What's the problem with aftermarket steering wheels?

What's the problem with aftermarket steering wheels?

Should only be a issue on cars with airbags. If it was made with one, then one must be present and working without error lights at MOT.

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!

I don't think it does, the VSI will display common problem areas for a particular car, such as 3 door Corsa B posts cracking, but on the whole it appears to be quite specific in a general sort of way, especially with regard to roller brake testing four wheel drive vehicles.

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.

The steering wheel has to lock, unlock and not engage when it is not meant to. The test applies to 51 plate cars onwards and there is no criteria for the steering or road wheel position when it is locked. The steering lock test is to bring us into line with Brussells.

As for the MOT fee, VOSA have calculated that all these extra checks will take less than a minute, without a large investment in additional equipment. Presently the test is zero rated for VAT, now what's the betting that government will be looking to add VAT to it?

All new cars with HID lights MUST have washers and auto-levelling, and it must work.

I presume (2011) Yetis with bi-xenons (that's HID I believe?) have both of these? The brochure mentions "dynamic angle control", not sure if that's it or not?

I presume (2011) Yetis with bi-xenons (that's HID I believe?) have both of these? The brochure mentions "dynamic angle control", not sure if that's it or not?

Yes they do.

DAC is the headlights turning slightly below a certain speed as you turn the steering wheel.

Yes they do.

Good, thanks! I was starting to worry for a minute there ...

DAC is the headlights turning slightly below a certain speed as you turn the steering wheel.

The brochure mentions "cornering function" (CF) as well as DAC - I was assuming that CF was the "point 'em around the corner" bit.

Yes they do.

DAC is the headlights turning slightly below a certain speed as you turn the steering wheel.

It is actually ABOVE a certain speed - 19mph if memory serves. At speeds below that the Xenons do not turn.

My apologies Johann.

Just curious - how/when do they do the levelling? Continuously? After the car is started? Whenever a door is closed? And how is it done?

Presumably a new headlight unit costs an-arm-and-a-leg!

I think some cars just do it on start up and some do it on the go. The headlights cost a lot in some cases, but not due to the levelling, its only the same motor that all headlights have in them in most cases.

I think the Regulations now insist on the levelling being continuous, so there is a sensor on the rear suspension linked to the motor on the headlight units.

My brother in law has a 5 litre dodge ram imported from the states and his engine management light is on all the time due to different octain in UK petrol rather than the fuel in the states so how will he get on. He has had it checked and this is the cause.

The new MOT rules are going to create some problems.

Is there really such a difference between US and UK fuels, would have though that 95 to 99 RON fuel would be fairly standard. Do they still use leaded fuel over there?

Does a warning light constitue a fail or an advisory note? Given the sensitivity of various cars ecu's as you say there will be a lot of issues if it an auto fail and probably just end up with people removing bulbs!

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...

An update for diesel owners with decat.

A customer's TDi failed the MOT with catalytic convertor not present.

VT17 submitted, VOSA retest done - ruled an 'invalid fail', so VOSA agrees with Fordfan's interpretation.

Good to know for two reasons:

Firstly, I've agreed with Fordfan since finding out about the final wording (bought a cat while the wording was less defined and one was available second-hand but may sell it on now) so I very much enjoy being proved right

Secondly, I keep reading in various places that for the first three months, these new rules for airbags, EML, cats etc wouldn't cause a fail but simply be listed as advisories (whereas last year they wouldn't be mentioned at all). I think devonutopia was banking on that 3-month grace to give him an extra year grace to make these changes (as was I, to a point). Interesting that your customer was actually given a failure sheet for it and had to appeal against the refusal to grant an MOT certificate (I assume that's what a VT17 is, I haven't come across one before).

Good to know for two reasons:

Firstly, I've agreed with Fordfan since finding out about the final wording (bought a cat while the wording was less defined and one was available second-hand but may sell it on now) so I very much enjoy being proved right

Secondly, I keep reading in various places that for the first three months, these new rules for airbags, EML, cats etc wouldn't cause a fail but simply be listed as advisories (whereas last year they wouldn't be mentioned at all). I think devonutopia was banking on that 3-month grace to give him an extra year grace to make these changes (as was I, to a point). Interesting that your customer was actually given a failure sheet for it and had to appeal against the refusal to grant an MOT certificate (I assume that's what a VT17 is, I haven't come across one before).

VT17 is the form used to appeal against a failed test result.

I should add that the VOSA retest certificate did not include an advisory for the missing cat - it was a clean pass.

Oh yeah, as I would expect. It shouldn't be part of the test for a diesel anyway. However, what I would have expected is that it showed on his original certificate as an advisory (due to the "3 months grace" I keep reading about) which was then appealed, rather than a straight out failure. This suggests that the 3 month grace period is actually just more Internet hearsay.

Do the new MOT rules bring us into line with France? Test every 2 years.

12 months still I think.

How do they check for a cat? Visually? Could you not just gut one, and put it back in again if you were desperate to not have one?

It'll fail emissions test then though I guess? :-/

I read the new MOT rules recently and as far as i can see CAT's only relate to Petrol cars.Even if the CAT relates to Diesel which i am pretty sure it doesn't it could only be visual inspection,so no way to know if the Ceramic block has been smashed up and removed leaving just the empty shell.

Yep, indeed. A friend of mine just had that done on his TDI for that very reason, it's only a visual check.

Obviously I was referring to petrol cars

It'll fail emissions test then though I guess? :-/

Ah, fair point that. Maybe a quick swappable cat would be better then, held in with a few bolts?

VOSA has extended the 'bedding in period' for the new checks in the MOT. Make sure that your garage has read this!

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Special%20Notice%203-12.pdf

My garage 'failed' my Octavia as the SRS light was on - Brought the last two special notices from VOSA to their attention and they passed it!

Failures cause by anything listed in Annex B are still only advisory.