MOT Today.

D1CKL

D1CKL

Well-known user
Mar 16, 2009
2,726
1,625
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Well, it's that time of year again. Stuck the Cat into the garage today at 08.30am for it's Anual Inspection. Not really expecting anything to be wrong with it as I have just covered 6K miles driving through Europe on my recent holiday, but, you never know.
I have also got them to stick on the big brake upgrade to the front - ST Discs and Mondeo calipers as well as new braided hoses all round.
It's now 1.30pm and so far no phone calls. Here's hoping!
 
Well, got the dreaded phone call to say that my car has FAILED.

Both front wishbone ball joints have play in them because the rubber caps have splits in them and dirt and water has ingressed. Those were brand new wishbones that I fitted last year. Either I have split the rubbers when fitting them or they are just crap. Fortunately I had two replacement ball joints laying in the garage that I was going to use last year before discovering that my wishbones were shot.

Kevin also told me that it failed on the high level brake light. I have one of Al's brake light masks fitted and it does not allow 50% of the light through, so, he is going to rip that off.

He also explained to me that as from next year my HID headlights will also be a fail. All vehicles with HID's fitted should be adjustable from outside the car i.e. sensors on the front dampers that lower the beams when the car goes over a bump and they also require headlight washers.

All in all not too bad for an eleven year old car.
 
Well, at least it's not too bad Dick, and a contradictary bonus with you having the spare ball joints ready to use, which really you shouldn't be considering for a long while yet. Might be worth complaining to the supplier?
Which brakelight mask was yours Dick?
 
Sorry to hear the news Dick, although isn't too bad except for the wishbones, they should have lasted a hell of a lot longer than that! As for the 3rd brake light - think it's down to the individual MOT tester. Mine went through 2 months ago and nothing was mentioned about my brake light mask and I have Al's "'Cougar" one on. Anyway, I'm sure with your chap ripping it off, that there will be another to replace it shortly after you have an MOT pass ;-)
 
Pid_16V said:
Well, at least it's not too bad Dick, and a contradictary bonus with you having the spare ball joints ready to use, which really you shouldn't be considering for a long while yet. Might be worth complaining to the supplier?
Which brakelight mask was yours Dick?
Click to expand...

The wishbones were the ones I purchased from the States and it was probably me that caused the splits in the rubber cups when I was fitting them. The brake light mask was the Cougar one.
 
D1CKL said:
The wishbones were the ones I purchased from the States and it was probably me that caused the splits in the rubber cups when I was fitting them. The brake light mask was the Cougar one.
Click to expand...

The \COUGAR/ brake masks i do now are usually Ariel BOLD font unless different is specified, which cuts out more vinyl than is left behind :- more than half the brake light is visible at all times.
 
I think these MOTer's make it up as they go along :oops: Mine's passed the last three with this SPRAYED on by Alan and i'm dammed sure there aint 50% light comming out of it
WindowSticker006-1.jpg
 
It is in the new rules for the MOT, just depends who's doing the testing I suppose. A copper with nothing better to do can tug you for it though. The HIDs are not road legal either as mentioned as the Cougar doesn't have self levelling sensors on the front suspension. Hence why I didn't go down the HID route.
 
Well, that's it all sorted out now and another 12 month ticket. I gave Kevin the two balljoints that I got off eBay a couple of years ago for around a tenner each and he ground off the old ones. I now have bolted on balljoints which will be a lot easier to change in future if required. I also have the ST220 brake upgrade fitted with new braided hoses. 200 quid for the lot including MOT. I'm happy with that.

John, the HID's are still legal at the moment, it is next year before that ruling comes in.
 
Ali we posted at the same time, strictly speaking yes, have a read through the AA page above its quite informative.
 
Just read the AA article, as far as I can see these new rules started 1st January 2012, so should I have not got at least an advisory for having HIDs fitted when I got MOT'ed in June ?
 
Yep, our Matiz passed in April with its airbag light on too, no doubt it'll tighten up soon enough though.
 
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