The ask an MOT tester thread

The ask an MOT tester thread

Author
Discussion

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
There have been many topics about the MOT lately and I know there are other testers on this site other than me so ask your questions here and I am sure one of us will have an answer for you.

FAQ:

There are no targets for pass or fail.

We are monitored but only to build the bigger picture nationwide as to what is a a common problem.

The ave test time is 45 mins

We are all tested via training once a year

It is a thankless job!


Over to you smile

mintybiscuit

2,811 posts

144 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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What is the accepted minimum ' drink' you will accept to pass a dodgy car ?
biggrin

AmosMoses

4,039 posts

164 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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Whats the longest list of failures you've given a car?

BGTROPHY

20 posts

71 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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Excellent thread idea look forward to this

redandwhite

473 posts

128 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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Nice, asked this question recently in my own thread but will repost here for your opinion, cheers;

I have a dash message relating to Alarm System Service (siren issue) and Parking System Service (dud parking sensor) - these can be removed by pressing the stalk and are only present when first starting the car - am i correct in thinking these wont be an issue come MOT time?? The VOSA regs (see im a typical volvo owner) dont seem much help.

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
No drinks! I have a family and cars need to be safe to be fair!

I did a car with 3 pages on the old system , today I did a 3 fail, 14 advise, 3 manual advise on one car..

Some of the things we see and what happens post test is eye opening, I did a car for cords showing on a tyre and an advise on another tyre that was almost through, he did the bad tyre , refused the other then paid more than the value of the advise tyre to have his A/C re gassed...

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Does anyone ever actually use the MOT viewing area?

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
redandwhite said:
Nice, asked this question recently in my own thread but will repost here for your opinion, cheers;

I have a dash message relating to Alarm System Service (siren issue) and Parking System Service (dud parking sensor) - these can be removed by pressing the stalk and are only present when first starting the car - am i correct in thinking these wont be an issue come MOT time?? The VOSA regs (see im a typical volvo owner) dont seem much help.
They are of no interest to us at all, we may mention them in an advise (not likely) but not an issue.

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
Does anyone ever actually use the MOT viewing area?
Yep, a fair few, especially enthusiasts that don't like others messing with the car! I must admit it sets my alarms off if I don't know them as it may be secret shoppers haha!

lord trumpton

7,320 posts

125 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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All this DPF gutting and the clampdown...do you find many that have been gutted and welded back up these days?

the tribester

2,340 posts

85 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Would you pass this?


Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
the tribester said:
Would you pass this?

Modifications to vehicles must be assessed on their merits, taking account of the nature of the modification and whether the component is critical to safety.

A modification is unsafe if it:

adversely affects the roadworthiness of the vehicle
is likely to cause injury, such as modification to the body
has a disproportionately adverse effect on the environment

yes.




Coilspring

577 posts

62 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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Athlon said:
Modifications to vehicles must be assessed on their merits, taking account of the nature of the modification and whether the component is critical to safety.

A modification is unsafe if it:

adversely affects the roadworthiness of the vehicle
is likely to cause injury, such as modification to the body
has a disproportionately adverse effect on the environment

yes.
Would you not regard that as a sharp edge ?

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
lord trumpton said:
All this DPF gutting and the clampdown...do you find many that have been gutted and welded back up these days?
Some, although some are really good and hard to spot and to be fair some will pass even when gutted, smoke from the exhaust gives them away wink

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Coilspring said:
Would you not regard that as a sharp edge ?
A sharp edge is a cut in a panel or broken glass/plastic lens in my opinion, they could cause harm though and would fail on that for me.

LosingGrip

7,806 posts

158 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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Is there a reason why i took my bike in for a tyre change and MOT that they did the MOT first, fail it and then did it again with the new tyre?

Coilspring

577 posts

62 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Athlon said:
A sharp edge is a cut in a panel or broken glass/plastic lens in my opinion, they could cause harm though and would fail on that for me.
I probably mis read or mis understood your post.

You said "yes" which I assumed meant you would pass it.

A sharp edge (at my regular mot station) is deemed to be anything a pedestrian might be affected by, including when vehicle is parked.

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Is there a reason why i took my bike in for a tyre change and MOT that they did the MOT first, fail it and then did it again with the new tyre?
Every station will have their own approach, we as the mentioned test first as it may flag up more faults that need addressing, swapping out the tyre first may seem the best option but if the car/bike fails on a load more later it means a re-test and more ramp time, better in my opinion to treat the test as a job sheet and do it right once.

Athlon

Original Poster:

4,998 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Coilspring said:
Athlon said:
A sharp edge is a cut in a panel or broken glass/plastic lens in my opinion, they could cause harm though and would fail on that for me.
I probably mis read or mis understood your post.

You said "yes" which I assumed meant you would pass it.

A sharp edge (at my regular mot station) is deemed to be anything a pedestrian might be affected by, including when vehicle is parked.
Sorry, I meant yes as I would fail it.

Casa1862

1,062 posts

164 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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Are the council run MOT places more strict as they are used to testing taxis and commercial vehicles?