MOT Advisory Notices

daveboy

I had an MOT done on an 07 plate Peugeot 206 yesterday, which passed but had the following advisory note:

Nearside steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel I]2.2.A.[/I][I]1b[/I

Can someone with much more knowledge of cars tell me exactly what this means in terms of being fixed? For example, what causes it, and a rough estimate of what it would cost to fix?

Additionally, is it something that is likely to have 'gone' before the next MOT test is due (April 2012).

I'm yet another one of those people who has no problem driving a car, but has zero knowledge of the mechanics of how they work!

Thank you in advance for any help.

clever_username

I'm not a mechanic either but it sounds like it will get progressively worse as time goes on so probably best just to get it fixed.

Lum

Free play means you can turn the steering wheel left to right by a small amount without actually steering the car.

As it gets worse it will become dangerous e.g. in an emergency situation you'll try to turn the wheel to avoid, say, someone stepping out into the road and there will be a dead spot where you carry on going in a straight line despite trying to turn.

As you have been advised of this, and that is now on record, it will be used against you to prove negligence in any civil or criminal proceedings that may happen after such an accident.

hartcjhart

sounds like the nearside track rod end has slight wear on it,probably ok for a few hundred miles more BUT as it is part of the steering that will only get worse best sort it sooner rather than later,
a guestimate would be max 2hrs(in case of stuck parts)and apx £15 parts

pendulum

Well first of all don't panic or rush in to getting it fixed, it was only an advisory, if it was that bad it would have failed, and what is an advisory in one MoT testers eyes in perfectly fine in anothers.

Next time when you're driving your car in a straight line, just make small steering inputs by turning the steering wheel just a little in both directions. The car should change direction slightly when you do this. If your happy that small steering inputs do have the correct effect on the cars steering, then you don't have a problem.

If you notice a little free play but its not much, then I'd just monitor it and if it gets to a point where the issue becomes noticeable without looking for it, I'd get it fixed.

(If I had paid to fix every advisory my cars have ever had, I'd have spent a lot of money unnecessarily)

Strider590

Once turning left at a traffic island (around 11pm) saw a young lad in a 206 GTI on the opposite side, he came belting around the traffic island (obviously saw we we're in an MG ZT and decided he wanted a race) only to have his track rod end give way as he executed his "well planned manoeuvre"........ He screeched to a halt with his front wheels facing different directions, it was so amusing that we turned around at the next island for a "victory lap".

But on a serious note, play in the wheel could mean a track rod end, don't risk it!

mikey72

It's a vague description.

Normally, if it's track rod ends, that what they put, Same with steering rack ends, and steering rack.

Without knowing what is causing it, anything on here is just guessing.
You really need to ask the MOT inspector for more details.

I wouldn't panic over it yet, if you haven't had a problem driving the car, and also if it was bad it would have failed.

Incyder

pendulum wrote: »

Well first of all don't panic or rush in to getting it fixed, it was only an advisory, if it was that bad it would have failed, and what is an advisory in one MoT testers eyes in perfectly fine in anothers.

yes, take it somewhere else next year and they may not even mention it. Every steering column has some play, its all a matter of opinion how much is too much.

HiTo

mikey72 wrote: »

It's a vague description.

Normally, if it's track rod ends, that what they put, Same with steering rack ends, and steering rack.

There isn't a fail for steering rack ends, they can only be failed by freeplay at the steering wheel.

Wig

get it fixed before next MOT at your leisure, it's not a big job, and any mechanic will find the cause in no time. There's no point in risking a fail and the hassle of trying to get it fixed for a pass.

I'd put it at £40 - £50 to get fixed.

Rolandtheroadie

Strider590 wrote: »

Once turning left at a traffic island (around 11pm) saw a young lad in a 206 GTI on the opposite side, he came belting around the traffic island (obviously saw we we're in an MG ZT and decided he wanted a race) only to have his track rod end give way as he executed his "well planned manoeuvre"........ He screeched to a halt with his front wheels facing different directions, it was so amusing that we turned around at the next island for a "victory lap".

But on a serious note, play in the wheel could mean a track rod end, don't risk it!

I love the way you've witnessed/known someone/experienced every worse case scenario known to man.