New MOT rules.

[Anzio]

Just been looking at the new MOT rules that started from Jan 1st. to bring us in line with B****y EU law. There are some interesting fail items listed. :(

Sorry for putting this Topic in the wrong place earlier.

Edited 5 January, 2012 by Anzio

[900000]

And they are?

[BossFox]

Quite interesting...

[speedsport]

Coutesy of Autoblog UK

Changes to MOT rules in 2012 - Are you ready?

It's a pretty substantial list, but there's one which could mean big bills for thousands of drivers. If your car has any illuminated warning lamps, whether it is the airbag, seatbelt, ESP, SRS, ABS or others, it will soon fail the MOT.

It's not all bad news. If your car's MOT runs out before the 31 March 2012 and you have a warning light that needs addressing, the testers will treat it as an 'advisory', i.e. advice on what needs to be done for the next MOT.

However, if your MOT is due after 1 April 2012, you better get your skates on and get the warning light (or other faults in the list below) fixed, otherwise you'll receive the dreaded red fail sheet.

The AA has kindly published a summary of the new rules. If you think your car needs attention on any of the points below but still has a long MOT left, we recommend getting it seen to sooner rather than later.

The main changes from 2012

Electronic parking brake

Electronic parking brake controls are now included and must be present and not inappropriately repaired or modified - repair obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or modification that has seriously weakened the component.

(The 'inappropriately repaired or modified' check is to be applied to a wide range of systems and components throughout the vehicle.)

The car will fail if an Electronic Parking Brake warning lamp is illuminated to indicate a malfunction.

Electronic Stability Control

Checks of anti-lock brakes will be extended to include Electronic Stability Control if fitted. The tester will check for the presence and correct operation of the ESC malfunction warning light together with looking for obviously missing, excessively damaged or inappropriately repaired or modified components and electrical wiring, as well as an ESC switch missing, insecure or faulty.

Warning lights

As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

Headlight main beam warning light

Electronic power steering warning light

Brake fluid level warning light

Tyre pressure monitoring system warning light

Airbag warning light

Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light

Steering & suspension

The new test includes a check on the presence and correct function of the steering lock where fitted as standard.

Missing, or split/damaged dust covers on steering and suspension ball-joints will result in failure if they will allow dirt to enter the joint.

Power steering fluid level must be above the minimum level indicated on the reservoir.

Lighting

Products on the lens or light source that obviously reduce the light's intensity or change its colour will become a reason for failure – applies to front/rear position lamps, registration plate lamps, stop lamps, rear fog and direction indicators,

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high so car manufacturers must fit headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. A car will fail if a mandatory headlamp cleaning or levelling system is missing, doesn't work or is obviously defective.

Vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID systems must also be fitted with properly working washer and levelling systems.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

Electrical wiring and battery

An insecure battery will be a reason for failure as will a battery that is leaking electrolyte.

Visible wiring that is insecure, inadequately supported or likely to cause a short will also result in a failure as will wires bared by damaged insulation.

Trailer/caravan electrical socket

There will be a basic security/damage check of 7-pin sockets,

13-pin sockets will be subject to a full electrical connectivity check and incorrectly connected or inoperative circuits will result in failure.

Tyres

Tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 January 2012 must be working correctly and not indicating a malfunction.

Supplementary restraints

The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure.

Seatbelt load limiters that are missing where fitted as standard or folding webbing type limiters that have obviously deployed are also reasons for failure.

The vehicle will also fail if an SRS malfunction light is missing, not working or indicating a fault.

Speedometer

The car will fail if a speedometer is not fitted, is incomplete, inoperative, has a dial glass broken/missing or cannot be illuminated.

Seats

It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions. On electric seats the motors must move the seat fore and aft.

Doors

A rear door that cannot be opened from the outside using the relevant control is a new reason for failure.

Doors must be easy to open and close – hinges, catches and pillars will be inspected.

Towbars

Inappropriate repair or modification to the towbar assembly will be a reason for failure if judged likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer.

Exhaust

A catalytic convertor fitted as original equipment but missing will be a reason for failure.

Fuel system

Damaged or chafed fuel pipes will result in failure.

Edited 5 January, 2012 by speedsport

[weasley]

A car will fail if a mandatory headlamp cleaning or levelling system is missing, doesn't work or is obviously defective.

Vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID systems must also be fitted with properly working washer and levelling systems.

Whilst I await delivery of my Yeti, the lead time is so long I have had to borrow a car from a friend to fill the gap between the last car going back and this one arriving. Anyway, I was lucky enough to score a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR FQ-320 for 3 months from a friend who works abroad. This is effectively an officially imported grey import, as it is a Japanese car that is modified for UK roads at point of sale. As a consequence it has the small, square front number plate, an after-market rear foglight but also it has factory fitted HIDs with no washers and only a manual level adjuster (a wheel on the dash in the car, like on halogen-equipped cars). This car has an MoT (the HID thing is not new to the MoT, just clarified). I foresee some interesting times for my mate in the future!

[Llanigraham]

Coutesy of Autoblog UK

Changes to MOT rules in 2012 - Are you ready?

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high so car manufacturers must fit headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. A car will fail if a mandatory headlamp cleaning or levelling system is missing, doesn't work or is obviously defective.

Vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID systems must also be fitted with properly working washer and levelling systems.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

This has been covered elsewhere on this Forum and a link given to the MOT testers Handbook, now current, and this paragraph above has been ammended. All new cars with HID lights MUST have washers and auto-levelling, and it must work. Aftermarket HID fitted vehicle do not require them, BUT they must pass the beam test and not cause undue glare with any light scatter.

[domhnall]

Just been looking at the new MOT rules that started from Jan 1st. to bring us in line with B****y EU law. There are some interesting fail items listed. :(

I can't say I have an issue with any of those items. So which ones was it that cause you to be so angry with Brussels? :wonder:

[AndyC]

I can't see anything there that would be a issue with a well maintained car, but surely it could make some faults uneconomic to repair on older cars?

Andy

[Anzio]

I can't say I have an issue with any of those items. So which ones was it that cause you to be so angry with Brussels? :wonder:

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING ON THE LIST ALSO, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED HAD YOU READ MY POST PROPERLY.

I AM ANNOYED AT THE NUMBER OF STUPID RULES COMING OUT OF BRUSSELS CONCERNING ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE. :FACT:

Read the post " DOING THE IMMPOSSIBLE " and you may see what I'm getting at.

Edited 5 January, 2012 by Anzio

[Anzio]

And they are?

See the post from SPEEDSPORT further down.

[mdon]

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING ON THE LIST ALSO, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED HAD YOU READ MY POST PROPERLY.

I AM ANNOYED AT THE NUMBER OF STUPID RULES COMING OUT OF BRUSSELS CONCERNING ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE. :FACT:

Read the post " DOING THE IMMPOSSIBLE " and you may see what I'm getting at.

There's nothing wrong with any of those rules and the sooner they bring in minimum ride height for cars, the better.

[cheezemonkhai]

So does that mean if you had a 3 point seat belt with pre-tensioners, removed them and fitted a 4/5/6 point harness, then it's a fail?

Also since ESP is now an MOT failure, does this mean VOSA will force a recall on the failing units

Edited 5 January, 2012 by cheezemonkhai

[Anzio]

There's nothing wrong with any of those rules and the sooner they bring in minimum ride height for cars, the better.

Could you enlighten us on "minimum ride height for cars" It's something I haven't seen mentioned anywhere before.

Once again I add, I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE RULES FOR THE NEW MOT,read what I said in my previous post about EU rules. Here's another, what do you think about a law making it compulsory to carry a breathalyser kit in every vehicle? This COULD become a new law in France from springtime, and would apply to all, not just the French.

[Moist Von Lipwig]

Quite suprised Brussels didn't try and bring in an additional fail if the steering wheel was not fitted on the left!

Things will only get worse IMHO, The EU is trying to bring in legislation for motorcycles making it impossible to fit any aftermarket equipment which may affect the performance, all bikes to be fitted with ABS so watch out the MEPs will continue on their power trip.

[fordfan]

Exhaust

A catalytic convertor fitted as original equipment but missing will be a reason for failure.

My interpretation of this is that if the vehicle passes the Basic Emissions Test (BET) a missing cat is fine, as the manual says it's for vehicles that qualify for a full cat test. This seems to be correct as it is as per VOSAs instructional video.

I've got no problem with the additional items, things such as SRS, TPMS, EPAS, ESP and steering locks are all safety/security related items, so it's reasonable that if they're fitted, they must be working. It may even lower insurance premiums as claim values may diminish for cars fitted with such systems.

[Rydal0]

My understanding is that this is a visual check and if the cat has been removed the car will fail irrespective of the emissions test. The uncertainty seems to be around the removal of a pre-cat, does this fall within the new role or not?

[justinbarrow]

My steering lock dosent work as I think it should :( I have to turn the steering wheel just over half a turn before it works is there a min turn criteria on the steering wheel before it becomes a fail.

And why is a bloody steering lock going to now fail an MOT its more of an anti theft thing not a safety thing, I bet the MOT fee is going to rocket aswell with all these extra checks.

[Funky Fab]

There's nothing wrong with any of those rules and the sooner they bring in minimum ride height for cars, the better.

Ride height???

What's wrong with being low?

[mdon]

Ride height???

What's wrong with being low?

Ha ha, one of the mother in laws neighbours has a corsa that's slammed as low as possible and it making a right mess of the brick set road.

Thinking about these new rules last night, they'll be quite a few cheap MOT failure vauxhalls coming up for sale shortly due to EML's on as I think that's about most of the vauxhalls on the road!

[Anzio]

Ha ha, one of the mother in laws neighbours has a corsa that's slammed as low as possible and it making a right mess of the brick set road.

Thinking about these new rules last night, they'll be quite a few cheap MOT failure vauxhalls coming up for sale shortly due to EML's on as I think that's about most of the vauxhalls on the road!

Are you being serious? Anyone driving a vehicle which is so low it is damaging the road surface should be reported for safety reasons.

[gac]

My understanding is that this is a visual check and if the cat has been removed the car will fail irrespective of the emissions test. The uncertainty seems to be around the removal of a pre-cat, does this fall within the new role or not?

I believe your understanding to be wrong. As fordfan says, the manual wording says that the cat check should be done only on a car "which qualifies for a full cat test". Full cat tests are done on cars which fail the basic emissions test, so to qualify for full cat you'd have to fail basic. And on a diesel, there's no emissions test at all anyway (only a smoke test) so again, the visual check doesn't form part of the test and doesn't need to be done. Also the full cat test is specifically listed only under the tests for spark ignition cars.

There's no differentiation between different cats, so I guess it's just down to whether VOSA provide a list of which cars should have two cats for testers to check that both are present, or whether they'll just visually check that there's at least one cat and pass it, even if it only has one where it should have two. That's not information that's made available to the public though so you'd have to check with your tester and see if they've had anything to clarify it.

[Llanigraham]

There's no differentiation between different cats, so I guess it's just down to whether VOSA provide a list of which cars should have two cats for testers to check that both are present,

I think their new computer system does exactly that, from the VIN and Reg No of the car when it's logged into the system!

[Sonner]

Right there is two things that will cause concern for alot of people on here.

Firstly the people like myself who have decat's fitted in the past(and known garages that will 'fix' the emissions test for me) and secondly people that have fitted aftermarket steering wheels.

lots of Saxo's and 106's out there with aftermarket steering wheels.

the HID thing is fair enough, i notice i get dazzled more these days than i used too, mainly by HID cars.

[Llanigraham]

I think the term that has been used is............you're stuffed!!

I wonder how many of those that have fitted aftermarket steering wheels have told their insurance companies?

[gac]

I have, just as I've declared all the mods on my car. They didn't have any problems with it. I have a proper wheel for the MOT test when required, and may well just leave it on all the time, I haven't decided.