Car has failed its MOT - help please!

Marricked

Today I took my car up to a MOT testing station I don't usually use, and I am very suspicious around the may they have carried out the test.

It has failed on 5 things.

001 Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid [8.2.3]

002 Nearside Rear parking brake recording little or no effort [3.7.A.7A]

And my two front tyres are below required tread depth.

I can sort out the tyres myself, but any idea how much I should be looking at for the other two problems? I have a feeling the windscreen washer may require a new pump.

Also, the main problem is - on my fail certificate the garage have added, in pen that my "front exh pipe leaking". I have checked my MOT history online and this is not something they have included on the official MOT certificate and havn't sent that info off to the Government (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/index.htm ). I have no failure code for it like I do for the other ones. Do you think this could just be a quick way to try and get more money out of me? How much should I be looking at to get this fixed? I had a bit of an argument over the phone with him about this as he wouldn't give me a quote but he said I don't need a new catalactic (sp) converter as that is what I was fearing.

Sorry for the long post but I can just see myself getting ripped off here! Thanks for any replies.

bigjl.

How come you let a car got for the MOT with defective tyres?

They are one of the easiest things to check.

scheming_gypsy

Marricked wrote: »

Today I took my car up to a MOT testing station I don't usually use, and I am very suspicious around the may they have carried out the test.

It has failed on 5 things.

001 Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid [8.2.3]

002 Nearside Rear parking brake recording little or no effort [3.7.A.7A]

And my two front tyres are below required tread depth.

I can sort out the tyres myself, but any idea how much I should be looking at for the other two problems? I have a feeling the windscreen washer may require a new pump.

Also, the main problem is - on my fail certificate the garage have added, in pen that my "front exh pipe leaking". I have checked my MOT history online and this is not something they have included on the official MOT certificate and havn't sent that info off to the Government (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/index.htm ). I have no failure code for it like I do for the other ones. Do you think this could just be a quick way to try and get more money out of me? How much should I be looking at to get this fixed? I had a bit of an argument over the phone with him about this as he wouldn't give me a quote but he said I don't need a new catalactic (sp) converter as that is what I was fearing.

Sorry for the long post but I can just see myself getting ripped off here! Thanks for any replies.

not sure how you can see yourself getting ripped off.
Your tyres are below the legal limit - and you're replacing them
Not enough washer fluid - you think the motor is going
near side rear parking brake - you need your brakes looking at.

As the exhaust leak isn't on the fail sheet and it presumably passed the emissions test, how can you get ripped off when it doesn't need the work for the MOT? If they'd put it on the fail sheet then you'd feel obliged to have it done, but as it hasn't failed on it you don't need to have it done.
Cost to repair could be anything from a replacement exhaust (or part replacement), to a gasket being replaced, to a bit of welding or even some nuts being tightened.

mikey72

Maybe he just missed it when he filled out the fail.

What car is it, and what year?

vax2002

washer problems are often mould on the pump filter, drain it right off, strip it down and clean all gauzes and filters and fill back up with a good screen wash.

Marricked

I have a tread checker and I didn't think they were below legal tread depth requirements. They are both worn on the inside sides where it isn't as easily accessable.

The exhaust as gypsy says, isn't on the offical test but he's wrote it on in pen, which makes me feel as if it isn't actually something it should fail its MOT on, as he hasn't being able to find a specific fail reason for it. When I asked him about it he said it is a failure and he wont issue me a new certificate without getting it done - even though he will be just doing a partial re-test on the things it has failed on, and he hasn't technically included it on the failure certificate.

Marricked

vax2002 wrote: »

washer problems are often mould on the pump filter, drain it right off, strip it down and clean all gauzes and filters and fill back up with a good screen wash.

I've being having problems getting access to the washer, can't find any guides as to how to get to it.

The car is a Vauxhall Astra '51 plate.

scheming_gypsy

so when you take it back for a re-test he'll fail it..

if you don't trust them and think they're trying it on, for the sake of the difference in cost of a partial retest and a full retest; i'd take it somewhere else for a new MOT after sorting the other issues.
A few years ago i had a list of about 7 failures, i took it to my usual garage to have the repairs done but they MOT'ed it first and passed it.

Weird_Nev

Ok, well, ignore the exhaust, it's a non issue but could become one next year. After market Catalytic converters can be had for as little as £60 so don't worry too much - you've got a year to do your research.
As for the washer pump: if it's not something silly like the tanks empty, then it's probably worth just getting the whole tank and unit off of ebay from a car being broken and just replace the lot, making sure you clean the pipes whilst you do it. It's always worth using a pin to clear out the washer jet nozzles too, they sometimes clog up with crud.
And the parking brake will most likely be an adjustment at the cable, or possibly a slightly seized caliper or arm which most garages would work free and then grease up for you. Worst case would be a replacement caliper at perhaps £100 fitted.
So, I'd think you could sort that lot for £200 including tyres.

Emissions and rust near suspension points are the really scary MOT fails, everything else is sortable.

mikey72

You can get to the pump on my Zafira by taking half the car apart.
It may well be easier to fit another pump inline to the washer jet to boost the oe one.

pendulum

bigjl. wrote: »

How come you let a car got for the MOT with defective tyres?

How come your a Billy No Mates who only posts when you can find a way to be deliberately unhelpful?

Regarding the washer jets. Is it just the one side that's blocked or is there no fluid at all coming out? Tried disconnecting the pipe from the jets to see how quick water comes out the pipe when the washer's being operated?