MOT (Failed)

[ComicalEngineer]

Just took the Disco for the MOT.

Knew I might have a might have a couple of issues but the tester went a bit hard on the old girl and knocked a couple of holes in the underside (wheelarches and associated areas) within 30cm etc... He also found some play in a couple of the muddy bits. :(

He also condemned one of my rear shocks, rubber bushes & a couple of other minor things that I can fix myself (at a price).

Unfortunately I sold my MIG welder some years ago when I got rid of the MG so it looks like the MOT will cost me somewhat more than I had budgetted for.

This means that my plans for improving the motor have been dented for the time being. Was planning to replace the squeaking alternator, fit a decat pipe and electric fan and get some tyres that work better on road than the Insa Saharas. Oh, and the radiator fins are corroded so I'm budgetting for a new radiator after winter!

Is there a simley for "really hacked off"?

[ScottTDI]

that sucks, sorry to hear it.
But, if you can weld and got the rest of the kit but not the welder, would it not work out cheaper to hire a mig and do it your self?

as for a electric fan, go to a car breakers and get some from a seirra DOHC or a BMW 8 series (E31). the BMW one can cool down a V12, so should be able to handel any lump you got in yours.

EDIT:=- Decat pipe, when you got the welder do that at the same time. :)

[sniff my diff]

Aldi are selling welders at the moment for £40 might get ya out of trouble..

Sound like the tester was on a bit of a mission:(

[m1ecy]

No worse than when they did mine! - and the tester was a mate!

Bad luck, not a nice place to have to weld up either - hope the body mounts are ok by the floor.

The MOT is a miserable thing!

[ComicalEngineer]

Oddly enough, the only significantly rusty bits are the rear arches and a small hole in the inner front wing.

Even the boot floor is fine.

I wasn't impressed with the test. Ok, one of the arches I could buy but the other was marginal and his excuse for the inner wing was that it was within 30cm of the brake servo! I had to bit my tongue to prevent commenting that the inner wing isn't structural but the bulk head (which isn't rusty) is! Arguing with testers is a sure way to get a bunch more jobs to do!

I've got someone to do the welding reasonably cheaply since i'm up against a time problem too. He's also given me a good price for sorting a couple of other jobs out so fingers crossed. Will know the financial damage next Thursday!

[stevied645]

Aldi are selling welders at the moment for £40 might get ya out of trouble..

Sound like the tester was on a bit of a mission:(

Are those welders down to £40 now i paid £95 for 1 of them about 2 months ago, my disco needed lots of welding, Inner wings, sills, boot floor and a few other little patches and so far that little aldi welder hasnt let me down.

[landowner]

Some hacked off smileys

[ComicalEngineer]

Hopefully, I'll be somewhat less hacked off by Thursday lunchtime, albeit with a lighter wallet. :(

Followed by a trip to aldi for a welder! :rolleyes:

[TEMPL4R]

It can get a bit confusing as to what is a testable item with regard to the inner wing.

If it is on a monocoque construction vehicle, it is part of the structure and is testable where the prescribed area applies.

If it attaches to the main body via any means other than permanent, ( bolted, screwed, etc) then it isn't testable.
BUT
If a suspension, brake or steering component is attached to the panel, then it does become testable. If you have a servo bracing attached to it, then it is classed as a mounting point, so testable and the 30 cm rule applies.


From the manual.

Any structure or panelling which is supportive to either the component mounting or its load bearing member within 30cm of the mounting location. eg. In the examination of a seat belt mounting on an inner sill, consideration must be given to the outer sill, door pillar, floor panel, wheel arch or any other supportive structure within 30cm of the component mounting point.

So, reading that, you can RFR the inner wing if it is deemed to be a supporting member.

Chris

[ComicalEngineer]

Finally got through the MOT. The damage was:

Welding to both rear wheel arches & one inner wing patch - cost about £180

New front wheel bearing £25 plus about £50 fitting

New swivel bearings & sphere (one side) £75 + about £80 fitting

2x MOT @ £48 (ran out of time for re-test but see below)

Total £350 odd plus £100 parts = £450

Exhaust that I fitted a couple of weeks ago £75

Might have been a couple of additional bits that brought the total up to about £575 :rolleyes:

Here is the interesting point:

At the first MOT, the tester did not spot the collapsed top swivel bearing that was giving a lot of play (and I mean a lot) on one of the front wheels. :eek:

Fortunately, the second tester (different garage) did spot it.

I'm ok about the expense of doing it although it did put a dent in my budget, my point is that the bearing was dangerous. In theory I could have spent the next 12 months trundling round with a bearing that could have collapsed terminally at more or less any time.

Guess where I won't be going back to? :frown2:

[kevinrbeech]

You can't please everyone, can you?
You are right though about spending the cash, once it is done you do feel more confident, and of course encouraged that your car is now the "best maintained one" on the road, ha ha. Does give a sense of satisfaction though. Having just spent over 2k getting mine through, I'd say you got off lightly. My 2k was all welding, filled the washer bottle and checked the lights (Oh, I put in new headlights as these were advisories L/Y) and she sailed through.
Now planning the next trip to the desert, April next year.
Kevin

[ComicalEngineer]

Happy again at last.

Clean MOT and several rattles eliminated to boot! :biggrin:

Have had the rear arches welded up, bushes done, side repeater indicators now working and one front wheel swivel, seals and bearings replaced.

The steering is now much better and I'm now onto the irritating things!

I'd like to say a good work for our local garage, the Horseshoe Garage in Hollow Lane, Kingsley (near Frodsham) 01928 787323. Run by a father and son team they did a decent job for me at a very reasonable price.

They are well equipped and can handle a range of cars. They are also very helpful although not a Landie specialist, I would recommend them.