(G) My New Fiat Punto Grande Failed MOT

NumanR · 11-08-2006

Interesting that the MOT station has failed the car for the wrong fault, I am sure trading standards and VOSA will be very interested in this and the station will probably be drawn into disciplinary procedures because of it.
I have checked several racks and the noise is due to vertical movement in the rack itself (only usually a mm or two but enough to cause a noise). At this mileage its unlikely to be any more than this unless the vehicle has been driven on very rough ground to accelerate any problem.
A new rack will sort the problem. I dont think a MOT is required for all Grande owners with noises, contact your dealer and let them check it.

NumanR

ChrisUK · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by rob19791

cheers Jug.
I was hoping that they would give me a 1.9 sporting for my trouble lol.
Finance company manager is going down today to try and sort it out, he doesnt know we have the mot failure cirtificate, so any resistance from fiat will be stupid.
Like you say they cant ignore it.

Im gonna get mine checked!. Ive got the 1.9 Sporting and when I do a full power start and go from 1st into 2nd gear it makes a clunk noise which sounds / feels like its comming from front of the car. It also does this when you pull away with the steering wheel turned.

rob19791 · 11-08-2006

failed the car for the wrong fault????
Are you an MOT tester????
Can you be sure that all the faults are the same???
AA said exactly the same thing as well as the RAC can they all be wrong?
And finally have you looked at my car?

**Hellcat** · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by rob19791

failed the car for the wrong fault????
Are you an MOT tester????
Can you be sure that all the faults are the same???
AA said exactly the same thing as well as the RAC can they all be wrong?
And finally have you looked at my car?

Actually he might be an MOT tester, can't remember if it was him or T18....

diablo_NL · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by jug

must say rob i doubted you in previous posts about the severity of the steering rack fault, but i accept that is a real MOT failure and it has been deemed unroadworthy by a qualified MOT testing station. well done thats excellent progress, fiat cant argue with that

from what I have gathered the fault is due to a rubber bush that is slightly too small, allowing play in the rack. 'excessive' play in the steering is an MOT failure so it must be dangerous to fail. the steering will work no matter what, but excessive play will reduce the accuracy and response of the steering which can obviously cause accidents. on a new car this is unacceptable. if it was my car and i had the MOT failure i'd ask fiat for a full refund or a great deal on another car (why not be cheeky and ask for a stilo with 30% knocked off then sell it for profit).

top marks for standing up for yourself, and getting an MOT failure was a great idea. fiat cant ignore the opinion of a qualified MOT testing station. i wish you the best of luck with this dispute. i look forward to seeing how it turns out.

What I don't understand is why some cars have this problem and other cars not. I don't have any play or noise. I only had twice a very small vibration in the steering wheel when standing still at a trafficlight that was probably caused by the servo that was in the middle of two steps.

Rob good luck with the process, at least you have a strong case against them now.

rob19791 · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by NumanR

Interesting that the MOT station has failed the car for the wrong fault, I am sure trading standards and VOSA will be very interested in this and the station will probably be drawn into disciplinary procedures because of it.
I have checked several racks and the noise is due to vertical movement in the rack itself (only usually a mm or two but enough to cause a noise). At this mileage its unlikely to be any more than this unless the vehicle has been driven on very rough ground to accelerate any problem.
A new rack will sort the problem. I dont think a MOT is required for all Grande owners with noises, contact your dealer and let them check it.

NumanR

The dealer told us to get an MOT because they were sure it would pass.
The MOT tester said that the steering rack would not normally be as worn as mine after 4 years and many more miles. As for him being pulled over the coals he would not have failed the car had it been roadworthy as he is fully aware of the law.
Purely for your information to set up an MOT station and to qualify as an MOT tester is a very expensive and lenghty experience, no MOT tester would put his signature, buisness, and reputaion on the line if he didnt believe the car was unroadworthy.

**dave** · 11-08-2006

Originally Posted by rob19791

failed the car for the wrong fault????
Are you an MOT tester????

i think he is actually

rob19791 · 11-08-2006

well, numanr come to mine and look for yourself!

NumanR · 11-08-2006

Yes I am a MOT tester.
I am also the Quality Controller at our MOT station, responsible for assessing my testers on a weekly basis.

No I have not inspected your car.

I am reasonably sure that as the rack problem is reasonably widespread that I am talking about the same fault. You obviously think it is the same fault, as you have told people to have an MOT on Grandes.

I have checked vehicles of several mileages some higher and some lower than yours and the faulty ones all display exactly the same problem.

I am also a Fiat DET, and I am resposible for assessing if a fault is acceptable
for a customer to carry on using the vehicle, for example is it safe?

There has been no noises/play on steering racks that have caused any accidents.

NumanR

rob19791 · 11-08-2006

Well, what can i say.
My car has been classed as dangerous, without you looking at it you cannot say what you are saying.
Thats the end of the matter.

NumanR · 11-08-2006

Still failed the vehicle for the wrong fault.

If you let me know where you are I would be more than happy to inspect it for you.

Did the tester not wonder why he was testing an eight week old vehicle?

NumanR

rob19791 · 11-08-2006

nope, just told him i had some problems, not specific, didnt even tell him about the rack.
Like i said, hes not the only person that has told me that the car was dangerous.
I have lots of speed bumps where i live maybe this has sped up the decline, i dont know im not a mechanic

NumanR · 11-08-2006

If you let me know where you are I would be more than happy to look at it for you.

NumanR

rob19791 · 11-08-2006

i have the failure, thats more than enough for me thanks, i appreciate you would like to look but this is between me and fiat.
I cant see why you want to become so involved?

NumanR · 11-08-2006

Because unfortunately you are scaremongering, and even though you are not a mechanic and your dealer has said the vehicle is safe, you have chosen to have an MOT and have the vehicle inspected by the AA and RAC. Then you have come on to this forum and posted this thread, and then joked about compensation.

NumanR

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