Morris Minor Owners Club

Drivewasher is probably the man for this question but if anyone knows the answer for sure do chip in.

Does the fog lamp switch have to illuminate to warn of fog lights being on to pass an MoT?

Or can you have a plain switch and seperate plain warning lamp which tells you when they are on?

My set up is the latter and have been told the switch itself must carry a warning lamp.

Clarification much appreciated.

? you need a warning but it doesn't matter where it is ,on or off the switch

modern cars do not have it together

There is no reason for it to be tested all, since it is not compulsory to fit a rear fog light on a Minor
My rear fog light has a warning light built into the switch simply because it takes up less space. The feed is also from the side light circuit so that it switches off with the lights

If you have a rear fog warning lamp (the most useless thing on any car, next only to a vacuum gauge) then it must work and have a warning lamp somewhere the driver can see!

Modern cars usually have a switch somewhere, and a warning light on the dash. So I can't see why your car should be any different... unless for the light to be separate it has to illuminate a fog light symbol?

mike.perry wrote:There is no reason for it to be tested all, since it is not compulsory to fit a rear fog light on a Minor

Surely if it's fitted, it has to be up to standard?

Fog lights and MOT requirements have been discussed in a recent thread. Fog lights are only tested if they are mandatory eg fitted to vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1980.

See thread here, including comments from MOT tester drivewasher:

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... t&start=15

Roy - you seem to be saying different things in different threads

bmcecosse wrote:In theory the earlier comment re 'mandatory' lights etc is correct - they only NEED to work if they are 'mandatory' for that car/year.

bmcecosse wrote:If you have a rear fog warning lamp (the most useless thing on any car, next only to a vacuum gauge) then it must work and have a warning lamp somewhere the driver can see!

Here’s the relevant section of the MOT testers manual which states that the fog light ‘tell-tale’ warning must be working (if fitted to a car that requires a mandatory fog light) but doesn’t specify the type of warning lamp/switch required or where it should be fitted :

http://www.ukmot.com/1-1.asp

I just want to know how to get the twits to turn them off when not needed (needed once in a blue moon !)

lambrettalad wrote:I just want to know how to get the twits to turn them off when not needed (needed once in a blue moon !)

Whats needed there is a recorded warning that plays to alert the driver it could also double up for when people are using mobiles ilegially in the car too

I believe the 'flash' function on main beam serves as a useful warning to other motorists about their misuse of fog lights, main beam, indicators, and mobile phones

here's the proper & updated manual from VOSA

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4i00000101.htm

A rear fog is only mandatory from 1st April 1980 So it shouldn't even be tested as it's not required.

The description of the dash light you mean is a "TELE-TALE" it can be either inside or with the switch or seperate in the binacle or even one fitted to the dash. As long as the drive can see the rear fog is on. ROFL.... Not that anyone ever looks to see!!


Hey we should call them RRD's ..... Rear, Red Dazzlers and only to be used in rain!!!!!!

Doesn't matter if the warning light is on the switch or seperate on the dash, but it must be clearly visable from the driving position to be seen. Continuing on about legal or not. Under MoT regs it is correct that if they are a mandatory fitment required by age, then they have to work. But under construction and use regulations vehicle lighting if a vehicle is fitted with auxilary lighting (i e fitted after construction) it must be in full working order. No wonder people get confused and fall foul of these contradicting laws. best advice if fitted and working leave them, if not working and will cost to repair them take them off.

Oh well - I retract! I understood recently that if fitted - it must comply. I removed the one from my TR7 and no one has ever commented on that at MOT time ! Previously they had moaned that it had a slight crack and wasn't red enough...... Removal seemed the best way forward.

If belts are fitted they must comply even if they were not originally fitted pre '64. So I'm surprised this doesn't apply to other post fitted items.

The difference is probably because seatbelts are safety critical items whereas an after-market accessory like a fog lamp isn't.

It's a 'fog warning lamp' that is being discussed - surely a 'safety' item - although more of a bl**dy nuisance than anything else......

I take your point but if the belts were faulty the car wouldn't be any safer if the belts were not there, which indeed they needn't be. In which case it would pass! Of course this view has no bearing on the rules.

There can be a difference between what the book says and what the tester thinks it says, it is unlikely to be popular to point out if the tester is wrong over a small issue like this.
Having everything that's fitted working will give a better impression of being well maintained vehicle, not some old banger you are trying to scrape through the test.

Very well said MarkyB, As once being a boy in blue if an old heap of a banger passed me i'd stop it because of the way it looked giving the wrong impression and might be unfit fot the road, however if an old banger passed me and it looked in good nick then i may have thought twice about stopping it as it gave the what seemed to be the right impression. As Louise is saying if seat belts are fitted (Static or Inertia) they must be in full working order and no signs of damage to webbing, buckle/stalk or mountings, as this is classed as a safety item. They must also comply with BS regulations type approval and if brand new must also comply with E U regulations. As i have said and others if your moggie is fitted with non standard auxilary lighting that is not age requirment standard fitment and is working keep it maintained and leave it fitted, if it's broken (not working) and you have no intention of it ever working take it off. As was said in my previous post about this if you are stopped a for rotine check by the police they can ask you turn your lights on and check them day or night. All items of lighting must be in working order under the Consruction and Use Regulations (Vehicle Lighting).

Thanks for all the replies, it should be OK with a seperate tell-tale lamp then.