New MOT test changes January 2012

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New MOT test changes January 2012

Post by Defender110 »

Copied and pasted;

These changes are to be brought into the test on 1st January 2012.

Steering lock operation - Steering locks not engaging when the ignition key is removed will fail.
Engine warning lamps, brake fluid warning lamps, ESP lamps, EPB lamps illumination - ANY of the above illuminated indicating a fault will fail.TPMS (Tyre pressure monitoring systems) warning lamps - Again, if illuminated indicating a fault, will fail.Airbag/SRS lamp illumination - If this warning lamp is illuminated it will fail.
HID Headlamps - Now, a little grey area here. They will be included in the new test, and will fail if they prove to be outside of the specified conditions... but the conditions and reasons for rejections haven't been written/decided yet, so sit tight.
Wiring - Any wiring (loomed or otherwise) that is damaged, or fitted in such a way that could cause damage to said wiring, or other systems will fail.
Engine mountings - Engine mountings will be a part of the test. incorrect mounting, corrosion in a prescribed area etc will fail.
PAS (Power assisted steering) fluid level will be tested.
Rear doors must open in the new test. Previously (and currently), if the tester feels he can access the testable items in the rear (seatbelts, prescribed areas etc) without needing the doors open, they don't need to open. This will now be a failure.
13 pin towbar sockets - tested for correct operation using a plug in testing tool.
Inappropriate modifications or repairs - The wording on this is quite vague at the moment, but if a major component has been modified, and that modification/repair makes the vehicle dangerous or seriously weakens the original component, expect it to fail.
ANY ball joint dust cover - The small rubber boots over ball joints must be intact and free or splits, tears or holes, or it fails.
All CVJ gaiters will be tested - Currently, only the front outer] CVJ gaiters are tested. This new rule extends it to inner and outer, front and rear.
A catalytic converter missing WILL be a reason for failure, regardless of whether or not the emissions limits are met.
Fuel pipe chaffing or damage - Currently they only fail when they are leaking, this rule means that any chaffing or rubbing causing damage will fail.
The braking imbalance limit is lowered to 30% across all axles.
Vehicles built post July 2010 will have to have at least 58% braking efficiency to pass (currently it's 50% for a dual circuit braking system)
Insecure batteries will become a failure
The main beam warning lamp must illuminate with the main beam lamps
All light switches must operate the corresponding lights immediately. No tapping, or wiggling to make it work!


Remember, these changes will all be brought into testing starting from the 1st January 2012. The exact wording of each failure has yet to be released.
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Post by Defender110 »

''Insecure batteries will become a failure''

I thought this was always the case? it certainly is for HGV.

and now the nice MOT man is going to check our LHM levels for us :wink: :)
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Post by mat_fenwick »

Nope, it always seemed daft to me that battery security wasn't checked in the MOT.

Re the HID lights, there was a draft copy of the proposed MOT manual published by VOSA in June I think, and this is the new relevant section. It would be reasonable to assume that the new manual (when published) will have similar wording.
High Intensity Discharge (HID) and LED dipped beam headlamps (whether original fitment or after-market) must be fitted with a headlamp washing system (a wiper is not required) and be self levelling. This may be achieved by the use of either headlamp or suspension levelling systems. However, some high performance vehicles fitted with HID headlamps that have limited luggage space and stiff suspension do not require a self-levelling system.
Where headlamp levelling or cleaning devices are missing or defective, but there is doubt as to whether they are required, the benefit of the doubt should be given and an advisory notice issued.

HID lamps may be identified by:
  • taking a few seconds to reach full intensity
    having a bluish tinge to the light
    having an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp
    having ‘DCR’ marked on the headlamp lens.
HID headlamps use high voltage and extra care should be taken when inspecting these items.
This is the new section on 'inappropriate repair or modification'
Repairs and modifications to vehicles must be assessed on their merits, taking account of the nature and function of the component.
The main criterion to be used when assessing repairs is whether the repair is obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle. In respect of modifications, the main criterion should be whether the modification has seriously weakened the component.
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Post by Stinkwheel »

Thats odd, battery insecure is something that MOT testers have failed cars on in the past, i believed this was already tested?
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Post by mat_fenwick »

That's interesting, as there's nothing specifically in the current manual for them to have been able to fail it on. I suspect that you would have been able to successfully appeal the test failure (assuming it didn't fail on anything else).

It looks as though there will be a new section (1.9) after the bit on headlamp aim specifically on the electrical system covering towing sockets, wiring and battery security/leakage.
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Post by Defender110 »

Yes I'm very sure I had an old Ford Escort fail an MOT on insecure battery many years ago but the fact it is in next years new rules shows it perhaps shouldn't of been. I suppose before the days of instant computer comunication to spread the word it was very easy for rules to cross paths and be enforced when they shouldn't have. It has deffinately always been part of the DOT and VOSA HGV Annual Test for as long as i can remember so has probably crossed over to some DOT / VOSA car examiners when strictly it shouldn't.

Many years ago I witnessed a fatal crash involving an XR3 and I was absolutely gob smacked by how far the XR3 battery carried on down the road after the impact . It ended up a good 5 or 6 hundred yards further down the road than the rest of the car.
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Post by Willy »

Fuel pipe chaffing or damage - Currently they only fail when they are leaking, this rule means that any chaffing or rubbing causing damage will fail.
I guess my current "orange" will fail me there on that one :)

Unanswered questions... I wonder how much the auto industry lobby affected this to get us to scrap more old cars, or make us spend more repairing them? Will the price of an MOT remain the same within inflation? And are we any nearer to two-yearly MOTs? Hmm.

Re batteries: remember how heavy they are - one going awol isn't going to have a happy ending.

Re HID lamps: A step in the right direction. Personally I'd prefer an outright ban seeing how phenomenally bright and dangerous they are (hate motorway night driving now) but it's nice to see that their correct installation is being monitored.
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Post by Way2go »

Stinkwheel wrote:Thats odd, battery insecure is something that MOT testers have failed cars on in the past, i believed this was already tested?
I seem to recall that one of the current fail items is "anything loose or liable to drop off"? Presumably this would have been a reason to fail a loose battery under existing rules? :?
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Post by grecian »

I suspect that PAS fluid level checking varies greatly from model to model; when my BMW level is ok it is nowhere to be seen in the reservoir - to check you have to pump the brakes about 20 times with the engine off. Is this common?
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Post by MULLEY »

When you say its level, is it the computer thats telling you? If so i'm guessing that its lying because of a duff sensor. The plastic housing which contains the fluid should have a lower level & maximum level indiator on the outside of the housing. My mini has this, so presume its the same for any bmw vehicle? Other manufacturers have the exact same system.
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Post by mat_fenwick »

I really can't see them taking the grille off the van to check the PAS fluid level when I take that for an MOT...

And on the same vehicle I assume that the bank of leisure batteries won't be checked, even though they are more secure than the original vehicle battery!
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Post by Defender110 »

Willy wrote: Re HID lamps: A step in the right direction. Personally I'd prefer an outright ban seeing how phenomenally bright and dangerous they are (hate motorway night driving now) but it's nice to see that their correct installation is being monitored.
Totally agree, It's not before time. driving at night is a constant dazzle dodge nowadays.
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Post by citsncycles »

I'll add my name to the list of people who've had a loose batery fail the MOT. I've also had split track rod end gaiters fail, although I did subsequently learn they shouldn't have.

I assume all these extra lights that need to work, as well as the steering lock, only get tested if fitted? I ask because I think the only 2cv's to be fitted as standard with main beam lights were ones built for the Belgian and German markets. I've also known testers try to fail cars because of no main beam or turn signal lights on the dash in the past.

To be honest, for the most part I think the majority of these additions (where I have the items on any of my cars) are ones I make sure of anyway. I do see some fuel pipe changes and a Land Rover rewire in my future though :cry:
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Post by Gibbo2286 »

I understand that this is still on the cards despite moans from the testers, so may be a bit less onerous in the near future.
Sorry about the age of the link but it is still being considered in government.

http://www.insureandgo.com/press/Govern ... 10877.html
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Post by sdelasal »

I think these changes are all driven by the EU and the 'harmonisation' of regulations ...
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