Is the MOT tester having a laugh ? Modded porsche fail MOT

[Luigidon]

Hey guys ---

thought I'd put it out there for opinion as after a heated 'debate' with the MOT tester - he wins (for now) as he has power to fail me

Let me describe ----- I've had a 997 (2006) for a few years now ----- one that has been modified with daytime running lights (LEDs) -- as per pic below

Year on year this car has passed .... just took it to a new MOT garage and it fails -- reason noted that it doesnt have side lights ...
to turn on the DRLs you turn one notch to the 'side lights' and pull forward as if turning on Front fogs ...

I accept that the lights probably have not been configured the best they could be .... however, they serve as side lights ---- front fogs I believe are not mandatory --- and the reasoning given by the MOT tester is the labelling on the switch ---- that effectively I am turning on the fog lights and the car has no side lights !!!
my arguement is that they are side lights!!

Would welcome opinion as to whether I am dealing here with a 'hater' jobs worth or from an MOT standards perspective he has a case

Gonna be driving a fair few miles back to my old 'tester'

[sundayjumper]

I'm erring on the side of the tester for now even if he being a bit pedantic - if the switch is labelled as fog lights, you expect it to turn on fog lights.

What happens when you turn the switch to 'sidelight' ? Nothing ? In which case he's right, the sidelight switch does not work.

[Luigidon]

Yes, nothing when just switched to side-light position without pulling out..

Guess if I alter the switch labelling to say ----- pull out for side lights it would technically be ok then ... given there is no legal requirement for front fog .

[Luigidon]

I know I am being pedantic now over interpretation of MOT rules ---- and yes I do take the point you make --- but I wonder whether the stdnards are applied in the context of the required behaviour/performance not so much in terms of how the swtich is labelled up.... if there were no 'positions' on the swtich - I could argue that the car is performing with side lights ...

be interested to know wherther the MOT rule book talks about switch labeling being accurate --- although I do accept to a new driver of the car might be an issue

[v8ksn]

Playing Devils advocate here....

In order to turn on your sidelights you have to move the switch to side lights and then pull it forward (as if you are putting on the front fog lights) in order to get the side lights to work?

MOT Tester: This is not right, the sidelight switch should turn on the sidelights not the fog light switch
Your position: Front fog lights are not a lega requirement

OK, taking that to a logical conclusion.....A rear window wiper is not a legal requirement (unless its fitted to the car then it MUST work to pass the MOT)

If you decide to disable the rear wiper and use the function on the indicator stalk to turn your horn on or off would that be acceptable?

I dont mean to be an ar$e and I am sure the MOT tester does not want to be one either but I think he is right on this occasion.

Who fitted the lights? Maybe the wiring or fitting needs checking.

[Magic919]

I agree with the MoT tester here too.

[Luigidon]

Thanks Guys ---- thats why I put it out there for opinion

Looks like balance is to the MOT tester - --- although had to try

will get the lights looked at

Appreciate the responses ..... on the subject of playing devil's advocate and now I am just play devils advocate

MOT Tester: In order to pass the car you have to demonstrate that both side lights are working.
Me: they are - just that the switch is improperly labelled ---- where in your rule book does it say that the switch labeling must be accurate
MOT: but that isnt normal
Me: what is normal ? where in your rulebook does it say that the switch position must directly correlate to the type of lights the car is displaying

If argued on the other side, I'd accept that to a new driver it would be confusing -- and perhaps dangerous --- but is the MOT on the performance of the car or the owners/driver's knowledge of the car?


unlike the example with the rear windscreen wiper .... whereby if one if fitted it must work --- on this occasion there are no front fog lights , not fitted (not a legal requirement) so I decide to wire up the side light to use that position instead.... the side lights work on both sides, I have demonstrated the car has side lights

(not that I did wire it up!!... will be having words

Any other views.... come on someone has got to agree with me ...LOL

[Jabbah]

My 350z had had the rear wiper removed and when the front wiper motor stopped working I swapped the pipe to the rear wiper motor and used that. When I put it in for an MOT I explained to the tester and he said not a problem and passed it. Case of incorrect labelling, and also where it doesn't activate the auto-wipe after squirting.

[sundayjumper]

Luigidon said:

MOT Tester: In order to pass the car you have to demonstrate that both side lights are working.
Me: they are - just that the switch is improperly labelled ---- where in your rule book does it say that the switch labeling must be accurate
MOT: but that isnt normal
Me: what is normal ? where in your rulebook does it say that the switch position must directly correlate to the type of lights the car is displaying

But you're assuming there's nothing in the rules about labelling - I don't think any of us have checked yet ? I bet it's in C&U regs at the very least. So the conversation is more likely to be:

MOT Tester: In order to pass the car you have to demonstrate that both side lights are working.
You: they are - just that the switch is improperly labelled ---- where in your rule book does it say that the switch labeling must be accurate
MOT: Here <points at rule book>
You: oh.

[boxsey]

Luigidon said:

Gonna be driving a fair few miles back to my old 'tester'

I'm pretty sure that the failure will now be on the MOT record. So if you go back to the old tester he won't be able to pass it unless he sees that the 'fail' has been remedied.

[FunkyNige]

Out of curiosity - can you get a label maker and stick labels on the switches saying what they do now, instead of what they are supposed to do?

[DuraAce]

Im with the MOT tester on his reasoning behind the failure.

One of these should fix it though.. http://www.euroffice.co.uk/product/Dymo-LT100H-Let...

[AyBee]

Seems an odd way to wire the lights - surely it's just easier to get them wired to come on when you turn your sidelights on?

[Magic919]

I suspect the brightness of these DRLs is the problem. They won’t dim when the headlights are on like factory fit would. That’s my guess.

[vsonix]

AyBee said:

Seems an odd way to wire the lights - surely it's just easier to get them wired to come on when you turn your sidelights on?

^ this. Why so convoluted?

[Fish]

Just stick black tape over the labels... there you go sidelights work.

My TVRs never had a label for most of the button function and never failed an MOT!

[chriscoates81]

AyBee said:

Seems an odd way to wire the lights - surely it's just easier to get them wired to come on when you turn your sidelights on?

I was going to ask the same question.

[StevenB]

From the mot testers manual

Daytime running lamps are not testable unless they replace the front position lamps. Where this is the case, they should dim when the position lamps are switched on and may extinguish when the headlamps are switched on.

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

[PinkyRed]

One of the problems the MOT tester has is that if he " unlawfully " passes a car he risks his entire business by losing his license to perform the MOT test
If you go elsewhere after he's passed it next year and get into the arguments "it's passed before" he's potentially at risk

[gareth_r]

There doesn't seem to be anything in the MOT manual about "labelling". The only "Reason for Rejection" related to switchgear that I can see is "A switch missing, insecure, or not able to be operated from the normal driving position.".


Just tape over all the lights -
This inspection applies to all vehicles, except those which either have no front or rear position lamps or have such lamps permanently disconnected, painted over, or masked, that are only used during daylight hours, and not used at times of seriously reduced visibility. If this situation occurs, the vehicle presenter should be issued with a VT32 recording the above.