Hi, I think I've had my MOT done by the fussiest tester in the world! Never had so many reasons to fail before! Daft thing is that the same test centre didn't have a problem with some of the things (Which haven't changed!) last year, or the year before! I it worth mentioning to them? No. plate has had a crack in it since I bought the truck, same place passed it twice before. Also wipers parking too high and my rear number plate light (is a single, theey now want a double) I know they are little things, is it worth bringing it up or just fix them and shut up??

IIRC new rules came into play earlier this year.

If you've converted from Cube to Pickup, did you get a Caddy/Felicia tailgate? If so, it should have two lights anyway. It not, should only take 10 minutes to wire in a 2nd one.

Wipers parking too high: two minutes with a socket should sort that one.

Probably quicker to fix than complain.

At least they're little things too

I wish it was just these trivial things it had failed on, got plenty to keep me busy tomorrow! I don't have a tailgate, just a net I made from some old seatbelts. My no plate is on a piece of sheet steel under the bumper, I only ever put one lamp on and then put it in for an MOT, which it passed twice, disgruntled this time. It also failed on the fact that my tax disc overlapped the swept area of the windscreen by 40mm!

In Poland where I live in, those ridiculous 'failures' mean only one thing: the inspector is too constipated and needs to be greased... with money, not vaseline, although some inspectors deserve the latter and an additional tailpipe suppository.

It also failed on the fact that my tax disc overlapped the swept area of the windscreen by 40mm!

**** me!

Have just been and looked at the cars outside. All of them have part of the tax disc in the swept area. The Honda Shuttle has the symmetric wipers and the whole of the tax disc is in the swpet area. My Octavia has 75% in the swept area. I can honestly say that this is a novel failure given that several cars (like the Honda Shuttle) use a wiper pattern that would mean that the tax disc would be displayed in contravention of the MOT reg. Especially given that the best practice is to display the disc "clean" so the numpty traffic wardens can't claim it was obscured.

If memory serves, FordFan has an in-depth knowledge of the UK MOT system. Give him a PM and see if he'll lend an informed opinion.

Tax disc in the swept area, make a complaint and get the tester to read the manual. It specifically states:

‘Official’ stickers that are not readily removable, such as vehicle licences, parking and access permits, are only a reason for rejection if they seriously restrict the driver’s view. ‘Official’ stickers should be taken to be any sticker that is used in connection with ‘road enforcement’, ‘security’ or ‘crime prevention’ matters

And remember, it's Drivers View Of The Road, so if it's high up or low down in the screen in the swept area or not, it's not necessarily a fail.

you have a funny mot tester there mate what a c**k. my tax is in the swept area and has been all its life he needs to read his MOT book and having 1 number plate light is a pass and my car goes throw mot with a engine mount bolts all the way throw chassis leg as i had no captive nuts in mine

**** me!

Have just been and looked at the cars outside. All of them have part of the tax disc in the swept area. The Honda Shuttle has the symmetric wipers and the whole of the tax disc is in the swpet area. My Octavia has 75% in the swept area. I can honestly say that this is a novel failure given that several cars (like the Honda Shuttle) use a wiper pattern that would mean that the tax disc would be displayed in contravention of the MOT reg. Especially given that the best practice is to display the disc "clean" so the numpty traffic wardens can't claim it was obscured.

If memory serves, FordFan has an in-depth knowledge of the UK MOT system. Give him a PM and see if he'll lend an informed opinion.

^ + 1. Thanks to Fordfan for the related information. Mine would fail on the 40mm criteria but glad to say never has! I'll be holding my breath in March as it's a big job moving that holder

Just a tax disc obstructing the view, what are they worried about? - Here in Ireland cars have a disc holder with not one but three sections. One for displaying road tax, one for insurance and the other for the NCT (MOT).

I have had several quotes for moving the tax disc, I might try and do it myself though. Hopefully there is a section in the haynes manual?

They are having a laugh with you mate. You could report them to VOSA but it's a lot of hassle. As said above, tax disc can be anywhere on the screen, the number plate has to be easily misread from a distance before it fails and it only needs to have two number plate lights if it's fitted with two lamps. Although if there is a hole where the second lamp is missing? That would fail. Not sure on the wipers without checking the manual but I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's not a fail either.

I have had several quotes for moving the tax disc, I might try and do it myself though. Hopefully there is a section in the haynes manual?

Sorry? We are talking about that 3-inch thing that has the date in large numbers across it, aren't we?

Peel it off and spend a couple of quid at Halfords for a new one.

Sorry? We are talking about that 3-inch thing that has the date in large numbers across it, aren't we?

I think that may have been a joke.. made me laugh anyway.

I think that may have been a joke.. made me laugh anyway.

Yes indeed

Could be a cue for a best seller ' daftest MOT failures', a tale of cautionary woe

I've got three discs in my window.

Tax disc, NHS parking permit and a German Umwelt zone sticker.

I think they are all well within the windscreen area.

I am gonna be really annoyed if they have to be moved come MOT time as for a start the Umwelt Zone sticker is self adhesive and removing it destroys it so it can't be transferred!

Phil

Well the truck passed, hooray! Funny though how it passed on one thing on the retest which was a failure, even though I didn't do anything! The suspension strut was loose at the top on the nearside (there is a small amount of play as the truck has lowering springs) It was exactly the same as the offside strut, which wasn't even an advisory. I just left it and was going to question it if there was a problem, but it was clearly 're-tested' and it passed!

I had an advisory one year on my exhaust. It stated "heatshield corroded" . Strange that Fabia don't have a heatshield. Not so long ago ,I had a bit of the rear box ( where "heatshield" was) come loose. Took it to tyre & exhaust place to be told that it was (as on most VAG) a double skinned box. So was MOT man covering his ass ,or trying it on ?

Had another one where a tyre was reported as having a nail in it . Week later, took off tyre to check rear brakes. Surprise ,surprise -no nail in that tyre.But spare had a screw in it. OK- so what. Strange that -as spare had gone straight in boot after fitting and had never been used. Like the ad- "You can't get............."

Edited 6 November, 201213 yr by VWD

Well the truck passed, hooray! Funny though how it passed on one thing on the retest which was a failure, even though I didn't do anything! The suspension strut was loose at the top on the nearside (there is a small amount of play as the truck has lowering springs) It was exactly the same as the offside strut, which wasn't even an advisory. I just left it and was going to question it if there was a problem, but it was clearly 're-tested' and it passed!

Hoorah! :)

What did you "fix" that was on the failure list from last time?

Was it the same tester?