Morris Minor Owners Club

How about this one for a cheek then. I took the Moggy for MOT yesterday morning, having checked it over carefully the previous day.

It failed. The problem was that the side and tail lights "were permanently on" and when you switched the headlamps on "the side and tail lamps went off" The guy who tested it said he thought the switch was faulty as when he jiggled it, he could make the lights go on and off. Well he was right, because he had most certainly smashed the switch by pulling it out without turning it.

I decided that I'd change the switch anyway, as even if the fault was in the wiring, he would most certainly jiggle the switch again on a retest to see if he could confuse it and make the lights go off.

Well having got a new switch from Minor Developments close to where I live, I took the old switch out. It was cracked in half. The strange fault was simply due to the loose contacts dangling about and making a connection to the side lights. When you pulled the switch right out, the bit which worked the headlights was still intact, so the headlamps worked but the random connection to the side lights was now broken.

I wonder if the tester will break the new switch on a retest. I wonder how he thought I had started the car that morning with a flat battery , caused by the lights being permanently on, driven to the testing station, then switched the lights off and left the car. The most annoying part is that apart from the wasted time and cost of the switch (which was only £7 by the way) I am now faced with forking out another 40 quid for a retest. As it is, an MOT on a Minor is money for old rope, as the cars are so simple. There are no seat belts, fog lamps, hazzard warning lamps, emmission tests, power steering racks, servos etc etc.

Anyone have any comments?

Regards, Clive.

Oh and p.s When I went to collect the car, the lights were still on. They had not the decency to disconnect the battery to prevent it being flattened. The lights are not fused, so it is no good removing the fuses. Fortunately the battery is good so the car started.

Clive.

I wouldn't have thought you'd need to pay the retest fee if it passed on everything except the faulty switch. You did point out that the switch was working before you left the car with him didn't you? I'd patiently explain how to operate the switch correctly, maybe draw a little diagram too and tape it to the dash. Then go somewhere different next year.

Errm cant they only charge 1/2 the test fee as a retest?

Most half decent places will give you a free retest within 10 (working) days

Advice from the VOSA website:

"What if you disagree with an MOT result?
If you disagree with the test result firstly discuss it with the test station if possible, and do not let anyone carry out repairs to your vehicle.
What if I think it has wrongly failed?
You must complete an appeal form (VT17) obtainable from any MOT testing station or by calling the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), on 0845 600 5977. Completed forms need to be returned to VOSA within 14 working days of the test along with a full test fee. VOSA will then offer an appointment within 5 working days to recheck your vehicle. If your appeal is successful some or all of the test fee will be refunded to you. Do not have your vehicle repaired before your appeal is considered, as any change to your vehicle may affect the outcome of the appeal."

Can you believe it - if you think it has been wrongly failed you have to send them the full test fee! Granted, they may refund some/all of it but it still seems a bit of a cheek!

You should ALWAYS arrange a 'free re-test' with the garage before leaving the car for MOT. If they won't agree - go somewhere else - most sensible places will happily do this.

Free re-tests are extremely rare these days, and with the new system a retest requires more effort than it did previously.
However on the basis that the car wasn't faulty until they played with it, I'd certainly ask for a discount. The test station is under NO OBLIGATION to charge you for the retest, however they are allowed to charge up to the full fee for retesting on most failures.

My place stopped doing free retests within the last year and now charges £20.

Each time I ask at my place - they say OF COURSE you get a free retest! And they don't charge the full fee either - many lads on the Mini forums report the same thing - so they are out there and worth looking for.
This case will be difficult to prove or argue - and if they get their backs up - they may find even more things 'wrong' with the car at a retest. It's possible the switch was on it's 'last legs' and just a slightly rough pull made it disintegrate. Better now to walk away and try somewhere else.

Its a good idea, next time you are at you local branch meeting- to ask where the best local recommended places to get your car MOT'd. I'm not talking about "dodgy"MOT's but a test done by a knowledgable honest, fair tester who knows old cars, particularly Minors. We have negotiated a club discount and free re-test from one place!

The tester told me they like to test Minors because they are so simple the test is an easy job for them