Service failed to detect several MOT fails

Joe_Horner

VOSA (who wrote the manual before becoming DVSA) were actally pretty good at tying down what they meant. The normal problem with their definitions was always "how excessive is excessive?" - which is a matter for professional judgement by the tester. Conversely, where they don't use "excessive" (or a similar qualifier), then it means it's a fail if there's any sign of that problem.

For example, a shock absorber will fail for leaks, but qualified as:
"A fluid leakage serious enough to indicate that the fluid seal of ashock absorber has failed"

whereas a brake system will fail for leaks with no qualification attached:
"A leak in any part of a braking system."

A slight "weep" from a shock absorber is ok, the same weep from a brake union absolutely isn't.

salubrious

I am talking about wheels bearing specifically, testers shouldn't be spinning the wheel and then listening for noise, not that it is that easy on modern front wheel drive cars anyway.

Hands have to stay firmly on the wheel and consequently it is rotated in a much slower manner - Anyone with experience of testing on a regular basis will tell you that it is difficult to pick up noise from testing in this manner (unless you have super human hearing)

I've recently come off of a testers training course, and this was a point of discussion.

Joe_Horner

I've never had a problem hearing a noisy bearing by rotating it slowly, although I grant that it's harder with disk brakes because of the inevitable rubbing from them, but the click from a pitted / rough bearing is pretty distinctive.

It does help if you turn the workshop radio down, of course

The poingt I was making was that as soon as it's detectable it's a fail on fronts, whereas on rears you have a little leeway.

salubrious

hah no radio on here, but I do work on cars made in the last 30 years

Joe_Horner

And I spend most of my days litsneing to watches ticking, so maybe get tuned in to that sort of sound (still can't hear my wife when she's asking me to cut the grass though :P )