Didn't pass MOT (yet)

[TB2]

Just thought I'd share:

I had to visit the MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle) - basically MOT in Switzerland - today and couldn't pass all tests. It's quite a list but nothing all too unexpected:

1) Rear indicators are acting up. I didn't notice this when I tested them a week ago, apparently the problem just surfaced: When flashing the indicators, the rear brake lights are flashing as well (alternating to the indicators)
2) One front fog light is busted (completely rusted, the well known problem) and I have to replace it or "disable" all of the foglights. I'll just remove the switch until I find a cheap replacement.
3) LHM leak from somewhere around the FDV. This has been around since I got the car two years ago and it's leaking almost nothing. It just looks quite wet. Still have to fix this for them to be happy.
4) LHM leak from the rear right strut, somewhere. Same as above, there's practically no LHM loss (there's *nothing* on the floor in the garage) so it must be a very, very small leak or some leftover LHM from a long fixed problem before I bought the car.
5) There's a bad dent on the left hand sill, very likely caused by a slipped car jack. The examiner said that part is of structural importance so I need to fix this as well.

1 and 2 are trivial I think (any hints on the flashing rear lights problem? He said it's probably a bad earth somewhere), 3 and 4 might actually pass just by cleaning up the mess, though I'll let the citroen dealer have a look at it to be sure. For 5 I'll need to bring the car to a panel-beater. Hope it's not too difficult/expensive to fix...

On the bright side, he was happy with the brakes (I replaced all the discs and pads last week) and there's no rust at all. Steering, engine and suspension are fine, everything brilliant Well except for the minor leaks.
I've got two weeks to get everything done and redo the MFK, that's why I probably can't fix stuff myself as I'm short on time.

Oh and by the way: Because my BX is a two-seater (Entreprise version), and as such classified as a delivery-van, I had to load it to maximum payload. How silly. I had to "rent" 275kg of cement bags at the local store for this...

[Defender110]

Yes flashing lights are probably a bad earth, reach into the boot and unclip rear light clusters and you will find the earths behind them. They might just need undoing cleaning with fine emery paper and retightening.
Like you said the LHN leaks are probably just damp patches if they leave nothing on the floor so perhaps just cleaning them up will be sufficient.

good luck

[toddao]

Carl, that sounds completely crazy - worse than the guys with dental mirrors inspecting the inside of the alloys here for the TÜV. Glad I don't live in that 3rd world country - Switzerland! ( I could have used that cement, you should have just driven over with it.. )

[kiwi]

Oh and by the way: Because my BX is a two-seater (Entreprise version), and as such classified as a delivery-van, I had to load it to maximum payload. How silly. I had to "rent" 275kg of cement bags at the local store for this...

Oh so it is not just New Zealand that has a crazy rule like that which applys to commercial vehicles.

So how do they mange with sports cars with only two seats?

[ken newbold]

Take out the rear lights and unplug the connectors for the wires, clean the contacts with WD40 or electrical cleaner and you will most likely find the problem has gone.
On our cars, RHD, the offside rear lights are wired from behind the nearside lights. The problem is usually there but sometimes both sides.

The rear LHM is probably the rear suspension rubber boot, it may have a small hole in it or just gone old and baggy.

The leak around the FDV is your worst problem I think, they always seem to leak a bit. I would always wipe clean before taking for MOT. Or it could be the green plastic "bowl" type thing under the pressure regulator. Easy fix if it is, simply undo the 2 screws and separate the 2 halves, clean and dry, then re-assemble using some silicone sealant of gasket glue. Wait for it to dry, then restart the engine and tighten the 12mm pressure screw.

Good luck.

[TB2]

Oh so it is not just New Zealand that has a crazy rule like that which applys to commercial vehicles.
So how do they mange with sports cars with only two seats?

The rule is: If there's more loading space then "people space", it's a delivery van and needs to be brought to MFK at full load. So two seater sports cars don't fit that measurement.

........unplug the connectors for the wires, clean the contacts with WD40 ...... rear suspension rubber boot, it may have a small hole in it or just gone old and baggy ..... green plastic "bowl" type thing.....

When I went looking at the blinking-lights problem, it was gone. Nevertheless I did as you suggested and I hope it's gone away for sure. For the other things I'm afraid I'll not have enough time to fix them myself this time. The MFK-place want's me to re-show the car within two weeks so I'll bring it to the dealer tomorrow. I also ordered the FDV repair kit from them! I think it was around 36 GBP, but it's good to have. So I'll probably overhaul the FDV during summer!