Major MOT failure.

[dapinky]

I'm not sure which category this one should have gone in, so (Admins) feel free to move it about wherever you wish!

Car went in today for it's annual look at by the men from the ministry. I had already explained my problems with CEL codes 22 and 23 since the head gasket change, and they said they'd have a squint whilst they were at it.

Imagine my surprise (?) when the phone went at 1 o'clock, with those immortal words, "I'm sorry, but your car has failed the test"

Expecting to hear all about crusty wishbones, TCA's, binding brakes etc etc (having had a look over it myself, these were to be half expected).

....... here we go, I thought.....

...Simons' voice could hardly conceal the laughter as he said, "Your Hazard light switch doesn't light up!"

Go on, says I....

.... "well, there are a few other bits, like a leaky rear shocker and a few 'advisories', but i'm most woried about the hazard switch - it's a new one on me!"

So here are the bits i need to know / tell you about:-

1) is there a seperate bulb inside the hazard light switch, or should the green arrow on the dash light up when the switch is on?

2) my wishbones (although i thought they looked a bit rough) are well-solid and waxy inside! (someone loved it a few years ago!!!).

3) standard brakes can be adequate if the pins are kept copperslipped!

4) thanks to the 2 companies concerned in todays encounter:-

SJ's will have a pair of rear shockers on my doorstep tomorrow morning.

WEBBS AUTOS at Nailsea are good people to know. Not only did they fix the CEL code problem (needed to get the CO levels low enough for MOT), they sorted out the TPS (I had only 'guessed' its location and kept it in with one screw until i could get rid of the light and thus set it up properly with elanscan) they do a free re-test within 10 working days, they didn't give me any 'bull' about what the car needed, they gave it a good look over and a print-out of any minor 'problems' which may cause problems in the future (Not limited to MOT inspection points, but basically they gave the car a full inspection). Then they washed it for me, AND THE ONLY THING ON THE BILL WAS THE MOT TEST! (and that was discounted to £35 anyway!)

Simon is a knowledgable mechanic and knows our cars well. The garage are Lotus and TVR specialists but work on all sorts of motors. They are happy to discuss any problems/niggles and offer practical advise on how to fix it youself (if you want to), or they will book the car in and do it for you (well, they ARE in business after all )

The list of 'issues' on my car wasn't too long , and very little was news to me, and is all planned for inclusion in the proposed suspension overhall and radiator replacement.

So, this is an unashamed plug for Webbs, and a request for advise on the hazard light switch!, as well as asking how best to fit the new rear shockers, and tell you the sucess in getting rid of the code 22 and code 23!

Whilst i'm on, has anyone got a 'spare' radiator lying about that they are intending to get re-conditioned? Steve at SJ's can only do mine when i send it in, and then return it to me. As i was hoping to do a 'quick swap' and keep the car going, this doesn't appeal to me. i am okay on Radweld for the moment, but want to change it.
So, what I need is a kindly person to 'donate' a leaky, spare radiator which is not in use, so i can get it fixed. Once it is swapped out for mine, i can get mine re-conned and then returned to the original donor.
Failing this, i will have to do a bit of 'callender juggling' to keep the car available as much as possible whilst i get the rad done.

[Enright]

There's a seperate bulb inside the hazard switch - the indicator lights on the dash DON'T flash when you press the switch (but I had to run back outside and test it to be sure)!

So did he give you a cert knowing that it was faulty, or are you now driving without a valid MOT certificate?!?

[blacknight]

Well done Dave!

Told you they are not half bad in Nailsea!

I am also exploring radiator solutions, and will keep all informed.

Cheers

iain

[dapinky]

There's a seperate bulb inside the hazard switch - the indicator lights on the dash DON'T flash when you press the switch (but I had to run back outside and test it to be sure)!

So did he give you a cert knowing that it was faulty, or are you now driving without a valid MOT certificate?!?

Neil, Thanks for the prompt reply, no MOT issued (because of fluid from RNS shocker) ,but you are making a number of assumptions, which i shall rebutt or justify as appropriate!
1) The car may still have a valid MOT (it doesn't)
2) I may have left the car at the garage (i didn't)
3) I may have got it brought home on a recovery truck/trailer (i didn't)
4) They may have delivered it (they didn't)

So.... we're left with me driving a car on a road without a current Test certificate (Contrary to section 47 Road Traffic Act 1988)......




..... however, there are a number of exemptions from the requirement to have a valid, current MOT certificate.

Only one applied to me (but that is all I need ).

Section 49 (8)(b) RTA 1988:- "....taking a testable vehicle from the keepers home address DIRECTLY to a pre-aranged appointment at a Testing Station." & "...in the case of a refusal to issue a certificate, the vehicle can be driven from the Testing Station to the keepers home address, or pre-aranged place of repair." This does NOT preclude the requirement for Insurance under Section 143, though (but would allow for use without Excise Licence).

The key words here are "DIRECTLY" & "PRE-ARANGED" you can't just go for a drive and then 'pop in' for a 'while-you-wait' MOT. And you can't book your car into Glasgow Quick-Fit just to cover your scenic drive from London via the lake district!

There are other MOT 'exclusions' (Road Testing etc, but they didn't apply).

You can rest assured that when it goes back on Monday, it is pre-arranged!

[Dave Eds]

I have a rad Mr Pink

[Enright]

(Snip)...but you are making a number of assumptions, which i shall rebutt or justify as appropriate!
1) The car may still have a valid MOT

No Dave, no assumptions made mate - only questions asked.
Although I have to admit there was a bit of "poke him with a stick for fun and see what happens" there!

On a slightly more serious note - and just out of curiosity more than anything, perhaps you could answer a question for me:

I've heard that if you take your car for it's MOT before it's due and it fails, then it invalidates your current certificate as you have been informed that your vehicle is no-longer roadworthy.
Is this true? If so surely there's no benefit in being a good consciencious citizen, because you are effectively shooting yourself in the foot by doing so.
Obviously I'm not condoning getting it done late (and driving around without an MOT) either, but I certainly won't be beating down my local testing centre's door if I run the risk of an unforeseen issue making my car illegal to use.

[paulwatkins]

.....but I certainly won't be beating down my local testing centre's door if I run the risk of an unforeseen issue making my car illegal to use.

Neil, if you have an unforeseen issue, it doesnt really matter when you get it tested! It will bite you on the ass whenever!

On the flip side, if your car is unroadworthy, wouldn't you rather know sooner rather than later?

[Enright]

Paul, I take your point(s), but consider this:
Even MOT testers themselves now say that the test is getting more subjective.
So imagine that your normally friendly chap just happened to get out of bed the wrong side on the morning that you've booked in for your test. And that in his opinion something that you thought was OK, isn't. For example he could pick up the merest bit of blowing at one of the joins in your Peco. Or he considers that there is "more than acceptable play" in a part that is going to last for years, but is difficult to source.
Result: you're stuffed. It's almost the "your name's not down you're not coming in" scenario.
And what happens to the date that the MOT eventually runs from when you finally get it to pass? In theory you could only be getting 11 months between MOT's every year!

[dapinky]

What the f**k's any of this got to do with me getting a replacement bulb for my Hazzard light swith??????


Okay, then, here goes:-

I totally agree with Paul, (as i'm sure you do, really) that it's better to know about things which could affect the safety of the car/passengers/other people sooner rather than later.

If you take your car in for an MOT up to 30 days early, and it passes, they will issue a certificate which runs out 1 year after the current one is due to expire (so you can get up to 13 months MOT).

If it fails, your current MOT is still valid, but you will be driving a vehicle on a road with faults which could lead to accidents and/or prohibitions and/or prosecutions.

For example, (not picking on anyone in particular ) i'm sure we all agree that those rusted out rear wishbones, had they been known about before, should have been changed. However, the car still had a valid MOT, but i would suggest, was NOT in a roadworthy condition. As such, had the car been pulled in by Police and/or VOSA vehicle inspection staff (well, if i was doing it, anyway) there would have been an immediate prohibition slapped on the car, meaning it would need trailering away from that location for repair and re-test (or scrapping).

A more minor fault (eg 2 front tyres at 0 mm tread) could lead to a delayed prohibition (you can drive home, but to have the prohibition lifted, the car needs a new MOT to be issued).

An even more minor fault (rear tyres at 1 mm) could lead to a Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme ticket. (VDRS = '14-day mender'). you need to get the LISTED fault(s) sorted, and an MOT station will stamp your ticket within 14 days for you to return to the Old Bill. They only check the listed faults, and you don't need a full MOT test.

If the schemes are complied with, there is no prosecution, however, if the relevant paperwork is not received (or a Prohibited Vehicle is used on a road - other than to/from a pre-arranged test/place of repair) a summons will be issued!

Back to your question at the top, the whole point of having cars in for an MOT up to 30 days early is to prevent the perceived rush to get MOT's done on 31st July (3 years after date of first registration). IT WILL NOT INVALIDATE YOUR CURRENT MOT OR INSURANCE.

One slight anomally with the system is that if you still have 32 days to go on your current MOT, not only do they not add 32 days on, but you don't even get the 'free' 30 days - It's one year from date of issue! (Who says the law is an Ass?) - so don't go in too early!

In my case, just imagine a really picky MOT tester who fails the car on just the Hazzard light switch?

It would be lawfull (not morally right, but lawfull) but how does it make my car a danger to other road users? Especially when compared to tyres, suspension, brakes etc etc????

I knew there was a reason i don't do MOT testing anymore!

[Dave Eds]

So do you want to talk to about radiators or not Dave

[dapinky]

So do you want to talk to about radiators or not Dave

Dave, you will have pm very shortly!!!!