MOT Passed Today

toadster · Post by **toadster** » Mon May 20, 2013 10:06 am

LO All

Another years MOT passed today

no advisories

Prob would have failed on tyres had i not fitted a new set a few weeks ago

Only odd note , which i have had for the last 3 or so MOT's is

001 Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

They said it means they can't check all the ball joints , drive shafts ect , why can't they remove the cover

Oh well

Cheers

Toadster

Post by **rob quilter** » Mon May 20, 2013 10:09 am

Great stuff

The engine covers note is daft tho

Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 20, 2013 11:05 am

toadster wrote:001 Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Eh? I hope these guys don't do any work on your car

Congrats anyway

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Mon May 20, 2013 11:14 am

at the engine cover..

Congrats on the MOT.

toadster · Post by **toadster** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:12 pm

LO

Read a few posts on the net about this MOT note

Apparantly an MOT tester can't remove engine covers or undertrays during an MOT so whatever is underneath remains un-checked

Also a requirement is that all engine covers are fitted before an MOT

Seems a bit odd to me

The same garage do my servicing and they are very good

so i would quess that the offending covers would be removed during a full service

Cheers

Toadster

Post by **rob quilter** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:15 pm

But nearly all cars have under trays, so they must put that note on all the MOT's

Post by **vanzep** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:43 pm

nice one todaster - i wouldnt have expected you to have any advisories anyway

only advisory ive seen like that beofre was a note on one of my mots saying that couldnt inspect the sills as sideskirts (oem stock ones) were fitted.
(if you own a 4th gen then that is a good thing imo

)

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:44 pm

Engine bays in modern cars are absolutely smothered in plastic crap so you can't see anything.
That's going to make the MOT on a modern car completely worthless in some areas then...

Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:58 pm

Do MOT testers need to root around in the bay though? What is there for them to look at?

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:05 pm

Think they have to check for fuel leaks and they'll inspect for excessive oil / coolant leaks and condition of bonnet release cables?

They definitely have to inspect the brake servo/master cylinder and that the battery is secure. You'd struggle to find the first of those things on a modern shitheap!

EDIT:
Ok a few more things - engine mounts (condition/security), steering rack etc etc

I have to say, stuff like this pretty much waters down the purpose of an MOT test in my eyes these days, what with pre-1960 cars being exempt and this rule about not removing covers.
Even the historic car bodies didn't support removal of MOT requirements for historic vehicles, it was only done because the motor industry complained that modern spanner monkeys (no offence meant there) don't know what they're looking at on older cars.
In my book, that just highlights the lack of basic engineering understanding of a lot of modern technicians and that's a problem that should be tackled, rather than a reason to stop inspecting cars!
The same goes for not being able to remove covers to check things. Just because you can't see it, it suddenly doesn't matter whether it's checked or not? Cobblers... That's easy to solve too, by legislating to ensure that all the parts checked on the MOT test must remain easily visible on new cars.
Otherwise, they might as well insist that MOT testers wear welding masks when carrying out the test on all car and offer a print at home service...