My dad's (my old) elegance estate is off for its MOT on weds, dad's just mentioned that the rear washer isn't working at the moment. I suspect that the pipe's come adrift and should be an easy fix, but I won't be able to get to the car before MOT day.

Is a functioning rear washer a requirement for the MOT or is it one of the things that we can get away with?

cheers

andrew

The rear washer is not required and not testable.

^What he said^

I thought it was a bit like a spare wheel, if its there it has to work?

No; a rear washer and/or wiper is not testable. MOT UK car and vehicle MOT information equipment car servicing parts and spares - power steering doesn't even mention them.

Technically you can turn up with no headlights fitted and still pass cause if they are not there they can't test them.

Technically you can turn up with no headlights fitted and still pass cause if they are not there they can't test them.

I did that in the 1970's with a Fiat with twin headlamps. The reflectors were all starting to corrode and I replaced and upgraded the outer lights. The inner ones only came on when using main beam and the light was more than adequate as the outer ones were on too. It passed the MOT and a comment was made that the inner lights were not tested as they were missing.

I did that in the 1970's with a Fiat with twin headlamps. The reflectors were all starting to corrode and I replaced and upgraded the outer lights. The inner ones only came on when using main beam and the light was more than adequate as the outer ones were on too. It passed the MOT and a comment was made that the inner lights were not tested as they were missing.

If you were to interpret the mot rulebook in a certain way you can turn up with almost a shell and get it mot passed

my sierra cosworth passed its mot with the front washers not workin lol. Testin is weird tho, the guy i work withs middle rear seat belt had a rip in it and they wouldnt pass it, so he took a pair of scissors and cut it and it wound all the way inside. Then they passed the car, if it dont have it it cant fail on it.

my sierra cosworth passed its mot with the front washers not workin lol. Testin is weird tho, the guy i work withs middle rear seat belt had a rip in it and they wouldnt pass it, so he took a pair of scissors and cut it and it wound all the way inside. Then they passed the car, if it dont have it it cant fail on it.

Sorted! I'll just take off my blowing exhaust, worn out brakes and dodgy steering rack and my car will pass with no problem. Won't it...?

LOL ! hrm not so sure on that one........

Sorted! I'll just take off my blowing exhaust, worn out brakes and dodgy steering rack and my car will pass with no problem. Won't it...?

Technically yes as they can't fail it for them not being there only for not working;)

Technically you can turn up with no headlights fitted and still pass cause if they are not there they can't test them.

True, but the MoT can then be endorsed "vehicle for use in daylight only" AIUI.

On the general subject of "testing with bits missing", a mate of mine had a car that had rusted through both sides of the front valance (before full size plastic bumpers), and the MoT tester told him that it was a fail as was, but the valance was not structural, so if he took it off then it would pass. The car was then run like that for 3 years with no problems.