MOT fail advice

Just had the MOT today and it has faild on various parts, not sure where to start with 3 of the lines:

Brake performance not tested.
Service brake efficiency below requirements.
Parking brake efficiency below requirements.

I think the hand brake is to do with the leaver as there is also a problem there I can sort that. I don't have a problem with the brake as I cant pull away with the brake on!

The other brakes I have replaced all the pads discs and calipers in the last 6 months, is the problem going to be witht the bleeding or the master cylinder, or any other ideas?

Thanks

I had a problem with the rear brakes on my Disco on the last test and was told it was, in part at least, due to the vehicle being 4 wheel drive and the test equipment is set up for 2 wheel drive.

On return test the guy did a different sort of brake test and she passed.??

The foot brake needs to be tested using a Taper meter if you have a vehcile that is perminant four wheel drive as MOT rolling roads are for two wheel drive only. The handbrake should also not be tested in the conventional manner on a Land Rover.

If the brakes where not tested then I am not sure how they came to the conclusion that they are 'below requirements'.

Hmm, that is why I don't understand why they have failed them.

Any ideas what I should do?

Ask the MOT tester for written explanation (he's required to do so if requested) Lodge an appeal with VOSA,

4WD vehicles can be tested on rolling roads. Defender / Discovery are fine on a 2 wheel rig up to 5Km/Hr. Even Gaylanders can be tested, provided the rollers counter-rotate.

It sounds like they've failed to get a satisfactory reading on the Tapley meter, so no efficiency figures are quoted. It also sounds like they don't know what they're doing with 4WDs.

You've probably got a problem with air in the system, the Master Cylinder or Vacuum pump. What does the pedal feel like / do when it is pushed?

I stayed during the test, adn they did it on a scond bay arround the corner so I could not see what they were doing all the time. They only have a 2 wheel tester next to the bay I could see and they did not apear to take it out except when they moved it in it took them a minute or so to move it from outside so maybe they did a quick test then.

The pedal feels fine and as far as I am aware the brakes are working ok.

What Red says then.

Just spoke to the guarage again, he recons that because he came up with a failure they did not carry on with the test at all. Silly as the problemn is with the handbrake handle and it is not related witht the foot brake at all.

Does that make sence to you guys too?

so the handbrake wasn't working so he didn't test the normal brakes is that right??? sounds like an idle ****er to me.. what's wrong with the handbrake?

Yes that is correct! aparently you can wiggle it violentley and it pops off again also does not always lock(sticky button) and it has no spare travel (needs a little adjustment)

If he didn't finish the test I assume you didn't have to pay the full price then.

To get
"Brake performance not tested.
Service brake efficiency below requirements.
Parking brake efficiency below requirements."
to come up on the print-out, the tester must have input Zero as the efficiency figures, because he didn't test the service brakes. He has therefore failed to carry out the MOT properly. A non-functioning Parking Brake is not a reason to "Refuse to Test". Therefore he should not have charged you for the test.

Your Service Brakes may be OK, but you won't know for sure until you get it tested again.
Report him to VOSA.

James said:

Just spoke to the guarage again, he recons that because he came up with a failure they did not carry on with the test at all. Silly as the problemn is with the handbrake handle and it is not related witht the foot brake at all.

Does that make sence to you guys too?

Click to expand...

They are still meant to carry on with the test. If you fixed the brake problems and took it back in to find it failed on something else that was like it previously you would be ****ed off. They are meant to list ALL faults so you can get them all fixed.

Report them to VOSA and demand a refund as they have charged you for a service that they have not provided.

Well, I think I have sorted the problems out, I am going to try and get a retest tomorrow, if not then I will have to wait untill next week because I am away working.

I will look into reporting them.

There are some things that can result in a "Refusal to Test" (e.g. a missing or insecure fuel filler cap), but a faulty handbrake aint one of them.

My TD5 failed on service brake efficiency 3 years ago. Idiot didn't know how to read his tap meter. Took it to another station an hour later and it passed AND was £2.00 cheaper for some reason. Didn't bother to follow it up, but if you want to avoid him he's under the arches near Catford station!

If your brakes work and the pedal's firm it ought to pass that bit of the test. btw they all seem to test the handbrake the normal way, although it can damage the car. Mine have all been OK so far - no snapped half shafts luckily. I usually have a little laugh as well when they ask if the cam belt has been changed recently on the TD5.

I have never been asked about the cam belt at all and I think they should be.

James said:

I have never been asked about the cam belt at all and I think they should be.

Click to expand...

Sorry - the point is that the TD5 doesn't have a cam belt.
They should certainly ask about it for a TDi.

I know they don't!