so my black zed was in for it mot yesterday and mid day I got a call saying it failed !

 

The nice receptionist on the phone informed me that it failed on 4 counts.

 

First two counts I was told were my indicators failed due to incorrect colour, well

I started an argument on that one straight off stating that the indicators are the

correct colour and that it passed last years no problem.

 

Third was securing bolt for passenger seatbelt, which I never tightened when I

last took the interior out, which I felt a right idiot on that one.

 

Last one was one of the bulbs on the rear registration plate holder was out, and

I couldn't believe that one as I checked that out and it was working prior to the

mot getting done.

 

So after the phone call I ran round to the mot centre which just happens to be

next to my work to see the just of the failes in person.

 

Well turned out the wee receptionist doesn't have a clue about what she was on

about when she mentioned the indicators as the real problem when I spoke to

the mot tester was that the side lights in with the fogs were blue, major fail !

 

A quick run home, undone the bolts to pop the front fogs out and discovered it

was actually the fogs that we're blue and the side lights in the same holder were

reflecting off the fog lamp making them appear blue, not taking any retest risks

I nipped down to the local garage and picked up some new lamps and fitted.

 

Also tightened up the seatbelt bolt and fixed the rear reg plate bulb, so all fixed

I went back for a quick checkup by the mot centre which second time round

passed my zed with a few confusing advisories too.

 

Confusing as there all related to the suspension which is brand new meisters

Glad you got it to pass.

 

The suspension advisories on new parts are worrying...what was the list ?

Honestly how difficult to a technician to tight up a bolt and and replace some bulbs ? I would not go there anymore as they are so helpfull :(

Honestly how difficult to a technician to tight up a bolt and and replace some bulbs ? I would not go there anymore as they are so helpfull :(

 

Not his job, if it was in for a test.

 

If they done the work, they would have to bill. You want to pay workshop rates for tightening that bolt and replacing those bulbs?

Not his job, if it was in for a test.

 

If they done the work, they would have to bill. You want to pay workshop rates for tightening that bolt and replacing those bulbs?

 

That depends on the goodwill of the garage.....

 

....whilst I take my ZX to Zedworld for bigger, more specialist stuff; I use my local garage for its oil changes and MOTs. They also service my wife's car too - and if either car is in for an MOT they would replace any failed bulbs etc, but not charge for labour.

 

It's the tiny gestures like this that keep customers happy and ensures they return again!!

 

Great news on the pass though Lee.....!!

 

Richard:thumbup1:

had the same the problem with my red one, failed on rear number plate failing to illuminate on one of the bulbs, was down to a dodgy light connection, then had the front spot lights the incorrect color due to the same reasons you described, the fact the fog had a blue plastic covering over it that was being reflected off the inside of the housing when the bulb was switched on, giving it a blue look.

 

and then there was the annoying "rear wheel bearing has too much play" when it was nothing to do with the wheel bearing but was the hicas arm instead.

 

but that rear number plate bulb seems to be a very common problem, as both my black zed failed on that, and also my red zed, and now i know im going to have to fix the one on my blue zed before that goes for a MOT, as noticed in one of my photos that the bloody bulb is out on one side. must be something to do with the bulb fixings going very rusty.

 

glad you got the pass, but shame a garage when its as something as simple as a bulb, wont let you change the damn thing there before they fail it for the first time around. saving you the hassle of having to do a partial retest.

I had to replace my rear number plate bulbs with an LED strip from Maplins and some weather-proof tape :D The brackets that hold the bulbs inside had disintegrated and both bulbs were shot, the brackets were the same for just about every breaker Z I spoke to and they're ridiculous brand new if you can track them down. LED Strip from Maplins = £3.50ish, weather proof tape from the same = £2.50 and double sided weatherproof sponge tape = £2.00. Job done!

Nice to get it passed Lee:thumbup1:

Took my wife's micra to get its first MOT this morning and it passed but he said the numbers on the registration plate were to close together and advised new plates I informed him that these where the plates fitted by the main Nissan dealer when new but he still said they where illegal! So there you have it Nissan dealers are fitting illegal number plates to cars.:huh:

Not his job, if it was in for a test.

 

If they done the work, they would have to bill. You want to pay workshop rates for tightening that bolt and replacing those bulbs?

 

Well when I do an MOT I never fail car for bulbs(or anything can be sorted within an hour) just replace them that's the way to keep customers coming back next time :)

but he said the numbers on the registration plate were to close together and advised new plates I informed him that these where the plates fitted by the main Nissan dealer when new but he still said they where illegal!

 

Space between characters has to be 11mm. They sold you a car with dud plates.

Advisory Items

--------------

 

1.) Offside near Track rod end ball joint has slight play

2.) Nearside front upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush

3.) Nearside rear lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot

4.) Offside rear lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot

5.) Oil leak

 

So,

 

Having just fitted new meisters and replaced all the joints and bushes i was thrown

by the stuff above unless there bits not directly related to the fitting of my meisters.

 

The oil leak i beleive is just from the aftermarket oil presure sender that likely needs

some plumbers tape and tightening up again.

 

Are the things mentioned above easily fixable by tightening something.

 

As you all likely can tell by now i'm better with electrics than mechanics on a zed.

Advisory Items

--------------

 

1.) Offside near Track rod end ball joint has slight play

2.) Nearside front upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush

3.) Nearside rear lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot

4.) Offside rear lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot

5.) Oil leak

 

So,

 

Having just fitted new meisters and replaced all the joints and bushes i was thrown

by the stuff above unless there bits not directly related to the fitting of my meisters.

 

The oil leak i beleive is just from the aftermarket oil presure sender that likely needs

some plumbers tape and tightening up again.

 

Are the things mentioned above easily fixable by tightening something.

 

As you all likely can tell by now i'm better with electrics than mechanics on a zed.

 

Do you use the garage for other work, might be best if you go back and get him to point out the items that he has identified. Might even be he has chalked the offending items, worth having a quick look

Do you use the garage for other work, might be best if you go back and get him to point out the items that he has identified. Might even be he has chalked the offending items, worth having a quick look

 

Only used that garage this time as my local mot guy was going on holiday.

 

Been given quotes for work in the past and their fairly expensive.

 

Might pop back in on monday to get hime to point the faults out though.

I use my local garage for its oil changes and MOTs. They also service my wife's car too - and if either car is in for an MOT they would replace any failed bulbs etc, but not charge for labour.

 

Then you have a good relationship with them, and they probably know you won't mind. If they replaced bulbs and charged parts and labour, would you still be happy?

 

Well when I do an MOT I never fail car for bulbs(or anything can be sorted within an hour) just replace them that's the way to keep customers coming back next time :)

 

As a repair workshop that is good practice in theory. My original statement is that it was not the job of a tester to do repairs as part of a test.

 

Only used that garage this time as my local mot guy was going on holiday.

 

I wasn't disputing what is or isn't good business practice. The statement I was responding to was "Honestly how difficult to a technician to tight up a bolt and and replace some bulbs ? I would not go there anymore as they are so helpfull [sic]"

 

It still stands that the MOT inspection does not require the tester to carry out repairs, which is all I was trying to say. If it was my workshop, I would have called the customer, and asked if he wanted those repairs done, and would also only have charged for parts, if anything, so I agree with both the above comments.

 

I was just highlighting the fact that the decision to not repair was a business decision (although not necessarily the one I would make) and nothing to do with the Testers abilities as a mechanic.

 

The only point I would add is that although it is nice to do little jobs FOC for the sake of customer relations, scale it up to 4 or 5 tests a day and a third of them needing "little jobs". That soon adds up to a lot of time and money.

 

It just kills me that unlike any other trade I have come across, Joe Public seems to expect the Motor Industry to work for free.