MOT Fail???

[spikeydude9]

So I took my S14 for an MOT today

It failed on a number of things ... rust rust rust! Which I am going to get sorted.

However my question is that one of the failure is that it has an aftermarket steering wheel fitted. From what the garage told me because it came from the factory with an airbag it needs to be present at the test. Does this mean i need to buy a stock steering wheel for the MOT?

Is this right? There is no light flashing as I have removed the bulb.

Sorry I have no experience with this but from what I've read as long as there isn't a flashing light it should pass that with an advisory??

Thanks!

[Dastardly]

Technically it's true, the MOT manual says if it came from factory with a steering wheel with an airbag then that's what it needs. However, most garages wouldn't fail it on the grounds that it's modified so they are unsure what it came what it came like from the factory. Or some garages would pass it because they know you're going to refit the aftermarket wheel after test.

[Dastardly]

Long story short, if you want that garage to do the retest then buy a 2nd hand steering wheel or take it for a full test at a friendlier garage.

[Jon]

There's no mechanism to test the steering wheel. They will be testing the behaviour of the dashboard airbag light.
From the point of view of an MoT man, the light should come on, then go off.
What series of events has led to him seeing no light at all, is not an MoT issue.

You need a friendlier tester. Which is what Dastardly said.

[green_rs13]

just wire the dash light to the oil pressure light like most people do.

[Daz]

Never had an issue with mine. So long as the Airbag light isn't flashing then it's fine.

[Mark]

Straight from the .gov website

'When testing SRS MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) lamps we are only looking to see if the lamp indicates if there is a fault with the system. If no lamp is present or it doesn’t illuminate then it can’t indicate a system fault, so it can’t be failed. '

Tell him to pass it or you will report them to VOSA

[Suspect]

Straight from the .gov website

'When testing SRS MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) lamps we are only looking to see if the lamp indicates if there is a fault with the system. If no lamp is present or it doesn’t illuminate then it can’t indicate a system fault, so it can’t be failed. '

Tell him to pass it or you will report them to VOSA

So if you remove the bulb there is no fault so it passes... correct?

[Daz]

So if you remove the bulb there is no fault so it passes... correct?

If you remove the bulb, it won't display a fault, so it can't fail.

[skyshack]

They are at liberty to make a note that there is no drivers side air bag.

Like when I failed for a leaky shock and didn't present it for re-test with nice new pair, I got a note "used strut fitted" or words to that effect.

[Actual_Ben_Taylor]

If you remove the bulb, it won't display a fault, so it can't fail.

The wording is '1. An airbag obviously missing or defective.' so that's still a fail even if you don't have a light for '2. A Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp indicating a system malfunction.'

However, there's also a clause that states:

Modified Vehicles
Where a vehicle has been extensively modified or converted, certain Reasons for Rejection, such as for components ‘missing where fitted as standard’ should not be applied, for example:

a car converted for rally use (i.e. rear seats removed and fitted with a roll cage and full harness seat belts etc.) may have been converted so as not to require a brake servo, power steering or airbags

a car converted to a stretch limousine may no longer be fitted with curtain airbags or functional Electronic Stability Control.

So you can always argue the point...

[Daz]

The wording is '1. An airbag obviously missing or defective.' so that's still a fail even if you don't have a light for '2. A Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp indicating a system malfunction.'

However, there's also a clause that states:

Modified Vehicles
Where a vehicle has been extensively modified or converted, certain Reasons for Rejection, such as for components ‘missing where fitted as standard’ should not be applied, for example:

a car converted for rally use (i.e. rear seats removed and fitted with a roll cage and full harness seat belts etc.) may have been converted so as not to require a brake servo, power steering or airbags

a car converted to a stretch limousine may no longer be fitted with curtain airbags or functional Electronic Stability Control.

So you can always argue the point...

It's a bit like the old spare wheel. You can fail for having a bald spare wheel but can't fail for not having one at all.

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[Rochester]

I'm not so sure about that. The last year or two's MOT regulation amendments include a few sneaky "anti avoidance" bits and pieces.

In particular for the S13, a requirement that a car that left the factory with a cat fitted should be presented for test with a cat fitted.

Note, not that the car has to pass the cat emissions test, just that it has one fitted if it was sold with one fitted. Though how they are going to establish in the case of each individual car presented for test that it was or wasn't sold with a cat fitted is another question.

Which is why I now have a nice sports cat fitted. One of the best mods ever, MOT friendly, eco friendly (sailed through MOT), as free flowing as the decat and no more buggering about swapping the decat pipe for cat every April in the rain.... (PS. Anyone want to buy a decent 3" bore decat pipe ? )

Suspect (though I haven't looked it up) that this may be the same sort of regulation they are referring to.

[R3K1355]

I'm not so sure about that. The last year or two's MOT regulation amendments include a few sneaky "anti avoidance" bits and pieces.

In particular for the S13, a requirement that a car that left the factory with a cat fitted should be presented for test with a cat fitted.

Actually I don't think it does, the wording in the manual is:

On spark ignition engine vehicles that qualify for a full catalyst emissions test and all compression ignition vehicles check the presence of catalytic converter(s) and particulate filter(s)

If your car doesn't not qualify for the test then there is no requirement to check for the presence of a cat

It's a bit like the old spare wheel. You can fail for having a bald spare wheel but can't fail for not having one at all.

Not quite, in the MOT manual it specifically says to inspect:

As far as practicable, check that all airbags fitted as original equipment are present and not obviously defective.

and a failure of the test because:

An airbag obviously missing or defective.

Note: A passenger airbag that has been
switched off is not a Reason for Rejection.

So if it came from the factory with an airbag it needs to have one fitted for the test.

[bahis]

Which is why I now have a nice sports cat fitted. One of the best mods ever, MOT friendly, eco friendly (sailed through MOT), as free flowing as the decat and no more buggering about swapping the decat pipe for cat every April in the rain.... (PS. Anyone want to buy a decent 3" bore decat pipe ? )

Suspect (though I haven't looked it up) that this may be the same sort of regulation they are referring to.

I once had my car on a dyno with a sports cat and with a decat. Got 5hp more with the sports cat. (430hp vs. 435hp if I remember correctly)

[skyshack]

I once had my car on a dyno with a sports cat and with a decat. Got 5hp more with the sports cat. (430hp vs. 435hp if I remember correctly)

1% is far less than a dyno result repeatability.

[bahis]

Well that's just the point. It just shows that a sports cat doesn't restrict power...