Aaahhhh.... - Nightmare MOT

[Nottingham]

Hiya Guys

Well, it was this time of the year again to introduce my Beasty to the local MOT man.

Therefore, I spend the entire last weekend in, on and under the Truck to make sure everything is ok. Then, I dropped the car yesterday at the Garage and went back a couple of hours later to pick it up - only to be TOLD that it had failed

So, I asked the guy what the issues were and he said - the off-side rear anti-roll bar attachement (bracket) is insecure - reason being - a nut & bolt aren't properly fasten - not even a full turn, yet it's a fail

Then he said the near-side front anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in the ball joint - 2mm and I had to pull like an ochs to make it move

Oh and then he couldn't find a category for my anti-roll bar scratching ever so slightly on my front shocks - but it would be a fail too

Honest to God guys - what the hell is going on I tightened the loose bolt (10 sec. job and 3/4 of a turn) and bought 2 new linkage bars (which I need to fit tomorrow) because otherwise the guy will not let it pass.

His final comment was that I should put the car back to how it was and shouldn't argue with him, because I'm not a mechanic and basically haven't got a blinking clue what I'm doing

Any advise in this matter, apart from shooting him

[fogman]

[BoxCleva]

I take mine to a tame MOT bod.

If something minor needs doing he does it. No extra charge. Bulbs, minor adjustments etc are all included. The reason I take it to him is because all he does is MOT's. So he's not looking to fail cars for no reason in the hope of getting the repair work . He's about £15 more expensive than the likes of Kwik Fit etc but he's decent and doesn't take the pee. Well worth looking for someone similar in your neck of the woods mate.

[bushwacker]

hi ya matey in my opinion there is no conistancy in the mot of trucks and cars, i put a new steering rack on an escort van once , they faild it why because i put it on my self you can take a truck to one place and it will fail take it to another and it will pass..........pete

[bigdazz]

sorry to hear that i would use another tester

[Trotter]

Deffo take it someplace else matey. Sounds to me, that Moron is talking out of his

[Roo]

Hiya
sorry to say this but if the garage I took my car to said.... ' that I should put the car back to how it was and shouldn't argue with him, because I'm not a mechanic and basically haven't got a blinking clue what I'm doing''........ I wouldn't be taking it back there again to be tested,looked at nothing, he would lose my custom as fast as he could spit, up to you what you do, but I wouldn't entertain that garage any more than you have, its seems to me he has a real problem not only with 4x4's but to speak to a customer like that, nah not on!! ...Sorrry , say nothing and find another garage that's just me I would do that...

Good Luck and hope you get a good result

Cheers
Roo

[westo123]

Completely agree with the comments above, find someone else!
I would also ask to see his manager and make a formal complaint and judging by what he says make a complaint to VOSA.
MOTs are very regulated and that mechanic is taking the p£ss

[red5]

If it's not in the Manual, then it's not a fail. End of discussion.

As others have said, find a better place.

[john boy]

I'd just do the work get it tested and don't use him again

[furio]

[king of the kitchen]

totally agree take it somewhere else,,,hes touting for work and he dosent like modified cars,, ,,,,mabey hes a sad git who dosent like to see people enjoying themselfs,,,,,

[RatCav]

I don't have a mechanics qualification to my name .... however 17 years of working on various cars over the years myself and some engineering knowledge makes me think I am a better mechanic than quite a lot of so called "trained" mechanics out there. On my last MOT my back brakes needed looking at as the tester said they are performing ok but there is something that makes him not happy with it so he failed them. Thank god he did. One side was siezed and the other had no brake pad left. I pulled them apart and and refurbed them completely. New pads and disks, adjusted the handbrake and got them all spanking. The tester took one look and smiled, then tested them and she flew through. He was an old guy and had just tested an E Type jag and apparently a lot of the local classic car owners and garages use him judging by the cars outside (Morgan, and E Type). Been in the trade since he was a lad. He told me that he wished that more garages and people would take the time and patience with mechanics as I did. I felt chuffed to bits with the compliment.

Point is, home mechanics aren't a bad thing when done right. Good support from friends and forums, research and investigation. Good parts and careful work anyone can repair a vehicle to a good standard. I will echo what other people have said. It seems that the guy you had is plumping for business, and probably is sick to death of seeing badly done home mechanics and has tarred you with the same brush. There is no legislation out there that says that you have to have a trained mechanic to do any work on a vehicle unless they are doing it professionally. Get the work done by what ever means and get it tested again, preferably at a different garage.

[Nottingham]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the support & feedback. Got everything done he asked me to do and dropped it back this morning for it's re-test. Should know more at lunch time so keep fingers & toes crossed. If not, I think we need to visit him with a Frontera Army

I'll keep you posted.

[Nottingham]

woohoo - it passed it's MOT but he still couldn't resist to put the advisory on regarding the anti-rollbar slightly touching the front shocks

[61jason61]

two bits of advice, one stay friendly with your local mot stations, they can really stitch you up if they wanna be awkward.

two, do what they say and smile. theyre your '' ticket '' to another 12 months motoring. oh and remember if they put a ticket on your motor and police/insurance company say it's an mot failure after an incident and he's given a ticket, its not your balls, or business on the line.

[Popuptoaster]

[Nottingham]

well, i had to go back there for the re-test but in the long run, he is loosing customers - as bad rep usually travel's faster than good one. Nevermind, it's done now. Just want to carry on enjoying my truck and luckily, there are plenty of other MOT Stations around here for the future.

[andysd1]

well done buddy, on the shock situation, should have told him they are wider shocks because they are gas,

[Nottingham]

you could have told him anything but he things, that he has a license and is gods creation of a mechanic so no point in talking to him. Just glad it's done now till next time and then certainly at another place.