The ask an MOT tester thread

[TCX]

andrebar said:

TCX said:

H,55 plate i,1.7 cdti astra passed emissions test,failed on eml,easy sort that n take for retest,do they need to do emissions again,tester said yes, centre manager not sure???

Edited by TCX on Thursday 5th January 17:05

Diesels 1st registered before 08 shouldn’t fail for an EML light.

Queried this,was told any dashboard warning light on is automatic fail?

[cobra kid]

Slow said:

Tyre Tread said:

If just plastic lens clouding then 5 minutes with T-Cut and elbow grease will resolve that issue at least temporarily. I have to do it each year on the Honda Jazz

Put some uv protectant on it and you won’t need to do it every year

That's all I did. Get comfy sat down with T Cut.

[andrebar]

TCX said:

andrebar said:

TCX said:

H,55 plate i,1.7 cdti astra passed emissions test,failed on eml,easy sort that n take for retest,do they need to do emissions again,tester said yes, centre manager not sure???

Edited by TCX on Thursday 5th January 17:05

Diesels 1st registered before 08 shouldn’t fail for an EML light.

Queried this,was told any dashboard warning light on is automatic fail?

Absolutely not true, but which warning lights can be gotten away with depends on the vehicle. I’ve found the relevant rule & a pre 1/7/2008 diesel definitely shouldn’t be failing for an EML light. I’d be disputing the test result if that’s the only reason your car failed. My tester puts it down as advisory only btw.

[Little Pete]

TCX said:

andrebar said:

TCX said:

H,55 plate i,1.7 cdti astra passed emissions test,failed on eml,easy sort that n take for retest,do they need to do emissions again,tester said yes, centre manager not sure???

Edited by TCX on Thursday 5th January 17:05

Diesels 1st registered before 08 shouldn’t fail for an EML light.

Queried this,was told any dashboard warning light on is automatic fail?

I despair sometimes. It's bad enough that they have failed it incorrectly but to then spout nonsense like this rather than hold your hands up and admit you are wrong
It's little wonder the trade gets a bad name.

[oldagepensioner]

stevemcs said:

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?

We would do the same, you know its going to fail on the tyre so put it through and see if there are any other issues and if not carry out the rework and pass.

With cars and servicing there is little point spending £90 on a service then MOT'ing it only for it to fail on emissions, put it through the test then you have time in the diary to fix it or it keeps the bill lower for the customer if they only want to spend a small amount.

My local garage is the same.I normally have my car serviced and the mot done at the same time and they will do the mot first for that reason.

[Triumph Man]

andrebar said:

Absolutely not true, but which warning lights can be gotten away with depends on the vehicle. I’ve found the relevant rule & a pre 1/7/2008 diesel definitely shouldn’t be failing for an EML light. I’d be disputing the test result if that’s the only reason your car failed. My tester puts it down as advisory only btw.

Slightly off topic, but that's very specific about "American pick ups"

[wolf1]

TCX said:

Queried this,was told any dashboard warning light on is automatic fail?

Go back and point out to them that they are wrong. If they continue saying it is a fail then ask for a VT17 appeal form and I’ll guarantee they will suddenly pass it.

[psymonS]

Hello all,

Was doing my pre MOT checks earlier and found that the 3rd / high level brake light on my Clio is not working. The two main ones do work.
Took it apart and found the previous owner seems to have disconnected it. Multimeter confirmed the lights are broken.
I've read something along the lines of if it's disconnected then it doesn't have to work. Is that correct?

Could I cover the light with some body coloured wrap rather than have it there but not working? Or is that worse?

Thanks in advance!

[montyjohn]

I have a fault with my rear fog lights. Something to do with either the switch on the stalk, or the ECU.

If I run a high amp switch to the relay port for now and just leave the switch dangling somewhere convenient, so the light can at least be operated, would this pass an MOT?

I know it's dodgy, but it's only temporary.

[Little Pete]

psymonS said:

Hello all,

Was doing my pre MOT checks earlier and found that the 3rd / high level brake light on my Clio is not working. The two main ones do work.
Took it apart and found the previous owner seems to have disconnected it. Multimeter confirmed the lights are broken.
I've read something along the lines of if it's disconnected then it doesn't have to work. Is that correct?

Could I cover the light with some body coloured wrap rather than have it there but not working? Or is that worse?

Thanks in advance!

If you make the tester aware that it has been disconnected you will just get an advisory notice.

[Little Pete]

montyjohn said:

I have a fault with my rear fog lights. Something to do with either the switch on the stalk, or the ECU.

If I run a high amp switch to the relay port for now and just leave the switch dangling somewhere convenient, so the light can at least be operated, would this pass an MOT?

I know it's dodgy, but it's only temporary.

You need to be able to operate the switch from the drivers seat and it needs to be secure, so you can't leave it dangling. It also needs a tell tale, so use either an illuminated switch or one that has a coloured section that you can see when the switch is on.

[montyjohn]

Little Pete said:

You need to be able to operate the switch from the drivers seat and it needs to be secure, so you can't leave it dangling. It also needs a tell tale, so use either an illuminated switch or one that has a coloured section that you can see when the switch is on.

Perfect, thanks

[Shaw Tarse]

Was the spare tyre ever part of the MOT?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Thoughts on the new proposal for biennial testing?

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-1...

[andburg]

Shaw Tarse said:

Was the spare tyre ever part of the MOT?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

if its present it must be legal

[MG CHRIS]

Shaw Tarse said:

Was the spare tyre ever part of the MOT?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Nope and neither has rear wiper. Guys talking nonsense.

[Shaw Tarse]

andburg said:

Shaw Tarse said:

Was the spare tyre ever part of the MOT?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

if its present it must be legal

Are you sure?

[MG CHRIS]

Section 5.2.3 spare tyres are not part of the not inspection but tester must notify customer if it's spotted during test.

[Pitre]

My pop-up headlights have a very fragile adjustment screw (plastic rod, about 4" long) which is prone to breaking if seized, which can easily happen on a 20-odd year old car. Judiciously sprayed with WD40 it can still snap as it's brittle. You cannot replace just the rod, a full headlamp replacement is required. Shocking.

So I mentioned this at my recent MOT and the tester said he wouldn't test the headlamp alignment because if it was off it would have to be corrected. So headlamp alignment wasn't tested but the car passed.

Was it ok to be done like this? I guess I should simply get the alignment tested outside of an MOT then at least I can try and get it sorted well before next MOT....

Thoughts?

[montyjohn]

andburg said:

Shaw Tarse said:

Was the spare tyre ever part of the MOT?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

if its present it must be legal

So the second you use it, and put your flat in the back of the car you are presumably no longer compliant as your spare is flat and therefore not legal. What you say doesn't sound like it's correct.