MOT lights requirement

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G

Greg

Guest
I'm in the process of removing all the crap the previous owner saw fit to
accessorize my 72 Landi with, blue lights, spots, air horns, military PA (I
kid you not), and am trying to find out just what is needed for the MOT,
from my rather out of date Haynes MOT book I think the following is correct
but would welcome some expert views, particularly on the last item which I
think is just plain wrong in Haynes:

No need for hazards
No need for side repeaters
No need for rear fog light (though for safety I may well leave that one on)
No need for reversing lights (Haynes makes no mention of them at all?)
No need for trailer socket to function (Haynes makes no mention but surely
you have to have the audible indication of turn indicators?)
Must have number plate lights (but it's never had them and they are not
shown on the S3 wiring diagram!)

Greg


 
On or around Sun, 20 Aug 2006 13:56:45 +0100, "Greg"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>I'm in the process of removing all the crap the previous owner saw fit to
>accessorize my 72 Landi with, blue lights, spots, air horns, military PA (I
>kid you not), and am trying to find out just what is needed for the MOT,
>from my rather out of date Haynes MOT book I think the following is correct
>but would welcome some expert views, particularly on the last item which I
>think is just plain wrong in Haynes:
>
>No need for hazards
>No need for side repeaters
>No need for rear fog light (though for safety I may well leave that one on)
>No need for reversing lights (Haynes makes no mention of them at all?)
>No need for trailer socket to function (Haynes makes no mention but surely
>you have to have the audible indication of turn indicators?)
>Must have number plate lights (but it's never had them and they are not
>shown on the S3 wiring diagram!)


If you assert that it's only used in daytime, you don't need headlights.

never actually tried to get one tested on that basis, but it's true.

the SIII does have a number plate light...

trailer sockets are not testable although you'll be open to a booking for
non-functional trailer lights.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then
something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination -
we learned to talk." Pink Floyd (1994)
 
Austin Shackles wrote:
> On or around Sun, 20 Aug 2006 13:56:45 +0100, "Greg"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>> I'm in the process of removing all the crap the previous owner saw
>> fit to accessorize my 72 Landi with, blue lights, spots, air horns,
>> military PA (I kid you not), and am trying to find out just what is
>> needed for the MOT, from my rather out of date Haynes MOT book I
>> think the following is correct but would welcome some expert views,
>> particularly on the last item which I think is just plain wrong in
>> Haynes:
>>
>> No need for hazards
>> No need for side repeaters
>> No need for rear fog light (though for safety I may well leave that
>> one on) No need for reversing lights (Haynes makes no mention of
>> them at all?)
>> No need for trailer socket to function (Haynes makes no mention but
>> surely you have to have the audible indication of turn indicators?)
>> Must have number plate lights (but it's never had them and they are
>> not shown on the S3 wiring diagram!)

>
> If you assert that it's only used in daytime, you don't need
> headlights.
>
> never actually tried to get one tested on that basis, but it's true.
>
> the SIII does have a number plate light...
>
> trailer sockets are not testable although you'll be open to a booking
> for non-functional trailer lights.


Never tested one on the computer but on the old style certs you just wrote
"daytime use only"

also just to add if it has hazards fitted they must work but they don't need
to be fitted
before 1986 I think
--
Andy

SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
It's big, it's mean it's really, really green


 
My 73 Series 3 has:

No hazards,
No side repeaters
No rear fog
No reversing light
Non funtioning trailer socket (must get round to fixing it)
No audible bleep for the indicators

It does have a rear number plate lamp I think that is all that is required.


--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes


"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm in the process of removing all the crap the previous owner saw fit to
> accessorize my 72 Landi with, blue lights, spots, air horns, military PA

(I
> kid you not), and am trying to find out just what is needed for the MOT,
> from my rather out of date Haynes MOT book I think the following is

correct
> but would welcome some expert views, particularly on the last item which I
> think is just plain wrong in Haynes:
>
> No need for hazards
> No need for side repeaters
> No need for rear fog light (though for safety I may well leave that one

on)
> No need for reversing lights (Haynes makes no mention of them at all?)
> No need for trailer socket to function (Haynes makes no mention but surely
> you have to have the audible indication of turn indicators?)
> Must have number plate lights (but it's never had them and they are not
> shown on the S3 wiring diagram!)
>
> Greg
>
>



 
"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> If you assert that it's only used in daytime, you don't need headlights.


I don't think I'll try that one thanks :cool:

> the SIII does have a number plate light...


Later ones did, they are shown in the 1988 parts catalogue, but not in the
1973 catalogue that I can see or in the original wiring diagram which is
here:
http://www.landrover.ee/est/files/manuals/cars/sIII/SIII_ROM_Part_7.pdf

along with a load of other useful manuals that people might be interested
in:
http://www.landrover.ee/est/varia/downloads/cars.htm

But Haynes says they are needed with no mention of older vehicles being
exempt, I just need to know if I have to retrofit them.

> trailer sockets are not testable although you'll be open to a booking for
> non-functional trailer lights.


Yes I'll get it working before I tow, I just wondered if they actually
tested it at the MOT.

Greg


 
Austin Shackles wrote:

|| If you assert that it's only used in daytime, you don't need
|| headlights.
||
|| never actually tried to get one tested on that basis, but it's true.

Got an MoT on Tiggrr on that basis - advised that "vehicle should not be
used in poor visibility or at night." No position lights, heads or no.
plate light at all. Curiously, I had fitted high-level rear fogs as brake
lights in case I ever took it comping, and the tester asked me to disable
them before the test. All or nothing, apparently.

--
Rich
==============================

Take out the obvious to email me.


 
Greg wrote:

|| I'm in the process of removing all the crap the previous owner saw
|| fit to accessorize my 72 Landi with, blue lights, spots, air horns,
|| military PA (I kid you not), and am trying to find out just what is
|| needed for the MOT, from my rather out of date Haynes MOT book I
|| think the following is correct but would welcome some expert views,
|| particularly on the last item which I think is just plain wrong in
|| Haynes:
||
|| No need for hazards
|| No need for side repeaters
|| No need for rear fog light (though for safety I may well leave that
|| one on) No need for reversing lights (Haynes makes no mention of
|| them at all?)
|| No need for trailer socket to function (Haynes makes no mention but
|| surely you have to have the audible indication of turn indicators?)
|| Must have number plate lights (but it's never had them and they are
|| not shown on the S3 wiring diagram!)
||
|| Greg

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manuals.htm has the full tester's manual, although
you need to persevere a bit with some stuff - it's not the easiest read.
I've found it pretty useful over the years.

--
Rich
==============================

Take out the obvious to email me.


 
On or around Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:19:05 +0100, "Greg"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> If you assert that it's only used in daytime, you don't need headlights.

>
>I don't think I'll try that one thanks :cool:
>
>> the SIII does have a number plate light...

>
>Later ones did, they are shown in the 1988 parts catalogue, but not in the
>1973 catalogue that I can see or in the original wiring diagram which is
>here:
>http://www.landrover.ee/est/files/manuals/cars/sIII/SIII_ROM_Part_7.pdf


well, mine's 1971 and has one. could have been retrofitted, of course. The
early SIII has the same rear lights as the SII with the white window in the
bottom to let it be a number plate light as well.


--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
Robert Frost (1874-1963) from Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
 
Thats interesting my series was built in 73, it has two number plates on the
rear and the right hand one has a light fitted which looks original to me.
Mind you the number plate itself is held on by duct tape which presumably is
not a failure point on the MOT :)

--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes

>
> Later ones did, they are shown in the 1988 parts catalogue, but not in the
> 1973 catalogue that I can see or in the original wiring diagram which is
> here:
> http://www.landrover.ee/est/files/manuals/cars/sIII/SIII_ROM_Part_7.pdf
>
> along with a load of other useful manuals that people might be interested
> in:
> http://www.landrover.ee/est/varia/downloads/cars.htm
>
> But Haynes says they are needed with no mention of older vehicles being
> exempt, I just need to know if I have to retrofit them.
>
> > trailer sockets are not testable although you'll be open to a booking

for
> > non-functional trailer lights.

>
> Yes I'll get it working before I tow, I just wondered if they actually
> tested it at the MOT.
>
> Greg
>
>



 
Greg wrote:

|| "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote
|| in message news:[email protected]...
||| http://www.motuk.co.uk/manuals.htm has the full tester's manual,
||| although you need to persevere a bit with some stuff - it's not the
||| easiest read. I've found it pretty useful over the years.
||
|| Thanks for that Richard, a very useful link, it seems to say that
|| plate lights are optional but if fitted must work.
|| Greg

That would make sense, although I thought the plate lights were compulsory
if you had position lights fitted.

--
Rich
==============================

Take out the obvious to email me.


 
"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> well, mine's 1971 and has one. could have been retrofitted, of course.

The
> early SIII has the same rear lights as the SII with the white window in

the
> bottom to let it be a number plate light as well.


Ahh, the penny's dropped, there is indeed a clear bit underneath the
tail/brake light but I didn't spot it as it was so full of muck that no
light could escape :cool:. Later ones had a separate rectangular plastic light
assembly just for the plate, it's shown in the 1988 parts list and a couple
are going on EBay.
Thanks everyone.
Greg


 
"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> That would make sense, although I thought the plate lights were compulsory
> if you had position lights fitted.


I would have expected that a light was as compulsory as a plate, not much
point in the plate if noone can read it :cool:, the wording is a bit odd:

"Registration plate lamps are the lamps that illuminate the rear
registration plate. Some vehicles may have these lamps fitted behind the
number plate."

The "some vehicles" bit could mean that some don't have them. or it could
just possibly mean that some have them shining through a translucent plate
but I've never heard of such a thing.
Greg


 

"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
<snip>
>
> The "some vehicles" bit could mean that some don't have them. or it
> could
> just possibly mean that some have them shining through a translucent
> plate
> but I've never heard of such a thing.


There were several types fitted to some of the posher vehicles of the
mid-thirties onwards. A common one was made by Lucas, with numbers and
letters (made by Ace Cornercroft or Bluemels) held in a frame behind
glass, and illuminated by a 5W bulb at each end. Each character took
the form of a translucent raised area on an opaque black background.
Early number plate boxes had one "D" tail light and one reversing light,
later ones had divided D lamps to give a tail lamp at each end of the
plate. Others, like the Mk VI Bentley, had circular lights at each end.

IIRC some buses used rear-illuminated translucent number plates in the
fifties.

If anyone happens to have any of the translucent numbers or letters,
even just the odd one or two spare, I'd be delighted to hear from them.


--
Kevin Poole
**Use current month and year to reply (e.g. [email protected])***

 
In message <[email protected]>, Greg
<[email protected]> writes
>"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> If you assert that it's only used in daytime, you don't need headlights.

>
>I don't think I'll try that one thanks :cool:
>
>> the SIII does have a number plate light...

>
>Later ones did, they are shown in the 1988 parts catalogue, but not in the
>1973 catalogue that I can see or in the original wiring diagram which is
>here:
>http://www.landrover.ee/est/files/manuals/cars/sIII/SIII_ROM_Part_7.pdf
>
>along with a load of other useful manuals that people might be interested
>in:
>http://www.landrover.ee/est/varia/downloads/cars.htm
>
>But Haynes says they are needed with no mention of older vehicles being
>exempt, I just need to know if I have to retrofit them.
>
>> trailer sockets are not testable although you'll be open to a booking for
>> non-functional trailer lights.

>
>Yes I'll get it working before I tow, I just wondered if they actually
>tested it at the MOT.
>
>Greg
>
>

You must have some audible or visual indication that the indicators
either a) are working or b) are not working.

--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting
 

hugh wrote:

> You must have some audible or visual indication that the indicators
> either a) are working or b) are not working.


As far as the turn indicators on the vehicle, yes that's very clear and
not a problem as it has the two small lights on the instrument console.

But as far as the trailer is concerned I can't see how they can fail
you for not having an indication of trailer light failure (i.e. the
classic buzzer unit) when said buzzer only sounds IF there are lights
plugged into a socket that is itself not testable?

There may well be something in the construction and use regs but the
MOT testers manual on the web doesn't mention towing at all that I can
find. I will fix the socket before towing, but it doesn't seem to be a
priority for the MOT.

Greg

 
In message <[email protected]>, Greg
<[email protected]> writes
>
>hugh wrote:
>
>> You must have some audible or visual indication that the indicators
>> either a) are working or b) are not working.

>
>As far as the turn indicators on the vehicle, yes that's very clear and
>not a problem as it has the two small lights on the instrument console.
>
>But as far as the trailer is concerned I can't see how they can fail
>you for not having an indication of trailer light failure (i.e. the
>classic buzzer unit) when said buzzer only sounds IF there are lights
>plugged into a socket that is itself not testable?
>
>There may well be something in the construction and use regs but the
>MOT testers manual on the web doesn't mention towing at all that I can
>find. I will fix the socket before towing, but it doesn't seem to be a
>priority for the MOT.
>
>Greg
>

Two separate issues - Is it tested in the MOT? Does your vehicle comply
with construction and use regulations?
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting
 
"hugh" <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Two separate issues - Is it tested in the MOT? Does your vehicle comply
> with construction and use regulations?


Yes that's how I understand the situation, the MOT tests a sub-set of the
regulations. Right now my first concern is to tidy her up so she walks the
MOT, fingers crossed :cool:.

Greg


 
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