MOT after SIX years of sorn - tips / advice please!

[RustyNuts]

Hi Guys!!!

 

Righty so the safrane is nearing completion. The missus is talking about going out on saturday to see her weed smoking sister and try to talk sense back into her which means i'll be home alone and allowed to actually work on teh car without her getting stroppy about it. Mega brilliant!

 

Now apart from the bits I need to do which is refit the wheel arch liners and a few other bits to put the engine bay back together, what else should I be looking out for that the MOT tester will be checking?

 

I had the hand brake apart last year and put that back together. The handle does come up quite a long way but on a safrane thats not unusual - they're all pretty shit lol. I've replaced the brake lines from under the drivers foot area to the rear of the car, got the calipers sorted, done all the shocks in new paint and dealt with quite a bit of rust underneath (still some left but the missus will shoot me if i spend time on that before it passes an MOT - but she'll accept it as maintenance if it's street legal).

 

So.. what else do I need to be looking out for? It's been a long time since I've put a DIY repaired car in for a MOT... so I'm obviously nervous and don't want to spend fuel going to a retest lol.

 

Oh.. and yes I have thought about burning it in the middle of nowhere... so no need for that idea please lol

 

Thanks,

 

Rusty

[Guest Hooli]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/518634/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles.pdf

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm

 

A few* ideas what gets checked there.

[RustyNuts]

How many bloody threads are we going to have about this Safrane. We've not even seen a photo of the fucker yet.

 

Charming.

 

No photo yet as I've not really had chance - once it's done I will upload pics of it.

 

Thanks Hooli, much appreciated!!!

[garbaldy]

Charming.

 

No photo yet as I've not really had chance - once it's done I will upload pics of it.

 

!!

He's right though.

 

Don't forget to take pics as you work as we all love to follow fixit threads.

[RustyNuts]

Well I have an older pic from when it was on the road if thats any use?:

 

 

 

 

and one from 2-5 years ago as a SORN'd car (prior to overheating and being ripped apart again) - note the upgraded chrome grille that i got off ebay for a snatch

 

[Guest Hooli]

No use at all!

[garbaldy]

That's a fine looking motor carriage it has to be said

[michael1703]

Wheel arch liners aren't a testable item....

[Tickman]

Drive it to the MOT and get it tested, if it fails then tell the Mrs it passed and needs the advisories sorted and checked by the garage within two weeks, sort them and get a pass and drive happy. 

 

Sorted.

[RustyNuts]

That's a fine looking motor carriage it has to be said

 

It was once... it was like new.... now it looks a bit fucked if i'm totally honest. The little pricks that i used to live next to were only too happy to keep scratching it, leaving tools all over it and the rest of that audi snobbery shit... fucking poles knew how to take the piss by using my tools too. Anyway I'm mulling over the idea of wrapping it and giving it a new lease of life as a black car... that or a dark metallic blue but I'd prefer black.

[fatharris]

If it's been that long then odds are you're best off with a reactive MOT than a proactive one. By that I mean put it through one and repair the failure items. Obviously, make sure the brakes are sound and there isn't anything obviously defective.

[Dave_Q]

Do a few emergency stops on the way there to help clean up the discs if they're a bit rusty.

[AMC Rebel]

Save yourself from daft failures by checking -

 

All lights including indicators etc - My AMC failed for one side's dashboard indicator tell-tale being out one year - talk about silly.  Don't forget the hazards.

 

Check brake lights with a mirror or use a mobile phone or camera to video so you don't need a helper - or wedge the pedal.

 

Horn.

 

Screenwash.

 

Tyres.

 

Seat belts.

[AMC Rebel]

Italian Tune up en route may help the emissions as it's been idle a while.

 

BTW I do like a nice Safrane - respect for keeping one (almost) going.

[Craig the Princess]

Make sure the engine is properly warmed up to help with emissions. If you get a chance grease up the brake pipes to avoid failures for minor corrosion.

 

And please, please, please just have one thread for the car.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

I love safranes and there couldn't be too many of them left in the UK now.

I do like Renault 21s more though.

 

As for the MOT just check the obvious, satisfy yourself it's safe to drive to the test centre and away you go. If it fails it's no bad thing, it gives you a nice handy essential list of shit to fix rather than getting distracted fixing daft things

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[Guest Hooli]

Check brake lights with a mirror or use a mobile phone or camera to video so you don't need a helper - or wedge the pedal.

 

 

Or reverse up to a wall & look closely in the mirrors, it's not going to be too sunny at this time of year.

[RustyNuts]

BTW I do like a nice Safrane - respect for keeping one (almost) going.

 

Thanks... it's been a bloody hard slog and i've nearly sent it to motoring heaven a few times but I think i'm almost there with it now.

 

I love safranes and there couldn't be too many of them left in the UK now.

 

About 90 2.5 RXEs and 50 SORN. I don't know what shocked me more to be honest..the few that are still licenced or that there is roughly half still out there being kept in storage. Hopefully one will drop off the sorn books in the next week or two..

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Do get more pictures up. If you have an android phone download Tapatalk (it's free) as it takes the hassle out of uploading pictures straight from the phone

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[Uncle Jimmy]

That's a facelift/mk2 then? Used to see a mk1, 'R' reg I think, dark blue really suited it.

Mk2 not such a pure design but much better engineered I believe, slushboxes were difficult sods I think...

[Uncle Jimmy]

Don't wrap it.

[RustyNuts]

Don't wrap it.

 

Why? Current paintwork is fucked!

[Honey Badger]

How many bloody threads are we going to have about this Safrane. We've not even seen a photo of the fucker yet.

 

Christ sake Rusty Nuts, make a thread about your car and post all the questions in it, give us the history and why you want to keep it, ask any questions you want in the thread and people will answer and enjoy it, I'd actually like to read about it.

 

If you dont want to do that then post questions like this (and all the other ones) in the stupid questions thread (after all thats what it's for), and stop cluttering the board up. 

 

Feel free to respond to this in a passive aggressive way in 54321........

[nigel bickle]

I regularly out long term ' Resters'' back into use. 10 years plus is common, for me.

 

So, I check the lights all work, the wiper blades are ok and washers work well, tread seems sound then I book it into a friendly tester a good few miles away.

The day or so before I clean it properly, inside and out, with nice smelling mirror hanging shit if it feels damp. Clean windows, inside and out disguise damp, and give a better impression of ' caring'.

 

I drive it there in too low a gear, with excessive braking - to loosen the whole lot up. I'll put a few gallons in en route- fresh fuel always helps; and ensure I'm a few mins early. I take the v5c or old mot with me- some testers ( who know me) log in that way. Just being helpful.

 

I expect a fail. I act constructively, enquiringly and try to go around the car with them ,prodding a bit harder than them. On a long term returner, I'd rather know now, than waste a fortune trying to sort a basket case.

 

We tend to agree on fail items, amicably, and I take it away, driving it as hard as conditions will permit.

I mend - or get mended, the issues, return for a free retest and park up until I'm ready to use. Jobs a 'good un'.

 

As to worrying about fuel on a return trip - yet you want to wrap it rather than polish it properly? C'mon.

 

I've a Safrane, bought here, from a well known Shit-er. Tis on the road right now (13 WVO if you want to check) and it's currently parked at Lille Europe railway station. Been there 3-4 weeks, may well be there another 3-4.

Will it start when it's collected? Yes, first turn. Will it be OK? Probably - because it's a well polished, anonymous looking car. I doubt it'll get a second glance.

Am I happy to drive it, at speed,across Europe or Uk? Yup- without a moments hesitation..

 

That's because I spent a bit of time prepping it, underneath it in the MOT bay checking it (- harder than test standard) then sorting it properly. I've a LOT of cars, so have to be careful financially, but that doesn't/ can't negate proper repairs. It's usually effort, not money, that seals the deal.

 

So mines good to go. anywhere, anytime. As it should be.

[scruff]

When's it in for test??

[Supernaut]

When's it in for test??

 

When his missus / son allow him.

 

So... never.

[colino]

The tip about taking your old MOT is one that isn't repeated enough, all of my local testers like it, and no, it's not to laugh at how many pages of advisories that some tool gave it previously.

Honestly though, anyone handy on the spanners and lavishing attention on their cars like members here shouldn't ever sweat an MOT.  It is incredibly basic, no matter what the newspapers will have you believe, and I bet most cars belonging to people on this site are maintained to a far higher standard every day of the year, not just the hour that it scrapes through the test annually.

Only weird one that has popped up too frequently on, "recommissioned" cars is brake pipes, hoses and even cables letting go on the test.  Down to probably being the only stress they have actually been put under in years. 

[nigel bickle]

Yes, I noticed that. My Musso handbrake cable went twang on its last test!

 

Tester welded it back together, still on the ramp,to ' get it through' - which it did, but I immed stripped off & replaced.

 

However, some testers reaction to minor surface rust on flexi ferrules has me mystified..

[themildbunch]

I find the garages that don't do MOT's themselves but will check it over to be the best - if you know them well.

 

They usually have a good relationship with their local MOT place and deal with all the retest stuff more easily.

 

When my 16v BX had been 'resting' for 10 years I'd got fed up with a few last bits that were really awkward without a ramp and I'd have probably left it another year if I hadn't got them to sort these.. It was driveable though... 

[beko1987]

Agree with all of the above. Lights, wipers, screenwash, find a closed industrial estate on the way and do some emergency stops, try to pull away on the handbrake to to check that, do the seatbelts up then yank them to check the lock on the reel works, and the clasp works. Horn, doors open. Apart from that, there's not much you can do!

 

Both our cars are due an MOT in the next 2 months. The Meriva I am confident will fly straight through with maybe an advisory on the rear drivers side tyre as it's getting to the end of it's life. Anything else will be something that I've not noticed like a worn bush or hidden subframe rust, but I'll be surprised

 

The Xantia will be more of a shot in the dark as I don't know it as well. The rear tyres are probably on the limit, and it's looking like I can't afford new tyres at the moment, although if Amy gets a good wedge this month it might happen, failing that 2 part worns will be fitted. The handbrake I am hoping is strong enough, it holds the car until it stalls it, but the cables are stretched and the lever is at the tip of its travel. The rust hole on the rear arch should be ok, I'll pop some fresh tape over it, and hopefully it keeps the black smoke down during the emissions test. Anything else, as Mr Bickle says will be treated as an urgent how to list as I usually do when these things crop up.

 

The difference for me this year is my good friend who used to do my tests no longer does as he selfishly moved to switzerland. He did things such as pass the XM when it had 2 different sized tyres on the front, and told me to get them changed asap. I went to the part worn place on the way home from the test and texted him to confirm. Same when the Meriva had it's knackered lower ball joints, he said it was just passable, they were changed the next weekend. I always got them changed and told him, as it was his name on the paperwork if it all went wrong.

 

What I will miss (although will get pally with the place I have found so it may still happen) is he let me stay and chat whilst he did the test, so I got to have good inspections whilst it was up on the ramp, and have a good poke around with him. If I have to sit in a room and drink free coffee, I'll miss that. That's why I'm confident about the Meriva, as I've seen it's undercrackers for the past 4 years.