Astra MOT

Post by **alanworland** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:42 pm

Took the Astra (work vehicle) for an MOT yesterday.
I could see the tester inside wrigling everything, lights coming on, going off, hooter hooting, wipers wiping - with and without squirt.
Then, his hand came out the window and he was trying the outside door handle, then his hand came out again with the key, key went in the lock and was being twisted to lock/unlock with and without handle operation - I thought to myself that there must be a new requirement in the test which checks the operation of door locks.
Then I could see him reach across unlock and open the nearside door, he then proceeds to climb over the central console and exits via the passenger door? (big chap he was too!)
Anyway it appears that 'somehow' he has broken the door lock, and the door can't be opened from inside or outside!
The best bit was he nearly failed it because the door didn't open and shut properly!!!

Post by **PSL184** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:03 pm

It should fail if the door cannot be opened on safety grounds. If you can prove the tester broke it then you could get the garage to fix it but it would be difficult to prove it wasn't just an unlucky coincidence....

Post by **alanworland** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:14 pm

He had already been in the car opening and closing the door so it was known to work - unlucky is the word I used!
It turned out that the weather shield fot the lock mechanism had come unclipped from its mounting and was stopping proper lock/handle, nothing that a bit of swearing couldn't fix in the hot sun!

Post by **PSL184** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:13 am

Hahaha - Good one ;-)

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:09 pm

you were lucky to pass the test - that should have failed!
It's certainly annoying when a garage damages your car but if it's something on the car that failed then just be glad you didn't have to fix it and then pay for a retest!

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:04 pm

I was! I was so glad!!!

Post by **ASL642** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:32 pm

If that's how they act I think I'd look for another testing station next time

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:06 pm

To be fair, I think it was just unlucky he seemed to do a thorough job, and he is restoring a 1953 Anglia!

Post by **bigjohn** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:21 am

took the farther in laws pug 306 for mot last week, he failed it on the rear door not opening because it was locked and he couldnt unlock because the knob inside the car was missing, he was going to tell me to take it away and fix it then bring back for retest! but quick as a flash the missing button was in the glove box so i put back on and unlocked it,showed him and he said ok i will pass!! as soon as i got home the button fell off again! farther in law says he uses the long nose pliers in the centre consol.
but it just goes to show a lot of the mot places try and make a little bit more from honest customers,thats my view anyway

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:50 pm

as soon as i got home the button fell off again!

not being able to unlock the door to get out of the car in an emergency - that's why it's an MOT fail. I'd say it was more of an owner trying to cut corners (don't we all on occassion..) than a test station trying to make money.

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:20 pm

Except, being a rear door its not part of the requirements....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:08 pm

Except, being a rear door its not part of the requirements....

if it's not part of the requirements it's impossible for them to fail it on the computer...
The opposite applies also - if the failure point is not listed oon the puter they have to pass it.

Post by **paulk** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:33 pm

Talking of which have they got Traveller woodwork as a fail on the computer yet? Or does it come under general structure?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:09 pm

Talking of which have they got Traveller woodwork as a fail on the computer yet? Or does it come under general structure?

I was lucky enough that the wood on my 55 traveller was very good! I have to say that apart from its rarity and the amusing SII wipers I've not really missed the Traveller! Maybe it was doing 60+ on windy small roads with no seatbelts that made me think I'd be better off without it!

Post by **MarkyB** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:58 pm

If the wood isn't on the computer now I doubt it ever will be.
I do wonder quite how structural the wood actually is as it used to be quite common to see travellers with horribly rotten bodged up wood and probably similar underneath and they didn't seem to break in half.

Post by **phurn** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:08 pm

see! thats wh a good garage is worth its weight in sold. i found an amzing mechanic near me, cant do enough for you, even fixes those niggly things that would fail an mot with no extra charge, whether its mot time or not. last time my step dad went there to replace the radiator, and while he was at it he changed the tyres back to front for more even wear, adjusted the clutch and adjusted the hand break. guy just loves cars.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:29 pm

didn't seem to break in half

It really is structural! Yes the rest of the floor and the long box sections from sill along rear wheel arches do make the floor much stronger - as long as they aren't rotten too!