MOT - why did they do this?
Discussion
Took the Pug in for the MOT this morning. I asked them to check the headlamp aim, then perform an MOT test.
They chose to do the MOT first (which it failed on headlamp aim), then do the headlamp alignment, then perform a (presumably partial) retest. Which it passed.
So why did they do it that way round? Obviously makes no difference to me, just seems strange; wondering if there's some logic to doing it that way that I don't know about...
They chose to do the MOT first (which it failed on headlamp aim), then do the headlamp alignment, then perform a (presumably partial) retest. Which it passed.
So why did they do it that way round? Obviously makes no difference to me, just seems strange; wondering if there's some logic to doing it that way that I don't know about...
TA14 said:
You've mentioned one job but there might be another five. It's easier for them to let the MoT guy list the jobs than find the jobs themselves so they do that. Then all of the jobs can be done in one go rather than some before the test and some after.
I'd say the above is reason enough. 
trashbat said:
My guess, and it is only that: it helps the stats, in that if they go above a certain pass threshold, VOSA get interested, so better to have enough fails.
Probably this... After all, it used to be that the pen is mightier than the spanner, but now they keyboard is mightier than the spanner.They're probably getting a few dealers through on the side, and need to keep a few fails in there
R12HCO said:
trashbat said:
My guess, and it is only that: it helps the stats, in that if they go above a certain pass threshold, VOSA get interested, so better to have enough fails.
This. Its fairly simple and I've discussed it with my MOT mate.
1) Stick it through the test, at which point they might pass anyway (zero effort).
2) If it fails adjust them (still only doing this once anyway).
3) "re-test" amounts to one extra minute at the MOT computer for a second print. There is no effort to re-test the lights apart from shining the lights against the wall which was done at stage two anyway.
So there is no hidden agenda, no money to be made or stats to be pumped.
1) Stick it through the test, at which point they might pass anyway (zero effort).
2) If it fails adjust them (still only doing this once anyway).
3) "re-test" amounts to one extra minute at the MOT computer for a second print. There is no effort to re-test the lights apart from shining the lights against the wall which was done at stage two anyway.
So there is no hidden agenda, no money to be made or stats to be pumped.
mini1380cc said:
Its fairly simple and I've discussed it with my MOT mate.
1) Stick it through the test, at which point they might pass anyway (zero effort).
2) If it fails adjust them (still only doing this once anyway).
3) "re-test" amounts to one extra minute at the MOT computer for a second print. There is no effort to re-test the lights apart from shining the lights against the wall which was done at stage two anyway.
So there is no hidden agenda, no money to be made or stats to be pumped.
That's fair enough. I wasn't trying to uncover a conspiracy, that explanation makes perfect sense.1) Stick it through the test, at which point they might pass anyway (zero effort).
2) If it fails adjust them (still only doing this once anyway).
3) "re-test" amounts to one extra minute at the MOT computer for a second print. There is no effort to re-test the lights apart from shining the lights against the wall which was done at stage two anyway.
So there is no hidden agenda, no money to be made or stats to be pumped.
selym said:
mini1380cc said:
Its fairly simple and I've discussed it with my MOT mate.
1) Stick it through the test, at which point they might pass anyway (zero effort).
2) If it fails adjust them (still only doing this once anyway).
3) "re-test" amounts to one extra minute at the MOT computer for a second print. There is no effort to re-test the lights apart from shining the lights against the wall which was done at stage two anyway.
So there is no hidden agenda, no money to be made or stats to be pumped.
That's fair enough. I wasn't trying to uncover a conspiracy, that explanation makes perfect sense.1) Stick it through the test, at which point they might pass anyway (zero effort).
2) If it fails adjust them (still only doing this once anyway).
3) "re-test" amounts to one extra minute at the MOT computer for a second print. There is no effort to re-test the lights apart from shining the lights against the wall which was done at stage two anyway.
So there is no hidden agenda, no money to be made or stats to be pumped.
To be fair, it did fail pretty catastrophically anyway... duff driver's wiper blade. It had a 4" tear at each end of the rubber. Can't believe I didn't notice that over the 160 rainy miles I've done in the last 2 days. Or when I checked that the wipers cleared the windscreen effectively last night.
And it was a good job they replaced it with one that was nearly, but not quite, the same as the old one. I like non-standard bits on my car, especially when someone charges me for them without asking.
Thankfully they insisted on keeping hold of the old one, so now I have the pleasure of buying and fitting a whole new blade, rather than fitting a new rubber, and taking it back in tomorrow for my free partial retest.
The tester is not supposed to do any rectification work on the vehicle during the course of the test.
Common practice to do what you have experienced which is fine. Have had it myself a couple of times with light bulbs (and I do check all bulbs immediately before going to the test centre) - fail, fit new bulb, retest, pass.
The garage have no idea whether your car is a VOSA set-up to check that they are carrying out the test as prescribed. Worst case - although hardly likely in these circs - both the tester & the station could lose their tester status.
Common practice to do what you have experienced which is fine. Have had it myself a couple of times with light bulbs (and I do check all bulbs immediately before going to the test centre) - fail, fit new bulb, retest, pass.
The garage have no idea whether your car is a VOSA set-up to check that they are carrying out the test as prescribed. Worst case - although hardly likely in these circs - both the tester & the station could lose their tester status.
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