Important! : MOT failure: Advice needed!

26th April 2010, 19:19

Hi guys,

As expected, my car failed its MOT today

. I don't have the sheet in front of me because the car is still at the garage, but in my own words the car failed on:

- CV joint outer gaiter not secure, leaking grease (new boot and repack with grease req.)
- Parking brake not secure to car chassis (requires some welding)
- Service brake below requirements (cause currently unknown)
- Front lower suspension arm: excessive play in ball joint (new arm required)

The car also received some relatively minor advisories.

The garage has quoted me the following prices (although they are guestimates) inc. vat, parts and labour:

- New CV boot, grease and fitting £60
- Parking brake carpet removal and weld £45 - £90
- Suspension arm + fitting (not sure if this inc. tracking) £110
- Service brake unknown but will require prior investigation to source cause + parts

The question is do I break my car, pay for the repairs and keep my car, or sell car to someone as it is? I reckon I can do the CV boot myself if I get one that means you dont have to take driveshaft off. CV joint is not making any noise so I think it is OK. Before I go any further ive asked the garage to investigate brake problem (limited them to no more than 2 hrs labour); there is no point getting the other work done if i end up having to break my car. It's a 10 year old saxo VTR with 104k on the clock. No signs of problematic rusting and since buying the car for £1100 it has had:

- new kam racing gear linkages
- new exhaust centre section
- new windscreen
- full service inc. cambelt change
- newly smoked headlights
- new rear wiper arm and blade
- new rocker cover seal

Im not sure what direction to take next. I dont really want to get rid off it, but im not sure expenses are justified. I have ten days to sort problem if I want a free retest. Any advice guys?

Keeley

26th April 2010, 19:25

just get afew quotes of diferent garage's then decide then what you want 2 do

26th April 2010, 19:37

Quote:

I dont really want to get rid off it

tbh mate you answered your own qusestion there.

this isn't a dig at you btw but it gets to me when a car fails its MOT and people start all this oh i cant fix it, lets break it! its a sad end to what the majority are still good cars.

aslong as the engine is good and there no major holes i dont get the point in breaking a car that still good minus some work thats to be expected because A, its french and B, its 10yrs old

26th April 2010, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich84

tbh mate you answered your own qusestion there.

this isn't a dig at you btw but it gets to me when a car fails its MOT and people start all this oh i cant fix it, lets break it! its a sad end to what the majority are still good cars.

aslong as the engine is good and there no major holes i dont get the point in breaking a car that still good minus some work thats to be expected because A, its french and B, its 10yrs old

I totally get what you're saying, lol, it's just something in your head starts questioning the sense of it. Head vs. heart thing

26th April 2010, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keeley

I totally get what you're saying, lol, it's just something in your head starts questioning the sense of it. Head vs. heart thing

I know that feeling. You just need to keep stabbing at it and dont give up! If i was you i would most certainly keep her - it will all work out

27th April 2010, 11:47

mine is only 1.1 and it failed its mot on similar things and it cost me £250 to get it sorted and the car is 12years old but its a good runner, cheap and most of all its good fun 2 drive so i didnt mind paying for it as i know then its a safe car where if you buy a new car it could have the same problems if you get what i mean.

i had one piece of advice off my dad when i passed my test, " when you have a car you will never have any money" and i think hes right lol

27th April 2010, 12:21

Thanks for your input everyone, I've decided to keep him

The garage rung me up this morning and they think that the brake problem is due to the leaking grease from the CV joint boot contaminating the offside front brake disc and pad. They are currently cleaning it all up for me and replacing the CV boot at the same time. I've also asked them to grease up the brake loading sensor valve linkage to repair the stiffness. Hopefully, these two things combined will fix the braking problem. I will then book him in for the welding and suspension work

30th April 2010, 19:26

My car now has a nice new MOT certificate

Total damage was £351 including the price of the MOT. Got all work done by the garage in the end to save time (got driving test coming up

).

I've decided my car should be called Damian. It is red, the reg has 616 in it, which is arguably the original number/marking of the beast (devil) and likes causing me problems! Love him all the same

1st May 2010, 14:13

glad ur happy with ur decision buddy

1st May 2010, 14:32

gdgd, but for the record, to do the CV boot the driveshaft has to be removed and dismantled. i found this a pig so didn't bother and just changed the whole shaft.

1st May 2010, 19:31

i just got mine through mot cost 180 in the end. would of cost 300 if garage did the weldin.birds brother is a welder. but id be happy if i had ur mot failure compared to mine.it was 3 pages long il tel you e few. o/s suspension mount exsesively coroded, n/s coroded, o/s inner sil ex coroded, parkin brake no effect, rear brakes bindin, headlight alignment, wheel cage insecure (no spare),rear pads below 15m,o/s n/s rear brake pipes coroded, plus a few more minor things. the engine is fine tho 80k on clock. undersealin the car this week should be fine next year touch wood.

3rd May 2010, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordysport

gdgd, but for the record, to do the CV boot the driveshaft has to be removed and dismantled. i found this a pig so didn't bother and just changed the whole shaft.

I never dismantled mine...the inner one had gone..so i turned it inside out and pulled the small hole as wide as i could and slipped it on lol..then just filled with grease, and clipped on.