The ask an MOT tester thread

[jimmytheone]

STO said:

O/s mirror is required n/s not if an interior one is present, as for the obleak rear window, could you present it for test with the roof down, I don't think there is anything testable on the roof of a soft top.

[Athlon]

jimmytheone said:

STO said:

O/s mirror is required n/s not if an interior one is present, as for the obleak rear window, could you present it for test with the roof down, I don't think there is anything testable on the roof of a soft top.

Although not relevant in this case it should be noted that cars used after 26th Jan 2010 must have three mirrors, O/S view; N/S view and and interior mirror (unless the interior mirror does not give a view to the rear)

[CT05 Nose Cone]

What is

Offside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
Offside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))

Garage were rather vague when I asked, felt a bit of a coincidence it needed new pads and discs all round to resolve it.

[cuprabob]

CT05 Nose Cone said:

What is

Offside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
Offside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))

Garage were rather vague when I asked, felt a bit of a coincidence it needed new pads and discs all round to resolve it.

It's either warped discs or pad deposits on the surface of the discs. Basically the pad is fluctuating on the surface of the discs.

[ro250]

I looked up a car the other day and its first MOT had a mileage of "unknown" on the Gov website. How can a mileage be unknown on a 3 year old car? I assumed it was mandatory to record the mileage?

[cuprabob]

ro250 said:

I looked up a car the other day and its first MOT had a mileage of "unknown" on the Gov website. How can a mileage be unknown on a 3 year old car? I assumed it was mandatory to record the mileage?

Could it have been it's first MOT was due during the automatic 6 month Covid extension in 2020?

[ro250]

cuprabob said:

ro250 said:

I looked up a car the other day and its first MOT had a mileage of "unknown" on the Gov website. How can a mileage be unknown on a 3 year old car? I assumed it was mandatory to record the mileage?

Could it have been it's first MOT was due during the automatic 6 month Covid extension in 2020?

Ah, yes - didn't notice that. As it has it as a PASS in green I just assumed it was a proper test.

[GasEngineer]

I hadn't realised that MOT failures were recorded and can be seen on the online MOT checker. Just about to insure my van and I was looking up the mileages of my previous MOTs to see if I could reduce the mileage needed and noticed the fails were recorded.

My van has failed twice over the years, both as a result of a broken coil spring and was fixed, retested and passed on the same day. I wasn't given a Fail certificate either time.

However I noticed on the online checker that where the fails are recorded neither time was the correct reason given.

First time it says:

Repair immediately (major defects): Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

No mention of broken spring and there has never been an issue with the wipers.

and second time:

Repair immediately (major defects): Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (5.2.3 (h)).

My 2013 van predated compulsory TPMS and never had it fitted. Again no mention of a broken spring.

I never actually checked that the springs had been replaced. Could the garage have been pulling my pants down by making up a bogus fail reason and "fixing" it?

Or is it just that the tester typed in the wrong reason on both occasions?

Had I been given a fail certificate (if such a thing exists) I could have queried it at the time.

[Little Pete]

GasEngineer said:

I hadn't realised that MOT failures were recorded and can be seen on the online MOT checker. Just about to insure my van and I was looking up the mileages of my previous MOTs to see if I could reduce the mileage needed and noticed the fails were recorded.

My van has failed twice over the years, both as a result of a broken coil spring and was fixed, retested and passed on the same day. I wasn't given a Fail certificate either time.

However I noticed on the online checker that where the fails are recorded neither time was the correct reason given.

First time it says:

Repair immediately (major defects): Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

No mention of broken spring and there has never been an issue with the wipers.

and second time:

Repair immediately (major defects): Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (5.2.3 (h)).

My 2013 van predated compulsory TPMS and never had it fitted. Again no mention of a broken spring.

I never actually checked that the springs had been replaced. Could the garage have been pulling my pants down by making up a bogus fail reason and "fixing" it?

Or is it just that the tester typed in the wrong reason on both occasions?

Had I been given a fail certificate (if such a thing exists) I could have queried it at the time.

Fail certificates certainly exist and you should have been given one at the time.
I really cannot see how the tester could have selected the wrong reason for failing the car, it is possible, but failing it on a wiper fault instead of a coil spring is incompetence.

[Giantt]

ro250 said:

I looked up a car the other day and its first MOT had a mileage of "unknown" on the Gov website. How can a mileage be unknown on a 3 year old car? I assumed it was mandatory to record the mileage?

Nope,not recorded,one of mine came back from MOT test ironically trip meter not working,passed three more tests no problems on mileage or lack of it recorded

[blue_haddock]

Giantt said:

ro250 said:

I looked up a car the other day and its first MOT had a mileage of "unknown" on the Gov website. How can a mileage be unknown on a 3 year old car? I assumed it was mandatory to record the mileage?

Nope,not recorded,one of mine came back from MOT test ironically trip meter not working,passed three more tests no problems on mileage or lack of it recorded

During covid when extensions were being automatically added they stated mileage unknown

[CrippsCorner]

Hi, my car failed MOT today on the fact the horn isn't working when the lights are turned on. This was a recall on Astra's at one point, but now my car's over 10 years old, Vauxhall don't want to know.

They quoted me 'over a thousand pounds' and 'months of waiting for the part to come in' so obviously looking into alternatives.

I could buy a secondhand CIR but then have to get it coded etc. or I could attempt a repair on mine, but no guarantees it'll work and looks very invasive.

My question is, can I just fit a secondary horn completely bypassing the original? Something like this...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FARBIN-Horns-Button-Elect...

However, it does say it has both a high tone and low tone, will this not be a good replacement as car's need a single tone?

Another idea might be just rewiring the original horn into a new button, but again that seems a little more invasive.

Any ideas welcomed!

[spikeyhead]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156069055295?itmmeta=01...OYAAOSw16ll0dvv&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4PfGlOs2YlouhZucAfmB%2F6Rlp2xcpd2lPWnxX%2BUcJWa%2FzJK%2BBFYj7meC%2F1soyTpVCt6hSzjhdcy6CsdQEwYJ5XgoSwDnnXHq0uLSFUWnwgx62pUOpxeu93XEZ37H%2FMkEBII5vD%2BJV3pv3pu5muW666DHxdf9byQlS%2F0trguVpHy8nBTQogQyVVr6Lp31UG6Zj4Znjo4ML%2BQvRKL%2BQGYimh4SVPckMZNjKvcEekX%2FQpdp%2FVnZa2rzOuU%2FDAIPA3gTiLjuzXMxye93ctLOOU5s%2F1oI688hvIILRoxMgrc5LEte%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5a104G7Yw

[Catnip64]

CrippsCorner said:

Hi, my car failed MOT today on the fact the horn isn't working when the lights are turned on. This was a recall on Astra's at one point, but now my car's over 10 years old, Vauxhall don't want to know.

They quoted me 'over a thousand pounds' and 'months of waiting for the part to come in' so obviously looking into alternatives.

I could buy a secondhand CIR but then have to get it coded etc. or I could attempt a repair on mine, but no guarantees it'll work and looks very invasive.

My question is, can I just fit a secondary horn completely bypassing the original? Something like this...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FARBIN-Horns-Button-Elect...

However, it does say it has both a high tone and low tone, will this not be a good replacement as car's need a single tone?

Another idea might be just rewiring the original horn into a new button, but again that seems a little more invasive.

Any ideas welcomed!

Try this, it might solve the issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6IICshK7Ss

[CrippsCorner]

Thanks for that. I had heard of the clip, but *most* people on forum searches seem to say it doesn't work... however comments on YouTube look promising. Maybe worth a go then. Shame it was 22p from Vauxhall but sold out, but they're a fiver each on eBay!

[7 5 7]

Was an advisory last year, what's peoples thoughts on these corroded springs, this year?

[cuprabob]

7 5 7 said:

Was an advisory last year, what's peoples thoughts on these corroded springs, this year?

Another advisory I would have thought. A different tester might not even advise.

[Little Pete]

7 5 7 said:

Was an advisory last year, what's peoples thoughts on these corroded springs, this year?

Another advisory.

[A500leroy]

7 5 7 said:

Was an advisory last year, what's peoples thoughts on these corroded springs, this year?

Tin of black spray paint before it goes.

[7 5 7]

cheers