The ask an MOT tester thread

[Who me ?]

q for the MOT guys. If I take a hatch in for a test with back seat( or two section of a three seat rear bench) down what will result be.

[oceanview]

Do you have many more emissions failures, what with plenty of diesels being bought over the years, that don't do the mileage or driven hard enough to keep them clean?

[Athlon]

[quote=Who me ?]q for the MOT guys. If I take a hatch in for a test with back seat( or two section of a three seat rear bench) down what will result be.
[/quote]
We need to see it upright to check it can be secured and to check the seat belts, if it is down I would attempt to raise it and if unsuccessful then it would be a reason to refuse to test, they have sent us a message recently about not refusing to test if the back seat area is loaded with stuff so the same rule applies.

[Athlon]

oceanview said:

Do you have many more emissions failures, what with plenty of diesels being bought over the years, that don't do the mileage or driven hard enough to keep them clean?

We are getting a few more now, testing to the manufacturer plate can be a problem but surprisingly to me most cars seem to be doing OK in the main.

[F10BMW]

What is it with some MOT testers issuing "emissions too clean" as an advisory? Happened with my 530d a couple times.

[MG CHRIS]

F10BMW said:

What is it with some MOT testers issuing "emissions too clean" as an advisory? Happened with my 530d a couple times.

You need to keep a print out of the emission report with the mot sheet for when dvsa do spot checks. When you do the smoke test on a diesel due to the dpf if working correctly it won't produce anything so the probe won't pick anything up so assumes your not testing anything so won't print of a sheet.
Advisory just covers the mot tester if dvsa checks paper work.

[Who me ?]

Athlon said:

[quote=Who me ?]q for the MOT guys. If I take a hatch in for a test with back seat( or two section of a three seat rear bench) down what will result be.

We need to see it upright to check it can be secured and to check the seat belts, if it is down I would attempt to raise it and if unsuccessful then it would be a reason to refuse to test, they have sent us a message recently about not refusing to test if the back seat area is loaded with stuff so the same rule applies.

Thanks- I run constantly with rear 2/3 down, as I keep a mobility scooter in rear. What would be the situation if I removed the double seat prior to test.
Both the other belts can be tested, but not the middle one as it needs seat in.

[MJK 24]

Athlon said:

Little Pete said:

STO said:

Do you advise on an under tray being fitted even if standard fitment?

When the advisory first became available I did but I must admit I don’t much now unless I suspect they are covering corrosion to brake or fuel pipes.
It’s what my DVSA guy called a CMA advisory, covering my arse!

Agreed, as long as I can see suspension pick up points etc I don't bother. It was originally brought out because it is near impossible to see anything under an Elise!

My MOT man who I’ve been using for approx 15 years despises my Elise as there’s a huge amount that needs to be checked, that can’t be.

I do think it’s daft I can present a near 19 year old Elise for MOT and the tester is unable to inspect the brake master cylinder which is perhaps one of the most safety critical aspects of the car.

[Lemming Train]

OP said:

Thanks- I run constantly with rear 2/3 down, as I keep a mobility scooter in rear. What would be the situation if I removed the double seat prior to test.
Both the other belts can be tested, but not the middle one as it needs seat in.

Would it not be simpler to take the scooter out and put it back after the test... ?

[Who me ?]

The reason the seat is out as I need th space to carry the scooter.

[williamp]

Anyone try to bribe you?

[Little Pete]

F10BMW said:

What is it with some MOT testers issuing "emissions too clean" as an advisory? Happened with my 530d a couple times.

Some testers can’t be arsed to connect the RPM sensor on the gas analyser to get a reading.
I don’t know why testers feel the need to issue an advisory. We just write on the inspection sheet that the emissions didn’t register a reading if we can’t get a RPM signal.
Again it’s arse covering.

[Little Pete]

[quote=Who me ?] The reason the seat is out as I need th space to carry the scooter.
[/quote]
If the seat is out there is no requirement to test the belt. However if the seat is just folded flat, the belt must be tested and the seat needs to be upright.

[Little Pete]

Athlon said:

ChevronB19 said:

OP (and other MoT peeps). What’s your opinion on the removal of the requirement for an MoT on classic cars?

I’m a classic fan, and I worry that what will inevitably happen is someone in a classic will eventually plough into a bus queue or similar. I know the reasoning is ‘classic car fans look after their cars’ but having been involved (a lot, including customer cars) some are terrible - shiny in top, death trap underneath.

Worse idea ever. I tested a Land Rover last week for a chap who was driving it every day but wanted a check, it should be no where near the road. Same with a VW camper, rotten. A chap brought a lovely old Ford Consul that looked show winning but he always likes it testing, steering box cracked at the mounting. All cars should be tested.

Well said.

[Little Pete]

williamp said:

Anyone try to bribe you?

Many years ago a guy wanted me to issue a certificate on his Toyota Corolla that was in Spain. He offered me £100. I refused.

[2gins]

If l put a car in with a very noisy serp belt that is very probably the alternator pulley bearings slowly becoming more and more oval, what are the likely and worst case outcomes?

I do intend to fix it and have the parts... Question of time is all!

[Athlon]

2gins said:

If l put a car in with a very noisy serp belt that is very probably the alternator pulley bearings slowly becoming more and more oval, what are the likely and worst case outcomes?

I do intend to fix it and have the parts... Question of time is all!

No interest to us as long as it does not break down.

[2gins]

Athlon said:

2gins said:

If l put a car in with a very noisy serp belt that is very probably the alternator pulley bearings slowly becoming more and more oval, what are the likely and worst case outcomes?

I do intend to fix it and have the parts... Question of time is all!

No interest to us as long as it does not break down.

Smashing! Thanks!

[thecremeegg]

Daz_86 said:

Brake lights only fail if there is less than 50% working in a particular light source(lamp in english), so in your case would not fail, but is whats now known as a minor defect

Stop lamp(s):
with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning Minor
missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning Major
all missing or inoperative Dangerous.

Thanks!

[Little Pete]

2gins said:

If l put a car in with a very noisy serp belt that is very probably the alternator pulley bearings slowly becoming more and more oval, what are the likely and worst case outcomes?

I do intend to fix it and have the parts... Question of time is all!

If the same belt drives the power steering pump it may get an advisory.