Mot fail and advisories

kaylouise

I've just had my 03 Punto in for its MOT and (interim) service.
It failed! The coil springs on the front needed replacing which set me back £88 and got it passed on a re-test. *But* it has a lot of advisories too - two tyres worn close to legal limit, one tyre cracked at edge and has nail in it, oil leak, exhaust gases leaking from exhaust pipe (slightly corroded), new shock absorbers advised, and since they put in the new coils there is a 'popping' noise from the front right wheel when I turn right, which apparantly means I need a new damper too..?
I've already emptied my savings today to get it through MOT and service and the essential work. What would you say is the most urgent of the advisories to get done? I can't afford to get them all done at once, and am looking at a credit union loan (gulp, on a DMP too!!) to be able to afford it all.
I got it in 2006 (second hand, only 15000 miles when I got it) and I've already had a new battery, three (?) new tyres, exhuast pipe fixed (rusted through completely) and front brake discs and pads replaced. Argh! Looking to get rid of it next year when finance is up and can't wait to see the back of it!

iamana1ias

kaylouise wrote: »

I've just had my 03 Punto in for its MOT and (interim) service.
It failed! The coil springs on the front needed replacing which set me back £88 and got it passed on a re-test. *But* it has a lot of advisories too - two tyres worn close to legal limit, one tyre cracked at edge and has nail in it, oil leak, exhaust gases leaking from exhaust pipe (slightly corroded), new shock absorbers advised, and since they put in the new coils there is a 'popping' noise from the front right wheel when I turn right, which apparantly means I need a new damper too..?

I'd be embarrased to put a car in for it's MOT in that state. Tyres should be checked each time you use the car - how the hell can they get in that state without you knowing about it? If the police stopped you you could get 9 points for that!

As for the oil leak, have you not noticed the level dropping or patches under the car where you've moved it?

Please please please don't drive again until you've learned a few basics about car maintenance. You sound like a danger to yourself and other road users :eek:

kaylouise

I *did* check the tyres before I took it in - I also get the garage to check them before I make long journeys, and when I last took it to the garage, they said it was close but would good for a while yet. As they still looked ok to my untrained (and clearly useless) eyes, I wasn't overly concerned as I knew the MOT was due, but didn't expect them to be as bad as the advisory suggests. How the hell was I supposed to know there was a nail in one? Did i drive over it on the way to the garage?
And there has been an advisory on the oil leak every year since I bought the car, and nothing has ever seem to come of it, passing all MOT's and never even mentioned, just a two word note on the advisory.
This is my first car, living away from home and the only one of a few friends who drives, so I'm relying on other people's advice and knowledge to get me through.
Thanks for the encouraging words.

anewman

Oil leak is surprising on a car of this age. It isn't an MOT fail, but bear in mind if enough leaks to move onto and foul the brake discs, it won't end well. I am sure the MOT tester would have mentioned if he thought this was the case in the near future though. Tyres need changing from time to time, you didn't expect them to last forever did you?

Other than the oil leak and broken springs (for which £88 is very reasonable to replace them) all the other things you mention are pretty run of the mill over 4 years. If you find those things a shock and unaffordable, motoring isn't for you I'm afraid as *MUCH* worse and *MUCH* more expensive faults can happen.

Do you get the car serviced? or just wait for the MOT to find anything wrong with it?

iamana1ias

kaylouise wrote: »

I *did* check the tyres before I took it in - I also get the garage to check them before I make long journeys, and when I last took it to the garage, they said it was close but would good for a while yet. As they still looked ok to my untrained (and clearly useless) eyes, I wasn't overly concerned as I knew the MOT was due, but didn't expect them to be as bad as the advisory suggests. How the hell was I supposed to know there was a nail in one? Did i drive over it on the way to the garage?

The lack of tread and splits in the side would have been pretty easy to see. Has the nail not caused the tyre pressure to drop? Do you ever check that yourself (it's recommended weekly)? Had you checked the tyres yourself, like you're meant to, you'd have been able to tell if there were any nails.

kaylouise wrote: »

And there has been an advisory on the oil leak every year since I bought the car, and nothing has ever seem to come of it, passing all MOT's and never even mentioned, just a two word note on the advisory.

Oil leaks don't tend to fix themselves. Like any kind of leak, it gets worse over time.

kaylouise wrote: »

This is my first car, living away from home and the only one of a few friends who drives, so I'm relying on other people's advice and knowledge to get me through.

Absolutely no excuse. You should know this stuff yourself, and if you don't, please learn it now. It might save you money and possibly even save your life.

kaylouise wrote: »

Thanks for the encouraging words.

You're welcome.

kaylouise

anewman wrote: »

Oil leak is surprising on a car of this age. It isn't an MOT fail, but bear in mind if enough leaks to move onto and foul the brake discs, it won't end well. I am sure the MOT tester would have mentioned if he thought this was the case in the near future though. Tyres need changing from time to time, you didn't expect them to last forever did you?

Other than the oil leak and broken springs (for which £88 is very reasonable to replace them) all the other things you mention are pretty run of the mill over 4 years. If you find those things a shock and unaffordable, motoring isn't for you I'm afraid as *MUCH* worse and *MUCH* more expensive faults can happen.

Do you get the car serviced? or just wait for the MOT to find anything wrong with it?

Thanks. This was an MOT and service so they serviced it first, but it has been serviced before. I admit it was probably overdue for a service but not by long though I know that doesn't make it any better.
The oil leak although always on the advisory note has never ever been mentioned by any of the testers, so I thought not too much too worry about. You are probably right though so something to get done when the other jobs get done too.
I know tyres need changing, but am surprised that those two need doing again, doesn't seem so long since they were last done.
I guess the price probably isn't huge compared to some jobs which could get done, and I love having my car; this wouldn't be much of an issue had I been in a better financial position which the last year has sadly left me in.
It's all experience!

iamana1ias wrote:

You should know this stuff yourself, and if you don't, please learn it now.

I am trying to learn, or I wouldn't be asking advice. You have to learn somewhere!
I know how to check the tread (and I assumed I was doing it right), but don't have a gadget to check the pressue and wouldn't know how to use one if I did. No-one has shown me I don't know anyone who could show me. I still can't see the crack (am I looking for something big or what??), and certainly can't see the nail so if you fancy popping round to show me you're quite welcome!! If the nail is at the bottom of the tyre, how would I see it?

iamana1ias wrote:

Like any kind of leak, it gets worse over time.

This I know. My grandad had a slow puncture in his tyre for 6 years.
It can't have gotten much worse or surely it would have become a more important 'advisory', but as I said above, will make a point of getting sorted.

iamana1ias

kaylouise wrote: »

I know tyres need changing, but am surprised that those two need doing again, doesn't seem so long since they were last done.

Were they cheap, by any chance?

kaylouise wrote: »

I am trying to learn, or I wouldn't be asking advice. You have to learn somewhere!
I know how to check the tread (and I assumed I was doing it right), but don't have a gadget to check the pressue and wouldn't know how to use one if I did. No-one has shown me I don't know anyone who could show me.

Pretty much every petrol station has one. I'm fairly sure a member of staff would be happy to show you

kaylouise wrote: »

I still can't see the crack (am I looking for something big or what??), and certainly can't see the nail so if you fancy popping round to show me you're quite welcome!! If the nail is at the bottom of the tyre, how would I see it?

Could be lots of little fractures. The nail wouldn't be at the bottom every time you stopped the car, so at some point during your regular checks you'd find it

https://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/tyre-life-and-age.html

Tyre tread depth can be checked like this

mollycat

iamana1ias wrote: »

I'd be embarrased to put a car in for it's MOT in that state. Tyres should be checked each time you use the car - how the hell can they get in that state without you knowing about it? If the police stopped you you could get 9 points for that!

What, get 9 points for driving with legal tyres which have just passed an MOT? Dont get that one. :rotfl:

As for the oil leak, have you not noticed the level dropping or patches under the car where you've moved it?

May not be patches under car, depends on how much it's leaking! :rotfl:

Please please please don't drive again until you've learned a few basics about car maintenance. You sound like a danger to yourself and other road users.

Sounds like she's quite a responsible road user, has came on this forum to ask things she doesnt know.

Of course Iamanalias again chooses to respond to posts like this in a unhelpfull, aggressive way, not the ethos of the site at all.

To the OP; they are ADVISORIES.....your tyres are close to legal limit but still legal....Im sure you will replace before they come illegal.
The oil leak...up to you; if you cant afford to have it fixed right now, at least check your oil frequently and top up if neccessary.

£88 is pretty decent for an MOT IMO.

Good luck; ignore the idiots! :rotfl::rotfl:

iamana1ias

mollycat wrote: »

What, get 9 points for driving with legal tyres which have just passed an MOT? Dont get that one. :rotfl:

The police would decide whether they were legal/safe or not at the side of the road, and could have done so as soon as OP left the garage, MOT or not. Would you risk it?

mollycat

iamana1ias wrote: »

The police would decide whether they were legal/safe or not at the side of the road, and could have done so as soon as OP left the garage, MOT or not. Would you risk it?

If my car had just passed an MOT, id think it perfectly reasonable to assume my tyres were legal, yes.

Although i concede i would check them the very next weekend,:) as i always try to do.

artbaron

kaylouise wrote: »

What would you say is the most urgent of the advisories to get done?

You need to get them all done. Advisories aren't things that are just nice to have, they are advance notice of problems that need fixing but aren't yet serious enough to fail the MOT. Any one of those issues could be a seriously big problem if left long enough.

And I know I sound like a parrot, but if you'd maintained the car properly you would be coming out of this hundreds, probably thousands, of pounds better off than you are now. Now, it's a case of juggling priorities just to keep it legal. If you can't afford to get all these done then I suggest you sell the car now, pay the finance and take the loss, before you throw even more money away.