MOT Failure

[FredPragnell]

Okay so when I originally took the car for its MOT at halfords this is the list they gave me for the majors:

[LIST]
[*]Front Number plate deteriorated

[*]Headlamps not the same colour
[*]Both headlamp aim incorrect

[*]N/S/F Lower Arm Excessive Play

[*]N/S/R Tyre below legal limit
[/LIST]

So, I got the numberplate done, headlamps the same colour and replaced all the tyres as some advisorys were the others.

Now I take it to another MOT around 4 months later?
and I got this:

[LIST]
[*]Nearside front (rear bush) suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush [2.4.G.2]

[*]Nearside rear(axal) Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush [2.4.G.2]

[*]Offside rear (axal) Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush [2.4.G.2]

[*]Offside Headlamp aim too low [1.8]
[/LIST]
[/LIST]

The car hasn't moved since the first MOT could the rear ones of come from that?

also I'm basically needing some advice on what I need to buy and do myself or anyone know somewhere cheaper than getting it done for £300+ as The car itself is worth not more than that.

Thanks,

Fred

 

[maddogmorg]

The rubber bushes do deteriorate, 4 months is quite a while, so it's perfectly feasible that in that time they have worn.

 

[FredPragnell]

okay thanks

 

[sludgeguts]

A few years ago the OH's car failled on 1 thing - brake pipes badly corroded. Took the car away, removed every pipe on the car & got new ones made. By the time I had installed & bled the system, the station had closed. As they were closed the next day (sunday), OH decided she couldn't be without her car 'til Monday so found a local station offering MOTs on Sunday.
It failed on handbrake adjustment (too many clicks), worn tyres - 2 badly, one on the limit, headlight alignment and rear shocks.
I had driven it 3 miles home from the first MOT & 5 miles for the second - so how could it have got so bad in such a short time?
On the way home I picked up a full set of remoulds, adjusted the handbrake and dipped one of the headlights slightly, the rear shocks felt fine.
By this time it was Monday so I took it back to the original station, they gave the pipes a quick looksee & put the car on the rollers & said all was well, although they felt the handbrake was a touch too tight at 4 clicks.
Although MOT stations are supposed to give identical service, I do wonder if they treat some drivers 'more favourably'?

 

[Shadeyman]

It seems to me the second garage you took the car too are far more familiar with Stilos and knew exactly what to look for. If I were you I'd use them again for your own saftey and piece of mind.

 

[sludgeguts]

With such a marked deterioration, it does add weight to the debate for more frequent testing as cars get older or even with higher mileage?

And going back to my earlier comment about how garages treat different people. I put a pair of front shocks on my sis-in-law's car before she took it for MOT. The garage failed it on one point - front springs not correctly seated. She brought the car back to me for me to fix & I drove it straight down to the garage. I asked the tester to show me what he meant "as I didn't understand". so they put the car on the ramp then jacked the car up leaving the front wheels suspended. He then pointed to the 1" gap between the end of the spring and the bottom mount. I grabbed the spring & twisted it to fit - then pointed to the same gap betwen the top of the spring and the upper mount - he gave the car a clean ticket!

 

[Shadeyman]

With such a marked deterioration

I don't think there was "marked deterioration", "excessive play" is the result of use, not standing on a drive for 4 months. The first garage just didn't know where or what to look for. The second garage did, they're obviously the better choice when it comes to Stilo's.

 

[hf turbo]

most mot checks are tested to the testers discrestion. there are many loopholes that can be exploited. just depends how good the tester is at or how safe he wants cars to be on the road.

theres a big gap between pass and fail. most of which could fall into the advisories box.

me personally, i would like a strict tester, this way i know my cars has been checked thoroughly and is safe. not just scraping through the test and forgetting about it for another year.