Discuss..

MOT test for cars
New mandatory test items from 2012

The mot test is changing from january 2012

If you've been happily ignoring a warning light because it's not checked in the MOT you could be facing an MOT failure and an expensive repair bill in 2012 because of changes to the test.

The Department for Transport is adding a number of new mandatory test items to the annual MOT from 1 January 2012 to comply with a revised European testing directive.

The aim of the revised directive (2009/40/EC) is to harmonise minimum test requirements across Europe and make sure the test reflects the electrical/electronic complexity of modern car safety features.

VOSA, the government agency responsible for the MOT, has indicated that 'failures' relating to the new test items will be treated as 'advisories' in the first three months. This means that if you have any of the following problems with your car you've got until the first MOT renewal date after 1 April 2012 to get it fixed.
The main changes from 2012

Electronic parking brake
Electronic parking brake controls are now included and must be present and not inappropriately repaired or modified - repair obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or modification that has seriously weakened the component.

(The 'inappropriately repaired or modified' check is to be applied to a wide range of systems and components throughout the vehicle.)

The car will fail if an Electronic Parking Brake warning lamp is illuminated to indicate a malfunction.

Electronic Stability Control
Checks of antilock brakes will be extended to include Electronic Stability Control if fitted. The tester will check for the presence and correct operation of the ESC malfunction warning light together with looking for obviously missing, excessively damaged or inappropriately repaired or modified components and electrical wiring, as well as an ESC switch missing, insecure or faulty.

Warning lights
As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

Headlight main beam warning light
Electronic power steering warning light
Brake fluid level warning light
Tyre pressure monitoring system warning light
Air bag warning light
Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light

Steering & suspension
The new test includes a check on the presence and correct function of the steering lock where fitted as standard.

Missing, or split/damaged dust covers on steering and suspension ball-joints will result in failure if they will allow dirt to enter the joint.

Power steering fluid level must be above the minimum level indicated on the reservoir.

Lighting
Products on the lens or light source that obviously reduce the light's intensity or change its colour will become a reason for failure – applies to front/rear position lamps, registration plate lamps, stop lamps, rear fog and direction indicators,

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high so car manufacturers must fit headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. A car will fail if a mandatory headlamp cleaning or levelling system is missing, doesn't work or is obviously defective.

Vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID systems must also be fitted with properly working washer and levelling systems.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.


Electrical wiring and battery
An insecure battery will be a reason for failure as will a battery that is leaking electrolyte.

Visible wiring that is insecure, inadequately supported or likely to cause a short will also result in a failure as will wires bared by damaged insulation.

Trailer/caravan electrical socket
There will be a basic security/damage check of 7-pin sockets,

13-pin sockets will be subject to a full electrical connectivity check and incorrectly connected or inoperative circuits will result in failure.

Tyres
Tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 January 2012 must be working correctly and not indicating a malfunction.

Supplementary restraints
The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure.

Seatbelt load limiters that are missing where fitted as standard or folding webbing type limiters that have obviously deployed are also reasons for failure.

The vehicle will also fail if an SRS malfunction light is missing, not working or indicating a fault.

Speedometer
The car will fail if a speedometer is not fitted, is incomplete, inoperative, has a dial glass broken/missing or cannot be illuminated.

Seats
It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions. On electric seats the motors must move the seat fore and aft.

Doors
A rear door that cannot be opened from the outside using the relevant control is a new reason for failure.

Doors must be easy to open and close – hinges, catches and pillars will be inspected.

Towbars
Inappropriate repair or modification to the towbar assembly will be a reason for failure if judged likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer.

Exhaust
A catalytic convertor fitted as original equipment but missing will be a reason for failure.

Fuel system
Damaged or chafed fuel pipes will result in failure.

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Most of it is usual stuff just more in depth

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Nothing in there to bother me.

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Rest in peace Ben "Jam" Elvin. Gone but never forgotten.

No problem to me.

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My only issues..
Steering lock
Airbags warning light (not wired in)
Cat converter

Steering lock will be working when I fit a non airbags wheel, and airbag light redundant.

Cat converter. Get a happy mot station.

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Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

Catch me on Facebook as I'm rarely on here.

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Rest in peace Ben "Jam" Elvin. Gone but never forgotten.

what about this ?

Seats
It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions

Stops fixed base buckets

Yeah thats a concern thats popped up.

I would assume it does stop fixed buckets. Which will be a real pain for some people.

By the looks of it an MOT tester popped up on the thread as usual, saying that he only really knows of these changes on forums and hasn't got anything in stone from VOSA yet.

Also heard that remaps might be part of the list but how on earth they'd do that I would never know and I just don't see that happening.

There is speculation about it just basically over time ruling out modifying a car no exhaust noisier than standard, and all these other things.

Meh, I personally hope nothing happens but its seeming more and more likely

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Remaps is near impossible for them to check, as you say it could go too far but what is posted above isn't too much of a problem.

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I'm sure it only takes plugging into the diagnostics or something like that to check, could be wrong but thats what people have said when people have asked whether or not to declare a remap.

Someone has said something about an MOT magazine they read at work or something now which some of this stuff has been in.

We shall see. Will be interesting as there has been specualation for a couple months now and as it draws nearer there seems to be more and more sensible and believable lists coming up and some actual references to it coming in.

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Quote Ry, Mallory Park, 3rd Dec: "Ahhhh crap... Just a bit too over eager really!"
"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee"

It will affect new cars more than older ones. So nobody on here needs to worry really

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Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

Catch me on Facebook as I'm rarely on here.

Seems to me to be an update to cover newer cars that are starting to get to mot age, which have all this new fancy shiz fitted

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i have a happy mot"er"

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Rest in peace Ben "Jam" Elvin. Gone but never forgotten.

my airbag light started flashing over a year ago si i removed the bulb, done it in my mk4 too

no idea why it flashes but my only inckling is on the back of the drivers airbag it reads expires 2010... didnt imagine my airbag going off like bread...

apart from that none of them bother me, i have to refit my cat for mot's anyway

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Focus should be fine
Si may struggle, the airbag light has been sorted but no airbag present

I didnt know the expire either.

well i think its ballocks myself, only thing i can see expiring is either the bag matrial going stale and being easy to beak (lol like a carrier bag )

or the material that detonates to bag fill


but yea check the back of the bag, should say in the yellow sticker, would explain the light
but where the hell would we get new ones? doubt ford sell the passenger side one lol