New MOT rules from May 2018

[gareth_r]

Retroman said:

gareth_r said:

Was the pre/post September 2002 difference in the previous version of the test? I thought it was just words to the effect of "test as whichever is older, vehicle or engine".

I remember hearing some words to that effect in the past as well so it appears that area has been updated with that regards.

Sneaked that one in, didn't they?

Retrospective, as well. Good job I didn't put that Chevy big-block in a 2003 7-series a couple of years ago.

[richard sails]

The MIL light check is only for vehicles first used after 1st July 2003 for petrol enhines and 1st July 2008 for diesel engines.

This is an extract from the MOT testers manual copied from the official government website, scroll down tonear the bottom for this bit, my MOT inspector was not aware of this and needed to check it after I pointed it out to him.


https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...


Engine malfunction indicator lamp
Turn on the ignition and check that the engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates and then goes off. On some vehicles it will be necessary to start the engine before the MIL goes off.

You need to inspect MIL fitted to

petrol vehicles with 4 or more wheels, not more than 8 passenger seats in addition to the driver’s seat and first used on or after 1 July 2003
petrol vehicles with 4 or more wheels, more than 8 passenger seats in addition to the driver’s seat and first used on or after 1 July 2008
gas and bi-fuel vehicles with 4 or more wheels, not more than 8 passenger seats in addition to the driver’s seat and first used on or after 1 July 2008
Kit cars, amateur built vehicles and American pickups are not required to be fitted with an engine MIL.




If your petrol engine car has the lamp on and was first used after 1st July 2003 but before 2008 you could fit LPG to get a pass.

It would be possible (and this is not a suggestion) to rig up a timed relay to pulse the MIL light on for one second every time the ignition is switched on which would negate the legislation but I suspect that would be ilegal in some way.

Edited by richard sails on Monday 3rd December 10:47

[Ed/L152]

richard sails said:

Engine malfunction indicator lamp
Turn on the ignition and check that the engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates and then goes off.

It wouldn't be particularly difficult to produce a timing circuit that can simulate this behaviour. Making it fit might be tricky, but I suppose it would depend on what's more difficult - fixing the engine fault or faking the EML behaviour.

I'm glad you expanded what MIL meant in this context, although a mother-in-law warning lamp might be useful in any context.

[Retroman]

richard sails said:

The MIL light check is only for vehicles first used after 1st July 2003 for petrol enhines and 1st July 2008 for diesel engines.

This is an extract from the MOT testers manual copied from the official government website, scroll down tonear the bottom for this bit, my MOT inspector was not aware of this and needed to check it after I pointed it out to him.


https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

Edited by richard sails on Monday 3rd December 10:47

This is great, thank you! I wasn't aware.
I'm guessing 2008 is when DPF's became mandatory as well on diesel engines?

[Tobs]

Ed/L152 said:

richard sails said:

Engine malfunction indicator lamp
Turn on the ignition and check that the engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates and then goes off.

It wouldn't be particularly difficult to produce a timing circuit that can simulate this behaviour. Making it fit might be tricky, but I suppose it would depend on what's more difficult - fixing the engine fault or faking the EML behaviour.

I'm glad you expanded what MIL meant in this context, although a mother-in-law warning lamp might be useful in any context.

.

Or just connect to the oil pressure warning light or other light that comes on and goes off when the engine starts....

[techguyone]

now you have fully electronic dashboards rather than individual lamps as of cars of yesteryear that may be harder to do than you may think, you're looking at IC logic boards etc not just a big FO bulb and a wire.

[SonicShadow]

gareth_r said:

The other day, I noticed this in the emissions section:

If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that's older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine.
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle.

Was the pre/post September 2002 difference in the previous version of the test? I thought it was just words to the effect of "test as whichever is older, vehicle or engine".


https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

It still applied before the most recent changes.

[markjmd]

Retroman said:

This is great, thank you! I wasn't aware.
I'm guessing 2008 is when DPF's became mandatory as well on diesel engines?

Yep, it's the year that Euro4 standards became mandatory for diesel cars in the UK (2003 being the year that Euro3 became mandatory for petrols).

[gareth_r]

SonicShadow said:

gareth_r said:

The other day, I noticed this in the emissions section:

If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that's older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine.
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle.

Was the pre/post September 2002 difference in the previous version of the test? I thought it was just words to the effect of "test as whichever is older, vehicle or engine".


https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

It still applied before the most recent changes.

Before the changes that were made in May this year?

[SonicShadow]

gareth_r said:

SonicShadow said:

gareth_r said:

The other day, I noticed this in the emissions section:

If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that's older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine.
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle.

Was the pre/post September 2002 difference in the previous version of the test? I thought it was just words to the effect of "test as whichever is older, vehicle or engine".


https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

It still applied before the most recent changes.

Before the changes that were made in May this year?

Yes, correct. I spoke to a tester in 2017 to check what the requirements would be for putting a 1994 3SGTE into a 1999 MR2 - he showed me the relevant bits in his documentation. I seem to remember it wasn't obviously placed in the emissions section like it is now though.