996TT and 996 generally - common reasons for MOT failure?
996TT and 996 generally - common reasons for MOT failure?
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Discussion

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,342 posts

170 months

Monday 25th March 2013
quotequote all
My TT currently lives abroad and I will travel to the UK with it for its MOT.

I really can't afford a fail because I only plan to be in the UK for a day, making onward travel plans.

Apart from slightly iffy tyres which will be replaced just to make sure, I don't really think that anything is wrong with it. But I wonder whether there is anything that may not be obvious especially on this model and that may result in a fail.

Wishbones have been replaced in the not too distant past and the car handles perfectly, no knocks or anything so I think suspension is fine. Mileage 58k.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

6C4GTS

5,186 posts

208 months

Monday 25th March 2013
quotequote all
Hopefully you live somewhere hot and sunny - otherwise inner face of brake discs are a weak point.
Italian tune up on the way to UK may help that.
Also check exhaust brackets etc but the cars are fairly robust.

Redeem

382 posts

213 months

Monday 25th March 2013
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Brake discs if corroded can fail, this is not something that I experienced with mine though. I do not know where you live but why you do not ask the local equivalent MOT agency to check your car before you arrive in the UK ? This would give you an idea if there is a chance that your car will fail the MOT

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,342 posts

170 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
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Thanks, I will probably replace the brake discs at the rear because they are worn, would replace anyway MOT or not.

Quite encouraging responses till now!

Will be replacing all three rads too, they are goners. Expensive year! At least I'm diy-ing them so no labour costs.

In the meantime any further tips of what to look out for will be appreciated.

sundayjumper

531 posts

312 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
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Not an issue if you're putting new rear discs on anyway, but handbrakes can be an easy fail if the drum is badly corroded. Might be worth replacing handbrake shoes while you're in there so that it's all nice and fresh.

Different car but similar setup, I had to do this on my E46 for the MOT this year. The handbrake was in a shocking state when I took it apart.

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,342 posts

170 months

Wednesday 27th March 2013
quotequote all
Good point.

Quite honestly the handbrake does need quite a serious tug for there to be any effect.

Is this normal? Was concerned at my first MOT last year but the car passed.

sundayjumper

531 posts

312 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
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Mine needs a firm tug but does hold quite well once it's there. I've not got around to pulling at apart to see what it's like inside.

steve singh

3,995 posts

203 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
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sundayjumper said:
Mine needs a firm tug but does hold quite well once it's there. I've not got around to pulling at apart to see what it's like inside.
Are we still talking about cars here - or have I wandered onto the wrong forum (again) ? wink

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
quotequote all
The MOT is a very basic test of road worthiness ie very basic safety.

Easy things you can check
Lights
Tyres
Park car on a hill apply handbrake / let it pull the car to a stop from a slow speed say 10mph.
Seat belts
Horn
No metal or sharp edges which could harm a padestrian walking past your car.
As you have brake discs you can easily visually see how much purchase each outside edge is getting if its 50% etc then might be an issue as your braking efficiency will be down.
Windscreen in front of the driver is it chipped or damaged
Wipers are tey in good condition


The rest is
Emissions tests
Brake test
And suspension checking under from under the car

Frankly you should have no worry what so ever in taking your car in for an MOT every day of the year it might be a Porsche but a car is a car and even the mighty F1/veyron have exactly the same test. Most is a since to check yourself so if anything is Wong with those fix then quickly beforehand.

james S

1,620 posts

275 months

Friday 29th March 2013
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http://www.motester.co.uk/mot-information-for-moto...

Lots of places on-line to find the full test. Give this to the guys doing the other work for you and you should be OK

PedroPistol

34 posts

181 months

Friday 29th March 2013
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My TT failed last year for corroded front brake lines which are not easy to spot. I had front and back done when it was up on the ramp and had no problem this year.


stup

238 posts

237 months

Friday 29th March 2013
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Mot these daily, things I would check is

Brake pipes (esp ones at all calipers and ones that run along passenger side floor)

On the 996tt play on front track rod ends ( jack car up and see if play left to right on wheel without the steering wheel moving)

Small lever in all bottom ball joints (coffin arm) see if play in bush ( sometimes would also hear this going over rough ground knocking also if really excessive)

Check tyres obviously

Above is most common failures in my opinion

As per brakes, it's inefficiency between one side to another side that's more likely to
Fail if corroded like they commonly do on inside face as people have mentioned.

....Just noticed you have said you replaced lower wishbones, this should make you on for bottom ball joints then (wishbones also referred as coffin arms)

Edited by stup on Friday 29th March 08:39

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,342 posts

170 months

Tuesday 2nd April 2013
quotequote all
Many thanks guys, sorry late reply but been doing what we're supposed to be doing with a 996 Turbo :-) and just returned. All well except (has to be, has there not?!) a/c is kaput and looks like the condensers need replacing, but more relevant to this thread, indicator stalk suddenly won't hold when turning right, and won't automagically reset when applied to turn left... so ze steering veel he 'as to kom off...

Still, happy it happened now and not on the way to the MOT station.

Great driving btw, 1000km in 4 days doing mostly the back roads of Sicily (and Etna of course, the hottest hillclimb around!)

Could not safely get past a Cooper D in around 12km of road, despite me butt-kissing him all the way, gives you an idea of the sheer number of twisty bits...

All your points have been noted and will be acted upon!

Thanks once again.

RiccardoG

1,756 posts

302 months

Tuesday 2nd April 2013
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Are you like me and you keep your 911 in Italy most of the time? Mine tends to be in Milan, great Alpine roads nearby smile

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,342 posts

170 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
RiccardoG said:
Are you like me and you keep your 911 in Italy most of the time? Mine tends to be in Milan, great Alpine roads nearby smile
Sadly further south... much further wink

But on my way down from the UK this summer I hope to drive through some of the best roads in Switzerland and Italy lick