Quick MOT Question?

raptorman

My car is going for MOT this coming monday 11th and as if by
magic I think a whole has appeared in the exhaust pipe somewhere!!

My question is will this mean failure at the MOT?

I don't think it's a big whole, can't see one when I am
on my hands and knees but there is a definate grumble
coming from below the car.

Any MOT testers here who can say 'yes it will fail' or preferably
'you will be fine, stop panicking'?

It's just I am really lacking funds at the moment and need the car for a
short holiday in July, not to mention if it fails the wife will blame it all
on me:(

joshm_2

As long as there is no major leak of exhaust gases and the system is no more noisy than similar cars, it shouldn't fail. There are products such as "gun gum" which can be used to plug holes in the exhaust if you can locate the leak.

avstar

My (old) car has just failed its MOT on emissions, the mechanic is looking at it tomorrow but its prob due to a small hole in the exhaust (can hear a faint blowing noise) which can cause the lambda sensor to not work properly. Emissions tests are v strict now as I know to my cost now !

anewman

It can fail your MOT unfortunately. It may well save you more to see which part of the exhaust it is *now*, get phoning for quotes, then go for the cheapest one, get it sorted, go for the MOT then you are less likely to need to pay the re-test fee. If you're near leeds then there's a place called discount exhausts which was cheapest for me (£40 compared with £57 kwikfit and £80 at Skoda dealer) plus discount exhausts saw it same day, Skoda wouldn't give it the light of day saying they don't stock parts for my car and would need to make an appointment.

You *may* get away with some gun gum (cheapish at wilkinsons) but I do not know if MOT testers allow this now. I am told that you used to be allowed to wrap bandages around exhausts but you can't do this now. But if you have one hole, chances are more will develop and it will be an endless battle. I think MOT testers may actually poke away at the metal of the exhaust to test for excessive corrosion so if it is corroded and falls to bits it will still need replacing.

Why would the wife blame it on you unless you did something wrong? S**t happens, that's life.

If your car is worth something you could sell it and downsize to a bargain basement banger, but whether they will need work or not....