Warning lights on? Your car will fail its MOT test

Horizon81

Its a pretty ridiculous ruling given the reasons the check malfunction light can come on. For example, since my friend fitted an aftermarket exhaust and cat on his car (original one rusted away) the light is on permamently for emissions at the 2nd oxy sensor being too close to the 1st sensor. The car drives fine and has been through 2 MOTs with no problems at all as the emissions are legal. The only reason the light is on is because it doesn't match the manufacturers in-built tolerances.

Is there going to be any discretion on the part of the MOT tester for this? I've got an OBD2 reader which can turn off the light, but of course after a couple of run cycles it comes back on. I believe in USA MOT equivalent they run the car for a few cycles in order for all the potential warning lights to come on. What's the plan over here? Will the tester plug a fault code reader in? Will they check that the ECU is ready to be checked (as in the USA) or will they just look for a light on the dash?

Horizon81

Actually doing some searching it doesn't seem to be for all codes, just the codes relating to stability (ESP, EBD etc), braking (ABS etc), seat belt pre-tensioners, airbags and tyre pressure monitoring systems. So hopefully common sense has prevailed rather than a blanket fail on the MIL being on. But I also read they wouldn't read the code, so how would they know what the generic MIL code related to? Cue a diagnostic change to check??

I can imagine a lot of confusion.

Notmyrealname

i have a 7 year old car with 160,000 on the clock that has no warning lights on. There is no excuse.

Horizon81

Notmyrealname wrote: »

i have a 7 year old car with 160,000 on the clock that has no warning lights on. There is no excuse.

Good for you! However, there's plenty of excuses, like the fact that many of these error codes relate to the sensors being faulty, rather than a genuine problem. It's laughable that the sensor that is supposed to alert you to a problem can itself fail and lead to a warning light, despite there being nothing wrong with what it is supposed to monitor. Far too much electronic intervention these days.

cruger

I was informed by a main dealer that if any light comes on the dasboard it will be fully investigated by using a diagnostic check at £35+ to find out the cause. For instance if you have a car with a towbar fitted and have never use it for towing, the electrics will now get checked as part of the MOTand if a light comes on the dasboard you have to get the problem fixed even if you don't use the towbar.



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 anti-lock 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
Airbag 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.

TrickyWicky

daveys wrote: »

If the traction control shares the same circuit as the ABS, then there is the risk of braking issues.

TBH if the warning light is on, and it's a fault with the light, and NOT the car, then I'd be tempted to just pull the bulb.

***Makes mental note to get my car booked in for MOT well before the end of March

Erm as mentioned in my previous post, one of my cars had a switch to turn it all off completely. It posed no problem other than the ABS light coming on, the car still drove perfectly well. I tracked down the mechanic of the previous (deceased) owner who said the old fella couldn't get up and down his drive in the snow so he fitted the switch to all of his cars.

Notmyrealname wrote: »

i have a 7 year old car with 160,000 on the clock that has no warning lights on. There is no excuse.

My neighbour bought a brand new skoda octavia from the dealers - brand new. Within a week the engine management warning light was on, took it to the dealers, they had it in for a few days and found nothing wrong with the car. He took it back again a week later insisting that he wanted something done with it. They still couldn't find anything wrong so they simply removed the bulb.

Hows that for an excuse? If a main dealer says there is nothing wrong and the car is safe (knowing their cars better than most) then why should an MOT tester / VOSA be allowed to say its unsafe?

forgotmyname

Taking the bulb out = fail. They have a list of what the light should do with the ignition on and if it doesnt light
up for the right time or flash the correct way its a fail.

Just needs a bit more thought about it and maybe a small circuit board.

Gloomendoom

This has all been introduced to comply with EU directive 2010/48/EU and is a direct result of the UK signing away its sovereignty at Maastricht.

If you think it is silly and unnecessary, then write to your MP.

nanker

Well, my four year old Honda's check malfuntion light came on the other week for the first time. Took to stealers paid my £75 +VAT, they reset the light and told me "they can just come on sometimes". Nothing showed up on the diagnostics, and they advised me that "it might be that the battery is a bit low on charge"

So they can come on sometimes for no apparant reason. Glad yours has not though.

newfoundglory

The HID points are quite interesting, looks like it could cause some motorists a lot of issues.