MOT's 2012

[Trainman]

Here's a list of the 2012 MOT changes, courtesy of the AA:

[Source: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ca ... -2012.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ]



MOT changes from 2012

If you've been happily ignoring a warning light because it's not checked in the MOT you could be facing an MOT failure and an expensive repair bill in 2012 because of changes to the test.

The Department for Transport is adding a number of new mandatory test items to the annual MOT from 1 January 2012 to comply with a revised European testing directive.

The aim of the revised directive (2009/40/EC) is to harmonise minimum test requirements across Europe and make sure the test reflects the electrical/electronic complexity of modern car safety features.

VOSA, the government agency responsible for the MOT, has indicated that 'failures' relating to the new test items will be treated as 'advisories' in the first three months. This means that if you have any of the following problems with your car you've got until the first MOT renewal date after 1 April 2012 to get it fixed.

The main changes from 2012

Electronic parking brake

Electronic parking brake controls are now included and must be present and not inappropriately repaired or modified - repair obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or modification that has seriously weakened the component.

(The 'inappropriately repaired or modified' check is to be applied to a wide range of systems and components throughout the vehicle.)

The car will fail if an Electronic Parking Brake warning lamp is illuminated to indicate a malfunction.

Electronic Stability Control

Checks of antilock brakes will be extended to include Electronic Stability Control if fitted. The tester will check for the presence and correct operation of the ESC malfunction warning light together with looking for obviously missing, excessively damaged or inappropriately repaired or modified components and electrical wiring, as well as an ESC switch missing, insecure or faulty.

Warning lights

As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

- Headlight main beam warning light
- Electronic power steering warning light
- Brake fluid level warning light
- Tyre pressure monitoring system warning light
- Air bag warning light
- Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light

Steering & suspension

The new test includes a check on the presence and correct function of the steering lock where fitted as standard.

Missing, or split/damaged dust covers on steering and suspension ball-joints will result in failure if they will allow dirt to enter the joint.

Power steering fluid level must be above the minimum level indicated on the reservoir.

Lighting

Products on the lens or light source that obviously reduce the light's intensity or change its colour will become a reason for failure – applies to front/rear position lamps, registration plate lamps, stop lamps, rear fog and direction indicators,

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high so car manufacturers must fit headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. A car will fail if a mandatory headlamp cleaning or levelling system is missing, doesn't work or is obviously defective.

Vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID systems must also be fitted with properly working washer and levelling systems.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

Electrical wiring and battery

An insecure battery will be a reason for failure as will a battery that is leaking electrolyte.

Visible wiring that is insecure, inadequately supported or likely to cause a short will also result in a failure as will wires bared by damaged insulation.

Trailer/caravan electrical socket

There will be a basic security/damage check of 7-pin sockets,

13-pin sockets will be subject to a full electrical connectivity check and incorrectly connected or inoperative circuits will result in failure.

Tyres

Tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 January 2012 must be working correctly and not indicating a malfunction.

Supplementary restraints

The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure.

Seatbelt load limiters that are missing where fitted as standard or folding webbing type limiters that have obviously deployed are also reasons for failure.

The vehicle will also fail if an SRS malfunction light is missing, not working or indicating a fault.

Speedometer

The car will fail if a speedometer is not fitted, is incomplete, inoperative, has a dial glass broken/missing or cannot be illuminated.

Seats

It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions. On electric seats the motors must move the seat fore and aft.

Doors

A rear door that cannot be opened from the outside using the relevant control is a new reason for failure.

Doors must be easy to open and close – hinges, catches and pillars will be inspected.

Towbars

Inappropriate repair or modification to the towbar assembly will be a reason for failure if judged likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer.

Exhaust

A catalytic convertor fitted as original equipment but missing will be a reason for failure.

Fuel system

Damaged or chafed fuel pipes will result in failure.

[CitroJim]

Steve, thanks, that's a good, concise guide to the new MOT.

Looking at it, I'm staggered that some of the items introduced have not been part of the MOT for years...

To add, specifically for fully hydraulic Citroens, the ability to make two brake applications after the engine has stopped and so therefore testing the accumulator will be tested.

All suspension spheres should also be tested to ensure they're not flat/ruptured.

[RichardW]

Previously discussed here and here

The requirement for brake reserve is not new Jim - it has always been there. If you look at the VOSA link I posted in the second of those 2 links, only the items with a bar against them are new. There is (and always was) also a test for spheres - but you need to have no movement at all - given that you can hardly press down the suspension on most modern cars, a Cit will almost always pass this unless unless totally flat!

[myglaren]

I think that they have enough trouble as it is with hydraulic Citroens.

[spider]

Some of those I'm sure were a fail before, main beam warning light or an ABS light permanently on.

To be honest, some of these are not going to effect those who want to get around them, you can make a small box for a couple of £ with a 555 timer and use it to illuminate a bulb for x seconds etc.

Same with cats I guess, especially diesels where they are clean anyway, an empty shell will not really give it away...

Andy does not understand why a steering lock is tested, I thought initially to be assured its not going to engage when driving ( ! ) but it seems silly to fail it for it not working. I wonder if inner cv gaiters are a fail reason yet, they have not been for a long time as far as I know.

[quintet]

Inner CV gators have indeed now been introduced although in my experience it's usually just the outer ones that actually fail. I think making ball joint boots (And the like) a failure point is a tad harsh, obviously it was an option just to advise them in the past but failing them for a tiny hole seems a bit OTT. Having the option to advise an owner that their exhaust is corroded removed from the MOT advisers list also seems rather strange to me, i very rarely failed a car on an excessively corroded exhaust but i would advise them if it was in poor condition, think that'll be a job for my 'manual advisories' list in the future.

i'm happy to see fuel lines, engine mountings, tow bar electrics, rear door opening (from outside), door hinges & to a certain extent wiring brought into the test although i'm yet to come across the new spec trailer sockets, im just used to the old type & i'll reserve my judgement on testing LPG systems till i've done a few. I'm still a tad wary about the HID lamp washer units too, distinguishing the actual type of bulb can be tricky on some makes (yes i know they generally have a blue hue to them), some high spec older cars which have regular bulbs have headlamp washer jets particularly Volvo's, distinguishing what car has what bulb/headlamp could be a bit of a minefield

Oh & i don't much care for having to inspect reverse camera's either!

[xantia_v6]

Chatting to my friendly MOT inspector today, he tells me that the test of Airbag warning lights and Traction Control warning lights will fail if the light does not illuminate when the ignition is switched on (e.g. bulb removed), but he cannot fail them if they are not visible (e.g. covered by black tape), so no need to panic about your airbag light.

He also says that he can no longer fail a MOT due to scored or pitted brake disks, but there are 2 pages describing the rules for inspecting number plates!

[CitroJim]

he tells me that the test of Airbag warning lights and Traction Control warning lights will fail if the light does not illuminate when the ignition is switched on (e.g. bulb removed), but he cannot fail them if they are not visible (e.g. covered by black tape), so no need to panic about your airbag light.

That's totally and utterly bizarre No need to cover them in the Xantia as the legends on them are invisible unless illuminated so if they don't light up they're effectively hidden.

The MOT is about safety. Therefore number plates need very careful inspection to ensure they are fully legible at all times to 'safety' cameras

Ironic isn't it that failed ABS and badly worn brake discs can be worked around for a pass and those are critical safety components... However, a cracked number plate will result in a fail...

What was that about lunatics and asylums?

[Xaccers]

A cracked number plate is a serious issue Jim, it could have sharp edges, so if you were to run someone over it could potentionally give them a nasty cut.

[DickieG]

A cracked number plate is a serious issue Jim, it could have sharp edges, so if you were to run someone over it could potentionally give them a nasty cut.

Quite right too which is why under Construction and Use Regulations it's an offence to have sharp protrusions on a car, joking aside the regulation is there in the case of a pedestrian walking past the car getting caught on a sharp edge. I wish this had applied to DS's when the were made as the front over-riders stick out so far they are knee killers

[CitroJim]

A cracked number plate is a serious issue Jim, it could have sharp edges, so if you were to run someone over it could potentionally give them a nasty cut.

Ahh, I see, I'm such a silly billy.... I never realised number plates were so dangerous and could inflict so much injury when running down pedestrians. So it's not the car itself that injures them then? You learn something new every day...

Mind you, that was the reason they banned vertical numberplates on the front mudguard of motorbikes a number of years ago. They were like a knife blade in an accident...

[Xaccers]

Mind you, that was the reason they banned vertical numberplates on the front mudguard of motorbikes a number of years ago. They were like a knife blade in an accident...

Especially if you took a whetstone to it...

[DickieG]

I've been reading numerous tales that with the new MOT regs tuning boxes are a definate cause for failure.

[CitroJim]

I've been reading numerous tales that with the new MOT regs tuning boxes are a definate cause for failure.

How so? Are they now doing 'visuals' for non-standard modifications or are the tuning boxes responsible for emissions failures?

Hope my Activa doesn't fail for having furry dice dangling from the rear view mirror....

[xantia_v6]

Are they now doing 'visuals' for non-standard modifications or are the tuning boxes responsible for emissions failures?

Hope my Activa doesn't fail for having furry dice dangling from the rear view mirror....

But have you notified your insurance?