Funny MOT Advisories

[KardioKate]

just had an advisory sheet back for one of our cars. It's used almost exclusively offroad, but goes to the shops and back sometimes etc... It's not seen a wash in several years.

Anyway, it passed, but the advisory sheet stated "Vehicle is in dirty condition inside and out"

Didn't think that sort of thing would be an advisory!

[Defcon5]

Maybe because it could increase chassis corrosion?

I get one every time for having adjustable suspension fitted

[theironduke]

KardioKate said:

just had an advisory sheet back for one of our cars. It's used almost exclusively offroad, but goes to the shops and back sometimes etc... It's not seen a wash in several years.

Anyway, it passed, but the advisory sheet stated "Vehicle is in dirty condition inside and out"

Didn't think that sort of thing would be an advisory!

Never heard that before!

Surely as long as the lights, number plates and windsreen/windows are all clean ish then WTF has anything else got to do with it!!! Cheeky fkers.

[Oldandslow]

At our test centres if it's too dirty underneath they fail it. They can't inspect brake pipes and such properly if they're caked in mud. Don't know what relevance being dirty inside has.

[KardioKate]

Oldandslow said:

At our test centres if it's too dirty underneath they fail it. They can't inspect brake pipes and such properly if they're caked in mud. Don't know what relevance being dirty inside has.

Can't even be that, because another one of the (more sane) advisories was that underseal prevented a comprehensive inspection of brake pipes.

[to3m]

theironduke said:

KardioKate said:

just had an advisory sheet back for one of our cars. It's used almost exclusively offroad, but goes to the shops and back sometimes etc... It's not seen a wash in several years.

Anyway, it passed, but the advisory sheet stated "Vehicle is in dirty condition inside and out"

Didn't think that sort of thing would be an advisory!

Never heard that before!

Surely as long as the lights, number plates and windsreen/windows are all clean ish then WTF has anything else got to do with it!!! Cheeky fkers.

I would imagine it's so that when its owner later accuses them of having dirtied the pristine shiny vehicle he or she delivered to them, they have at least some come back...

[V88Dicky]

"Slightly rusting brake discs."

And?

[Piepiepie]

Oldandslow said:

At our test centres if it's too dirty underneath they fail it. They can't inspect brake pipes and such properly if they're caked in mud. Don't know what relevance being dirty inside has.

If the interior windows are dirty then you may not be able to see out. Same for the instruments.

[motco]

I've noticed that my usual MOT station - used them for many years - is issuing advisories now that they would never have bothered with before. For example my brake pads are part worn so they advise me formally that they are "getting thin". The inspector admits that they have many miles left in them yet but that 'The Men from the Ministry' are on their backs and want more stringent advisories. I infer that they extrapolate the condition forwards to the next year and assess whether they will make the estimated mileage. It is all to do with longer service intervals I suspect. A 'passed' car could wear out its pads/tyres (delete whichever inapplicable) in 10,000 miles but before the next service is due. A lot of people wouldn't notice the loud noise like an aeroplane passing low overhead as the metal of the pad touches the metal of the disc.

[mattdaniels]

I always assumed the point of an advisory was to draw your attention to something that has passed this year but probably won't pass next year.

[ADEuk]

It's just arse covering. If a pad is close to the thickness limit of 5mm then the tester has to make a decision on whether to fail it or not. Unless that pad is metal to metal there is NO WAY for the tester to know how much material is left. No way because wheel removal is NOT ALLOWED during a test, and any measured item can only be failed following measurement by an VOSA approved and calibrated device - of which none exist for brake pads. So he has to pass and advise.

[EDLT]

V88Dicky said:

"Slightly rusting brake discs."

And?

He's covering himself.

[pmjg66]

ADEuk said:

It's just arse covering. If a pad is close to the thickness limit of 5mm then the tester has to make a decision on whether to fail it or not.

it used to be 1.5mm when I tested 3 years ago.

[maniac0796]

KardioKate said:

just had an advisory sheet back for one of our cars. It's used almost exclusively offroad, but goes to the shops and back sometimes etc... It's not seen a wash in several years.

Anyway, it passed, but the advisory sheet stated "Vehicle is in dirty condition inside and out"

Didn't think that sort of thing would be an advisory!

Bear it mind that he has to forage around in that car to check your seat belts and seats and stuff. It's not nice if the cars full of mouldy food and nasty things. Again, the outside, if everythings too muddy, then it's not nice to work on.

It's their job, but have some sympathy before you send in a car that's sky high in filth. It's not nice to work on.

[Xtriple129]

If I recall correctly a tester can refuse to test a vehicle if it's st high.

[attym3]

Xtriple129 said:

If I recall correctly a tester can refuse to test a vehicle if it's st high.

If it's what?

[redstu]

ADEuk said:

It's just arse covering. If a pad is close to the thickness limit of 5mm then the tester has to make a decision on whether to fail it or not. Unless that pad is metal to metal there is NO WAY for the tester to know how much material is left. No way because wheel removal is NOT ALLOWED during a test, and any measured item can only be failed following measurement by an VOSA approved and calibrated device - of which none exist for brake pads. So he has to pass and advise.

My e28 failed on pads below minimum , it failed on a few other things as well, none of which had been advisories the year before (approx 2000 miles ).
I think the station was trying it on as they had also priced up the cost for most of the repairs.

[iva cosworth]

I got an advisory....."radiator leaking"

Not in the slightest an MOT item but usefull to know as i didnt beforehand.

[mcford]

pmjg66 said:

it used to be 1.5mm when I tested 3 years ago.

That's what I thought when I tested the day before yesterday.

It could have been an abandoned test due to not being able to inspect some items due to the dirt, with the test fee still payable.

[Spanna]

Had a child seat in the back of my car. MOT advisory came back that he could not check the rear passenger side seatbelt as a child seat was installed. The seatbelt is surely fine if a child seat is being securely fastened by it.