General Chat

Cars could be scrapped and drivers hit with expensive repair bills under EU rules starting today, experts warn.

Tougher tests will see previously roadworthy vehicles fail their MOT or be in need of costly repairs.

From today an additional 15 boxes on the MOT checklist will need to be ticked before cars are deemed legal to be on the road.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/385524/Motorists-face-MOT-failures-and-repair-bills-as-EU-imposes-20-tough-safety-checks

I got to EU rules and my head exploded :-D

Glad mine was tested last week cos I didn't expect it to pass :-)

pardon me for being fick, but where does it say what these new checks are?

here is a bit but it says from jan 2012

http://www.newmot.co.uk/

lot more here from march 2013
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/CHANGES%20TO%20THE%20MOT%20TEST%20EFFECTIVE%20FROM%2020%20MARCH%202013.pdf

yeah just found a website that lists essential safety features, and it seems that if its there,from new........ it MUST work!!

I think coloured headlights must conform........

Ie SRS lights, I had a honda civic that had a recurring SRS light fault, the dealer would reset it but when left overnight in a garage,on startup the light wouldn't go out......yet it was ok when I parked up for the night...........

A loose/leaking battery will fail, but dont know if that would apply to corrosion on the terminals/battery leads

seat adjustment must work.........

no oils leaks either.from steering boxes/racks or split dust covers.....

Hmmm Even rear vision/parking cameras are included.........
no mention of the nut thats holding the steering wheel though.............
Bob

Oooer..... mine is being tested as we speak..... :-S :-S :-S

The Daily Express always goes over the top there is little to be worried about.
All that has changed is that where something is fitted then it needs to work.

Specific items that may affect people are:
speedometer has to work
warning lights eg main beam, brake parking light, brake fail light must work
ABS if fitted must work including warning light and switch
battery must be correctly fitted
if a trailer is fitted then light circuits must work, mounting safe

and that's it. Relax.

The only big headaches that I can think of are

(a) Ford Focus - earlier models had a flaky instrument cluster. It is difficult to repair and near impossible to replace as the current one is different.
(b) Rover 25 - the speedo relies on a sensor in the gearbox which has a tendency to fail. Fixing it is a big job - gearbox out.
(c) older Range Rover/Discos/Freelanders tend to have a lot of minor electrical problems while remaining drivable. Fixes are expensive.
(d) Renault Laguna - as for (c)

So maybe we will see fewer old Focus and Rover25s poodlin' down to Tesco.
And a big pay rise for auto electricians :-)

Actually I still see cars on the road that I wonder how they ever passed the test (if they did). But passing the MOT doesn't actually mean that your car is necessarily safe to drive until the next MOT. People seem to think that is the case but it is up to the owner to keep it roadworthy.

having said that Rollo,

cars are too complicated.....manufacturers in their quest for innovation have taken run of the mill repairs out of the hands of driver/owners, I have a picasso and needed to change headlight bulbs, ( yes I DO keep mine upto scratch) found it extremely difficult with arthritic hands or weak wrists........
I had occasion to be driving a fiat ducato van for a while.......and to get at the headlight bulbs had to remove most of the front grill and stuff....

and do we REALLY need things like tyre pressure sensors?

It is not the manufacturer's quest for innovation but legislation by governments that has forced a lot of these changes - tyre pressue sensors are a good example.

Halfords will change bulbs for a few pounds I cannot see the point with mucking about with fiddly fittings.

Renault as I said have a very poor record on their VALEO electrics on all models though the Laguna is the worst. My OH is French and likes Renaults but I drew the line at the Picasso. Currently she has a Twingo. I can just about get into it but not for long trips.

I thought that rule was already in place. Can't bear anymore expense on my car although I have added repairs to my cover with well known motoring organisation. I wonder if that covers repairs for MOT.

Vera

They should include the driver in the test as well!


Mayfield ;-)

I agree there Mayfield.

Carol

LOL, the civic was nice, but like sitting in a deck chair........difficult to get up out of!!

at least i can get in and out now,

yeah I suppose so Rollo, but in all the years I've had decent motors,they've never failed a MOT, as I said I keep on top of things. but its getting harder, the older I get.....I'd be hard pressed to change a spare wheel now,mainly because its stored UNDER the car instead of in the boot.......

wonder if the compressor for the blowup spare wheel (merc comes to mind)comes into these new checks?

LOL.

As you say Bobtanian come cars are hopelessly complicated my Renault needs two hours in the dealers workshop to change a headlamp bulb, non frachise dealers don't want to touch the job! The compete front has to come off the bolts underneath are famed for shearing off from corrosion,and the tyres are an odd (expensive) size too.

Anything to cause us trouble, they never forgave us for Agincourt you know.

Mayfield

if you have abs it must work or it will fail
if your car doesn't have abs it will pass
but they will both stop in the same distance in an emergency

Had a short test drive in a new Volvo V70 last night, although I am looking to buy an older one.
There are so many switches that it would do credit to a commercial airliner.
Nearly burnt my bum as I couldn't find which switch turned the seat heating off !

I had a Renault that needed things stripping off to change front lightbulbs. Hubby has a Citroen that is the same. My current Peugeot is better, but guess what, the 3rd braking light can only be changed by a garage!!

Heaters used to be simple things. Hubby paid £500 for a new aircon compressor last year, now the climate control's gone wrong and puts out no heat one side of the car. The estimate for that is £600, but something else may have gone as well that they can only tell when they strip it down and if so it will be £1200. That isn't franchise prices either.

no mot for pre 1960 vehicles
time to buy up an old banger