MOT fail if rear doors don't open?
Discussion
I have a 2002 Vectra C car. Just wondering if someone can help me out - I went to do an MOT test a couple of days ago, but it was a failure because the nearside rear door wouldn't open at all (Happened all of a sudden and the new 2012 MOT rules say that you have to be able to open both rear doors from outside).
If you use the key fob, pressing the "unlock" button opens just the drivers door. If you press it twice, it opens all doors, but the nearside rear door stays locked and you can't open it from inside or outside. Finding someone to fix it is a nightmare because it's the Christmas period. However, when I was messing around with the central locking today, I noticed that if you just press the key fob once to unlock the drivers door, put your hand inside the car and manually unlock the car from inside, you can open the rear door from both inside and outside and the door works as normal but if you lock it again using the key fob then unlock it, it won't open. The rear door only opens if it's manually unlocked from the inside. It's a very strange problem but because I have to get a new tax disc tomorrow, I'm wondering if the mechanic will pass it considering the rear door can be opened that way from outside?
If you use the key fob, pressing the "unlock" button opens just the drivers door. If you press it twice, it opens all doors, but the nearside rear door stays locked and you can't open it from inside or outside. Finding someone to fix it is a nightmare because it's the Christmas period. However, when I was messing around with the central locking today, I noticed that if you just press the key fob once to unlock the drivers door, put your hand inside the car and manually unlock the car from inside, you can open the rear door from both inside and outside and the door works as normal but if you lock it again using the key fob then unlock it, it won't open. The rear door only opens if it's manually unlocked from the inside. It's a very strange problem but because I have to get a new tax disc tomorrow, I'm wondering if the mechanic will pass it considering the rear door can be opened that way from outside?
It's nothing to do with the new 2012 rules, it's always been that way.
Rear doors have to open from the outside and front doors from both outside and inside.
I suspect rear doors not having to open from the inside is due to childlocks.
As others have already said, present the car unlocked and you should be fine.
Rear doors have to open from the outside and front doors from both outside and inside.
I suspect rear doors not having to open from the inside is due to childlocks.
As others have already said, present the car unlocked and you should be fine.
Take the inside door card off and remove the lock completely, dont risk the car locking itself and the mechanic not being able to open the rear door. Even if you tell them its unlocked they might press the fob and lock it, then unlock it, anyway before driving it in. It'll fail if you cant open the door, it wont fail if you cant lock the door.
Similar in princable to the fact that it is illegal to have a bald spare tyre but not illegal to have no spare tyre.
Similar in princable to the fact that it is illegal to have a bald spare tyre but not illegal to have no spare tyre.
Edited by KM666 on Sunday 30th December 22:22
KM666 said:
Take the inside door card off and remove the lock completely, dont risk the car locking itself and the mechanic not being able to open the rear door. Even if you tell them its unlocked they might press the fob and lock it, then unlock it, anyway before driving it in. It'll fail if you cant open the door, it wont fail if you cant lock the door.
Similar in princable to the fact that it is illegal to have a bald spare tyre but not illegal to have no spare tyre.
If he removes the mechanism there will be nothing to hold the door closed.Similar in princable to the fact that it is illegal to have a bald spare tyre but not illegal to have no spare tyre.
Edited by KM666 on Sunday 30th December 22:22
XG332 said:
KM666 said:
.
Similar in princable to the fact that it is illegal to have a bald spare tyre but not illegal to have no spare tyre.
Didn't think it was a part of the test. Similar in princable to the fact that it is illegal to have a bald spare tyre but not illegal to have no spare tyre.
It could be an advisory so the owner knows I guess.
I had this exact rear door problem at the very moment I was handing the keys over to the guy who was buying my Vectra! Seriously!
Except no matter what I did the damn thing wouldn't unlock!
I ended up pulling the interior panel off (which is a challenge with the door locked shut!) I then had to smash the lock unit to pieces (a 40 minute task with a 1/2" socket extension fed inside the door swinging a hammer in the small space left available) to get it open and replaced it with a new one so that I could sell the bloody car!!!
If I were you, I would replace it while it's open/unlocked?!
Except no matter what I did the damn thing wouldn't unlock!
I ended up pulling the interior panel off (which is a challenge with the door locked shut!) I then had to smash the lock unit to pieces (a 40 minute task with a 1/2" socket extension fed inside the door swinging a hammer in the small space left available) to get it open and replaced it with a new one so that I could sell the bloody car!!!
If I were you, I would replace it while it's open/unlocked?!
BrownBottle said:
If he removes the mechanism there will be nothing to hold the door closed.
I dont mean the entire mechanism, usually the locks and the catch/latch can be removed independently of one another. Like when a door fails to lock due to a fault in the central locking system, the doors can still be opened and shut, just not locked. KM666 said:
XG332 said:
Didn't think it was a part of the test.
It could be an advisory so the owner knows I guess.
It isnt a part of the test, no. Its just illegal to carry a bald spare. It could be an advisory so the owner knows I guess.
KM666 said:
I dont mean the entire mechanism, usually the locks and the catch/latch can be removed independently of one another. Like when a door fails to lock due to a fault in the central locking system, the doors can still be opened and shut, just not locked.
It comes as a complete unit, the locking action is built into the mechanism.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff