Warning lights on? Your car will fail its MOT test

Honeydog

So this taking the bulb out idea..... where are the bulbs?

Does anything major have to be removed to get at them?

Just thinking that if it is a major exercise to check that all bulbs are present then MOT bods aren't going to bother are they?


Still ignoring the muppet brothers!

mikey72

Honeydog wrote: »

So this taking the bulb out idea..... where are the bulbs?

Does anything major have to be removed to get at them?

Just thinking that if it is a major exercise to check that all bulbs are present then MOT bods aren't going to bother are they?


Still ignoring the muppet brothers!

The bulbs are behind the little symbol that'll be lit up.

Tigsteroonie

My old Vectra (c.97) had an EMS light that would come on for no apparent reason - it was reporting a sensor error with the air conditioning system. The car had no aircon, never had!! Cue a trip to the garage for them to reset the system ...

kaya

Traction control and ABS use the same sensor on the wheel, so turning off the traction control doesn't automaticly turn off the ABS but a fault with either would cause the traction control/abs light to come on , this has always been an mot failure for safety reasons

Gloomendoom

Honeydog wrote: »

So this taking the bulb out idea..... where are the bulbs?

Does anything major have to be removed to get at them?

Just thinking that if it is a major exercise to check that all bulbs are present then MOT bods aren't going to bother are they?


Still ignoring the muppet brothers!

Just taking the bulbs out is unlikely to work. Most warning lamps come on when you turn the ignition on and extinguish after a period of time or some other input. The MoT tester will be looking for this. Apparently they have a list of what to expect for each car.

cruger

kaya wrote: »

Traction control and ABS use the same sensor on the wheel, so turning off the traction control doesn't automaticly turn off the ABS but a fault with either would cause the traction control/abs light to come on , this has always been an mot failure for safety reasons

A faulty Electronic Stability Control/Traction Control or what ever dealers want to call it light has never been part of the MOT hence the change. It has always been ignored if TC light was staying on however if ABS light was on then that has always been a failure. On my car there is a seperate ABS and TC light. Only the TC light stays on and according to the MOT tester this is a fail after April 2012 but not before.

Honeydog

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Just taking the bulbs out is unlikely to work. Most warning lamps come on when you turn the ignition on and extinguish after a period of time or some other input. The MoT tester will be looking for this. Apparently they have a list of what to expect for each car.

Yes good point.

The lights can be reset though can't they? Seem to remember an RAC chap resetting my Mondeo warning light after a misfire diagnosis. But it was a whle ago so I may be wrong.



Still ignoring the muppet brothers!

Horizon81

Having looked at this a little closer on various websites, it seems that this new legislation is NOT looking at the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp) aka the check engine lamp.

No, the legislation seems to refer to the airbag lamp, the ABS lamp, the electric P/S lamp, the brake lamp and any other warning lamps your car may have of a specific nature, not the general MIL lamp where you have to use a code reader to check it.

Talking of which, if your car has the MIL on, don't take it to a stealers or garage and pay £40 plus (unless it's a relatively new car and you'd be happier with a 'professional' looking at it). Just check which system your car uses (CAN BUS, OBDII etc - check an owners club/forum for details) and buy a basic fault code checker from ebay for around £20. You'll plug it into a port under your dash somewhere - will be easily accessible. These devices let you check the code and clear it. Of course, if it identifies a problem that needs attention then fair enough, it'll need fixing, but at least you'll be clued up before you take it to get looked at. If not, as a previous poster said and it's just 'one of those things', then you havent wasted £75 at your local dealers and you can clear the fault yourself.

I bought a U480 code reader that paid for itself from the first use.

Gloomendoom

Honeydog wrote: »

Yes good point.

The lights can be reset though can't they? Seem to remember an RAC chap resetting my Mondeo warning light after a misfire diagnosis. But it was a whle ago so I may be wrong.



Still ignoring the muppet brothers!

The lights can sometimes be reset via the OBD port if your car has one. This will clear some historical fault warnings that may have fixed themselves, for example (it does happen.) However, if there is an inherent fault the light will just come on again. That's what they are there for.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

if your cars anything like mine, a small handheld to turn off the EML and TC ABS and Aribag light is handy enough, most ECU's need 15-30 min intervals to store data to the module in the ECU.

also, will this make dealers and traders take more notice of a vehicle they buy form auction, or take in part ex? after all they got to be able to sell it with a valid MOT when requested for one. or will there be more traders unwilling to put new MOT's on Part ex's for fear theres an airbag light or EML light on in there part of being a savvy buyer is checker all the ligths on the dash flag up and off when ignistion is turned on. if an EML light doesnt flash on and off on ignition start up it raises my suspicions and questions are asked.