How many cars have no MOT?

[2.5pi]

Just completed a 15 minute journey in early morning darkness and after nearly being hit by a tt in a Renault with no lights on as I pulled out of my drive I started counting how many tts with no lights , one headlight or half fked lights of one sort or another there were.

I stopped counting at 23 , including 3 with no lights at all in total darkness on unlit roads. No fking police around either.

So how the fk do these cars have an MOT ? or do the tts have some sort of stealth mode engaged ? Do the ignorant fkers think that bulb out warning light is some kind of fking Christmas decoration ? Or do the dangerous feckers just take random fkin bulbs out in some half arsed attempt to save battery power so they can keep starting up their mobile fking accident spot every morning with that cheap as st Chinese battery that was too shonky for even kwik fking fit to stock?

[Contigo]

Good morning to you too!

[Buff Mchugelarge]

6/10 rant.

Must try harder. Bonus points awarded for good observation

[The_Burg]

I've noticed this too, i think it's because modern headlights are often very difficult to change.
On our old 2000 Passat it takes 5 minutes absolute tops, Focus MK2, (apparently much easier then MK1), around 15 minutes offside, nearside apparently involves removing the battery tray and hasn't failed yet.
Seem to recollect some Renault involves removing the inner wing?

It should be a legal requirement the head and tail light should be replaceable at the roadside without tools.
Makes it rather pointless in some countries where it is compulsory to carry spares!

[Krikkit]

The_Burg said:

It should be a legal requirement the head and tail light should be replaceable at the roadside without tools.
Makes it rather pointless in some countries where it is compulsory to carry spares!

A very good point, agreed.

I think it's just back to the same-old thing that people couldn't give a st about their car as long as it isn't totally broken - for most people lifting the bonnet is a bewildering and frightening experience!

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 8th February 08:30

[Bear Phils]

A bulb change light? OOOOOOOooooooOOOOO, fancy.

But seriously, | don't know ho they can just plow on like that but even worse are the morons that don't turn them on at all. How do you not notice that?

[BL Fanboy]

In defence, some cars dash clocks are illuminated all the time so it doesnt give additional clues that its perhaps necessary to switch on the headlamps - particularly in street lamp illuminated areas.

[Captain Muppet]

Mrs Muppet noticed one of her lights popped as she turned them on to drive home from work. There was a new bulb at home, but by the time she got home she was massively pissed off with all the people flashing their lights at her.

2004 Civic, and the only thing that ever goes wrong is bulbs. We've lost count now, but six months without a bulb on that thing is good going.

I drove home last week and got flashed maybe 15 times in 4 miles. When I got home one of my sidelights was out - not even a headlight. It was fixed two minutes later.

[paintman]

MOT only means that things were working at the time of test.
The rest of the year the idea is that you check your oil, coolant, lights, tyres, screenwash etc regularly. Sadly many obviously don't bother.

In areas of good street lighting some forget to turn their lights on.

Not a bad rant BTW

Edited by paintman on Friday 8th February 08:55

[Bonefish Blues]

Krikkit said:

The_Burg said:

It should be a legal requirement the head and tail light should be replaceable at the roadside without tools.
Makes it rather pointless in some countries where it is compulsory to carry spares!

A very good point, agreed.

I think it's just back to the same-old thing that people couldn't give a st about their car as long as it isn't totally broken - for most people lifting the bonnet is a bewildering and frightening experience!

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 8th February 08:30

Seconded...and maybe a requirement to carry spares, too?

...but then again that would imply a sensible use of legislation which shirley can't be its purpose?

[valverguy]

Tried changing a corsa D headlight? No? Then you can't possibly understand just how difficult it really is. I paid halford nearly £30 for a pair of bulbs and to watch them struggle for over 35 minutes to fit the pair, and that was 2 of them doing it who had done them before.

[AndyNetwork]

Also, how many people who have newish cars where the lights switch themselves on, then get into an older car and forget to switch them on.

[Bonefish Blues]

AndyNetwork said:

Also, how many people who have newish cars where the lights switch themselves on, then get into an older car and forget to switch them on.

I've just got a car with DRLs which are so fecking bright I've forgotten to switch on my headlights twice now. Progress eh?!

[Andurron]

AndyNetwork said:

Also, how many people who have newish cars where the lights switch themselves on, then get into an older car and forget to switch them on.

Not so sure about that. The old Fiat's headlights turn off when you turn the engine off after getting home so usually it's not a problem for me when they start up again when you turn it on. New Mitsubishi though - turn the engine off, it bongs at you to turn the lights off as well. A couple of times I've only just caught myself before pulling onto the main road and turning the lights on once I start it up again.

[Dracoro]

AndyNetwork said:

Also, how many people who have newish cars where the lights switch themselves on, then get into an older car and forget to switch them on.

My car has auto light, auto wipers, auto gearbox.

When I drive my wife's car that has manual lights, manual wipers and manual gearbox, I don't sit there going why are the lights not on, the wipers are broke and the car won't change out of 1st!

It's because I'm not a moron!

[Zoobeef]

What kind of people drive round with just side lights on?

Do they think, ahh its getting to dusk, lights to stage 1. Then when its dark, I can now have full lights?
But the fkers forget!

Just have your lights ON or OFF

[speed_monkey]

It took me just over an hour to change the headlights on my polo, near side needs the battery and tray removing, off side requires the whole induction pipework removing, just to get to the back of the headlights!!!

Then I need to employ a little chinese slave child to get their fingers into the back of the tiny retainer cup to release the bulb!!! GRRR!!!

Thank god HID's dont go pop as often......

This is after Halfrauds tried raping me of £90.00 PER BULB, found some brand new Osram bulbs (pair) for £10.00...... job done.

[tigger1]

I've whinged before about headlights on the big-arsed megane:

http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Although I always liked this rant best:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

It does seem like every third car at the minute has a bulb out though.

[chrisw75]

The_Burg said:

It should be a legal requirement the head and tail light should be replaceable at the roadside without tools.
Makes it rather pointless in some countries where it is compulsory to carry spares!

I like this idea.. as opposed to having to carry an entire toolkit, and strip half the front of your car off to change the bloody things. I did one on my 3-series a while back, and ended up with a lot less skin on my hand than when I started.

[Zoobeef]

You have to cut a panel out on my noble to change any of the bulbs which means its not a quick job. Hate driving with a bulb out though as I feel everyone is looking at me!