The ask an MOT tester thread

[Glasgowrob]

yeager2004 said:

Hi OP - hopefully not been asked before, but could you advise if the MOT for taxis differs from that of the normal class 4 test? I believe taxis are tested more frequently, but wondered if the test was any stricter.

if so, has this always been the case? Seem to recall on the 90s taxis drivers having really old and ropy Escorts/Cavaliers/Astras etc. with intergalatic mileages . Amazed if they would have stood up to more thorough testing.

Thanks!

can advise on this as operate a taxi fleet

varies area to area some insist on a council issued MOT some run on a certificate of compliance and NO mot others any old mot will do be it 12 or 6 months varies from council to council as they all operate to different standards

Glasgow for example all tests are every 6 month and to MOT standard (They say the taxi test is stricter but they will conduct a dual test and issue an MOT certificate at the same time as your taxi certificate the only differences fos us that is added to the taxi test over an MOT is that rear windows dont have aftermarket tints, modifications (there also a no no) taxi plates are in the right place and position along with appropriate signage and that a fire extinguisher is fitted in the front of the car somehwhere and secure

[RTB]

The MOT tester I use is generally very good, although they did fail my Lotus on one occasion because the driver's door wouldn't open.

The central locking isn't linked to the door lock that the key goes into. Therefore it's possible to press the central locking button on the fob to unlock the door but not be able to get in because someone has locked the thumb press on the door.

Turns out someone had locked the car on the fob and turned the key in the thumb press button, which completely foxed the tester . Have any of the testers here failed a car because they didn't know how a bit of equipment worked?

[TommyBuoy]

Quick question for those that know

Brake lines in the front wheel well - what level of corrosion is considered a fail? Mine are bubbled under the coating from Union up about an inch - haven't attacked it yet to see how back as the coating (black) is still in tact?

Thanks!

[Little Pete]

TommyBuoy said:

Quick question for those that know

Brake lines in the front wheel well - what level of corrosion is considered a fail? Mine are bubbled under the coating from Union up about an inch - haven't attacked it yet to see how back as the coating (black) is still in tact?

Thanks!

The official line is that the brake pipe wall thickness has to have been reduced by a third. No, I don’t know how you measure it either!
Generally, if the corrosion on the pipe has caused it to swell, I fail it. It’s sometimes possible to give the pipe a light scrape to remove the loose corrosion, then you feel the pipe to see if it goes any thinner where the corrosion is. Again the official line is if we are not sure to give the benefit of the doubt. This is one area however where I don’t. I’ve looked at too many over the years and thought pass and advise, only for it to burst on the brake test.
You could show the same pipe to three testers and get three different opinions. It’s a cause of many an argument.

[fastbikes76]

Is a ‘check brake pads’ warning on start up an issue if the pads are in fact perfectly fine and at least 50% remaining ?

Regards
Fb

[stevemcs]

fastbikes76 said:

Is a ‘check brake pads’ warning on start up an issue if the pads are in fact perfectly fine and at least 50% remaining ?

Regards
Fb

I would say thats pass and advise.

Hackneys around here are every 6 months, most seem to forget the fire extinguisher and call for another cab to arrive with one. They only need a mot if being used as a private car and not as a taxi, i would say 99% of taxis here are hackney test only.

[LosingGrip]

Places like Kwit Fit etc are they OK to use for an MOT? I need a Saturday appointment which im struggling to find at the moment.

[stevemcs]

LosingGrip said:

Places like Kwit Fit etc are they OK to use for an MOT? I need a Saturday appointment which im struggling to find at the moment.

Its more about the tester than the garage, I see no reason why it should be an issue. We no longer open saturdays as its not worth our time.

[Athlon]

stevemcs said:

LosingGrip said:

Places like Kwit Fit etc are they OK to use for an MOT? I need a Saturday appointment which im struggling to find at the moment.

Its more about the tester than the garage, I see no reason why it should be an issue. We no longer open saturdays as its not worth our time.

Agreed, we don't open Saturdays now either.

All testers 'should' be equal, we have a system and a set of rules to work to regardless of where we work. Bonus driven places may advise more though to try and up sell later?

[Athlon]

fastbikes76 said:

Is a ‘check brake pads’ warning on start up an issue if the pads are in fact perfectly fine and at least 50% remaining ?

Regards
Fb

Written text is not a warning lamp so should be ignored, the text that said you must fail a car if the low brake pad warning was operative was poorly worded and referred to the pad scrapers that make a din when you apply the brakes rather than the warning lamp on the dash, I think that has been cleared up now.

[TommyBuoy]

Little Pete said:

TommyBuoy said:

Quick question for those that know

Brake lines in the front wheel well - what level of corrosion is considered a fail? Mine are bubbled under the coating from Union up about an inch - haven't attacked it yet to see how back as the coating (black) is still in tact?

Thanks!

The official line is that the brake pipe wall thickness has to have been reduced by a third. No, I don’t know how you measure it either!
Generally, if the corrosion on the pipe has caused it to swell, I fail it. It’s sometimes possible to give the pipe a light scrape to remove the loose corrosion, then you feel the pipe to see if it goes any thinner where the corrosion is. Again the official line is if we are not sure to give the benefit of the doubt. This is one area however where I don’t. I’ve looked at too many over the years and thought pass and advise, only for it to burst on the brake test.
You could show the same pipe to three testers and get three different opinions. It’s a cause of many an argument.

Thank you!

[Sheepshanks]

Little Pete said:

It’s unlikely he used a lower limit in error. Most vehicles have a value somewhere, I think on a Mercedes it’s on the VIN plate.

The VIN plate is a sticker on the B post and there's nothing (no number in a box) on it. Last year they used the default limit of 3, this year they used 1.5 which is the post 2008 default limit. Car is late 2004 (2005 model year).

[Athlon]

Sheepshanks said:

Little Pete said:

It’s unlikely he used a lower limit in error. Most vehicles have a value somewhere, I think on a Mercedes it’s on the VIN plate.

The VIN plate is a sticker on the B post and there's nothing (no number in a box) on it. Last year they used the default limit of 3, this year they used 1.5 which is the post 2008 default limit. Car is late 2004 (2005 model year).

2005 MB vin plates will have the limit if it is a D, empty box if petrol, it is small.

[fastbikes76]

Athlon said:

fastbikes76 said:

Is a ‘check brake pads’ warning on start up an issue if the pads are in fact perfectly fine and at least 50% remaining ?

Regards
Fb

Written text is not a warning lamp so should be ignored, the text that said you must fail a car if the low brake pad warning was operative was poorly worded and referred to the pad scrapers that make a din when you apply the brakes rather than the warning lamp on the dash, I think that has been cleared up now.

Sorry I probably should have added after the initial text, a brake show symbol stay lit on the dash. The brake pads however are perfectly fine and is a broken wire somewhere causing the light.

[Little Pete]

RTB said:

The MOT tester I use is generally very good, although they did fail my Lotus on one occasion because the driver's door wouldn't open.

The central locking isn't linked to the door lock that the key goes into. Therefore it's possible to press the central locking button on the fob to unlock the door but not be able to get in because someone has locked the thumb press on the door.

Turns out someone had locked the car on the fob and turned the key in the thumb press button, which completely foxed the tester . Have any of the testers here failed a car because they didn't know how a bit of equipment worked?

We do a few classics so it’s normally things like where’s the bonnet release or headlamp switch etc. I did once spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to open the bonnet on an Austin 12, finally ringing the owner who told me you twist the Austin emblem on the bonnet.
Years ago I failed an imported Toyota Surf (I think it was) on the dipped beams not working. The owner said they only worked above a certain speed, about 10 mph, and he had owned a couple of imports that did this. He was right so I called my Vehicle Examiner for advise because I obviously couldn’t test the headlamp aims. He told me to pass and advise it so I did! Never heard of it before or since.

[johnnyBv8]

Was looking at a Mk2 Golf GTI recently and thought it had some odd advisories....just an MOT tester trying to be helpful or misunderstanding the purpose? A couple of examples:

Advisory notice item(s)

- Water ingress into o/s/f headlamp, reverse light not working, engine oil leaks.
- slight bolw from exhaust, kurb damage to n/s/f wheel rim.
- n/s/f inner c,v gaitor has very small hole in it, slight play in n/s/r wheel bearing.
- tyre size 185/60/14H, tread depths both front on 5.5mm, both rear on 7mm.

Advisory notice item(s)

- Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)
- TYRES 18560R14H both front worn below limit,bald and o/s/f tyre has cords exposed on edge - both tyres dangerous n/s/r 5.0mm o/s/r 4.0mm
- slight play in steering column, R.wiper blade deteriorated, n/s/f wiper blade rubber insecure at one end, oil on upper and lower engine, reverse lights n/w at time of test, various scratches and dents to car, slight play in steerining rack
- blow from centre exhaust joint to downpipes, rubber exhaust mountings perishing, rear exhaust mount welding broken from car underside but held with cable, score line to face of n/s/f brake discs -but pads ok

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Monday 21st October 21:25

[stevemcs]

Some of that is irrelevant, we had one last week where a previous tester had put service light on .... what the hell does that have to do with it..... honestly some testers.

[Chris32345]

Little Pete said:

We do a few classics so it’s normally things like where’s the bonnet release or headlamp switch etc. I did once spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to open the bonnet on an Austin 12, finally ringing the owner who told me you twist the Austin emblem on the bonnet.
Years ago I failed an imported Toyota Surf (I think it was) on the dipped beams not working. The owner said they only worked above a certain speed, about 10 mph, and he had owned a couple of imports that did this. He was right so I called my Vehicle Examiner for advise because I obviously couldn’t test the headlamp aims. He told me to pass and advise it so I did! Never heard of it before or since.

Wtf really? That's the strangest feature I've ever heard of

[Little Pete]

Chris32345 said:

Little Pete said:

We do a few classics so it’s normally things like where’s the bonnet release or headlamp switch etc. I did once spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to open the bonnet on an Austin 12, finally ringing the owner who told me you twist the Austin emblem on the bonnet.
Years ago I failed an imported Toyota Surf (I think it was) on the dipped beams not working. The owner said they only worked above a certain speed, about 10 mph, and he had owned a couple of imports that did this. He was right so I called my Vehicle Examiner for advise because I obviously couldn’t test the headlamp aims. He told me to pass and advise it so I did! Never heard of it before or since.

Wtf really? That's the strangest feature I've ever heard of

It really was bizarre! We thought the guy was taking the piss but as one of my techs drove towards me, dipped beam came on. As he slowed down, back to side lights! It’s the kind of thing you’d video today.

[Little Pete]

stevemcs said:

Some of that is irrelevant, we had one last week where a previous tester had put service light on .... what the hell does that have to do with it..... honestly some testers.

Imagine giving that to a car sales place on one they had just sold. They’d go bonkers