Warning lights on? Your car will fail its MOT test

mikey72

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

Why don't we just give in to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and have an "MOT Fail" light, which comes on when the car is 10 years old.

My 45 year old car only has four warning lights, and one of those hasn't worked for years.
No hazard lights, no reversing lights, no fog lights, no emmision test.

Much simpler.

Joe_Horner

mikey72 wrote: »

My 45 year old car only has four warning lights, and one of those hasn't worked for years.
No hazard lights, no reversing lights, no fog lights, no emmision test.

Much simpler.

Maybe we should start a moneysaving thread on just how cheap it can be to run proper old cars, especially if you're happy to spanner them yourself? :beer:

Although ours do have an extra warning light from yours - guess you've got a single indicator tell-tale?

mikey72

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Maybe we should start a moneysaving thread on just how cheap it can be to run proper old cars, especially if you're happy to spanner them yourself? :beer:

Although ours do have an extra warning light from yours - guess you've got a single indicator tell-tale?

Yes, and a couple of much more complicated 80's cars, with at least 3 extra lights for the fog light, rear screen, and brake fluid level.

And they all pass the mot each year.

Joe_Horner

mikey72 wrote: »

Yes, and a couple of much more complicated 80's cars, with at least 3 extra lights for the fog light, rear screen, and brake fluid level.

And they all pass the mot each year.

80's cars? That's moderns that is!!! :rotfl:

As for "they pass each year" - they're only tested on things that are either right or wrong and can be checked without plugging in to a computer. Even emissions tests at 3.5% or 4.5% CO isn't exactly hard if it's reasonably in tune. Although not as easy as the "can you see through the smoke" test we get!

split_second

the car i have is well renowned for airbag failure lights, apparently fixing it involves going underneath the passenger seat, finding the correct wire and getting liberal with the wd40

if it needs any serious fixing then either my mechanic can help me with it (while muttering something about italians and electrical faults on cars) or i will buy something simplistic with a better reputation for electrics

atrixblue.-MFR-.

split_second wrote: »

the car i have is well renowned for airbag failure lights, apparently fixing it involves going underneath the passenger seat, finding the correct wire and getting liberal with the wd40

if it needs any serious fixing then either my mechanic can help me with it (while muttering something about italians and electrical faults on cars) or i will buy something simplistic with a better reputation for electrics

mk4-mk5 golf ? or a pug 206 207 307 406 407 or the horrid punto or alpha only these few ring bels with airbag light atm it late and brain going into limp mode..

Lindopski

I've been keeping an eye on 60s classics all week.
They only have warning lights when something is about to cause you some harm, not stupid things like the carpet needs adjusting warning light or your tea is getting cold warning lights like the cars of today.
This article just makes me more determined to get something ancient and keep my 90s diesel running into its grave for any long runs and the commute.

colino

While modern cars tend to be over twitchy about setting off the warning lights when a sensor goes awry, the older ones, rightly, used to be called idiot lights. They only lit up when the oil pressure had already gone, the car had already stopped charging or the water was already lost!

adouglasmhor

Anyone who was worried - I have solved the problem of my screenwash warning light, believe it or not you have to fill the screenwash with the engine running!

Joe_Horner

colino wrote: »

... the older ones, rightly, used to be called idiot lights.

Yep, cos only an idiot wouldn't check their oil and water in the first place