Coming up to MOT time, on the 2ndhand 1.2TSI Yeti I purchased about 8 months ago, I organised a combined service / MOT check with the Skoda dealer that I got the car from.

 

Everything went well, Fabia Estate Diesel as a loan car, but I was disappointed that they were unable to clean the underside as requested for MOT, and it was quite a hike through the rush hour traffic to get to the garage.  Maybe I should revert to my local country garage next time?  Any comments on the value of using the Skoda network?   The car is now 4 years old.

 

I was told that an out of date “air” (puncture repair kit)  is an MOT failure, and so I felt it prudent to buy a replacement.  At just under £50 it really does make getting a proper spare if purchasing the car new a “no brainer” – although they didn’t check the date this time at MOT.

The Emissions tests for CO & HC were a pleasant surprise.  The print out details from the MOT station show that the car could be 100 times “dirtier” than it was and still pass!

 

I was surprised to get a text message from the garage saying “Dont forget to fill in the customer satisfaction survey and if you feel that you can give us top marks in every section, as a thank you, you will be entered into our Amazing draw to win a Harrods Hamper.”

So your entry into the draw depends not just on returning the survey but on giving them a perfect score.  I don’t think I am impressed.

Didn't get a survey form either – and the text message had no “reply” option on my phone!

I have written the garage a letter and we'll see what they say about the "bribery" bit re the survey form.

.

 

Hmmmm, not very impressive I admit.

I was told that an out of date “air” (puncture repair kit)  is an MOT failure, and so I felt it prudent to buy a replacement.

 

Take it out before the test, if it ain't there it can't fail for being out of date!

I was told by the service reception that you had to have some way of dealing with a flat tyre. Either a spare or an in date "air" kit.

Good piece of kit to carry in the boot.

Or on the bike.

And it doesn't go out of date.

 

eBay item number:

E bay

251880964069

Edited 18 March, 201511 yr by Carlo diesel

I was told by the service reception that you had to have some way of dealing with a flat tyre. Either a spare or an in date "air" kit.

This does not sound correct. Your car will not fail an MOT if you do not carry a spare wheel. It would however fail the MOT if you did carry a spare and it was not roadworthy.

The arguement is that in the case of no spare or no gunk you would not be able to put an unroadworthy vehicle back onto the road.

If you did use an out of date gunk, or unroadworthy spare the vehicle could be a danger and that is why the MOT certificate should/would not be issued.

 

Colin

I was surprised to get a text message from the garage saying

“Dont forget to fill in the customer satisfaction survey and if you feel that you can give us top marks in every section, as a thank you, you will be entered into our Amazing draw to win a Harrods Hamper.”

So your entry into the draw depends not just on returning the survey but on giving them a perfect score.  I don’t think I am impressed.

 

If I recieved that it would be the last time I used that garage!

I was told by the service reception that you had to have some way of dealing with a flat tyre. Either a spare or an in date "air" kit.

Ask them to point out which section of the MOT Testers manual covers this point. Say you have all day to wait.

As said above, the MOT would fail if the spare tyre with the car at the time of the test was defective.

Well that's how it used to be but, rules change without us knowing.

As above, ask them to show you their check list. If they say no, ask what are they trying to hide?

You can read the MOT tester's manual here.
 
Note that in the Tyres and road wheels section it opens with:
 

This inspection applies to tyres fitted to the road wheels only.  The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on a spare wheel.

 

Note also no mention of the need to have a flat tyre recovery option, whether it be a spare wheel, can of gloop or the date on said can.

 

Note finally that you can complain about your MOT service.

Edited 19 March, 201511 yr by weasley

Can we all please note that the OP is in Northern Ireland and they appear to have very different rules on their MOT testing.

Can we all please note that the OP is in Northern Ireland and they appear to have very different rules on their MOT testing.

The DVLNI testers manual is here:

 

http://www.doeni.gov.uk/index/information/foi/recent-releases/publications-details.htm?docid=9865

 

Its wording is identical to the DVSA manual that we use, on the tyre section that mentions the spare wheel:

 

DVLNI

 

This inspection applies to:

Tyres fitted to the road wheels only, except in the case of a PSV. The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on a spare wheel. No comment should be made where a spare wheel is not present.

 

DVSA

 

This inspection applies to tyres fitted to the road wheels only.  The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on a spare wheel.

 

Being told that an out of date inflation/repair system, or that a defective spare is a failure is wrong.

Fair observation on the OP's location, I had missed that, but the point still stands.

Take the can of gunge back to the dealer, explain you don't appreciate being mislead, take the £50 refund and put it towards the £150 spare wheel kit they offer to sell you at cost as a gesture of goodwill.

Thanks for the feedback on my post.

 

I know I should have tried Silver's suggestion but I ran out of energy.

 

I just wanted to comment that it is now just under 2 months since I wrote to the dealer about what I thought, and never received a reply by letter, phone, or email - or received a missing customer satisfaction survey to fill in!

 

I must say that, like a lot of Yeti owners, while I don't post much, I really do enjoy reading about "life with a Yeti" on this forum

 

Cheers!

Interesting about the spare from the AA web site. I always thought it was Ok to not have a spare or for it to not be in the carrying positon for it. i.e.you could have it loose in the boot for example.

 

Spare tyre

You don't have to carry a spare and it does not have to comply with the legal requirements while it is stowed away. However, when fitted to the vehicle (for example, following a puncture) it must then comply with the law. The spare is not tested in the MOT but the examiner may draw your attention to an unserviceable item as a matter of courtesy.

 

 

and from motuk.co.uk

Tyres fitted to the road wheels only.  The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on a spare wheel.

Mine's in for its second (30,000 mile) service today. They kept phoning me in the run-up saying that I'd need an airconditioning service, and today phoned to say that the slight smell from the aircon is a definite sign that the aircon service is needed. The price keeps changing too.

 

When I pointed out that it was clearly just a new pollen filter that needed changing the chancer at the dealer said it might be bacteria in the aircon gas. Given that it's still every bit as cold as when new there clearly isn't a leak, so how could I be smelling bacteria in the sealed gas system? And why would it smell exactly like decomposing pollen? They've also said that the brake fluid will need to be changed in 10 months so I should have that done now. Surely I should have that done in 10 months when it needs changing...

And they've just called back, refusing to change the pollen filter unless I pay £75 for a full aircon service. Last time that was £59, and the time before it was £49. What a bunch of scammers.

Hmm. Mine is in on Monday for its second variable service (@ 38K) + first MOT. So far the dealers have been quite good, with several warranty issues sorted without any need to pressure them. Hopefully I'll be back here after the weekend without any complaints.

 

When I pointed out that it was clearly just a new pollen filter that needed changing the chancer at the dealer said it might be bacteria in the aircon gas. Given that it's still every bit as cold as when new there clearly isn't a leak, so how could I be smelling bacteria in the sealed gas system? And why would it smell exactly like decomposing pollen? 

 

To be fair as well as a new pollen filter, you probably need the the system to be disinfected (as you say not the sealed system though!).

 

You can disinfect it yourself easily and cheaply - I have done it on my previous car several times and it certainly works. You need an 'aircon bomb' which is a one shot aerosol. Set the car's aircon on in 'recycle' mode, then fire the aerosol off - leaving it in the car with doors and windows shut for a few minutes (make sure you get out though!). Result - a fresh smelling aircon system.

 

Heres a couple of examples of aircon bombs/cleaners:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Holts-Pro-Tech-Air-Con-Cleaner-150ml-Fresh-Lemon-/281399223683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4184b36583

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Air-conditioning-cleaner-air-con-bomb-one-shot-cleaner-disinfectant-/201093495590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ed21b3b26

 

Jim

Excellent - thank you for the links. Just need to find the filter now.

Pollen filter is a simple DIY job, it's behind the dash, accessed from underneath via the passenger side footwell.

Oh and my local independent do a full aircon service for circa £30. Re-gas & re-oil, plus the anti bacterial stuff.

Plenty of places will do it for FAR less that £75!!

I think what was particularly galling about the £75 was that it was only a week or so ago that they offered me it for £49!

Mine is booked in for its first service in a couple of months. Dealer asked if I wanted to pay extra for the air-con. I told them I had a service and maintenance contract and believed it was included. They agreed and said it will be done at no cost. Let's see what happens.

 

Colin