Can you fail an MOT with a brake bulb out?

B0bbyEwing

More to it than the thread title so it'll test who reads the post & who replies just off the title  

So my brake lights are circular & are made up of 3 different bulbs IIRC (or certainly at least 2). On one side I can see that 1 of the bulbs is out but the other/s are working - so I do still have light on each side of the car, just a circle on one side & say a semi circle on the other side.

Wondering if that's a fail or not?

For the 'just put a bulb in it & erase question' lot - I will be doing but the MOT is on Monday & I'd have to make a special trip to sort a bulb before that which if I can avoid doing until a more convenient time in a couple week then I will do.

Barkin

It's a major defect if more than half of the light sources (eg multiple LEDs) aren't working. 

Up to half not working - minor defect. 

facade

A minor defect is still a pass, and as Barkin says less than half the light source out is a minor.

4.3.1 here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-3-1

Barkin

facade said:

A minor defect is still a pass, and as Barkin says less than half the light source out is a minor.

Up to half, not less than half. 

Mildly_Miffed

Barkin said:

facade said:

A minor defect is still a pass, and as Barkin says less than half the light source out is a minor.

Up to half, not less than half. 

Same difference.

Three light sources in the cluster.
One out, two working - pass (minor)
Two out, one working - fail

If it's just two light sources.
One out, one working - fail

Barkin

Mildly_Miffed said:

Barkin said:

facade said:

A minor defect is still a pass, and as Barkin says less than half the light source out is a minor.

Up to half, not less than half. 

Same difference.

Three light sources in the cluster.
One out, two working - pass (minor)
Two out, one working - fail

If it's just two light sources.
One out, one working - fail

Four light sources:
One or two out - pass
Three out - fail

It's not the same difference at all.

eta... the criteria for a major is more than half the light sources not working, so your example of one out of two working should be a pass (minor) not fail.

It's all on the link up there ^^^

facade

I should have quoted it from the source, not rephrased it 

"with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning  = minor"

"up to half" should include 1/2 otherwise with 2 bulbs 1 out would be a fail, and it isn't. 

So exactly 1/2 can be out and still pass.

Barkin

Well, the MOT test was Monday... 

The place that I use for testing, they'd  simply replace a bulb if that's what was needed. 

Car_54

Barkin said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Barkin said:

facade said:

A minor defect is still a pass, and as Barkin says less than half the light source out is a minor.

Up to half, not less than half. 

Same difference.

Three light sources in the cluster.
One out, two working - pass (minor)
Two out, one working - fail

If it's just two light sources.
One out, one working - fail

Four light sources:
One or two out - pass
Three out - fail

It's not the same difference at all.

eta... the criteria for a major is more than half the light sources not working, so your example of one out of two working should be a pass (minor) not fail.

It's all on the link up there ^^^

Exactly. The manual says "more than half ... not working". 

If it actually said "up to" then I think the correct interpretation would be "less than half", unless it went on to say "up to and including half"..