Opinions on MOT - LR garage or not?

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J

Judith

Guest
Hello

Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering
where to take him.

My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all
their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local
garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.

So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of
Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should
I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be
an MOT!

In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as
just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible
for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall
we say, on the borderline.

Judith
 
Judith vaguely muttered something like ...
> Hello
>
> Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering
> where to take him.
>
> My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all
> their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local
> garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.
>
> So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of
> Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should
> I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be
> an MOT!
>
> In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as
> just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible
> for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall
> we say, on the borderline.
>
> Judith

Just had mine ('96 300 Tdi 3door manual Discovery) done, straight pass ..
whoopeee ... not that I expected anything else of course, knowing my brake
pads need renewing really, though the MOT chappie says there's plenty life
in 'em yet .. ;)

We use the local Council test Centre, where they also do everything else on
the road including Artics and buses .. I've never seen a more stringent test
or testers .. which makes me feel much happier than 'honest Joe's' ... ;)
They also don't have an attached, or an arrangement with, the local garage,
so don't suggest prices to 'fix' things .. ;)


--
Paul ...

(8(|) ... Homer Rocks

"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."


 
On Tuesday, in article
<[email protected]>
[email protected] "Judith" wrote:

> Hello
>
> Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering
> where to take him.
>
> My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all
> their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local
> garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.
>
> So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of
> Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should
> I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be
> an MOT!
>
> In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as
> just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible
> for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall
> we say, on the borderline.

With that attitude, you aren't going to go far wrong, whichever you
choose, but

--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"History shows that the Singularity started when Sir Tim Berners-Lee
was bitten by a radioactive spider."
 
In my opinion some of the things on the MOT test are not safety features at
all, they should stick to brakes, lights, steering, tyres and perhaps gross
body or chassis rot.

As to things like windscreen washers, it depends on whether they feel like
working or not, and exhausts blowing should be something between you and
your neighbours. (mind you I have just fixed mine properly at last)

I would not take mine to an independant garage.


--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"


"Judith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello
>
> Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering
> where to take him.
>
> My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all
> their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local
> garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.
>
> So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of
> Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should
> I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be
> an MOT!
>
> In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as
> just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible
> for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall
> we say, on the borderline.
>
> Judith


 


"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> In my opinion some of the things on the MOT test are not safety features at
> all, they should stick to brakes, lights, steering, tyres and perhaps gross
> body or chassis rot.
>
> As to things like windscreen washers, it depends on whether they feel like
> working or not, and exhausts blowing should be something between you and
> your neighbours. (mind you I have just fixed mine properly at last)
>
> I would not take mine to an independant garage.
>
>
So your driving down the motorway your windscreen gets covered in crap
you turn your wipers on and it smears across the screen so you can't
see out of it but your washers don't work cos there not a safety item

or

your driving down the motorway exhaust blowing being in a Land Rover
that's air tight ;-) you start to nod off due to carbon monoxide poisoning
but you'll be ok cos it's not a safety item

I agree some items are not safety related but most are

As for taking it to an independent garage all MOT's should be the same
having said that not all testers are aware of Land Rover quirks
If your not happy with any item it's failed on ask to see the manual
they have to show you what it says

Andy
MOT tester (unfortunately)
--
SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
It's big it's mean it's really really green


 
If you live anywhere rural try to go where the local farmers go. Those
garages are usually good value and fair. They have to be with that taut
fisted lot !! :))


"Judith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello
>
> Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering
> where to take him.
>
> My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all
> their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local
> garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.
>
> So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of
> Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should
> I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be
> an MOT!
>
> In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as
> just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible
> for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall
> we say, on the borderline.
>
> Judith


 
In message <[email protected]>, Judith
<[email protected]> writes
>Hello
>
>Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering
>where to take him.
>
>My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all
>their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local
>garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.
>
>So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of
>Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should
>I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be
>an MOT!
>
>In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as
>just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible
>for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall
>we say, on the borderline.
>
>Judith
Personally I'd take mine to someone who knows Landies and knows what to
expect. Just my opinion. What you want is an honest assessment of your
vehicle, passed if it meets the legal requirements and advised on things
which are marginal or not covered by the MOT.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting
 
I can punch out the glass can't I or stick my head out the window, landie
drivers need to be ingenios,

Worse things have happened on the motorway, I have had gearboxes catch fire
twice (not on a landie)

As for carbon monoxide poisoning, it is not exactly like I am hermetically
sealed into the cab is it ?

The fact that the washers may work during an MOT test does not guarantee
they will ever after and sods law dictates that they won't when you most
need them.




"Andy.Smalley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
>
> So your driving down the motorway your windscreen gets covered in crap
> you turn your wipers on and it smears across the screen so you can't
> see out of it but your washers don't work cos there not a safety item
>
> or
>
> your driving down the motorway exhaust blowing being in a Land Rover
> that's air tight ;-) you start to nod off due to carbon monoxide poisoning
> but you'll be ok cos it's not a safety item
>
> I agree some items are not safety related but most are
>
> As for taking it to an independent garage all MOT's should be the same
> having said that not all testers are aware of Land Rover quirks
> If your not happy with any item it's failed on ask to see the manual
> they have to show you what it says
>
> Andy
> MOT tester (unfortunately)
> --
> SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
> It's big it's mean it's really really green
>
>


 
On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 19:58:36 +0100, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:

>Personally I'd take mine to someone who knows Landies and knows what to
>expect. Just my opinion. What you want is an honest assessment of your
>vehicle, passed if it meets the legal requirements and advised on things
>which are marginal or not covered by the MOT.


I think you're right. I'll take it to the garage that does the MOTs
for the franchised dealer. Hopefully I won't have to pay the silly
full MOT price if I go direct rather than through the dealer.

I used to have fun with the Series III. The local (non LR) garage
couldn't work out how to open the bonnet (because there's no lever
inside the cab!) or how to switch on the side/headlights and I would
never let them test the brakes on a rolling road! (I can get right
stroppy, I can!)

Judith


 
Judith wrote:

>
> I would never let them test the brakes on a rolling road!

Why? Any series that is in 2WD is fine on a rolling road - you may have
got stroppy but you were also 100% *wrong*.

--
EMB
change two to number to reply
 
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:45:55 +1200, EMB <[email protected]> wrote:

>Why? Any series that is in 2WD is fine on a rolling road - you may have
>got stroppy but you were also 100% *wrong*.

I knew someone would say that! I can't remember what the "rules" are
now but at the time I am sure I understood how my transmission worked
and what would not damage the vehicle. Perhaps I told them not to put
it in 4WD? (I've now emptied my brain of Series' transmission and
replaced it with Disco etc).

The point I was trying to make is that most garages deal with simple
front-wheel drive cars and do not understand anything different .....
so I was just trying to protect my Land Rover from people who relished
the thought of playing with something a bit meatier to normal but may
not know a) what specifically to look for in this dual-purpose sort of
vehicle and b) the effect that their actions may have on something
they've never seen before (like a yellow knob.)

Judith

 
Always be present to give advice to the examiner as he does the test.

I remember I once had a 4wd drive Subaru took it a local fit and forget type
place and had the tester report that the had brake was non functional. I
explained that the hand brake worked on the front wheels. Watched then put
back on the ramp lift it and every 'fitter' came and had a look at the front
callipers, then back onto the rolling road and I was told that the hand
brake was now fine.

So be there and 'remind' then that the hand brake is a transmission brake
(should be obvious when they are examining the underside) so you would
appreciate if they applied it gently as not to wreck your propshafts, u'js
etc.

Andy

"Judith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:45:55 +1200, EMB <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Why? Any series that is in 2WD is fine on a rolling road - you may have
> >got stroppy but you were also 100% *wrong*.
>
> I knew someone would say that! I can't remember what the "rules" are
> now but at the time I am sure I understood how my transmission worked
> and what would not damage the vehicle. Perhaps I told them not to put
> it in 4WD? (I've now emptied my brain of Series' transmission and
> replaced it with Disco etc).
>
> The point I was trying to make is that most garages deal with simple
> front-wheel drive cars and do not understand anything different .....
> so I was just trying to protect my Land Rover from people who relished
> the thought of playing with something a bit meatier to normal but may
> not know a) what specifically to look for in this dual-purpose sort of
> vehicle and b) the effect that their actions may have on something
> they've never seen before (like a yellow knob.)
>
> Judith
>


 
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> Judith wrote:
>
> >
> > I would never let them test the brakes on a rolling road!
>
> Why? Any series that is in 2WD is fine on a rolling road - you may have
> got stroppy but you were also 100% *wrong*.

With a Disco, what's the "correct" way of testing the brakes then, and
should I need to find a specialised tester?

Cheers,
Aled.
 
Aled wrote:

>
> With a Disco, what's the "correct" way of testing the brakes then, and
> should I need to find a specialised tester?

Rolling road brake testers are low speed and are fine on full time 4WD
vehicles - so long as they don't sit there for hours with just one set
of wheels spinning. Worry not about it.

--
EMB
change two to number to reply
 



"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I can punch out the glass can't I or stick my head out the window, landie
> drivers need to be ingenios,
>
> Worse things have happened on the motorway, I have had gearboxes catch fire
> twice (not on a landie)
>
> As for carbon monoxide poisoning, it is not exactly like I am hermetically
> sealed into the cab is it ?
>
> The fact that the washers may work during an MOT test does not guarantee
> they will ever after and sods law dictates that they won't when you most
> need them.
>

I agree with what your saying I once tested a car, gave the
bloke the test certificate as he was reversing out he turned
on his headlights and one went very bright, went out and
blew the fuse so both headlights were out, he got out of
the car and asked if I was going to fail it I said no as they
had worked at the time of testing

the point I was trying to make was that most of the items
tested in the mot could all be classed as safety related,
if you 'twist' them enough with the exception of a couple
like emissions, number plate light

Andy

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




 
In <[email protected]> EMB wrote:
> Aled wrote:
>
>>
>> With a Disco, what's the "correct" way of testing the brakes then,
>> and should I need to find a specialised tester?
>
> Rolling road brake testers are low speed and are fine on full time 4WD
> vehicles - so long as they don't sit there for hours with just one set
> of wheels spinning. Worry not about it.

True, unless they have a viscous centre diff such as Classic RR and
vehicles based on it.

cheers

Dave W.
http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/
 
"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> The fact that the washers may work during an MOT test does not guarantee
> they will ever after and sods law dictates that they won't when you most
> need them.
>

Actually sods law says that the windscreen washers work perfectly and
powerfully right up until the moment the MOT tester presses the knob, and
then two large pieces of green snot block both washer jets simultaneously.
......But then you could argue that THAT is when you most need them to work.
;)

Steve


 
On or around Tue, 10 Aug 2004 18:32:11 +0100, "Larry" <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>As to things like windscreen washers, it depends on whether they feel like
>working or not, and exhausts blowing should be something between you and
>your neighbours. (mind you I have just fixed mine properly at last)

if the 'zorst blows CO into the cabin, and you could pass out while driving
it, with possibly fatal results.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or
drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear the
flying chariot through the field of air.- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)
 
On or around Wed, 11 Aug 2004 10:09 +0100 (BST),
[email protected] (Niamh Holding) enlightened us thusly:

>In article <[email protected]>,
>[email protected] (Aled) wrote:
>
>>
>> With a Disco, what's the "correct" way of testing the brakes then, and
>> should I need to find a specialised tester?
>
>The place we use drives down the road with a passenger holding an inertia
>tester :)

only ever had that once, on an old SI, which had so much transmission drag
that it made no sense on the rolling road.

disco should be fine, provided you don't engage the centre diff lock.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or
drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear the
flying chariot through the field of air.- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)
 
On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 23:24:05 +0100, "Andrew Carr"
<[email protected]> made me spill my meths when he wrote:

>Always be present to give advice to the examiner as he does the test.

You're not wrong there.

Came back to collect the Land Rover from the local test and was told
they took quarter of an hour to suss out the military NATO light
switch on the Carawagon, "we knew it worked somehow because you came
in with the lights on". They gave up on the switch that said 'Infra
Red', must have thought it was one of those quick tan sun beds in the
back.

All the best
--
Wayne Davies - Mobile 07989 556213 - Harrogate, N.Yorks, UK
 
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