Failed MOT

HI

I am stressed as I have just got my 2001 TD4ES Freelander MOT'd today to find out it failed. They reckon it failed on ABSas warning lamp indicates fault, nearside headlamp aim is to low and front break pads below 1.5mm thickness.

I am not convinced at all I have to say. First off the flippin ABS light is not on so I don't know what they are talking about. I did try to politely say to him does he realize that on my freelander it stays on until it goes over 5mph and he said yes he did and it is still on. I said it is not on you must have made a mistake and even showed him but all he said is it was a fail anyway. I had the car service in August and was told that the breaks were okay and have only done 2k miles since then.

What do you guys think should I get it retested somewhere else or just put up and shut up?

Thanks for listening to my rant!

When the tester logs the car onto the VOSA computer at the start of the test, the system tells them the correct ABS lamp / self test sequence. Therefore he should have known whether yours was working correctly or not.
Ask him to see it, so that you can understand the problem - if he refuses, he's bluffing.

Brake pad thickness is not part of the test - only efficiency, balance and lack of warning lights. He can only advise if they're low.

Any decent tester would have just adjusted the headlamp for you - 2 minute job.

mmmm thats interesting because it says it failed on the pads being less than 1.5mm thick and the headlamp aim being low. The advisory notice just had the wiper blades were in poor condition but still cleaned the screen. My warning lights are off as they always have been as it only went to Landrover in October for a repair on something else and trust me they would have noticed if the fault was there then. What do you think I should do?

Hey Penny, I think your right to have a rant. The abs light did worry me that it stayed on first , I found out that was standard procedure as you are aware, The light issue , I cant believe that...! Other chap was correct any decent guy would have adjusted it up or down seeing the bonnet is normally open I guess already.. as for the brakes also correct efficency is what actually tested. Unless the brake test showed under efficent and the pads were the cause..... Blimey Rant away....!

Pad thickness is a fail point, but only if it is visible. if they cannot see it they cannot fail it.
UKMOT.com MOT Manual 3.5 Mechanical Brake Components

As said, the lamp sequence is vehicle specific, so they may just not know how it should be, and headlamp am, if they only failed it on that I'd be surprised, but they probably didn't bother to adjust it as it had other isssues.

I'd recommend removing the wheel and inspecting the pad thickness, if it's more than 1.5mm then leave them alone and dispute it with them, don't remove any dust etc or they'll claim you changed them over.
Headlight, just do the method of check on dip beam on flat road, see how high it is near car, see how far it drops over 10-20 feet, it needs to drop a bit, perhaps 6-12 inches.

Andy

Hi

The point is I am your archetypal girl and do not feel confident in taking off wheels and checking pad thickness however I cant stand being duped My father is a retired mechanic/garage owner and tells me he is surprised by what they said as he checked the pads when he serviced it and he agrees with me about the ABS warning light. He lives quiet a way away and wants to replace the pads on Thursday and have it mot'd at the same time. Shall I just let him get on with it and put it down to experience? As if he touches the pads I wont have any redress with MR Clutch (My mot station).

:scratching_chin:

Mr Clutch say no more!!

I had a very bad experiance with them years back trying to ripp me off for a new gearbox, and they had not even looked at the old one as it ended up being a very easy fix like "LOOSE BOLTS" which were casing a judder when pulling away. Took it elsewhere and it was a 30 minute fix and a £20 bill unlike the £450 they wanted.

That's at least two of us who ready you post and went "Mr Clutch!".
My other car was MOT tested at the Norwich branch recently, failed on headlight flickering- it didn't flicker when I drove it there, when I drove it home, when i kept tapping it at home, so why did ti flicker when they tested it?
It failed on fluid leaking form a seal on the front brakes- that "seal" was the dust cap of the bleed screw, I'd recently bled the brakes, some fluid pooled in the cap, so to fix it I just had to dry the cap out.
I called up that evening ad re-booked it, i had a bit of a rant when iwent back in, partially about the poor quality of the tests, partially as they managed to brake my ey ring while doing the test.

I know they're cheap, but in my opinion they're still not worth the £25 MOT fee they charge, I've gone back to national Autocentres who do an A discount of 20%, admittedly they charge £25 for a re-test, but it's just not worth the hassle.

Go with the option of your dad doing the pads, checking out the other items and having it done somewhere local to him that he trusts.
Andy

In defence of 'Mr Clutch' I have used my local branch for both my cars for the last couple of years and they have been fine !!! (all passed tho ....)

We'll see how they get on this time tho next month, it will be the first one for my V reg Freelander since I got it last February .....

HI

Well thanks for all your replies. Well well well I went to Landrover this morning and guess what? Mr Clutch are just Mr Clutch my wallet! They said at Landrover that there was nothing wrong with my ABS and the pads were not below 1.5mm and as for the lights being to low, okay fair enough, but fractionally and it was probably where I stuck the new bulb in and its nothing just to change that!

I have decided to go with my dad and take it to another center. They must be used to people canceling work at Mr Clutch as when I called this morning to cancel they did not ask why or try to get me to re book! Stuff Mr Clutch! uke2:

Thanks for all your advice

If yu have an MOT fail - then go back to Mr Clutch and tell them that you are going to appeal and then complain to the local MOT peeps. You have already paid once and should not have to pay again.
Did you get the LR comments in writing? If not - do so and then show Mr Clutch as proof.

HI

I could get it in writing from Landrover but I have spoken to the VOSA and they said to me they have a right to fail it on headlamp aim so I cant see how I will get away with that one!

Looks like a case of get what you pay for - someone that offers cheap MOTs isn't going to do anything above and beyond the strict letter of the test.

My son works as a tester and the station that he works at does nothing but MOT's. Therefore they have no interest in finding work for themselves by failing cars.
They carry stock of wiper blades and bulbs and will replace these during the test free of charge if necessary. They will also adjust headlamp aim or even change a wheel for the spare if it helps the car to pass.
They do however, charge the full price for the MOT (free re-test though).

They are always fully booked and turning people away!

Treworgey 90 said:

Looks like a case of get what you pay for - someone that offers cheap MOTs isn't going to do anything above and beyond the strict letter of the test.

My son works as a tester and the station that he works at does nothing but MOT's. Therefore they have no interest in finding work for themselves by failing cars.
They carry stock of wiper blades and bulbs and will replace these during the test free of charge if necessary. They will also adjust headlamp aim or even change a wheel for the spare if it helps the car to pass.
They do however, charge the full price for the MOT (free re-test though).

They are always fully booked and turning people away!

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Yeah mr clutch good for cheap n cheerfull clutches on common cars-fords vauxhalls etc. but not much else.

Penny said:

HI

I could get it in writing from Land Rover but I have spoken to the VOSA and they said to me they have a right to fail it on headlamp aim so I cant see how I will get away with that one!

Click to expand...

Get a complaint form from Mr Clutch, complain to VOSA about their test standard being for financial gain. Tell Mr Clutch that you have a written report from a Land Rover main agent that has seen the vehicle and the only thing not of test standard according to the main dealer is aim of the lights.

They might just adjust the lights and issue you a cert...if not complain to VOSA...I believe VOSA can make the testing station reimburse you if they find in your favor.

For the appeal you need to pay a full fee to have the car re-tested (think it has to be a VOSA station), you need to have left the car in the state it was in, so not worth the hassle, and if your MOT is running out and need the car you can't use it

Hi


Thought I would update you all. I had my dad do the brake pads today and guess what they have over 4mm on the pad. less than 1.5mm what a joke. Also I took it in for an MOT and guess what it passed. The tester said there was nothing wrong with brakes, ABS or Head Lamp aim and did not know what Mr Clutch for your wallet were talking about. VOSA said that I can appeal but hey what for they cant make Mr Clutch give my money back just slap their hands if they find they willfully lied and thats hardly going to happen when I have had the break done, even though I have the originals to show them. I called Mr Clutch and told them and they basically said when they checked it the ABS light was on and it was my word against theirs and I should appeal if I didn't like it.

I am not going to appeal as I have my new MOT and they wont give my money back so what the point but I have written to the local VOSA that cover the garage and they will note my complaint on file. Mr Clutch :multiply: