Question to MOT Testers

[derskine]

Polo's MOT is tomorrow and since the last MOT I've welded in a fairly large patch to the battery tray.

The original tray had a fixed bracket that the lower edge of the battery sat under but since welding it, it doesn't have this anymore.

 

I know batteries being insecure is an MOT fail, but does that only apply to cars where it can fall off the tray?

On the polo it's housed under the scuttle in it's own sort of compartment, so the worst it could do is move about a tiny bit.

 

Reason I'm asking is I could quickly bodge up some form of clamp, but would rather not if it's not required.

[sierraman]

If it can move in any way it's a fail I would think.

[twosmoke300]

Bungee and cable tie time

[Spiny Norman]

I've had cars pass the new MOT with the battery held in by big cable ties.

 

Another question since testers can't usually go pulling bits of trim and seats off the car, what happens in the case of (say) a Merc with the battery under the rear seat, or a BMW or a Jag where it's hidden in the boot?

[worldofceri]

The battery in my VW is under the rear seat where it's free to slide all over the place (although in practice it doesn't). Never an issue at MOT time.

[michael1703]

The insecure battery thing is to do with being upside down in a ditch, if you were and the battery was insecure, the terminals would touch the bonnet and arc;causing an OMG FIREBALL!!

 

So... I wouldn't fail it

 

You are allowed to lift boot carpet to check boot floor but i wouldn't lift the lid off to check a battery was strapped down

[wuvvum]

The LNA, Rover of Doom and Solara have all passed their MOTs with the battery held in with a Poundland ratchet strap.

[derskine]

Successfully bodged with a bit of volvo 340 sill finisher, an anti roll bar bush and a bolt welded to the tray.

 

[oldford]

The official line is here:

 

https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/how-insecure-does-a-battery-have-to-be-before-it-should-be-failed/

[derskine]

I found that after a bit of googling initially, which is where my confusion lay because everywhere else just says "fail if insecure".

But it's secure now so shouldn't matter!

[New POD]

I passed 4 mot's with a cavalier that had a leather belt holding it solid. It went under the platform, and around the top of the battery.

[richardmorris]

My last CX passed six MOTs with the battery held in place with two massive cable ties. The clamp had just rusted away (shortly followed by the rest of the subframe).

[twosmoke300]

My ( insert car here ) has passed 178 mots with just the tears of badgers holding the battery off the road .

😃

[Albert Ross]

Mine is wedged tightly into the tray.. it needs a crowbar to remove it. Because it doesn't move, it doesn't fail, irrespective of the fact there is no visible means of holding it in.

[fordperv]

My battery isn't insecure I give it reassurance and compliments

[overrun]

Mine's insecure, but I know the tester, innit.

[Lord Sterling]

The battery in my KV6 Sterling was cable-tied in to pass the MOT. I deemed it to look shite so cut through them and place the original holding clamp in (when I finally found it)

[DodgyBastard]

The Polo saloon failed an mot on this, the clamp was actually in place but not tightened down enough...

[Pillock]

A leather belt holding it down is just surely going all oldschool where cars were proper, men were men and everything was brass and leather.

 

Aircooled Beetles are lethal because they sit under the back seat, which have some lovely metal springs on the base. And lots of horsehair. Get a fat bloke on the back seat and he'll feel it when you go over a speed bump! Seen a fair few cars burned out thanks to the battery shorting out, and that's with them properly secured.

[Lord Sterling]

I've seen a battery in a mates car where the battery was too short to be secured down by the taller securing frame, so a large stone was placed between the top of the battery and the frame. Yes, this is actually true, I think I might even have a pic somewhere. Oh how I laughed.

[messerschmitt owner]

My battery is insecure. Keeps telling me it won't hold a charge and it worries about the coil and the distributor cap.

[the judge]

My battery is secure. Cock like a babies arm, full head of hair. etc etc etc