MOT Tips & Checklist

[Bidz]

I'll be shortly putting Charlie through my first MOT with her.

Does anyone have any top tips or a list of things they do before taking the car in? I've not done this before with a Minor or any other car, and want to make sure she's fully prepped before even booking the test!

[graham1957]

i would recommend greasing all steering components [ with grease gun], make sure all lights are working, windscreen washers, wipers.remove brake drums and check for brake fluid leaks, back axle hypoid oil leaking on to shoes [this oil has a smell to it]. wash car and hoover out, if it looks like its cared for it might just tip the balance for a pass, also take it to a garage which is used to classic cars. a garage which mainly does modern cars may not know what is acceptable on a minor, some of the testers born in the nineties may never have seen a minor before and would be more inclined to fail if not sure, also keep fingers crossed for the structure as it can be a killer on old cars, hope this helps, let us know the outcome, good luck ,Graham and mac the collie

[panky]

Yep all the above and go around the obvious - lights (including indicators and number plate light), horn, tyres, seat belts - steering rack gaiters are a favourite for splitting. Another thing they are quite keen on is where wires pass through metal panels - they must have a grommet and wires safely secured.
Good luck

[bmcecosse]

Road test and check it pulls up straight - hands off - when you brake hard. The handbrake should lock both rear wheels at 20 mph, and again straight - when you pull it on really hard. Fit new wiper blades - it turns out they are supposed to actually clean the windscreen, To assist this - I do the screen with RainX just before the test - it helps. After the test you can take the new blades off and wrap them up in tissue paper for next year.... Tyres are another favourite - good tread and no sidewall cracks.....and properly blown up of course. Good luck!!

[chesney]

-Adjust up brakes (particularly handbrake).
-Check washer jets are operating properly (prime if necessary) and the wiper blades clear the screen adequately of water.
-Ensure seats are firmly bolted to the floor.
-Remove the headlamp chrome rings, in case the tester needs to realign the headlamp beam.
-Check for 'excessive' oil leakage underneath and (if necessary) mop up any obvious signs of oil leakage.
-Jack up the front wheels and check them for play, and also check the rack gaitors for split/leakage.
-Check horn and lights work.
-Check battery is secure (in a 'proper' fashion).
-Check tyres have adequate tread and have no damage to sidewall, check valves also.
-Make sure doors shut properly, and are secured properly.
-Make sure there are no signs of fuel leakage or anything like that.
-Check exhaust isn't blowing, particularly at the clamp.
-Check dampers for play at the arms, and that the link rods are in good condition.
Might seem a thorough list, but I'm quite thorough with these things (probably why I've yet to get an MOT fail on any of my Minors, despite the fact they generally come to me with little in the way of structure). There are probably things I've missed, best be methodical, and check everything.

[drivewasher]

Don't forget when checking for play in front suspension/trunnions jack the front up by the LOWER arms, because of the torsion bar arrangement.

[Bidz]

PASSED!!

Thank you all so much.

[chesney]

Well done.
Many thanks on getting back to us.

[bmcecosse]

Excellent - well done.

[The vast minority]

PASSED!!

Thank you all so much.

Spectacular,

[irmscher]

Well done