MOT DUE (WHAT TO CHECK)

[CITMAN]

The MOT on my zx 1.4i is nearly up. What do I need to check to ensure that it has chance to go through the test without any problems.

[Stuart McB]

Make sure the drop links are OK no play in them. Give a quick oil 'n' filter change so that the exhust is a bit cleaner. All the usual stuff. Zx's are quite conventional under neathe the skin.

[cheesesliceking]

I know the Haynes manuals are usually full of lies but most of them do have an MOT checklist bit. Might be worth checking out.

[arry_b]

As Stuart says - ZX's are very conventional and easy to work on as a bonus.
Apart from the checks you'd make on any car (rust, brake pipes, shockers etc), it'll be worth paying attention to the following:
Front brake balance (strip and copper grease the calipers)
Rear brakes dragging (check cables are free and strip drum)
Excess handbrake travel (self adjusters seized)
Rust behind rear wheels in horizontal floor sections (strip and underseal)
Dim headlamps (check and remake earths to headlamps)

[ralph]

I'll second 'arry's check of the boot floor for rust. My Xsara's floor was peppered with it after 4-and-a-half years. Of course the previous owner (lease company) had not kept up with the necessary bodywork warranty checks, so I had to break out the underseal.

[davek-uk]

Changing tack a bit - my Xantia MoT is due; are there any differences in the way a hydro Cit is MoT'd as apposed to a 'normal car'? If there are, will a back street garage know?

[AndersDK]

No differences.
- as any car must be safe on the roads [;)]
The tester checking out your car, may in fact not be aware your car is hydraulic sprung. Most likely he would'nt care anyway, as he go for the usual checks : wear in supension components, leaks from brake (!) lines, brakes function, emissions etc.