car failing MOT

cxx666

Hi, long time reader first time poster here.

2 weeks ago my partners car went in to get its MOT done, and failed on 2 areas. 1 of the problems was a mechanical fault and obviously had to be fixed which was sorted no problem. However the other problem was the fact the car had a sunstrip across the top of the windscreen.

We spoke to a man who we believed was in charge of the dealership, along with somebody from the service department and the mechanic who carried out the test and were told that firstly the sticker was obscuring her view, then that it was stopping the wipers going across the whole windscreen. She was obviously - and understandably - angry as both our cars had passed their MOTs last year with sunstrips on them, albeit mine was at a differnt branch of this praticular group, and she told the various people at the dealership this.

The mechanic said he wasnt going to pass the car untill the sticker was removed, and the man in charge said he was powerless to interfere with an MOT even if he felt it was being unfairly failed. He said he would have it taken off and the only option she had was to put it back on after it had been issued with an MOT certificate. Having got the car back after an unacceptably long time (another story altogether) she discovered it lying on the back seat of the car ready to be put back on, so clearly not everbody was of the same opinion as the mechanic.

My question to you all is has anybody else experienced this problem and what reasons were you given for it being a failure.

I don't mean this to be offensive to anybody but can we please not have any comments on sunstrips being tacky, or boy racer or anything like that, i've heard it all before

and for anybody who doesnt know what a sunstrip is, here is a picture of 1 i pulled off google images.....

[img][/img]http://vinyl-craft.co.uk/ebaypics/sunstrip_tribal.jpg

hewhoisnotintheknow

the line has to be drawn somewhere and the wipers touching it is the line

cxx666

but the problem with that is there is no point in having the sticker on it then. we cant affore to get new ones every year when getting them MOTs done, praticularly as mine was made to order.

it doesnt cause any problems clearing the windows, as you cant see through the stickers anyway, and they only really block out a view of the sky

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

cxx666 wrote: »

Hi, long time reader first time poster here.

2 weeks ago my partners car went in to get its MOT done, and failed on 2 areas. 1 of the problems was a mechanical fault and obviously had to be fixed which was sorted no problem. However the other problem was the fact the car had a sunstrip across the top of the windscreen.

We spoke to a man who we believed was in charge of the dealership, along with somebody from the service department and the mechanic who carried out the test and were told that firstly the sticker was obscuring her view, then that it was stopping the wipers going across the whole windscreen. She was obviously - and understandably - angry as both our cars had passed their MOTs last year with sunstrips on them, albeit mine was at a differnt branch of this praticular group, and she told the various people at the dealership this.

The mechanic said he wasnt going to pass the car untill the sticker was removed, and the man in charge said he was powerless to interfere with an MOT even if he felt it was being unfairly failed. He said he would have it taken off and the only option she had was to put it back on after it had been issued with an MOT certificate. Having got the car back after an unacceptably long time (another story altogether) she discovered it lying on the back seat of the car ready to be put back on, so clearly not everbody was of the same opinion as the mechanic.

My question to you all is has anybody else experienced this problem and what reasons were you given for it being a failure.

I don't mean this to be offensive to anybody but can we please not have any comments on sunstrips being tacky, or boy racer or anything like that, i've heard it all before

and for anybody who doesnt know what a sunstrip is, here is a picture of 1 i pulled off google images.....

[img][/img]http://vinyl-craft.co.uk/ebaypics/sunstrip_tribal.jpg

No its an entirely just fail

The MOT states the windscreen should be free of obstruction and give a full view, in the mechanics opinion it didnt due to the sunstrip, I tend to agree with him

Other garages passing it before is irrelevant

Sunstrips are tacky btw:D

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

cxx666 wrote: »

but the problem with that is there is no point in having the sticker on it then. we cant affore to get new ones every year when getting them MOTs done, praticularly as mine was made to order.

it doesnt cause any problems clearing the windows, as you cant see through the stickers anyway, and they only really block out a view of the sky

So by your own admission they obstruct the views out the windscreen:rolleyes:

cxx666

the stickers are primarily there to block out low level sunlight and don't come down any further than the equivilant of the sun visor. the view of the road is NOT obstructed though.

does nobody have anything constructive to add to this?

anewman

This is interesting as I was considering adding a tasteful one to my car. Hmmm.

stevieboy308

hi mate,

its something along the lines of, the wiper swipe is allowed 10mm overlap from a sun stripe, anymore overlap and its a fail. some testers are going to be more picky than others, so just because it has been passed previous doesn't mean this tester has to pass it. bear in mind that the testers are checked. all MOT's are logged in on the internet as an when they're happening, so its easy for the minerstry to come and inspect a particular vehicle. people have failed due to leaving the sat nav cradle in the windscreen. what you do after the car has passed is up to you.

stevie

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

cxx666 wrote: »

the view of the road is NOT obstructed though.

does nobody have anything constructive to add to this?

I'll add that your a !!!!

I suggest you look up the definition of constructive, but as a hint it doesnt involve the words "agree with me"

weres the benefit to the MOT tester to lie? he didnt charge you for a repair

Either buy a legal tint for the sun or accept you will have to buy more tacky sunscreens every year

cxx666

when i say constructive, i mean has anybody else had this same stupid problem and how did they deal with it. I specifically said.....

"I don't mean this to be offensive to anybody but can we please not have any comments on sunstrips being tacky, or boy racer or anything like that, i've heard it all before"

...and what did you do? replied saying...

"Sunstrips are tacky btw"

now how is that constructive?

hewhoisnotintheknow

if i really wanted a sunstrip i would fit shorter wipers for the mot

why yo need it though as you sais its no deeper than the sunvisors you pull down