Are these things MOT fails?

streetcat

Hi all, quick question.

Got MOT tomorrow. Had a couple things that my father in law was going to sort before hand, but I've been stuck at hospital with my father today.

So are these fails:

- Centre mounted brake light not working (changed the tailgate recently and father in law didn't wire up the centre mounted light). Other brake lights working as normal.

- No Reverse lights; removed the bulbs yesterday after being told on way to work that my reverse light was stuck on. I bought a new reverse light switch sensor yesterday, but again, no chance today to change it.

I suspect both are fails, so I will put it back in for a (free) retest after sorting it, but just wondered if they definitely are fails?

Netwizard

The reverse lights certainly are not a fail. My car is in for MOT tomorrow with no working reverse lights, and garage have confirmed it is not a fail

From what you have posted, and reading this: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090523121313AAbplDe You should be fine on the brake light too. Probably go down as advisories

flashg67

Can't say for reverse lights, but mine passed with a defective centre brake light (last year though, rules could have changed0

molerat

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s01000201.htm

Additional stop lamps fitted and connected must be tested. Where extra lamps are fitted and there is doubt as to whether they are connected, the benefit of this doubt should be given to the presenter.

Reversing lamps are not a testable item.

Joe_Horner

Reverse lamps aren't tested, high level brake light is a fail if it's connected but not working.

If it's not connected then it's not testable, but make sure the tester knows before the test because they won't go checking to see if the wiring's there and will simply fail it as not working.

streetcat

molerat wrote: »

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s01000201.htm


Reversing lamps are not a testable item.

Oh great. Thanks everyone!

Surprised about the reverse lamps not being testable...wow!

Molerate, regarding your link and quote, would that mean I have to dig out the wires to expose them and show they are disconnected (as I've read some others said to do)? Or just tell them when I get there that the light is disconnected?

Joe_Horner

Just tell them it's disconnected. That gives them "reason to doubt" that it's connected so they have to assume it's not.

streetcat

Sorry Joe Horner, I saw your reply after I sent my last question. Ok that's great, I understand.

I shall tell the tester when I get there that it's disconnected.

Thanks again everyone for the replies...better result than I first expected!!!

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

streetcat wrote: »

Oh great. Thanks everyone!

Surprised about the reverse lamps not being testable...wow!

Molerate, regarding your link and quote, would that mean I have to dig out the wires to expose them and show they are disconnected (as I've read some others said to do)? Or just tell them when I get there that the light is disconnected?

You would have failed if you were showing a white light to the rear though, a slightly different issue than explicitly testing a reversing light. Is surprised how many cars have wiring issue that cause a disco effect on braking or signalling.

streetcat

Yeah I would have thought so. But I disconnected the bulbs as soon as I was told yesterday, just because I didn't want to carry on driving around with reverse lights on. I have the reverse light switch sensor to change it over, so father in law will get on that hopefully tomorrow after early am MOT

AdrianC

It's worth remembering that whilst the high level brake light may not be an MOT fail, it IS still required by law to be working if present.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/23/made

There may also be a Construction & Use requirement to have one present - I think they became a legal requirement around 1998 or so in the UK, but can't find anything definitive on a quick google.