MOT Question

[Se7enBTCC]

Apologies if this is a stupid question but my 420R is coming up for its first MOT, it's been well maintained by a specialist but for ease Id ideally like to just take it to a friendly local test centre, what's peoples views on whether I'm asking for trouble?

[Jonathan Kay]

I wouldn't expect a problem.

Make sure that you understand the emissions regulations that apply to your Seven, and consider discussing them with the tester in advance.

Adjust the handbrake, mine's always marginal.

Get the brakes and catalyst warmed up on the way.

And know how to adjust the headlamps and take a suitable tool in case that's needed.

I have the propshaft UJs greased while it's up there. (You might not have any.)

But last year for the first time I didn't go up on the ramp... they now have a remote wiggling gadget. : - (

Jonathan

[Wrightpayne]

Where are you in the country? There will be nearby owners who use a Caterham friendly MOT test centre!

(I've taken mine for 20+ years)

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Have you spoken with members at the local meeting?  

[Se7enBTCC]

Thanks for the advice. I'm in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Never been to my local meet but I guess this is a good excuse.

[John Vine]

Any MOT station ought to be able to handle a 7.  But I second JK's comment in #2 about the emissions regs.

The tester will probably run a Basic Emissions Test first, which a Duratec might well fail on a lambda result over 1.03 (mine always comes in at 1.04+ plus). 

In the event of a fail, he (or, rather, the gas analyzer) should then run an Extended Emissions Test, using vehicle-specific limits set out in the DVSA In-Service Exhaust Emissions Standards (19th ed.).   Page 23 lists the values for Caterhams.  You'll see that the lambda range for all Duratecs is 0.95-1.09.  It's worth printing off this page in case you need to convince the tester.

JV

[Se7enBTCC]

Very helpful John thanks 

[JP]

Very helpful - thanks for that...

[Mrp]

It's a little bit of a drive but I have always had both mine done by Nick Potter in Market Harborough he's ex Caterham. Highly recommended looked after my 140 and now my 420R. 

[Dave connors]

Another mot question, should a car with a lsd be tested on the rollers or will damage the lsd, if it shouldn't then the alternative would be for the tester to drive your car with a tapley meter anyone had any experience of this.

[Drumster]

With the LSD mine's never been in the rollers but my MoT tester sets the meter up in my passenger footwell and I drive the car to do the brake test. 

[SLR No.77]

Years ago I had an MOT tester decide he'd sit in the passenger seat with a tapley meter while I drove the car, I did ask him to fasten the harness but he said it wasn't necessary ... I can't recall the exact subsequent expletives when I hit the brakes but suffice to say he'll not be doing that again in a hurry!

Best bet for MOT recommendations is to get down to the local meet and get some first hand knowledge. 

Stu.

[robert green]

My old mot tester used a tapley meter. The problem was I was always asked to do the brake test in a car park with a loose surface. The skid that always ensued meant for years I had a brake note on the mot! 

[ScottR400D]

My MOT tester still uses a Tapley. Just puts it on top of the boot, stands about 15 yards in front of me and then I drive forward and brake. 

Apparently if I hit him, it's a fail........

[Golf Juliet Tango]

#14 - No doubt about it!

[john milner]

I have only ever used non-specialist testers including Halfords. Only problems are you might have to explain the switches and starting process. Most testers seem to want to see cars pass and look a bit sad when there is a problem.

[East Kent AR]

If your car has an LSD, do not allow it to be put on the rolling rear brake test. It will damage the LSD.

Find a friendly mot test station that will allow you to sit in the car and operate the controls. My old test centre were more than happy for me to do this, as they were wearing size 10 boots with toe protection. No way they could drive it, plus they were big blokes.

Piers

[Jonathan Kay]

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Using a roller brake tester
Ensure that the vehicle, or system, under test is suitable for testing using a roller brake tester. If the vehicle or system is unsuitable, it should be tested with a decelerometer.

Using a decelerometer
If the vehicle or system cannot be tested on a roller brake tester, set up the decelerometer in the vehicle in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
1 Drive the vehicle on a level road at a steady speed of approximately 20mph (32kph) and progressively apply the service brake to maximum.
2 Note whether the vehicle or steering pulls severely one way and the brake efficiency recorded.
Before carrying out a decelerometer test on the public highway, testers must ensure they are suitably qualified to drive the vehicle and are familiar with the controls. If a vehicle has special controls, such as in disability vehicles, the vehicle presenter should be allowed to drive during the test if he/she wishes.

[John Vine]

Re #17:

If your car has an LSD, do not allow it to be put on the rolling rear brake test. It will damage the LSD.

Would that also apply to a Quaife ATB?  As it's not an LSD, I imagine not.  But I certainly hope not, as my ATB-equipped 7 makes annual MOT appearances on such a roller.

JV

[Roger Ford]

I don't think there's a definitive answer on LSDs and rollers, just lots of opinions. Given that your average driver has no idea whether their car has an LSD or not (and I realise they're not fitted to the majority of cars) I think we'd hear more about it if they were wrecked as soon as they went on a MOT garage's rollers.

But I always play safe and ask for it not to be done. My MOT station appears to use the "make up a number" test rather than a full road test, but they do like Caterhams.

[aerobod - near CYYC]

There shouldn't be any risk of damage on a brake roller to a rear axle LSD, some centre viscous couplings are problematic on an AWD car, though, with rapid production of a large amount of heat with one wheel stopped relative to the others. An aggressive LSD could cause the car to leave the rollers though, but would need a very high preload.