[fsurfer]

A good friend of mine is a MOT tester and he was telling me about proposed changes that effect modified cars, as we know MOT pass or fail is down to the tester, some nationwide outlets we shouldn't go to etc that have an agenda to rip off the motorist.

What he mentioned from the update sheets he has had to date, that may or may not be included which at the moment is down to discretion was lowered cars - arch clearance...camber...toe, wide wheels even remaps..how they could possibly check or even know was beyond him.

[Leeky]

The ironic thing here is it isn't really down to the tester at all. Its whether it meets the MOT regulations or not - An MOT tester should show no bias to any car, its purely whether it meets the minimum requirements or not.

The testers personal feelings shouldn't come into it.

[flatbeat]

some of the new things are daft but i can under stand some of them

[ASTOBBS]

wonder what they make of home welded exhausts, welded engine stabilizers, no CATs, two pieces of element wire emulating lambda sensors, and a sheet of aluminium for an air box?

They would have a field say with me.

[flatbeat]

with the exhausts as long as its done right it should be ok the wiring must be secure safe and away from moving parts but for the current mot you need to have a cat

[Leeky]

No you don't - Its a common misconception.

You are required to pass the emissions test based on the engine design of your car, but having a cat or not is not a requirement of the MOT. They cannot fail you if you pass the emissions test without having a cat fitted.

You can be failed for failing the emissions because the cat is not lowering them though. But thats the emissions failing the MOT, not the argument about whether a cat is fitted or not.

Any MOT tester failing an MOT purely on the grounds of not having a cat, even with correct emissions results should be reported to the Ministry.

Taken from the MOT manual (reasons for rejection):

7.1 Exhaust System
1.
a. A part of the system missing or excessively deteriorated

b. an exhaust system not adequately supported.

Note: An alternative mounting device is acceptable providing the system is secure and the fixing is not likely to fail prematurely-

2.
a. A major leak of exhaust gases from any part of the system

Note: A minor exhaust leak from, for example, a connection joint or a pin hole, is not a Reason for Rejection

b. a silencer in such condition, or of such a type, that the noise emitted from the vehicle is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a silencer in average condition.

7.3 Exhaust emissions - Spark ignition CAT test

1. The emissions cannot be measured because a tailpipe accessory is fitted which prevents insertion of the analyser probe.

2.
a. The engine idle speed is clearly above he vehicle specific limit.

Note: If the engine speed is clearly above the vehicle specific limit and this can be easily adjusted, a tester may perform the adjustment and complete the test - the adjustment is not, however, part of the MOT test.

b. In the 2nd fast idle test, one or more of the following exceeds the vehicle specific or default limits continuously for the last 5 seconds of the 30 second countdown"
. Carbon monoxide (CO)
. Hydrocarbons (HC)
. Lambda (l)

c. In the idle test. the following gas exceeds the vehicle specific or default limit continuously for the last 5 seconds of the 30 second countdown:
. Carbon monoxide (CO).

The inspection of, and consequent failure of an MOT based on a CAT being fitted is not part of the MOT. Therefore an MOT tester cannot fail the car because it doesn't have one fitted. It can only be failed IF the emissions are above the maximum allowable readings.

P.S. You cannot make up reasons as an MOT tester to fail a car. If the item isn't on the specific list for failure reasons it cannot be failed. It doesn't mattery what the tester thinks, the whole point of the Manual is to make sure every single vehicle is tested to identical and repeatable standards. Think of the testers as robots, testing only what the manual says. Robots wouldn't care about anything else, and neither should the testers. Your paying as a customer to have your car certified as fit for road use as defined by the Ministry's test standards. Nothing less, nothing more.

[fsurfer]

I agree .... however it's open to interpretation and there is leeway, I know at the garage I regularly go to one tester will advise and pass, the other will just fail, corroded brake pipes a good example one tester wire brushed and coated my rear pipes and mentioned the corrosion to me, the other would have just failed.
I've been to a garage who ere going to fail my car on the Lexus Lights even though I had 3 mot certificates from previous years, the receipts etc....because the MOT tester was new and didn't fully understand the regulations.

Had my battery changed at Kuik-fit and they said I needed 4 tyres, I couldn't take the vehicle - I checked...they still refused I called the Bill and they agreed with me - they wanted to con & screw the customer.

As for cone filters, heat shields, cats etc its down to emissions as Lee said and if the car is for the US where the regulations are tighter many of the manufacturers devices can be removed I know of 3 Hummers without cats.

[matt-m]

My red vec failed on the front indicators not being orange enough but got a advisor for the rear antiroll bar bushes for 3 years ? All I did was smack them with a lump hammer every year and also my exhaust was too noisy

[fsurfer]

My exhaust has a really deep sound and in a garage things vibrate murder at night as it sets car alarms off - gonna miss the induction roar

I got caught one year with one of the number plate bulb cost me £5, this year I checked everything...glad i did as the holder had corroded again - bad design, then as I was driving off the ramp a rear spring broke cost me £200

[matt-m]

An mot tester cannot fail your car for having a noisy exhaust only vosa / police can but have to use a decible meet to check it had a rs turbo with straight through turbo back system used to spit flame an stuff it recorded 94db the limit if I'm correct is 97db