New MOT rules updated.

[RobbieV]

This is from a MOT tester on another car forum -


So I have some of the new MOT rules that will be coming into force in 2012(I have NO exact date, Most of the changes must be brought in by the end of 2011, although some – such as the requirements around brake efficiency and imbalance – will be delayed until September 2013). These are taken from the MOT magazines that I receive whilst at work so you can guarantee that they will be coming into force!

Prepare to be unhappy some of you.

Quick Run through.

Front and rear lights single operation.
Main beam warning light.
Steering lock mechanism.
Illumination of malfunction indicator light (MIL) for electric power steering, electronic stability control, electronic park brake control, brake fluid warning lamp, tyre pressure monitoring system and airbag/pre-tensioner.
Drivers seat adjustment.
Speedometer.

Headlamp cleaning and self-levelling if high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps are fitted.
Products on the lens that reduce light output.

Continuity of towbar 13 pin electric socket.
Inappropriate towbar repairs or modifications.

Gas Leak detection spray to confirm the existence of a leak(LPG cars)

Rear passenger doors opening.
All door hinges, catches and pillars.

Catalytic converter missing.

Inappropriate brake system repairs or modifications.
Defective ABS or ESC components.

Battery and wiring.
Power Steering oil level.
Damaged or corroded power steering pipes or hose.
Engine mountings.

Steering and suspension joint dust covers.
Inappropriate steering repairs or modifications.
Steering lock stops.
Steering box oil leakage.
Inappropriate suspension repairs or modifications.
Drive shaft support bearings and coupling gaiters.

And in more detail.

Lighting.
Headlamps. Vehicles fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) and LED light sources will have a new reason for rejection, "A mandatory headlamp levelling or cleaning device missing, inoperative or otherwise obviously defective."

Steering control.
The law requires that vehicles are fitted with some sort of anti-theft mechanism as minimum security protection. Commonly, this is achieved by use of steering locks, transmission locks or gearshift locks. Where a steering lock mechanism is fitted as standard, testers must now check if one is present and operational.

Steering system.
Before the days of MOT Computerisation, many testers incorrectly failed steering and suspension ball joints if the dust cover was split or missing. Well, thanks to the Directive, these items will be included in the test – so if a ball joint dust cover is missing or no longer keeps the dirt out, testers will be able to correctly fail the vehicle.
Sub-section 2.2D covers the steering lock-to-lock check, and will now also cover any significant oil leaks from the steering box and whether any ‘fitted as standard’ steering lock stops are missing. This is more likely to affect those of you testing larger Class 5 vehicles, as not too many light vehicles are fitted with external lock stops.

Power steering.
Checks to power steering will now include a check of the fluid level. But because there is no need to remove the reservoir cap, the check will only apply where the fluid level is visible in the reservoir.
Any inappropriate repair or modification to a power steering component will result in a failure – so a pair of tights in place of the drive belt will not be acceptable! The serious misalignment or fouling of power steering components is also an RfR.
The inspection of fluid pipes for damage and fouling will now also include excessive corrosion.
If a malfunction indicator lamp – fitted to warn the driver of a problem with electronic power steering – is illuminated, indicating a failure in the system, this will be an RfR.

Suspension, wheel bearings and drive shafts.
Testers should be careful to consider the guidance in the information column and the introduction section of the MOT inspection manual before rejecting any modified or repaired suspension components. But to make life easier, the team at VOSA has replaced all the RfRs for unacceptable repairs with a single RfR.
You are already checking all front drive shafts and those at the rear that form part of the suspension. As a result of the Directive, you will also have to check, where fitted, support bearings for excessive wear, and drive shaft inner coupling gaiters that are missing. The RfR for gaiters has also been changed to cover all aspects of the gaiter failing to keep the dirt out. Front to rear propshafts still remain outside the scope of the test.

Parking brake lever mechanism and associated mountings.
Electronic parking brake (EPB) controls have been added to this section, and testers will have to make sure that all parking brake controls have not been ‘inappropriately repaired or modified’. The team at VOSA has defined this as ‘when the repair is obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or if any modification has seriously weakened the component’. If the vehicle is fitted with an EPB, testers must also check that the EPB warning lamp does not indicate a fault.

Service brake control.
As before, testers will be asked to check that the control has not been inappropriately repaired or modified.

Anti-lock braking systems
Also included under this section are checks to any electronic stability control (ESC) system fitted – called variously ESC, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), etc. To take account of the additional item, the section has been renamed ‘Anti-lock Braking and Electronic Stability Control Systems’.
The new checks will cover the condition of ABS/ESC components (which are generally common to both systems), electrical wiring, the ESC switch, and the presence and operation of the ESC malfunction indicator lamp.

Mechanical brake components.
Additional checks of the security of brake cables, rods and joints must be made and testers should fail any mechanical brake component if it has been inappropriately repaired or modified. The condition and operation of brake slack adjusters – usually only fitted to very large vehicles with air braking systems – should also be checked.

Braking systems and additional braking devices.
To avoid the repetition of certain checks that apply to a number of sub-sections, the team at VOSA has changed the title of sub-section 3.6A of the inspection manual from ‘Leaks’ to ‘All Braking Systems’. Leaks will still be part of this sub-section, but checks on the security, condition and operation of braking system components have been added. Checks for inappropriate repairs or modifications to braking system components will also be included.
As well as brake valves, sub-section 3.6E will contain additional checks on load-sensing valves. Originally only checking the linkage, testers will now need to check if the valve itself is also:
• seized or inoperative
• defective so that its function is impaired
• incorrectly adjusted.
Testers already check the brake fluid level – but the brake fluid warning lamp being illuminated or inoperative will be a new RfR.

Brake performance.
Another new RfR coming in at the end of 2011 is if, during a decelerometer test, the vehicle deviates from a straight line when the parking brake is applied.

All of the info listed above can be found in the excellent Matters Of Testing magazine which is available to view here http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/M ... 202011.pdf , it is well worth looking through some of the previous issues here, especially the Horror Story sections where garages send in pictures of potentially disastrous car problems! (All of which will become more common place should MOT's move to every 2 years!)

Other items that info will be added to
Insecure Batteries or those leaking electrolyte will now fail.
Engine mounts will be checked and will fail if missing or seriously deteriorated resulting in excessive engine movement, or if the engine mounting bracket is insecure, fractured or damaged so it is likely to fail.

[Fraz]

and as we found out if fitted towbars are now part of the MOT

[v6 steve]

my mate at the mot station was telling me about some of those he said ill need to change my hids next year then change them back after test, now how much more dangerous is it to have std vauxhall lights over hids that dont self level ?
the se2 got pulled up for my tow bar this year

[RobbieV]

my mate at the mot station was telling me about some of those he said ill need to change my hids next year then change them back after test, now how much more dangerous is it to have std vauxhall lights over hids that dont self level ?
the se2 got pulled up for my tow bar this year

As soon as HID's come in to the MOT, expect to get pulled by the police left right and centre if they see a older car driving with them fitted.

[Fraz]

I agree HID's or candles though if you get pulled by plod they will now have another thing to do you for if you do re fit them after the MOT

[v6 steve]

there most be a pre date thing on them if not there will be a lot of cars needing new lights

[RobbieV]

there most be a pre date thing on them if not there will be a lot of cars needing new lights

No pre date, If the car wasn't fitted with Factory HID's then its a fail

[v6 steve]

ill just be swaping mine before and after mot's and take my chances with mr plod

[leelee]

mots are getting a joke these days.i will have to go on a refreshers course when this all comes in the mot

[Allys Cally]

i'm afraid i'll be doing the same as regards to the HID's they'll be changed straight back after the mot, surely a car that can illuminate the road better without blinding oncoming traffic is better than s****Y candle power where the driver cant see jack s**t.
i personally have never been flashed at in all the time that i've used my HID's, probably the reason it suits the calibra better is because they have projector headlights. some of the normal headlights on other cars with HID's fitted i admit can be blinding.
they'll need to start dishing out points before i'll get rid of mine

[Robs-se]

Wot Ally said, although i dont think my HIDs are that particularly bright being the 35w ones, but they are a damned site better than standard. I think its just an excuse for the motorist to pay more for MOT's with all the retests older cars are going to have to go in for

[Fraz]

its a back handed way to get older cars off the road

[GreyDJ]

I wonder how they are going to test headlight self levelling or the operation of brake load sensing valves.

[RobbieV]

I wonder how they are going to test headlight self levelling or the operation of brake load sensing valves.

By raising the front of the car up and down with headlights on ? and applying load to the brakes ?

[v6 steve]

when you turn the lights on they drop down then self level every time i think thats all they'll do