Alright guys,
Either my car is suddenly knackered or they saw me coming!
Been in a bit of a palava the last couple of days. Basically MOT is due the 20th (only tonight I realised that, before I assumed it was the 10th, too late now). It's recently been serviced by me (oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, etc.) and also its had new rear brakes (shoes and cylinders) and we gave it a new driveshaft a few months ago too. So we checked it all out and going on that and its past history (all passes - albeit at the same garage each time - until my ownership) I thought it would fly through the MOT...
Wrong...
, well, this says it all really:
==================================================
Date of test:
03/10/2012
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
61,312 Miles
Test number:
368027972475
Test station name:
FORMULA ONE AUTOCENTRES
Test station number:
5813AW
Test station telephone number:
01206 576632
Test class:
IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.2)
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.2)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.4)
Front brakes imbalanced (3.7.A.2d)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)
Oil leak
--------------------------------
Date of test:
04/10/2012
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
61,330 Miles
Test number:
357148472247
Test station name:
STS Tyrepros
Test station number:
2838A1
Test station telephone number:
01206572100
Test class:
IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front mounting bracket broken Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)
Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)
Nearside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)
Front brakes imbalanced (3.7.A.2d) **DANGEROUS**
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.4)
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.4)
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.2)
Advisory Notice issued
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)
Parking brake Your vehicle has only just met the required park brake efficiency. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.A.10)
Osf coil spring corroded
Nsf tyre worn at outer edge
Steering pump damp
==================================================
It might look stupid but the reason there's two similar tests there is this. I took it to F1 on North Station Road in Colchester and they failed it as above and came back with £420+ for repairs. I went to the place literally next door (STS Tyre Pros) and got their advice and there seems to be some sort of hostile rivalry between the two garages (accusations of 'mug' towards a particular F1 employee) and they suspected F1 had done such a botched or rip off job that they offered a brake and emissions test the same day for free. Their manager concluded it would only need a new cat' to pass. In my relief I booked an MOT for today with STS in the assured hope that there was a possibility it could pass if I really ragged it beforehand for the emissions and if it still failed they could replace the cat for £125...
... What a let down. As you can see in STS' MOT they failed it again, this time for more. Shocker! Hmmm. Apparently there was some 'mistake' on the roller test yesterday when a different guy did it.
Feeling like a pratt and let down but with no other choice (still not remembering the MOT expires on the 20th, not the 10th 
) I've given STS the go-ahead to pass it for £350+ worth of fixes. Just as well my student loan came through today! 
Sigh. Can't denied I'm a bit annoyed, especially with myself. My Dad offered to help me change the rear brakes before the MOT as the offside cylinder was leaking and so somehow feel a bit guilty that it should have passed with less issues. S'pose one plus is the rear brakes have nothing to do with the failure!
Lesson learnt: double check the MOT date, book it as early as possible, sort out the work yourself as far as possible, and don't part with £300+ unless you really don't have any other choice!
Must admit in the road tests we did after fitting the rear brakes it felt fine - did an emergency stop and all and was dead straight, but don't have a clue about those bl*ody emissions!
Sorry for the rant - just wanted to get it off my chest! Anything look odd here to any of you or is it all good and I really am just a total idiot haha?
PS: If any of you want to check out the MOT history out of interest PM me.
Either my car is suddenly knackered or they saw me coming!
Been in a bit of a palava the last couple of days. Basically MOT is due the 20th (only tonight I realised that, before I assumed it was the 10th, too late now). It's recently been serviced by me (oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, etc.) and also its had new rear brakes (shoes and cylinders) and we gave it a new driveshaft a few months ago too. So we checked it all out and going on that and its past history (all passes - albeit at the same garage each time - until my ownership) I thought it would fly through the MOT...
Wrong...
, well, this says it all really:==================================================
Date of test:
03/10/2012
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
61,312 Miles
Test number:
368027972475
Test station name:
FORMULA ONE AUTOCENTRES
Test station number:
5813AW
Test station telephone number:
01206 576632
Test class:
IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.2)
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.2)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.4)
Front brakes imbalanced (3.7.A.2d)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)
Oil leak
--------------------------------
Date of test:
04/10/2012
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
61,330 Miles
Test number:
357148472247
Test station name:
STS Tyrepros
Test station number:
2838A1
Test station telephone number:
01206572100
Test class:
IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front mounting bracket broken Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)
Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)
Nearside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)
Front brakes imbalanced (3.7.A.2d) **DANGEROUS**
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.4)
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.4)
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.2)
Advisory Notice issued
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)
Parking brake Your vehicle has only just met the required park brake efficiency. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.A.10)
Osf coil spring corroded
Nsf tyre worn at outer edge
Steering pump damp
==================================================
It might look stupid but the reason there's two similar tests there is this. I took it to F1 on North Station Road in Colchester and they failed it as above and came back with £420+ for repairs. I went to the place literally next door (STS Tyre Pros) and got their advice and there seems to be some sort of hostile rivalry between the two garages (accusations of 'mug' towards a particular F1 employee) and they suspected F1 had done such a botched or rip off job that they offered a brake and emissions test the same day for free. Their manager concluded it would only need a new cat' to pass. In my relief I booked an MOT for today with STS in the assured hope that there was a possibility it could pass if I really ragged it beforehand for the emissions and if it still failed they could replace the cat for £125...
... What a let down. As you can see in STS' MOT they failed it again, this time for more. Shocker! Hmmm. Apparently there was some 'mistake' on the roller test yesterday when a different guy did it.
Feeling like a pratt and let down but with no other choice (still not remembering the MOT expires on the 20th, not the 10th ) I've given STS the go-ahead to pass it for £350+ worth of fixes. Just as well my student loan came through today! Sigh.
Can't denied I'm a bit annoyed, especially with myself. My Dad offered to help me change the rear brakes before the MOT as the offside cylinder was leaking and so somehow feel a bit guilty that it should have passed with less issues. S'pose one plus is the rear brakes have nothing to do with the failure!Lesson learnt: double check the MOT date, book it as early as possible, sort out the work yourself as far as possible, and don't part with £300+ unless you really don't have any other choice!
Must admit in the road tests we did after fitting the rear brakes it felt fine - did an emergency stop and all and was dead straight, but don't have a clue about those bl*ody emissions!
Sorry for the rant - just wanted to get it off my chest! Anything look odd here to any of you or is it all good and I really am just a total idiot haha?
PS: If any of you want to check out the MOT history out of interest PM me.
