The Car Thread

[Yakumo]

the video is now up online - http://www.segagagadomain.com/videos...e-aug-2010.htm

If streaming is a little slow then you may be better downloading the file then playing it on a video player. Worked fine for me though.

Here's a screen grab of a section from the video.



Yakumo

[Shez]

As a couple of you already know I work in the motor trade mainly in mot testing (i have my own testing station)

So, I get to see some truly shocking things on cars, and also how oblivious some people are in respect of not only their own safety but that of others too.

Prime example: Last week, I had a young lady in with an 1998 escort, loaded up with 3 child seats, two in the rear and on in the front. I tested the car which had a whole list of failure items, but in particular all four tyres where worn so badly that they canvas of the tyres was the main form of grip. The tread, and rubber had disappeared, so she was basically running around on the carcas of the tyre.

I see worn tyres quite a lot, and seeing canvas isnt a big surprise, but on all 4 tyres and one full of child seats, well, it does make me wonder.

On receiving the news, I had to listen to a sob story about how I was cutting of her lifeline...

On a seperate note i'll put some pictures up later of nice tidy car :P

[EvilBoris]

My car passed it's MOT today. Whoop
I always get nervous it will fail

[vanpeebles]

Hey SS004, how would you test an N reg Mini that had a cat but the engine had been replaced with one from the 80s?

[Shez]

Alright mate,

You apply the standard to which ever is older, so for you it would be the engine - The only thing a testing station might ask for is proof of the engine year which is down to you to provide.

[vanpeebles]

Would you still expect it to have a cat as it's after the 1992 cut off point? And could you tell if it had one or not? Also would proof would be acceptable?

[prinnysquad]

When we traded in our old car to part-finance the new one, a few years ago, it was in a bit of a state.

A 52 polo, with dodgy suspension, knackered brakes, an iffy clutch, four knacked tyres, a sizable dent in the boot, and quite grubby. Yet it was a top car, and served us proud.

Anyway, we were driving through Stanley today and saw it!

It looked tip-top. Gleaming clean, nice tyres, no dent in the boot, the works. An old couple were inside, and it seems like they really look after it.

Really made the missus' day, in a way.

[Shez]

Would you still expect it to have a cat as it's after the 1992 cut off point? And could you tell if it had one or not? Also would proof would be acceptable?

Nah mate, forget about the cat, an mot test doesnt check the cat or to see if a cat is fitted. It checks emission readings, and then the car will pass/fail accordingly.

So, for example if your mini has a 1988 engine fitted to it, even though it is a 1995 registered car an mot station will apply the limits from 1988, which are way way more lenient than from 1995.

This is why the test station will ask for proof of engine age - Not all stations will ask to be honest, but they should if they know what they are doing. In fact some testers would just test to 1995 limits, because they are clueless to this ruling

As for proof, it can be a lot of things, a main dealer letterhead confirming engine age is the norm, although I guess that would be quite tricky to get in your case. The log book of the donor car which shows engine number would work or even a letterhead from a garage/mechanic/engine builder stating engine number and age.

[vanpeebles]

Just to expand further, the engine will be a mid 80s japanese turbo diesel unit. What do you come across most when testing old minis apart from rust? Do you get flip fronts and all kinds?

[Shez]

aaahh, a diesel emission test is totally different to petrol, so it doesnt matter if the engine is a 1985 or a 2005, it will have to meet the same emission limit

I don't get that many minis in to be honest, the last one I had in, my old man had restored it, or at least he had put a new front end on it and a couple of door skins.

[charlesr]

If you read the MOT manual careful, there's something about "seeing" the cat (petrol?). You can pass the emissions all you want but officially if they can't see a cat, it's a fail. I doubt anyone ever checks though if the emissions are ok.

[vanpeebles]

Oo the diesel smoke test sounds even better.

[Shez]

If you read the MOT manual careful, there's something about "seeing" the cat (petrol?). You can pass the emissions all you want but officially if they can't see a cat, it's a fail. I doubt anyone ever checks though if the emissions are ok.

Nah Charles that's not right, there is no reason for rejection, and never has been in regards to whether a cat is fitted or not. It's one of the biggest misconceptions going.

The manual refers to post aug 92 emissions tests as a 'catalyst' or 'cat' test, and that is what causes the confusion.

Of course the likelyhood is that if a car has been de-cated it will not be below the limits anyway.

[charlesr]

Hmm. I asked about this on an Impreza forum and someone wrote out the details from the test. I'll see if I can find it. It won't let me search for MOT though - too short

[Plough Boy]

SS004 - don't put too much effort into those replies for vanpeebles.

He has been 'repairing' that Mini for the last 10 years.
By the time he finishes it all the rules will have changed again.