MOT HARROWOpen 7 Days A Week

The VIN number is required on all vehicles first used on or after 1st August 1980 and must be:

• Permanently displayed
• Consistent
• Legible

Steering

Inside the car checks:

• Steering wheel and steering column:
• Steering wheel is in acceptable condition
• Steering wheel is securely attached to the steering shaft
• Upper bearings of the steering column are inspected for wear
• Steering shaft is checked for excessive end float
• The clamping bolts are all checked for security
• Split pins and locking nuts are also checked.
• ‘Free play’ in the steering is checked
• All flexible couplings and universal joints are checked.

Under bonnet checks:

This varies vehicle to vehicle; some of these items cannot be observed from under the bonnet on some makes and models.

• Security of the steering rack or steering box and its mountings
• Play in steering joints
• Inspection of any other swivel joints, which form part of the vehicles’ steering system, which can be readily inspected from under the bonnet.

Under vehicle checks:

• The Tester inspects all the steering joints whilst the steering is loaded by turning the steering wheel from side to side.
• Power steering systems are checked with the engine running
• The security of attachment of the steering rack or steering box is checked both with respect to the tightness of nuts and bolts, and structural cracking or corrosion of the vehicle chassis where it is attached
• Whilst the vehicle stands on special swivel plates the wheels are turned from lock to lock and checked to ensure that the wheels and tyres do not foul either the structure of the vehicle or any brake pipes or hoses
• With the wheels jacked the wheel bearings are checked
• Steering rack gaiters and front outer constant velocity joint boots are examined
• Metal and/or rubber bushes are checked as are split pins, locking nuts and other locking or retaining devices which relate to steering components. On some cars there will be rear wheel steering, which is checked from beneath the car.

Horn

• Operation
• Control can be easily reached by the driver
• Loud enough
• Not a sequential multi-tone

Lights

All required lights are checked for:

• Operation
• Condition
• Security

Sidelights and headlamps

• Are the correct type and colour
• Dip and aim.

Stop lights, indicators and hazard lights*

• Are the correct type and colour
• Do not interfere with each other in operation
• Driver’s telltale works with respect to indicators, or there is an audible warning system.

* Must be fitted to all vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1986, but if fitted, must be tested.

Rear reflectors

• There must be two red reflectors fitted reasonably symmetrically, securely attached and not obscured.

Bonnet Catch

Reasons for Failure

• A bonnet that cannot be safely secured in the closed position
• An excessively deteriorated, ineffective or insecure (bonnet) retaining device

Doors

Both front doors must be opening able from the inside and outside and all doors must latch securely.

Corrosion

A vehicle can fail with respect to corrosion for:

• Excessive corrosion in a ‘prescribed area’ – within 30 cms of certain safety related components, e.g. brakes, steering, suspension, seat belt mountings etc.
• Excessive corrosion not in a ‘prescribed area’, but which is likely to adversely affect the vehicle’s braking or steering. ‘Excessive corrosion’ can mean a hole or a significantly weakened structure.

Seats

• The driver’s and the front passenger’s seats must be secure
• All seat backs must be securable in the upright position.

Brakes

Inside the car

Anti-lock braking system (if fitted) warning lamp is checked for:

• Function
• Sequence of operation

Footbrake

• Sufficient reserve travel on the footbrake
• Pedal rubber not worn to excess
• Correct operation of the servo assistance system

Parking brake

This could be hand or foot operated. Checked for reserve travel so that it doesn’t reach the stops on application. The mountings will be checked for security and/or corrosion.

Under vehicle checks

• Flexible brake pipes and any other metal brake pipes visible beneath the car are checked
• Discs and drums (external only) checked for condition and contamination
• Brake back plates and caliper securing devices are checked for condition and security
• Condition of the brake pads will be checked if visible
• The assistant operates the handbrake and the condition of the linkages and/or cables is checked.
• On some vehicles there will be a brake compensating valve beneath the car which will need to be inspected for fluid leaks

Brake performance check

The performance of the front and rear brakes and handbrake are checked for efficiency and balance using specialised equipment.

Mirrors

Not all mirrors on all vehicles are subject to Test, depending on the age of the vehicle. Those mirrors, which must be checked, must be:

• Secure
• Visible from the driver’s seat
• Not distorted or damaged so as to seriously impair the driver’s view to the rear.

Suspension

Under bonnet checks

• Upper suspension joints
• Any other suspension components which can be inspected from beneath the bonnet

Under vehicle checks

Applies to the front and rear suspension

• No split pins or nuts missing, no components broken or excessively damaged
• Road springs are checked for condition
• All suspension joints are checked for condition
• Shock absorbers must not leak and must be secure (the vehicle will be ‘bounced’ by the Tester to check that they damp the springs adequately).

The suspension is checked for wear by the assistant applying loads in various ways with the wheels jacked up whilst the Tester observes the result from beneath the vehicle.

Note: There are numerous different suspension systems, and the specific nature of any examination will depend to a large extent on the design of the suspension system.

Emissions

These are checked using specialised equipment, the details of the check depending on the year that the vehicle was first used on the road. Excessive smoking (checked visually) is a reason for failure. Using a smoke meter checks Diesel smoke emissions.

Tyres And Road Wheels

Tyre condition

The reason for failure with respect to tyre wear is:

“The grooves of the tread pattern are not at least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band comprising: the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread around the entire outer circumference of the tyre”.

Tyres must be correctly matched with regard to:

• Type
• Size
• Structure
• Tyres on the same axle must be of the same structure and size.

NB. Type or structure but not both.