The ask an MOT tester thread

[whytheory]

Morning, cars going for MOT this week and only just noticed this annoying scratch (not crack) in windscreen, is that a fail?

Cheers

[jagfan2]

Due my MOT this month and have a leaking washer bottle, which gives a dash warning when low. I can top up before the test which will fix the warning, but then creates a slow leak. When its low only the windcreen pump works, headlight and rear washer doesn't work (they are all working though). Either of these a fail (drip or warning), or should i be ok, will fix after as warning is annoying and need it for winter

[anonymous-user]

whytheory said:

Morning, cars going for MOT this week and only just noticed this annoying scratch (not crack) in windscreen, is that a fail?

Cheers

MR2?

[whytheory]

flashbang said:

whytheory said:

Morning, cars going for MOT this week and only just noticed this annoying scratch (not crack) in windscreen, is that a fail?

Cheers

MR2?

MX-5

[Mr Tidy]

Athlon said:

Mr Tidy said:

I have a BMW E90 that has a rear light cluster and a few lights on the bootlid.

The "bulb-out" warning light came on last week and a walk around revealed it was the tail-light on the passenger side of the bootlid, but the one in the light cluster was working fine.

I got the boot-lid trim off but it isn't a blown bulb. Anyway the car is due an MOT soon, so I'm just wondering if the "bulb-out" warning light is a fail or an advisory?

Thanks.

Bulb warning lamp is of no interest to us. A tail light not working is though, if one or more is out but more than 50% are lit then it will generate a 'minor' fault.

Cheers.

It looks like there is hope yet!

[Bazzap8389]

I have a wee question regarding decats.

I have a 94 celica gt4. I’ve been told that a pre 95 import can go through with a non cat test if there’s no U.K. equivalent.

A jap import gt4 has more power and I’m assuming more emissions than a U.K. car. It uses a different ecu also, so I’m unsure if that classes as an equivalent car?

Where do I stand legally if I have a decat?

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

My car has an aftermarket HID kit fitted by the previous owner as well as eBay special LED side light bulbs. This has never been an issue but from what I understand this is an immediate MOT failure now.

I thought it had standard Xenon's until I took the inner wheel arch off to change the diesel filter and saw the HID box cable tied to the inner wing. Is this is a definite fail or is there some chance the tester may not spot it? Happy to change the LED side light bulbs if that makes it less obvious.

The car is 14 years old, if I could get it through one more MOT without having to change the headlights I would be happy.

[andy26725]

Hello, I'm new to the forum, could I ask what you think about this? Most of the metal still sounds ok with a hammer. But there's a hole in the middle of the photo and that's very near the seat belt point inside, so I guess it's an instant fail. What would it actually take for someone to get that area up to MOT standard? Time for me to learn to weld?

[Athlon]

Bazzap8389 said:

I have a wee question regarding decats.

I have a 94 celica gt4. I’ve been told that a pre 95 import can go through with a non cat test if there’s no U.K. equivalent.

A jap import gt4 has more power and I’m assuming more emissions than a U.K. car. It uses a different ecu also, so I’m unsure if that classes as an equivalent car?

Where do I stand legally if I have a decat?

Cheers

The book states: Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer: missing, obviously modified or obviously defective: Major

So it is a fail I'm afraid, you may get lucky though!

[Athlon]

Joey Deacon said:

My car has an aftermarket HID kit fitted by the previous owner as well as eBay special LED side light bulbs. This has never been an issue but from what I understand this is an immediate MOT failure now.

I thought it had standard Xenon's until I took the inner wheel arch off to change the diesel filter and saw the HID box cable tied to the inner wing. Is this is a definite fail or is there some chance the tester may not spot it? Happy to change the LED side light bulbs if that makes it less obvious.

The car is 14 years old, if I could get it through one more MOT without having to change the headlights I would be happy.

It is a fail. Though as you say it might not get picked up.....

[Athlon]

andy26725 said:

Hello, I'm new to the forum, could I ask what you think about this? Most of the metal still sounds ok with a hammer. But there's a hole in the middle of the photo and that's very near the seat belt point inside, so I guess it's an instant fail. What would it actually take for someone to get that area up to MOT standard? Time for me to learn to weld?

It should fail as there is a hole. It should be repaired with a good patch seam welded all around it. Reality in my experience is it will usually be bogged up and undersealed so we can't asses it. Some repairs are beyond appalling!

[Bazzap8389]

Athlon said:

The book states: Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer: missing, obviously modified or obviously defective: Major

So it is a fail I'm afraid, you may get lucky though!

Thanks for the info. I had a feeling that would be the answer. I just wasn’t sure if I could argue the case or not.

Cheers

[Anonymous-poster]

Will the age of tyres fail or condition only?

[lawrywild]

How is tread depth across the tyre measured?

These were my first Michelin Cup 2's and they're only a couple of months old but done 2 track days and seem to be wearing in a strange way. Nothing to do with alignment etc, car has had a full alignment and corner weighting done. Wear is the same on both sides.

Basically going inside to outside the main tread depth measures 5mm then 5mm again in the middle one. Then on the outside tread the inside has worn at an angle and so goes down to the markers, but on the other side where the outer shoulder is it measures 5mm like the rest of the tyre. Measuring the depth with a gauge across the tread gives a 3mm reading as it's effectively the average, but will they see it touching the marker on one side and fail it straight away? Pic below showing what I mean.

Edited by lawrywild on Friday 6th August 10:44

Edited by lawrywild on Friday 6th August 10:45

[Little Pete]

Anonymous-poster said:

Will the age of tyres fail or condition only?

Tyre age only applies to vehicles with 8 or more passenger seats.

[Little Pete]

lawrywild said:

How is tread depth across the tyre measured?

These were my first Michelin Cup 2's and they're only a couple of months old but done 2 track days and seem to be wearing in a strange way. Nothing to do with alignment etc, car has had a full alignment and corner weighting done. Wear is the same on both sides.

Basically going inside to outside the main tread depth measures 5mm then 5mm again in the middle one. Then on the outside tread the inside has worn at an angle and so goes down to the markers, but on the other side where the outer shoulder is it measures 5mm like the rest of the tyre. Measuring the depth with a gauge across the tread gives a 3mm reading as it's effectively the average, but will they see it touching the marker on one side and fail it straight away? Pic below showing what I mean.

Edited by lawrywild on Friday 6th August 10:44

Tread depth is 1.6mm across the centre three quarters of the tyre and only applies to primary grooves, ie the grooves with the tread depth indicators in them, or any grooves that are cut as deep. Any secondary grooves are not considered. It is not uncommon to have a tyre devoid of any tread on the edges and it only gets an advisory

Edited by lawrywild on Friday 6th August 10:45[/footnote]

[footnote]Edited by Little Pete on Friday 6th August 13:36

[lawrywild]

Little Pete said:

Tread depth is 1.6mm across the centre three quarters of the tyre and only applies to primary grooves, ie the grooves with the tread depth indicators in them, or any grooves that are cut as deep. Any secondary grooves are not considered. It is not uncommon to have a tyre devoid of any tread on the edges and it only gets an advisory

Edited by Little Pete on Friday 6th August 13:36

Thanks for the reply. I am talking about the primary grooves. I don't think my explanation was great but what I'm trying to describe looks like this (looking at the tyre in profile)




As opposed to how the tyre looked new:

Edited by lawrywild on Friday 6th August 14:47

[Little Pete]

lawrywild said:

Little Pete said:

Tread depth is 1.6mm across the centre three quarters of the tyre and only applies to primary grooves, ie the grooves with the tread depth indicators in them, or any grooves that are cut as deep. Any secondary grooves are not considered. It is not uncommon to have a tyre devoid of any tread on the edges and it only gets an advisory

Edited by Little Pete on Friday 6th August 13:36

Thanks for the reply. I am talking about the primary grooves. I don't think my explanation was great but what I'm trying to describe looks like this (looking at the tyre in profile)




As opposed to how the tyre looked new:

Edited by lawrywild on Friday 6th August 14:47

I would think you would be ok there. The actual groove is still 5mm deep, it's just the solid part of the tread that is worn and that wouldn't be measured anyway.

[lawrywild]

Little Pete said:

I would think you would be ok there. The actual groove is still 5mm deep, it's just the solid part of the tread that is worn and that wouldn't be measured anyway.

Great, thanks for the response!

[Krikkit]

lawrywild said:

Little Pete said:

I would think you would be ok there. The actual groove is still 5mm deep, it's just the solid part of the tread that is worn and that wouldn't be measured anyway.

Great, thanks for the response!

Imagine putting a ruler over the tread face of the tyre and measuring down into the grooves - that's pretty much how it's done, so the worn block won't matter as long as its top is > 1.6mm