MOT question - rear seat delete

[Jackimus]

Anybody do MOTs / know a bit about them?

I'm doing a rear seat delete on my little Alfa Romeo Mito and replacing them with a 4-way-stretched platform anchored where they used to be.

I'm hearing conflicting opinions as to whether the remaining rear seat belts and buckles will pose a problem come inspection time, as they no longer have a seat to go with them?

 

[Bobtail4x4]

no seat, nothing to test

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've done this on a few vans. Never had a problem.

 

[Robotstar5]

Take the belts and buckles out and plug the holes with bolts? = nothing to test.

 

[m_c]

IIRC you might get an advisory for them not being present/testable, but that's more to cover the tester should anything be questioned.

 

[Jackimus]

Thanks all, pretty much what I was hoping.

Take the belts and buckles out and plug the holes with bolts? = nothing to test.

That's what I was thinking to do, thankfully the seats had no occupancy sensors to worry about but I didn't want to potentially give myself a fault to deal with by removing the buckles?

Potentially I was just going to lay them flat and hide them under carpet with some insulation.

 

[redlig]

Have always run my Yeti with no rear seats and on the MOT it just read " no seats fitted" Always passed.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Thanks all, pretty much what I was hoping.



That's what I was thinking to do, thankfully the seats had no occupancy sensors to worry about but I didn't want to potentially give myself a fault to deal with by removing the buckles?

Potentially I was just going to lay them flat and hide them under carpet with some insulation.

If they don't have any wires going to them then you won't have any problems taking them out.
If they do have wires they are probably for the air bag system and you'll want to find out the resistor value before messing about with them.

 

[qwakers]

2.2kohm is pretty standard across all airbag systems.

 

[MysterG]

Do run it by your insurance co.
When I removed the rear seats from my Jimny my insurers, Churchill, refused to cover such a modification....

 

[harveyp6]

Do run it by your insurance co.
When I removed the rear seats from my Jimny my insurers, Churchill, refused to cover such a modification....

That just about sums up insurance companies.

 

[doubleboost]

There us a advisory for passenger seat missing at time if test

 

[eddie49]

2.2kohm is pretty standard across all airbag systems.

I think it is 2.2 Ohms, not k Ohms.

 

[Ubique]

2.2kohm is pretty standard across all airbag systems.

2.2 - 2.5 Ohm, not kOhm....

 

[qwakers]

possibly, id have to look it up.

 

[Ubique]

possibly

Definitely! I have a set of test resistors with connectors fitted, nominal value is 2.2-2.4 Ohms, most systems will allow circuit resistance up to 3.2Ohms but anything over 2.7Ohms should be investigated.

 

[bricol]

That just about sums up insurance companies.

Why? Your declared 4/5 seater isn't anymore. Their business model is nice simple stuff. Anything else wastes their time and money. Talk to a modified car broker - when you may well end up with the same insurance company, but the broker has taken the time to take details and pass them on so you are fully legally covered.

 

[6ply]

Do run it by your insurance co.
When I removed the rear seats from my Jimny my insurers, Churchill, refused to cover such a modification....

They probably assumed you'd be using it for carrying additional/unsecured loads. It's a reasonable assumption I'd say.

 

[harveyp6]

Why? Your declared 4/5 seater isn't anymore.

In that case their exposure to risk is less, two occupants instead of five, unless the policyholder still carries passengers without seats, in which case they get what's coming to them.

 

[MysterG]

They probably assumed you'd be using it for carrying additional/unsecured loads. It's a reasonable assumption I'd say.

The new company reduced the premium as less personal injury claims.