Am I right in saying that if the bulkhead is rusty/rotten within 30cm of a critical component (in this case, brake servo) it's an MOT failure?

EDIT: From http://www.motuk.com


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3. Examine the condition of chassis or body structure and panelling around the master cylinder or combined master cylinder/servo mounting.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3. Deliberate modification which significantly reduces the original strength, excessive corrosion, severe distortion, a fracture or an inadequate repair of a load bearing member or its supporting structure or panelling within 30cm of the master cylinder/servo mounting, that is, within a ‘prescribed area’, see Appendix C.
[/FONT]

Magic Johnson said:

Am I right in saying that if the bulkhead is rusty/rotten within 30cm of a critical component (in this case, brake servo) it's an MOT failure?

EDIT: From http://www.motuk.com


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3. Examine the condition of chassis or body structure and panelling around the master cylinder or combined master cylinder/servo mounting.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3. Deliberate modification which significantly reduces the original strength, excessive corrosion, severe distortion, a fracture or an inadequate repair of a load bearing member or its supporting structure or panelling within 30cm of the master cylinder/servo mounting, that is, within a ‘prescribed area’, see Appendix C.
[/FONT]

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Yes you are correct but mine just passed an MOT 3 days ago.. they wont spot it but still you know it should be!

This is surely something we can take to fiat and say look everyones is doing it! I would recommend you make sure you drain tube is pointing the other way and check the seal on the black box underneath the sound proofing!

Finally one of the MODs can we get this post stickied?

Its going to save a hell of a lot of people money if they catch it early enough also its going to stop the "My footwells wet through and i cant find the leak" questions

Frazer435 said:

Yes you are correct but mine just passed an MOT 3 days ago.. they wont spot it but still you know it should be!

This is surely something we can take to fiat and say look everyones is doing it! I would recommend you make sure you drain tube is pointing the other way and check the seal on the black box underneath the sound proofing!

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Thinking of selling mine now, I know I've lost a grand already but this is getting beyond a joke. How this make of car was even commissioned to go on sale beggars belief.

I've got the modified drain tube so it's pointing away anyway. The seal will be perished, I didn't have time to check it last night though.

Magic Johnson said:

Thinking of selling mine now, I know I've lost a grand already but this is getting beyond a joke. How this make of car was even commissioned to go on sale beggars belief.

I've got the modified drain tube so it's pointing away anyway. The seal will be perished, I didn't have time to check it last night though.

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Really? I don't think its that bad of a car.. Okay there are design faults but many cars have design faults.. you should check with your dealers and tell them you want to make a claim on your 8years perferation warranty. Fiat are going to have to hold their hands up eventually when alot of people are reporting the same issue

A drain that drips directly on to the alternator? A breather pipe made of foam? Seals that perish after only a couple of years causing the bloody bulkhead to turn to dust? Power steering pumps that again fail as low as 10k miles? Those are the ones that spring to mind just now, but there are many more as I'm sure the members on here could name.

EDIT: Apologies if I'm coming across as angry but I thought buying a 3 year old car I'd be not at all concerned with these things.

Magic Johnson said:

A drain that drips directly on to the alternator? A breather pipe made of foam? Seals that perish after only a couple of years causing the bloody bulkhead to turn to dust? Power steering pumps that again fail as low as 10k miles? Those are the ones that spring to mind just now, but there are many more as I'm sure the members on here could name.

EDIT: Apologies if I'm coming across as angry but I thought buying a 3 year old car I'd be not at all concerned with these things.

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Okay fair enough but don't jump the gun make sure you get it looked at and see what fiat have to say.

on my dads pug 407 the heater went - couldnt de mist the windscreen and the entire dash/bonnet area had to be stripped to replace it, that was with about 10k on the clock and a year or so old

my mums suzuki swift (one of the most reliable cars there are) needed a front wishbone or something similar replacing as when the bushes wear out the whole wishbone setup needs replacing! that was last year on a 56 plate.

Google peugot 207 engine failure and enjoy the results!

I could go on with similar stories but you get the idea - no cars are available that dont have faults

I'm well aware of other cars' faults, that's fine if they have one or two things to watch out for. That's one or two though, not tens, which this car has.

Just been in contact with my local Fiat Dealer. They advised me to ring Trident which are their local body shop warranty technicians and they are looking at the car tonight to make a report on the damage and get it sorted out under warranty. My local dealer is Preston and Trident are in St Annes, Lancashire. Will let you know how it all goes tonight and when i hear anything else regarding what they say.

Any tips on how to get the plastic washer thing off so you can pull back the sound proofing? The ones just below the scuttle just pull off but the one holding the felt stuff on at the brake cylinder doesn't want to come off for me

From what I can see mine is just about showing the slightest sign of rust - want to give it going over with waxoyl or similar before it becomes an issue.

Frazer435 said:

Finally one of the MODs can we get this post stickied?

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Why? been reported before.

is this a Vauxhall part of a gp? rusty bulkheads is a common fault on Vauxhalls

T14086 said:

Why? been reported before.

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Bad idea anyway, if the staff sticky'd every common problem with the GP you'd have to go to page 5 or so before you'd get to new topics.

Thank GOD for fiatforum.com/grande-punto is all I say.

colin79666 said:

Any tips on how to get the plastic washer thing off so you can pull back the sound proofing? The ones just below the scuttle just pull off but the one holding the felt stuff on at the brake cylinder doesn't want to come off for me

From what I can see mine is just about showing the slightest sign of rust - want to give it going over with waxoyl or similar before it becomes an issue.

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i found the best way was to press against the pin with a pozzi driver to hold it back then pull the clip off with a flat driver slid in behind (only discovered this after i broke one :bang: check my post in the guides section) bit of spray oil on the pin wouldn't be a bad idea either

Magic Johnson said:

Bad idea anyway, if the staff sticky'd every common problem with the GP you'd have to go to page 5 or so before you'd get to new topics.

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lol.....exactly

looks bad
anyone considered a complaint to vosa? for a recall if if could compromise brake servo

Yes okay if you want to be like that fair enough.. My point being snapped alternator belt stickied due to design fault. Wouldn't it make sense for parts that cause possible MOT failure due to design fault to be listed under common faults? If everyone was as obnoxious as each other then we would never get anywhere.

Do as you please it was just a suggestion

That was sticked over the winter as it was causing a lot of problems to a fair few members. Which was why i stickied in the first place, Progressive wear and tear is inevitable but coming out to your car on a morning and having it shred its AUX belt leaving you awaiting recovery and parts is why it was stickied... Yes it could now do with un-sticking now the warmer weather is upon us however we still had a keen frost on Friday last week.

Rust is inevitable on any car some more than others granted, but a wet carpet does not stop you getting to work or home on a cold icy December morning, granted it can manifest into something more serious but:

from past posts over a few months

Leaking shockers,
Broken springs,
worn wheel bearings,
ABS control units letting water in and failing,
worn brake pads,
washer jets not working
Blown bulbs
failed Power steering


All MOT failures where do we draw the line?


oh and check known faults i updated it over an hour ago having seen this thread..... Checked my own car tonight after seeing Grahams guide had been updated and seeing this thread.....

Frazer435 said:

Wouldn't it make sense for parts that cause possible MOT failure due to design fault to be listed under common faults?

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you didnt ask that, you asked to stick this thread