MOT Testing Variation

[rikrobson]

So the Puma needed its MOT and it failed a few weeks ago. I couldn't get the work done in the retest time, so I knew it would need a full test instead of a re-test. I did all the work, welding in the rear sills, fettling of the rear brakes, a new nearside wheel bearing and new strut top cushions all round.
Today was the second test and if failed on the rear offside wheel bearing and none of the work that I'd done. I had a spare bearingand fitted it, but Why did this not fail on the first test? The car had only done 10 miles. 3 miles each way to the test and back an a test round the airport. If this had been on the original I'd have changed it. The bearing were only a year old an must have been a poor chinesium alloy. the outer races were a wee bit pitted
SWMBO kicks up a stushy in the garage.
The manager starts saying things like "oh, you must have drivenit" forgerting that the mileage is recorded. Doh. So the retest is free.

Also on the original was front inner sills rusted, but they were not!!! I suspect the original tester didn't know his front from rear or his offside from nearside.

 

[rambo]

Because the test is carried out by a human.

 

[brightspark]

u could take it to 4 different testers and all come up with different results

 

[moose]

Agree with brightspark, but would add it is the testers interpretation of the rules.

 

[rikrobson]

Well its a good job that a different tester did the retest and found the slightly dodgy bearing.

 

[RonA]

Had a similar experience with a local garage years ago.
Repaired all the faults & then on second test said the ROS tyre wasn't upto standard. Complicated faults I can see might be missed but something as basic as missing a faulty tyre, come on.
Needless to say I kicked that garage into touch & heard a few years later they lost their MOT licence.
RonA

 

[brightspark]

a garage near us used to test , little bills they were called and charged less than others for a test a lot failed on brake pipes and they replaced them someone went round the back and there was a pile of old brake pipes that were passable

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I recently had my Smart fail, on a couple of other minor items, "brake pads under 1.5mm". I'd got a set of new pads "in stock" so fitted them but tester was wrong - all pads had at least 5mm of material left !

 

[doubleboost]

I recently had my Smart fail, on a couple of other minor items, "brake pads under 1.5mm". I'd got a set of new pads "in stock" so fitted them but tester was wrong - all pads had at least 5mm of material left !

Unless the pads are running steel to steel (cast iron) It is always a pass and advise you just can not see that well

 

[Paul.]

Some years ago my granada failed on excessive play in the inner steering rack ball joints, I couldn't feel any play so I just wiped round the gaiters so they looked as if they had been off, took it back the next day and the same tester passed it,

 

[doubleboost]

I never like failing a car
Most of my testing is on cars that i look after
On thing that anoys me is a car presented for test with a empty washer bottle
I just top them up but issue a PRS fail repaired at station
The interior like a tip
Seat belts burried in dog hair under the rear seat
Would you go to the dentist with out cleaning your teeth

 

[rikrobson]

It was a well known high street brand. they have changed there staff in the local branch. they are a few doors down from the old workshop and used to be pro active in the customer care dept. They were help full and knowlegeable, but it looks like the staff have changed for the worst and they are now like their old reputation. Surprised there wasn't any wd40 on the shocks.
I used to be on chatting terms with the guys that worked there and when we got an MOT they knew that I did the work. We didn't get many fails at all.

Buy the way How orange do the indicators need to be? It seems that if they are not Dundee United Tangerine than is an advisory or fail

 

[bricol]

I'm still amused by a tale a colleague had - took his sierra (that long ago ;-) ) for MOT at a well known fast change operation - it failed on leaky shocks . . .all of 'em. Go ahead, change 'em. So they did, it passed. They resented the bill. He presented the 2 year warranty on shocks for the ones the same place fitted the year before . . . ;-)

 

[rtbcomp]

I had an old Riley in for test, after the test run the guy said "That's OK it's passed" and pulled the handbrake on, the cable snapped and it came away in his hand. "I can't pass it now" he said, "But you've already passed it" I said. "Oh, OK then" and gave me the ticket!

 

[Wallace]

My Father had a failure on a steering ball joint but couldn't find any play in it. He took the joint off, painted it, shoe polished the rubber boot and it passed!

 

[V6BOY]

Ive heard many tales down the years screwdrivers through CV boots ect, that's why it's very hard to trust outfits you don't know.

 

[rikrobson]

They are in bridgend in perth. That will narrow it down

 

[bricol]

prob same chain told my mum the same, she said to the bloke "that'll be free then"
Why would we do it for free?
"You fitted them last month"
Oh maybe they aren't as bad as I first thought..

Exactly what crossed his mind when he authorised the change ;-)