MOT testers

[davewithington]

I take my cars to the same garage I've used for the last 8 or so years, and normally have no problem with MOTs, as I have quite a good working relationship with the foreman - I've quoted the testers manual at him before now (and he was wrong)

Took the Xantia in last week, and it was a different tester, young lad, about 35, who failed me on a track rod end, brake hose, CV boot headlamp aim and leaking hydraulic pump.

The TRE, CV boot and hose were fair enough, but the pump made me suck air through my teeth a bit, as I knew it wasn't leaking. May have been covered in a light film of oil from the head gasket leak (sorted), but not LHM. He asked me if I knew anything about the hydraulic system. I just looked and said nowt. Les the foreman was hiding up the far end of the workshop......

Anyway, fitted the hose, track rod end, CV boot, aimed the headlamps and washed the pump. came up lovely and shiny it did. Makes me wonder if it's been replaced at some time, it's so pretty.

Retested this evening, they adjusted my headlamps properly with the beam tester, had a quick squint underneath and gave me the ticket.

My trader friend used to wipe BX and Xantia pumps with a cloth just before testing, as he used a testing station who defined "leak" as any sign of any sort of oil.
The moral is, wash your pumps before the test, oh and I have a supplier of the big O ring for the pump cover if you need one.

[tim leech]

My Xantia (see various other active threads lol) had her MOT today, there was some LHM on both of the rear suspension units, both of which were advisories, as they werent dripping ad the suspension worked fine, I did expect a fail on that too.

I guess its down to the MOT tester and what mood hes in!

[CitroJim]

I once had a numpty MOT tester fail one of my Xantias on a leaky rear height corrector Dave. It wasn't leaky, just well greased up...

Did what you did, cleaned it up until it shone like Bristol bacon, took it back and pass...

I've never been back to that particular tester...

The definition of a hydraulic leak from a hydraulic Citroen is if it drips... Dampness is not a leak...

[DickieG]

My BIL has has the same trouble for the past two years with the tester of his Xantia claiming the pump is leaking, the tester is talking total ballocks and clearly doesn't have a clue what he's talking about as the pump isn't even damp

[Peter.N.]

We have a very nice local tester who is r-e-a-s-o-n-a-b-l-e. As there are probably nearly as many tractors down here as cars he is used to oily things so he won't fail it unless its serious. The same goes for other problems. He points them out, I go home and repair them, go back and he gives me a certificate. Lovely.

Peter

[citronut]

i have seen a Dyane that had been failed on leaky suspension cylinders

people squirt oil into them to stop them sounding like a donkey,


regards malcolm

[Peter.N.]

We used to have a donkey, so I know what you mean - never squirted oil on it though.

Peter

[Xantidote]

We used to have a donkey, so I know what you mean - never squirted oil on it though.

Peter

Nice one Peter

[citronut]

are you sure it wasnt a dersh (2CV ) 2with dry spring cans

regards malcolm