not an issue for me but is it an issue for the MOT?

Not something we check. As long as it works you'll be fine.

[Nealio]

Little Pete said:

Yes it will. If a vehicle should have a load sensing valve as standard, it is not just a fail, it is classed as a dangerous defect if it is missing.

Thanks, there's no way to make allowance for the fact that there would be an alternative system performing the same function?

Besides, on a 32+ year old car, how does the tester know what should or shouldn't be there?

I guess the way around this is just to remove all the guts of the valve/drill out the passages, reassemble and put it back in place for show...

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 15:22

[mk2 24v]

Nealio said:

Little Pete said:

Yes it will. If a vehicle should have a load sensing valve as standard, it is not just a fail, it is classed as a dangerous defect if it is missing.

Thanks, there's no way to make allowance for the fact that there would be an alternative system performing the same function?

Besides, on a 32+ year old car, how does the tester know what should or shouldn't be there?

I guess the way around this is just to remove all the guts of the valve/drill out the passages, reassemble and put it back in place for show...

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 15:22

Did the vehicle originally have a load compensation valve if ABS was fitted?

Peugeot vehicles had the valve if no ABS, but no valve if ABS was fitted

[Nealio]

mk2 24v said:

Nealio said:

Little Pete said:

Yes it will. If a vehicle should have a load sensing valve as standard, it is not just a fail, it is classed as a dangerous defect if it is missing.

Thanks, there's no way to make allowance for the fact that there would be an alternative system performing the same function?

Besides, on a 32+ year old car, how does the tester know what should or shouldn't be there?

I guess the way around this is just to remove all the guts of the valve/drill out the passages, reassemble and put it back in place for show...

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 15:22

Did the vehicle originally have a load compensation valve if ABS was fitted?

Peugeot vehicles had the valve if no ABS, but no valve if ABS was fitted

Where ABS was fitted, yes it still would have had a valve. But that's because depending on age it would have had either an early Bendix system or Bosch 2E, neither of which did Electronic Brake Distribution. I would like to fit Bosch 5.3, which does.

On versions with rear drums (no ABS) no valve was fitted.

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 19:14

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 19:14

[Little Pete]

Nealio said:

Little Pete said:

Yes it will. If a vehicle should have a load sensing valve as standard, it is not just a fail, it is classed as a dangerous defect if it is missing.

Thanks, there's no way to make allowance for the fact that there would be an alternative system performing the same function?

No there isn’t

Besides, on a 32+ year old car, how does the tester know what should or shouldn't be there?

Obviously we don’t have intimate knowledge of every brake system on every vehicle but experience tells us a lot

I guess the way around this is just to remove all the guts of the valve/drill out the passages, reassemble and put it back in place for show...

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 15:22

Just a point about the ABS system you are fitting. We would expect to see a warning lamp come on and go off when the ignition is switched on, are you fitting one?

Edited by Little Pete on Friday 11th August 19:59

[Nealio]

Little Pete said:

Nealio said:

Little Pete said:

Yes it will. If a vehicle should have a load sensing valve as standard, it is not just a fail, it is classed as a dangerous defect if it is missing.

Thanks, there's no way to make allowance for the fact that there would be an alternative system performing the same function?

No there isn’t

Besides, on a 32+ year old car, how does the tester know what should or shouldn't be there?

Obviously we don’t have intimate knowledge of every brake system on every vehicle but experience tells us a lot

I guess the way around this is just to remove all the guts of the valve/drill out the passages, reassemble and put it back in place for show...

Edited by Nealio on Friday 11th August 15:22

Just a point about the ABS system you are fitting. We would expect to see a warning lamp come on and go off when the ignition is switched on, are you fitting one?

Edited by Little Pete on Friday 11th August 19:59

Yep, bosch 5.3 actually looks to be very simple to implement - it's completely standalone except an input line from the brake light switch and an output line to the dash light. Super easy to wire up. Plus a speedo output if you want it and K-line for diagnostics.

Interestingly I took the missus' car for an MOT this afternoon and asked the tester there. He said it would be fine for MOT but I'm not 100% sure he understood what I was asking.

[Hoofy]

Hoofy said:

How accurate does a speedo have to be? My shed's speedo is 5mph out. Not an issue for me but is it an issue for the MOT?

Thanks for the answers. Just 5mph under. I have a GPS speedo as well.

[Little Pete]

Nealio said:

Yep, bosch 5.3 actually looks to be very simple to implement - it's completely standalone except an input line from the brake light switch and an output line to the dash light. Super easy to wire up. Plus a speedo output if you want it and K-line for diagnostics.

Interestingly I took the missus' car for an MOT this afternoon and asked the tester there. He said it would be fine for MOT but I'm not 100% sure he understood what I was asking.

I’ve never seen a vehicle with a retro fitted ABS system but I would test as presented and examine what I could see. If all the components are secure and free from damage I can’t think of a reason why it would fail.
As far as the load sensing valve goes, I suppose if you remove all the associated brackets and make a neat job of fitting and securing the brake pipes, you could make it difficult to tell that a valve had been fitted originally.

[James_N]

Wondering if my slightly crusty front wing is a failure

[jondude]

Tailgate on my commute car (Hyundai Getz) will not stay open, I have ordered some new struts. But am I right in the MOT tests the tailgate can open and shut properly, not that it stays open?

[Athlon]

jondude said:

Tailgate on my commute car (Hyundai Getz) will not stay open, I have ordered some new struts. But am I right in the MOT tests the tailgate can open and shut properly, not that it stays open?

Correct

[jondude]

Athlon said:

jondude said:

Tailgate on my commute car (Hyundai Getz) will not stay open, I have ordered some new struts. But am I right in the MOT tests the tailgate can open and shut properly, not that it stays open?

Correct

Thanks, appreciated.

[PositronicRay]

On a cars 3yr anniversary, coming up to its 2st MOT. Can one do it a few weeks early but still preserve the 3 yr anniversary as the test date?

[Little Pete]

PositronicRay said:

On a cars 3yr anniversary, coming up to its 2st MOT. Can one do it a few weeks early but still preserve the 3 yr anniversary as the test date?

It’s a calendar month less one day. If the date of registration is the 1st of September, the earliest a test can be done to preserve the anniversary is the 2nd of August.

[PositronicRay]

Little Pete said:

PositronicRay said:

On a cars 3yr anniversary, coming up to its 2st MOT. Can one do it a few weeks early but still preserve the 3 yr anniversary as the test date?

It’s a calendar month less one day. If the date of registration is the 1st of September, the earliest a test can be done to preserve the anniversary is the 2nd of August.

Thank you.