Ok, just to prove I am a newbie (not just to the forum but also to driving!), I have either a really simple question or a very stupid question.....


Last year in the freezing cold, I went to open my door...Stuck shut with frost:bang:. I tried to use a little brute force but nothing, so in order that i didnt break the driver door handle I tought I'd try the passanger side. Used a little bit of force and Bingo(snap!). The door opened but half the handle came with it.

The side nearest to the edge of the door is still attached but the other side has completly broken. Now the door is useable but there is a knack to doing it & get it wrong it will snp off completly.


So end the history lession....My question is this, the father-in-law dosen't thing it will pass the MOT, which is this monday.
1) Is this true
2) If so, would it pass if I just removed the handle completly?


If any one can help or can sell me a front passanger door handle for a 5dr Mk1 Punto I would be greatful. I'm starting to lose sleep over this now....

:worship: Cheers people

cant see why it wont, unless there a sharp bit sticking out, if so stick a bit of tape on it

dave said:

cant see why it wont, unless there a sharp bit sticking out, if so stick a bit of tape on it

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As Dave said, In the main, other than the emissions, the MOT is all about the safety of the car, and that doesn't affect the safety and so shouldn't affect the MOT

Jon.

You must be able to open the front two doors from the inside and the outside easily and safely. This is part of the MoT and is designed to ensure, as best as possible, that occupants can get out or rescuers can get in in the event of an emergency.

Hence, will fail MoT if the doors don't open correctly.

how do de handled cars pass then?

it just says Both front doors must be openable from the inside and outside and all doors must latch securely.
dont say nothing about easily and safely

dave said:

how do de handled cars pass then?

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They can't (officially) unless they have a "popper" button to open the door without the use of the fob.

I wouldn't worry too much the car will either pass or fail on the handle.

If it fails you can either let the garage fix it for you, probably inc. labour no worse than £60 (admittedly a total guess), or you can take the car it away and get it fixed yourself and then let the garage retest it for you. Either way car legal for the next 12 months.

On whether it will fail I suspect it may fall in the grey areas where it depends on the tester. I have known, for example, people having a failure on the spacing between the letters on the license plates after it not failing for 6 or 7 years with the same plates on. Difference been that the garage they used had changed MOT testers.

You Probably Fail as said above the doors need to be able to open on both sides (inside and outside) safely plus if he puts his hand on the handle and feels it to be a little bit on the sharp side it will fail as your car has to have no sharp edges on the bodywork

if you fail you should get a another MOT free providing you quickly get it sorted, so take a trip to the breakers yard

Thanks for all your reply so far

I have tried 3 local yards near me and nobody has anything. One even said her had recently sent all his old puntos to Bulgaria!!
So I'm stuck at the moment.....

if the doors have dropped are they will be stiff, try tightening them up a bit

what i would do is get a handle from ebay or something, and keep it on show int he car so if the ttester points it out, say "yeah i got one delivered this morning" he then knows you are willing to change the handle

i do it all the time, let us know how you get on

:slayer:Whoo hoo....She passed the MOT with a few advisory notices but she passed. have since gotten hold of a door handle worship: thanks Trevor [NI]), so i dont need to worry for another year now !!!

well done, im soooo proud of you! congratulations...

wtf how could anyone say that would be a fail

like dave said de handled cars pass so having half a handle is fine.

bluepunto2 said:

well done, im soooo proud of you! congratulations...

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As long as there is no sarcasum going on!! but cheers

did it pass before or after you fitted the new handle?

dave said:

did it pass before or after you fitted the new handle?

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Before I think.

Well done.

Tbf silver bullet passed 2 mots with a door at the back that didnt open from the inside...so they can't be particularly picky!

StevenRB45 said:

Tbf silver bullet passed 2 mots with a door at the back that didnt open from the inside...so they can't be particularly picky!

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Yes, and when you think of how quickly an MOT is done, can they possibly pick up every fault? They should, but don't.

to be totally honest as well as that it had two back seat belts that didnt retract too but they never found those either...always took my cars to same place...mainly cos I know they'll pass anything thats in front of them as long as it has 4 wheels pointing in same direction, hell one year the passed my 55 despite garage saying it was in danger of losing a wheel due to it being held on by only two bolts...i got it repaired next day but mot cert was issued despite that!!!!