MOT Changes as of Jan 2012

[waue1978]

Found this on the coupe forum:

"Copied from UKFN (ANDY G) mot tester for ford

Tonight I attended what is known as an MOT seminar, basically the head honchos from VOSA go to each area, and talk about the MOT scheme, including changes to the test.

As I said in the thread about the new EU directive, as soon as I knew what was changing in the MOT test I would post it up. These changes are to be brought into the test on 1st January 2012, not before. So here goes...

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, but the above list is what was presented to us earlier this evening. I've posted all I know currently, so unfortunately I can't help with any questions ."


Especially relevant to a few people on here is the part about catalytic convertors & relevant to any owner of any French car is the part at the top about warning lights.

Looks like the 406 is about to become a rare sight on the roads in the next year or so...

[rwb]

ffs

I spy some civil servants who need making redundant.

[Doggy]

The only thing in that list mine would fail on, AFAIK, would be the pesky airbag light, which I'm sure I can 'reach an understanding with'.

Can't see 'em using an endoscope to see if there's anything inside the cat.

[omega]

ive also read somewhere that they will be testing towbar electrics.

[plod]

Bugger, ain't even got a cat with nothing in

ive also read somewhere that they will be testing towbar electrics.

Yeah, I read that also

[teamster1975]

I've had the engine management light intermittently lit for a couple of years now, I foresee the bulb being removed!

[sirwiggum]

At the MOT centre I saw a rusty late 90s/early 2000s Merc with no door handle on the back door. Would be a fail.

Also rally cars with the doors shut, would they fail? No rear seats/seatbelts though.

Engine mounts would've failed my 406.

[FarmerPug]

i need to sort my towbar electrics then no sidelights at the moment. Thankfully ive got no warning lights, but its not a huge job to professionally cure them at home, currently some put the black tape over the cluster to hide the light, just take out the cluster and put the tape over the bulb and remove the MFD on the day of the test, thats some 406s saved from warning light issues, this is what i was going to do about the airbag light.

[lozz]

Idont think, Non-op Tow bar electrics wouid be Big problem.
just Remove the Ball part, Before Mot, and put it back on Afterwards,

[plod]

i need to sort my towbar electrics then no sidelights at the moment. Thankfully ive got no warning lights, but its not a huge job to professionally cure them at home, currently some put the black tape over the cluster to hide the light, just take out the cluster and put the tape over the bulb and remove the MFD on the day of the test, thats some 406s saved from warning light issues, this is what i was going to do about the airbag light.

With the airbag, I would "assume" the tester would need to see the light come on on start up, then go out and stay out
No light at all would indicate a bulb failure or a deliberate attempt to get around the system fault - me thinks

[steve_earwig]

So what you need is a simple timer circuit that starts when the ignition's turned on...

Are they still not testing brake fluid?

[Bailes1992]

All seems decent to me.
HID's annoy me big time! By law you need to have washers and a self leveling system to be legal. I am always getting blinded by cars that have retrofitted them.
CAT's? When I get a diesel I'l see about getting an empty box welded over the pipe, you wouldn't know?

Although what about the steering lock thing? What if a car dosen't have a steering lock?

And in regards with 'inapropriete modifications?' I assume this is for the people who lower there car so much they can't get on full lock without wipping half their tyre off? Then good They look rediculous!

[plod]

Yeah but as the saying goes Sam, if it doesn't scrape it isn't low

[FarmerPug]

that innapropriate modifications thing will put a lot of ropey 306s off the road, and HID regulations will be a good thing.

the thing about the steering lock what if you have modified the car to start with a button? like on my jeep.

[rwb]

All seems decent to me.

It seems like mostly bollocks to me.

What is the purpose of the MOT?

If it is to check that cars are safe to use on the road then I think that most of this is overkill. In particular I would like to see evidence that the new features will reduce accidents. Just how many accidents have been caused by duff engine mounts? None? Then why bother about them? This is typical "nanny state" regulation for the sake of it and, as is about to become evident, it irritates me.

If, however, the purpose of the MOT is to surreptitiously further the agenda of car-hating civil servants who have nothing better to do than sit about all day thinking of ways to irritate and generally inconvenience taxpayers while they wait to retire in their 50s and cash in on an impossibly generous pension then let's also check that

• electric windows close at a prescribed minimum speed,
• there are no scuff marks on the bumpers, and
• if the vehicle is equipped with coin holders then they hold securely all denominations of currency currently in circulation,

because these are equally pedantic and irrelevant.

I feel better now. Ta.