MOT TIP's



TIPS TO HELP YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH THE MOT

The information below will help guide you through many of the relevant inspection points, check them yourself and it could save the aggravation and the additional expense of a re-test. Many of the items covered will seem obvious to many, but you will be surprised how many get caught out.

Lights, check all are working including number plate lamps, rear fog lamp's, reverse light's and, if fitted, front fog/spot lamps. Pay attention to the indicator bulbs, some modern cars have orange bulbs that will over time fade, if they start to show white they will fail. Check for damaged lenses, a broken lamp can allow a white light to be seen, this will also fail the vehicle.

Wiper blades, wiper blades inc rear if fitted, should provide a streak free finish across the screen and no residue should be visible that could obscures the drivers field of vision. Check the screen wash fluid is topped up and the windscreen washers work and are aimed correctly. Remove any air fresheners or fluffy dice hanging from the rear view mirror.

Windscreens, check for chips and scratches on the windscreen, any damage larger than 10mm will fail if in the drivers line of vision, damage larger than 40mm will fail in the rest of the swept area.

Number plates, must be, present and secure, they should not be cracked, faded or obscured, and they must be composed with correctly formed letters and spacing's.

Mirrors, check for broken mirror glass even if only cracked it is an MOT failure. Replacement stick on glasses are available for most vehicles so you don't have to change the complete assembly.

Seat belts, most vehicles after 1965 must have seat belts, all seat belts fitted to any vehicle must be inspected for, security of seat belt mountings, locking stalks, security and operation of the locking/release mechanism, condition of webbing and retraction of the belt.

Tyres, check tyre pressure, tread depth, and general condition, legal minimum tread depth for cars and vans up to 3500kgs gross vehicle weight is 1.6mm, and a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width, throughout the whole of the circumference of the tyre.

Horn, check operation and that it is loud enough.(yes I know!, but check it anyway)

Doors, front doors must be operable from the inside and outside and all must latch securely. Tailgates, boot lids etc. including the tailboards of trucks must be securable in the closed position.

Fuel system, any fuel leak will result in an immediate fail, so check under the bonnet and throughout the run of the fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine. The fuel filler cap must fasten securely and the seal in the cap must not be torn, deteriorated or missing.

Exhaust system and emissions, the exhaust system will fail the MOT if, part of the system is missing or excessively deteriorated, if a mounting is missing or damaged, if there is a major leak or the system is excessively noisy. Emissions are checked using specialized equipment, the details of the check depends on the year that the vehicle was first used on the road. Excessive smoking (checked visually) is a reason for failure. A good recommendation is to use a fuel system cleaner prior to taking the car for the MOT, this will help reduce the CO2 emissions, it will clean the fuel system and help to reduce smoke.

Brakes, anti-lock braking system warning lamp (if fitted) are checked for function and sequence of operation. Sufficient reserve of travel on the footbrake pedal, pedal rubber should not be worn excessively, correct operation of the servo assistance system. Parking brake be it hand or foot operated will be checked for reserve travel, ensuring it does not reach the stops on application, the mounting (s) will also be checked for security and corrosion. Brake discs and drums are checked for condition and contamination, brake back plates, callipers and the securing devices are checked for condition and security. Condition of the brake pads will be checked if visible and the condition of the linkages and cables are checked. The performance of the front and rear brakes and hand brake are checked for efficiency and balance using specialised equipment.

Under bonnet, master cylinder and servo unit are checked for leaks with the engine on and the brakes applied, the servo unit will be checked to ensure it is operating correctly, visible metal and flexible brake pipes will be checked for corrosion, condition, fouling or leaks, and any other metal brake pipes visible beneath the car are checked.

Vehicle structural, body must not be so insecure or displaced that it might lead to loss of control of the vehicle when driven, or be a danger to other road users, there must be no dangerous sharp edges or projections caused by corrosion or damage. A vehicle can fail with excessive corrosion in a prescribed area, within 30cm of certain safety related components, e.g. brakes, steering, suspension, seat belt mountings etc. Excessive corrosion can mean a hole or a significantly weakened structure.

Steering, steering wheel must be in an acceptable condition, steering wheel is securely attached to the steering shaft, upper bearings of the steering column are inspected for wear, steering shaft is checked for end float, and the clamping bolts are checked for security, split pins and locking nuts are checked, play in the steering is checked and all flexible couplings and universal joints are checked. The steering joints are inspected by the tester whilst the steering is loaded by turning the steering wheel from side to side. Power steering systems are checked with the engine running, the security of attachment of the steering rack or steering box is checked both with respect to the tightness of nuts and bolts, and structural cracking or corrosion of the vehicle chassis where it is attached.

This is not an exhaustive list, it does cover many of the main points, we are not liable for any missing information, nor if your vehicle fails its MOT based on part or the whole of this information, it is for guidance only.