MOT then develops leak…

Afternoon all,
Took the FL for it's first MOT since I've owned it this morning and the guy tested the brakes on the rollers, which I questioned. He said he only does them as axle sets and can't test brake balance. This is the way he always tests them he says…

It drove ok on the way home and I think my VCU is in reasonable condition, but am still concerned about any harm that may have been done to the drive train.

Anyway, later on I went out again when I noticed a fluid leak coming from the front left side. Red fluid, my first thought was coolant after dipping my finger in it and I do know my rad has a slight weep (at the top RH side) which on the to do list…

I went along to my local LR specialist and when I got there one of the guys thought it was auto box oil, which agreed with at that point…

To quote James May "Cock!"

Will probably whip the sump guard off tomorrow and have a proper look…

Just sulking at the mo.

have you googled mot brake testing 4x4

I posted on here about it back along and found out how it should be done.

Needless to say I shall go elsewhere to get the FL MOT'd in future, which is a shame as I have used this particular for quite a few years for MOT's with no problems.

The two things may not be related…

It's a bit late now, but you should have cried halt, and insisted he do it the correct way - a road-test and using a Tapley Brake Testing Meter.

The leak may be unrelated. but it's a bit of a co-incidence, and you will have a helluva job proving any damage was due to the roller test.

Good luck with it.

Singvogel.

I know, but it was hard to know how to approach the situation at the time. The time on the rollers was very short and the fact it drives ok and is not making any horrible noises goes some way to reassuring me it's ok.

Apart from the leak anyway…

And a month down the line I wonder if you will be saying the same thing, a few years ago a mot inspector put my old one on and run it backwards, I imedeatly got in it and drove it out and went back and said any damage and you will pay, but he said running it backwards does not mess it up, and I said how on earth do you get a proper brake test any way running it backwards, he got the sack a week later after doing someone elses and the whole car came of the rollers.

Although i said i think it's ok, it is bothering me and so it'll be going to my local LR specialist next week for further investigation…

If it is buggered in any way I'll be going back to the garage via trading standards.

NeilTD4 said:

Although i said i think it's ok, it is bothering me and so it'll be going to my local LR specialist next week for further investigation…

If it is buggered in any way I'll be going back to the garage via trading standards.

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I'm surprised the rollers didn't stop and flag a fault? They should. Or the car would have jumped out the rollers all together!! You could contact VOSA who is the governing body for Mot stations. Or the cab if there is long term damage.

I took my freelander in to the council MOT station and left i with them, when i went back i was told they had to suspend the test as the brake test kept showing a fault !!!
When i told the tester it was a4x4 he said "OH that'll be why then" at least they arranged a test at a competent garage and didn't charge me, that was 2 years ago and i didn't have any probs from it

Heavy Breather said:

I took my freelander in to the council MOT station and left i with them, when i went back i was told they had to suspend the test as the brake test kept showing a fault !!!
When i told the tester it was a4x4 he said "OH that'll be why then" at least they arranged a test at a competent garage and didn't charge me, that was 2 years ago and i didn't have any probs from it

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The rollers know how much power is required to turn the wheels from the start of the test. If the wheels are to stiff to turn the rollers should stop and flag a fault!! It's there for this very reason. My Maverick used to upset the individual rear wheel test because of it's limited slip diff, although front/rear test was fine on the rollers due to it being a non permanent 4WD .

NeilTD4 said:

Afternoon all,
Took the FL for it's first MOT since I've owned it this morning and the guy tested the brakes on the rollers, which I questioned. He said he only does them as axle sets and can't test brake balance. This is the way he always tests them he says…

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NeilTD4 said:

Visited a brand new MOT station this morning. It is a lavish affair with lovely waiting room and the ability to test a lot of vehicles at once. I asked how they would test the brakes on my Freelander. They said it would go on two rollers and as one wheel would turn in the opposite direction to the other via the diff there would be no strain on the transmission. They said they have spent millions on the station and can now test any 4x4.
I imagine I will continue to go to my regular station where they use a Tapley meter.
Incidentally the mot station was deserted of customers on a saturday morning so their millions spent was not earning much!

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No 4x4 should be tested on rollers my friends a mot tester and had said
Any damage done on a mot is down to the garage

Is this correct??

HONDA HRV TEST 4X4 REAL TIME - YouTube

I have only just purchased mine and to be honest I hadn't given this a thought, but I will be checking with the station I use as to the tools and process they use..

rhodie said:

No 4x4 should be tested on rollers my friends a mot tester and had said
Any damage done on a mot is down to the garage

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I notice you are based in Hemel H. If you get the chance pop along to the new Redbourne mot station and see what you think. It seems pretty impressive to me.
I use the Apsley station, very old fashioned but thorough and fair.

Just been out and had a quick look and it's definitely coolant as I put a container under where it's dripping.

Anybody have any experience of changing a rad on a TD4 auto and costs involved?

IndiTd4 said:

Is this correct??

HONDA HRV TEST 4X4 REAL TIME - YouTube

I have only just purchased mine and to be honest I hadn't given this a thought, but I will be checking with the station I use as to the tools and process they use..

Click to expand...

Over here I had to insist that they do it like the video shows. The first guy said that often Freelander owners remove propshaft - to save fuel, he said - and there was no need to use the rollers on the rear axle. Never took it there again.

I think most testers are just lazy to put the rollers, but not after you tell them that if it breaks, they will pay

JonFre said:

I notice you are based in Hemel H. If you get the chance pop along to the new Redbourne mot station and see what you think. It seems pretty impressive to me.
I use the Apsley station, very old fashioned but thorough and fair.

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i use chiltern of bovingdon i worked the for a year the good mates

rhodie said:

Any damage done on a mot is down to the garage

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except engine failure during the diesel smoke test

All I can say as a Tester myself is report them to the ministry of transport and hopefully they may send out a mystery shopper so to speak, you never know they might get caught out and get a slap on the wrist. You do have to be so careful where you send your vehicle for any kind of work including MOT......

my pref. mot garage uses rolling road to test disco brakes for last 4 years , with no prob .
they also test all the local indy landy garages stuff . this thread seems to be saying they shouldnt , or is that just freelanders ?