MOT station mystery fail then pass

MOT station mystery fail then pass

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Discussion

tonys

1,080 posts

222 months

Monday 26th June 2017
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Do you have headlamp 'height' adjustable via a switch on the dash, ie different settings according to load carried. If so, 1 second job, all done whilst sat inside car.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Monday 26th June 2017
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It's a PRS (pass with rectification at station)

Stuff like lights alignment or anything that's easy. (filling an empty washer reservoir, chucking in a bulb if it's an easy one,) Something that can be done "within the time of the mot"

You click PRS, as the washer fluid being empty and nothing squirting the screen IS a fail. But rather than fail, clock off, rectify, log back in and pass. The system allows you to just do it there and then. And it records it as having failed and retested for clarity. And prints both certificates.

smile

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Rich_W said:
It's a PRS (pass with rectification at station)

Stuff like lights alignment or anything that's easy. (filling an empty washer reservoir, chucking in a bulb if it's an easy one,) Something that can be done "within the time of the mot"

You click PRS, as the washer fluid being empty and nothing squirting the screen IS a fail. But rather than fail, clock off, rectify, log back in and pass. The system allows you to just do it there and then. And it records it as having failed and retested for clarity. And prints both certificates.

smile
Maybe, but there are too many a*shole testers out in the world!

Advisories for "undertrays potentially obscuring components" when surely lack of an OEM undertray ought to be the advisory?! I mean it is there for a reason!

I got 1 advisory last year for "low oil level" - are testers allowed to pull out the dip-stick? Just wondered because when I drove home the low oil level warning light didn't come on!

But then they also gave me 2 advisories for rear indicators not being orange enough - I've changed them, but will never go back to that test centre!

I need to find somewhere with a tester that you can actually speak to!

Looking for work? furious

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Mr Tidy said:
Maybe, but there are too many a*shole testers out in the world!

Advisories for "undertrays potentially obscuring components" when surely lack of an OEM undertray ought to be the advisory?! I mean it is there for a reason!

I got 1 advisory last year for "low oil level" - are testers allowed to pull out the dip-stick? Just wondered because when I drove home the low oil level warning light didn't come on!

But then they also gave me 2 advisories for rear indicators not being orange enough - I've changed them, but will never go back to that test centre!

I need to find somewhere with a tester that you can actually speak to!

Looking for work? furious
Under trays can hide corrosion to front sub frames, it's a standard advisory to note that testable items can't be seen as they're hidden behind covers.

You'd be pissed off if they did the emissions test and the engine went pop due to lack of oil, then you'd be moaning at how incompetent they are.

Once the orange coating begins to come off the bulbs the colour rapidly degrades, what would you rather have at night an orange 21 watt bulb flashing on the car in front or a bright white one?, orange is easier on the eye. People don't realise that bulbs with a colour coating can have 2 failure modes.

You being angry at a tester doing things by the book shows what a lack of understanding that you have for the purpose of the test, the test procedure and the recording of test results.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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mcford said:
Mr Tidy said:
Maybe, but there are too many a*shole testers out in the world!

Advisories for "undertrays potentially obscuring components" when surely lack of an OEM undertray ought to be the advisory?! I mean it is there for a reason!

I got 1 advisory last year for "low oil level" - are testers allowed to pull out the dip-stick? Just wondered because when I drove home the low oil level warning light didn't come on!

But then they also gave me 2 advisories for rear indicators not being orange enough - I've changed them, but will never go back to that test centre!

I need to find somewhere with a tester that you can actually speak to!

Looking for work? furious
Under trays can hide corrosion to front sub frames, it's a standard advisory to note that testable items can't be seen as they're hidden behind covers.

You'd be pissed off if they did the emissions test and the engine went pop due to lack of oil, then you'd be moaning at how incompetent they are.

Once the orange coating begins to come off the bulbs the colour rapidly degrades, what would you rather have at night an orange 21 watt bulb flashing on the car in front or a bright white one?, orange is easier on the eye. People don't realise that bulbs with a colour coating can have 2 failure modes.

You being angry at a tester doing things by the book shows what a lack of understanding that you have for the purpose of the test, the test procedure and the recording of test results.
Fair enough, but what do you do for a living - MOT tests perhaps? laugh

My car wouldn't have gone "pop" on the emissions test due to lack of oil, seeing as it wasn't low on oil in the first place! And if low oil really was the scenario, I'd rather the test centre told me the oil is a bit low, do you really want us to possibly f*ck your engine doing the test or would you like to top it up and bring it back? Not rocket science is it FFS?! A bit of customer relations would surely go a long way?!

Nice to know that bulbs with a colour coating "can have 2 failure modes". What are they - MOT advisory potential revenue earning opportunity and "not F*cking working"?

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Certain lights have to show specific colours, if the colour coating has flaked off to the extent that the light is showing an incorrect colour, then it's failed in that particular application, the same as it's failed if the filament is blown. What's wrong with the tester advising that this will likely happen in the near future? When/if drivers check their lights, how many take the colour into consideration?

If you begrudge the cost of the bulbs, re-purpose the old ones by filing one of bayonets down, removing the remainder of the colour coating and use it for anther light, like a reversing light, rear fog light or brake light. I shouldn't think that the garage will make a fortune out of £5 worth of bulbs, we'll often fit them free of labour charge.

An oil level check on a MOT is good practise, not many drivers actually check it. It could be low or it could be too high, I wouldn't rely on an electronic gauge if their was an alternative of an old fashioned dip stick. Some cars (VWs) can show a low oil level warning on the dash and simply by opening/closing the bonnet the warning will be cancelled and another oil level check will be carried out within the next 100 miles.

It's not always practical to have a customer want to take their car away to top up the oil at the start of the test, it takes time. If the tests are booked for a specific time in 45 minute slots, the customer removes their car for 15 minutes and there aren't any alternative cars that have arrived early for their test, then the slot will be lost and the customer won't get their car tested that day at that MOT station.

Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Mr Tidy said:
Fair enough, but what do you do for a living - MOT tests perhaps? laugh

My car wouldn't have gone "pop" on the emissions test due to lack of oil, seeing as it wasn't low on oil in the first place! And if low oil really was the scenario, I'd rather the test centre told me the oil is a bit low, do you really want us to possibly f*ck your engine doing the test or would you like to top it up and bring it back? Not rocket science is it FFS?! A bit of customer relations would surely go a long way?!

Nice to know that bulbs with a colour coating "can have 2 failure modes". What are they - MOT advisory potential revenue earning opportunity and "not F*cking working"?
Jeez, you come across as a bit of an ahole. Discoloured bulbs are a normal advisory, they're orange enough to pass but are losing their colour coating so may not be orange enough very soon. An 'earning opportunity', right on rofl

And as for the 'customer relations', an MOT tester isn't going to break off mid test to say 'excuse me Mr Tidy sir, I just wanted to let you know about XYZ', they advise what they see and then tell you afterwards. The oil temperature is checked as part of the emissions test so they would look at your oil level as part of that when inserting the probe.

Don't like it? Start checking your car over properly before you take it in or just buy a new car every 3 years and not have to be a moaning bd about having some advisories rofl

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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ecsrobin said:
ashleyman said:
Can they not do this on people who don't care about their MOT history being squeaky clean?

It pissed me right off when I asked for a list of things to be done to my car BEFORE they did the MOT that I knew were required for it to pass. Instead, they did the MOT first, failed it, did the stuff I asked them to do then re-tested the car.
I’m not sure the obsession on here with clean MOT’s if it’s for something trivial like beam adjustment it wouldn’t stop me buying a car over one with a clean MOT even more so as we all know that one guy who can get you a clean MOT so I’d be just as cautious as a car with a clean MOT as one without.
Probably because they don't know you from Adam & won't take the chance that it could be a DVSA test car. Their job & their employer's business are at stake.
Tester isn't supposed to do repairs/adjustment during the course of the test - although many do - so will record fail items as exactly that then after the test adjust headlight aim or replace a bulb and pass. I've had a couple of fails on bulbs over the years even though I do a pre-mot check before taking it for test & the bulb has genuinely gone on route to the station.
Bit more about PRS here: http://www.ukmot.com/garages/Testers-FAQs.asp?FAQ1...

If you'd rather not have a fail then either go over the car yourself & rectify any defective testable items or have the testing garage/other garage service the car before the MoT instead of just bunging it in in the hope that it won't fail or they might miss something you know is iffy.

As far as fail & advisories are concerned when looking for cars I check the MoT history online - as I expect many do.
Things like bulbs, headlight aim & other minor issues, ball joint play, cv & ball joint boots split, corrosion to brake lines etc causing a fail but then subsequently rectified & passed are of no concern.
Corrosion of the body is a concern as although I do all my own welding I'd rather not!


Edited by paintman on Tuesday 27th June 08:10

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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cuprabob said:
njw1 said:
Why do people worry about these things? If I put my car in for an mot and I come away with a pass I don't give a st what they had to do before issuing the pass. I've got much more to worry about than my cars's mot history. smile
^this^
Agreed. There are far more important things to get uptight about than headlight settings; life's too short to clog it up it with st like that.

Byker28i

58,860 posts

216 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Mr Tidy said:
I got 1 advisory last year for "low oil level" - are testers allowed to pull out the dip-stick? Just wondered because when I drove home the low oil level warning light didn't come on!
This is worrying. You don't check your oil but wait for the warning light to come on? Do you do that for everything? Screenwash, tyre pressure, seat belt alert etc

TA14

12,722 posts

257 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Butter Face said:
spanky3 said:
I'm annoyed because they didn't touch it or make any mention of recording a fail. This particular place it's quite small and the viewing area consists of a sofa in front of a big window directly in front of the ramp. They generally start the timer, stick it up on the ramp then go of and fix another car for 20 minutes. If I thought both headlights were out and they'd adjusted then for free is be overjoyed.
So you're questioning why they 'made up' a fail, then in the next post admit that they don't normally even test the cars? rofl
Your heading towards a whoosh. DTp like to see 45 mins for a test so they can work on another car for 20 mins and then do the test in the remaining 20 to 25 mins.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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I'm really not sure why some people seem to take it personally if their car fails an MOT?

Dogwatch

6,222 posts

221 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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paintman said:
Corrosion of the body is a concern
From experience (long ago) I'd say it's a nightmare you could really do without! As with other posters, for me a pass is a pass and a fail on minor items easily rectified is no big deal.
I suppose that improved rust protection has pushed body rot down the list of concerns to the extent that people can now get upset about far lesser items failing.

DaveH23

3,230 posts

169 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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A car that has had zero issues come MOT time would ring alarm bells for me as a buyer.

Why the obsession with this as long as it is fixed amd in the case of the OP for free?

ashleyman

6,963 posts

98 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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paintman said:
If you'd rather not have a fail then either go over the car yourself & rectify any defective testable items or have the testing garage/other garage service the car before the MoT instead of just bunging it in in the hope that it won't fail or they might miss something you know is iffy.
That's what I'm saying though. After going over the car myself and finding bits that needed doing I took it to the garage, asked them to do X, Y & Z and then give it an MOT. They didn't do as asked and tested first resulting in a fail for the exact work I'd asked them to carry out. So they're specifically ignoring instruction from paying customers which is what annoyed me.

Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
quotequote all
ashleyman said:
paintman said:
If you'd rather not have a fail then either go over the car yourself & rectify any defective testable items or have the testing garage/other garage service the car before the MoT instead of just bunging it in in the hope that it won't fail or they might miss something you know is iffy.
That's what I'm saying though. After going over the car myself and finding bits that needed doing I took it to the garage, asked them to do X, Y & Z and then give it an MOT. They didn't do as asked and tested first resulting in a fail for the exact work I'd asked them to carry out. So they're specifically ignoring instruction from paying customers which is what annoyed me.
Maybe they felt they were doing you a favour? Do the MOT and see what actually needs doing, rather than ticking off your list which may be stuff that they feel doesn't need doing?

Customers instructions are hardly the last word in what actually gets done at garages, but they should have clarified the route they wanted to take before you left.

TA14

12,722 posts

257 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
quotequote all
Butter Face said:
ashleyman said:
paintman said:
If you'd rather not have a fail then either go over the car yourself & rectify any defective testable items or have the testing garage/other garage service the car before the MoT instead of just bunging it in in the hope that it won't fail or they might miss something you know is iffy.
That's what I'm saying though. After going over the car myself and finding bits that needed doing I took it to the garage, asked them to do X, Y & Z and then give it an MOT. They didn't do as asked and tested first resulting in a fail for the exact work I'd asked them to carry out. So they're specifically ignoring instruction from paying customers which is what annoyed me.
Maybe they felt they were doing you a favour? Do the MOT and see what actually needs doing, rather than ticking off your list which may be stuff that they feel doesn't need doing?

Customers instructions are hardly the last word in what actually gets done at garages, but they should have clarified the route they wanted to take before you left.
It is annoying but pretty much all garages do that. I think it's more that they want to do all of the work together; if they fix three items and then the test kicks up another two it would be: in the workshop for the first three items, on the MoT ramp to test, in the workshop for two more items and back on the MoT ramp. At an extreme the test may show extreme rusting around mountings which is not economic to repair and the car is scrapped so the punter wouldn't want the extensive service doing at all.

Accelebrate

5,244 posts

214 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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cuprabob said:
Garages often fail on minor points to demonstrate they are picking stuff up to DVSA and keep the fail to pass rate ratio.
I feel like this happens, or that some testers throw in a few additional fails to meet some sort of statistic. I had a car fail for a blown sidelight bulb before, which seemed a little odd as I checked the bulbs the morning before the MOT and they were all working. The car had a warning message system for bulbs and it didn't throw any errors on the way to the test. They also changed the bulb FOC. scratchchin

It was the sort of garage that would probably be favored by car enthusiasts. I imagine most of the cars they test are cherished by their owners and their pass rate would probably be unusually high without such tactics.

I use my local council depot for MOTs now (not off the back of the previous incident, just because it's closer). I suspect they see enough dodgy minicabs that their stats are fine. laugh

ferrisbueller

29,262 posts

226 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Well this thread is an eye opener.

People who don't know how MOTs work.
People complaining when their cars are MOT'd properly.
People not bothered when they aren't.

My favourite has to be the people who are so wound up about having an advisory on their car's history.

fking hell!

Richard-390a0

2,224 posts

90 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Threads like this make me glad I gave up testing years ago!. wobble