MOT worry
Author
Discussion

simon.b

Original Poster:

1,230 posts

311 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Just Had the Griff MOT’ed and she failed on two points. First one a rear shock absorber, I had no idea but now have a new set of four Gaz’s on order, cant wait….

Second, the worry, Registration plate lamp not fitted [1.1.5a] ?

When I picked the car up they said the reg plate one was sorted but gave me an Orange V.O.S.A. Advisory Notice anyway which states;

The items listed below do not constitute MOT failure items. They are drawn to your attention for advice only. That are the personal opinion of the tester and are not standards set by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency.

The advisory items listed are;

“Rear registration plate lamp meets fail criteria, as discussed with Clive V.O.S.A. Beverley.”

So I assume the tester has spoken to the regional office. The worrying thing is on the back of this form it states;

You should obtain expert advice on any defects listed overleaf. Continued use of the vehicle (even though a test certificate may have been issued), may make you, and/or anyone who drives the vehicle, liable for prosecution or invalidate your insurance.

Has anybody had one of these before ?

Cheers,

Simon.

bjwoods

5,018 posts

313 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Does he think it is NOT lit, or inadequately lit..

IE HAs he ever tested a griff before. and not aware that it is baxk lit.

Otherwise every griffith would fail every MOT, ie they are allthe same.


Mine always passes.

B

dnb

3,330 posts

271 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
My MOT tester is convinced about several exceptions to the rules for Griffiths.

One of them is the backlit rear numberplate and the other is the levels the car has to achieve for exhaust emissions...

It is possible that someone has changed the rear plate at some point for one that is opaque, so you can't see the lights.

virgil

1,557 posts

253 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
My tester looked for a while for the lamp then said "blow me, never seen one like that before" as I explained that it was back lit. In the daylight you couldn;t see it light up and he took my word for it once I showed him the bulb from inside the boot!

Also had me up on the ramp doing lots of things as he couldn't work out where all the knobs and things were.

Just explain the way of TVR and he should not worry again!

simon.b

Original Poster:

1,230 posts

311 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
This is a new tester, to me. The garage I used in the past has closed down. This guy said that he’d done TVR’s before and is aware of the back lighting as we spoke about it.

My worry is the form he’s now presented me with, as these are logged on a data base with the MOT, what are the implications for the future and should I speak to my insurers.

burriana

16,556 posts

283 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Can't do any harm Simon, so for the cost of a phone call they have it on record and you can sleep happily.

Where do you use for your servicing Simon?

simon.b

Original Poster:

1,230 posts

311 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Hmm…

Thing is I don’t want to talk to a numpty at a call centre who tells me to get it fixed as then I’m right in the do-dar. I cant be the first Griff owner that been issued with one of these or is it something new.

I was thinking of going to Boroughbridge this time, they have been recommended to me now by quite a few people, bit awkward to get to though.

virgil

1,557 posts

253 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
simon.b said:
The items listed below do not constitute MOT failure items. They are drawn to your attention for advice only. That are the personal opinion of the tester and are not standards set by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency.

The advisory items listed are;

“Rear registration plate lamp meets fail criteria, as discussed with Clive V.O.S.A. Beverley.”


Re-reading this I think you've got nothing to worry about. You've stated the form says "DO NOT constitute a failure"

I wonder if he has then got the wording wrong on his notes and should actually say "rear lamp meets PASS criteria"

If it meets a fail criteria it would have failed on this..surely.

The bit about contunuing to use the vehicle os for ANY failure section...ie your dampers...not the lamp. IMO

I'd call the guy who did it and ask!

Virgil.

LordGrover

34,164 posts

241 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
It's fine. No problem. Look here. There's a section on Registration Plate Lamps and it specifically says "Some vehicles may have these lamps fitted behind the number plate" - so long as they work - it's a pass.

LordGrover

34,164 posts

241 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
dnb said:
It is possible that someone has changed the rear plate at some point for one that is opaque, so you can't see the lights.

[pedantic]Reading the Testers Manual, it doesn't mention that it has to be transparent - just that the lamps must be working.[/pedantic]

simon.b

Original Poster:

1,230 posts

311 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
That great thanks. I didn’t know we could access the manual.

All I now need to do now when it goes back is question why he put the note on there in the first place and point out there’s nothing wrong with it at all, it is transparent and works fine in the dark.

Cheers,

Simon.



Edited by simon.b on Monday 5th February 15:50