Great overview of the new MOT regulations

We have recently been contacted by several customers who are
concerned about the new changes to the MOT test which were introduced on
1^st January 2012 and how these changes would affect them.
There seems to be a fair amount of misinformation on the internet, in
particular on internet forums which has lead to a certain degree of
untruths and scaremongering over the new changes which has left many
classic VW owners worried about their vehicles.



With over 50 new changes introduced to the MOT test, it can be a bit
of a minefield trying to find out what changes affect which vehicles.
While many of the changes and additional testable items that have been
brought in apply to most modern cars, not all changes apply to classic
aircooled Volkswagens.



In response to this, we have compiled this article so you, the
aircooled VW owner, can understand how the new MOT changes affect you.



Of course, this article is not either a definitive nor exhaustive
list of the new changes, but aims to give you, the classic aircooled VW
owner, an idea of what to expect and which new testable items may apply
to your vehicle. As usual, the result of each and every MOT test depends
on the tester on the day so certain things may pass one time and not
necessarily the next.



Narrow Track Vehicles

A new guideline to account for narrow track vehicles has been brought
in for 2012. Aircooled VW’s with narrowed beams fall into this
category. This guideline is designed to assist the MOT tester in safely
carrying out a test on a narrowed track vehicle. Due to the nature of
narrowed beams and lowered cars it is now entirely possible that the MOT
tester can refuse to test the vehicle or even fail it for not being
able to complete the test if he considers it unsafe to do so.



Vehicles with a track so narrow that the vehicle cannot be safely
tested over an inspection pit or an approved four post ramp,the test may
be conducted on a hard standing. However, if the vehicle is so low that
the tester cannot safely jack the vehicle up, they are within their
right to reject the vehicle for testing or fail it for not being able to
complete the test.



Many MOT inspection pits and hoists which do not have flush sliding
jacks have a hydraulic jack which sticks up approximately 13-14cm so
your vehicle will need to clear this. If it is too low, then sometimes
the MOT tester puts the front wheels on wooden blocks to gain the
required clearance. However if your vehicle is both extremely low and
too narrow to go on the ramps or over the pit, it would be a good idea
to raise the vehicle up if possible to allow it to be jacked up safely
on a hard standing, especially to avoid bottoming the exhaust out while
jacking the front of the vehicle up.



Inapproriate Repair Or Modifications

This guideline has been introduced for 2012 and involves the MOT
tester assessing any repairs or modifications to the vehicle on its
merits. This can include narrowed beams or any chassis modifications or
even welding repairs which have been carried out on the vehicle. The
main criteria for assessing these repairs and modifications is to
ascertain whether the modifications or repairs carried out might be
likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle and whether
any modifications carried out have seriously weakened the component.



An example of this is an inadequately carried out IRS conversion, a
narrowed beam with custom shock towers with the towers being of an
insufficient thickness or design, dropped spindles which have been
inadequately welded, or any chassis or body modifications which have
compromised the structural integrity or safety of the vehicle.



Front And Rear Position Lamps

Front and rear position lamps must both come on with the flick of one
switch. This means that any vehicles with custom set-ups where the
front and rear lights are on separate toggle switches, for example, are
no longer acceptable. This will require the front and rear lights
rewiring into a single switch operation.



Also, front and rear lights including indicators and fog lights must
not have any products or damage or detoriation which reduces the output
of the light by 50%. This includes heavily smoked lenses or ladies’
tights or fruit nets which some ‘modified’ car owners seem to put over
their rear lights for some unknown reason!



Number Plate Light

If you have a custom two-bulb number plate light, or LED number plate
light bulbs or illuminating number plates, all bulbs and lights now
have to illuminate or the vehicle will fail the MOT.



Hazard Warning Devices

There has been some confusion over this with some people on forums
saying that all aircooled VW’s now need to have hazard lights fitted.
This is not true. Hazard lights are only required to be fitted to
vehicles after 1 April 1986, but if a vehicle before this date has a
hazard switch fitted, then it has to work. If it doesn’t have a switch
fitted then this is not testable.



HID (High Density Discharge) Lamps or LED Lamps

Many aircooled VW owners have retro-fitted HID lamps to their
vehicles, in particular ‘German Look’ 1303’s or similar. These are the
lights you see on oncoming vehicles which are really bright with a blue
tint. If you have these lights fitted, they must now be fitted in
conjunction with a self levelling device and also a lamp cleaning
device. If you do not have self levelling or a cleaning device fitted to
the lamp then your vehicle will fail. If you don’t have self levelling
lights then you’d be better off fitting halogen bulbs for the MOT.



Main Beam Telltale

This is the blue light which comes on when you switch to main beam.
It is now checked on vehicles manufactured after 1 April 1986, so if it
doesn’t work on your aircooled VW made before this date, then you’ll be
OK for the MOT although its advisable to get it fixed anyway as those
oncoming drivers who keep flashing you most likely aren’t just saying
‘Hello!’.



Obligatory Headlamp

A new reason for rejection has been introduced which states that if a
front headlamp has either a product or damage which reduces the output
required to illuminate the road ahead then the vehicle will be fail.
This could be headlamp eyebrows which obscure too much of the lamp, cats
eyes, stone guards which have a mesh that is too dense, etc. So if you
have something affecting the illumination of the road ahead, it would be
advisable to remove it before the MOT.



Electrical Wiring And Battery

One of the important things which is now checked is the condition and
security of the vehicle battery and the condition of the visible
vehicle electrics. Many aircooled VW’s do not have a correctly secured
battery. This is especially true with both Bay Window and Split Screen
buses which have lost their securing clamps somewhere along the way.

You will need to ensure that your battery is securely clamped down and is not leaking acid or electrolyte.

The condition of the visible vehicle wiring is also checked. The MOT
tester is looking for wiring which is in a very poor condition which is
either exposed, insecure, chafing against a firewall or component which
will pose a risk to damaging the wiring loom or detoriated to such a
point where there is a risk of an electrical short or for the wiring to
become detached. It is good practice to make sure that all bodywork
which has wiring passing through it is furnished with a rubber grommet
to protect the wiring from movement and vibration



Tow Bar Sockets And Tow Bars

Many beetles and buses have tow bars fitted. As from January 2012 the
security and condition of all tow bar sockets are checked. However,
only 13 pin sockets are checked for lamp operation and if your vehicle
has a tow bar with a 7 pin socket, it will not be checked for operation,
only for security and condition.

The actual towbar itself will be checked for any inappropriate
repairs of modifications which may adversely affect the roadworthiness
of the vehicle/trailer combination.



Steering Lock

There has been discussion on Internet forums about the steering lock
being checked as part of the MOT test, yet many earlier aircooled VW’s
do not have a steering lock. To clarify, the only vehicles which are
checked for the presence of a steering lock are those used on or after 1^st
September 2001. This means that aircooled Brazilian Bays fall within
this category, but not the majority of earlier aircooled vehicles.



Balljoint Dust Covers

What was previously an advisory only item is now a reason for
rejection. Any balljoint dust covers, whether they are tie rod ends or
main suspension balljoints, if the dust covers are split or perished to
the point where they can ingress dirt, water and other debris, they are
now an MOT fail. However, if they have small holes or are slightly
perished, they will still receive an advisory notice. So be careful when
you split those balljoints as not to damage the dust covers in the
process.



Inappropriate Modifications or Repairs

This has been introduced to cover any welding repairs or instances
where excessive heat has been applied to steering components or
structural members. This can include poor welding to front axle beams,
inadequate welding of the chassis for a steering box raise on a split
bus and even poorly built narrowed beams or badly executed steering
conversions. If the MOT tester deems the repairs or modifications to not
be up to scratch, the vehicle will fail its MOT test. This check covers
both front and rear suspension so poorly executed IRS conversions and
other modifications would also in theory become an MOT fail.



Steering Lock Stops

All aircooled vehicles have a steering lock stop as standard. These
steering lock stops prevent the road wheel from coming into contact with
the body of the vehicle on full lock. Many cars which have been fitted
with aftermarket front suspension such as narrowed beams have not been
fitted with steering lock stops and tyre to inner arch contact is
commonplace. If your vehicle doesn’t have steering lock stops then you
should have them fitted before the MOT.



Steering Box Oil Leak

New for 2012 is the check for steering box oil leaks. Let’s face it,
nine out of ten aircooled VW’s have a steering box leak of some degree!
However, this is not a problem as long as the gear oil level is checked
on a regular basis and that the leak is not excessive. It is only
significant oil leaks which are a MOT failure and it is advisable to
give the steering box a wipe down prior to the MOT.



Coil Springs

This applies more to Macpherson strut vehicles like 1302’s and 1303’s
as well as 411/412’s. However, it can apply to vehicles which have been
fitted with coilover shocks and/or aftermarket kits like Red 9 Design
wishbone kits or any kit which involves a coil spring. Coil springs are
now checked for general condition, in particular cracks or fractures.



Suspension Arms, Linkages and Subframes

The following items on aircooled VW’s are now checked:

Suspension arms,

Trailing arms,

Tie rods

MacPherson Struts

Subframes

Anti-Roll Bars

All these items are now checked for presence, cracks, corrosion,
wear, insecurity and distortion. Anti-Roll bars in particular may be an
issue with lowered cars as many people tend to remove them upon lowering
the vehicle. One of the reasons for rejection is that the vehicle is
missing one of the above items where it has been fitted as standard. If
you choose not to run an anti-roll bar, it will be down to the tester on
the day as to whether it gets picked up or not as this can be quite
hit-and-miss. Also, those who have narrowed their tie-rods by cutting
them and sleeving them inside, make sure the welds are in good condition
and have not cracked.



Drive Shaft Gaiters

All drive shaft gaiters are now checked for damage or detoriation
which would mean it would no longer prevent the ingress of dirt or other
contaminants, in the same way balljoint dust covers now are. This
applies in particular to aircooled vehicles with independent rear
suspension.



Parking Brake Security

The parking brake (Handbrake) is now checked not only for operation but for security, presence and condition.



Service Brake Control (Footbrake)

If you have built a buggy, or have modified your pedal cluster to
take a Jamar setup or similar, this new part of the test will check that
the brake pedal operates correctly and any modifications carried out
are appropriate.



Brake Cables

A new check for 2012 looks at the security of the braking system
cables such as the handbrake. The security of the cable, the clevis and
joints are checked. Any cables or joints found to be insecure will incur
a MOT fail.



Braking System Security, Modification and Repairs

If your braking system has been modified or repaired, these
modifications or repairs are checked for security and safety. This can
include any part of the braking system which is insecure, weakened by
corrosion, damaged to a point where its operation is impaired or any
locking or retaining device is missing. This is especially of concern to
anyone who has a corroded rear brake backing plate as we see this quite
often.

Also, if an aftermarket braking system has been fitted which is
inadequate and/or any mounts which have been fabricated are unsafe, the
vehicle will incur a MOT fail.



Servos and Master Cylinders

These items are now checked with the servo being checked for
presence, condition of the vacuum pipe and for leaks. The master
cylinder is checked for presence and the surrounding bodywork which the
master cylinder is attached to is checked for structural integrity,
modification, corrosion, distortion or inadequate repair. Problems in
these areas are quite uncommon on aircooled VW’s, but not unknown,
particularly around the ‘Admiral’s Hat’ area on a VW beetle chassis
where the master cylinder is mounted as the underside of the framehead
in this area is prone to corrosion.



Brake Warning Lamp

Many later VW’s have a brake warning lamp on the dash. This is a
round orange lamp with a white ‘B’ on it which appears in various
locations on the dash in different aircooled VW’s. This lamp lights up
when the ignition is switched on, when the handbrake is engaged and also
a circuit on the brake dual circuit system fails. If this light is
permanently lit when the engine is running or doesn’t come on when the
ignition is switched on, then this is a reason for rejection.

However, our experience shows that the operation and purpose of this
lamp is very little known amongst both aircooled VW owners and MOT
testers alike so the chances are that if does not illuminate, it will
not get checked during the MOT unless the tester knows what it is.



Tyres

With many people on a quest to go lower and narrower with their
vehicles and also pushing the boundaries of modification, many different
types and sizes of tyres are being used. It is now part of the MOT to
check the type of tyre being used and the tyre displays NHS, Not For
Highway Use, then it will fail the MOT.



Body Condition Inspection

The inspection of the condition of the vehicle body now extends to
body components such as body kits, bumpers, spoilers and mirror
housings. The MOT tester is looking for any sharp edge or corrosion or
damage which may pose a threat of injury to another road user or
pedestrian.



Front Seat Position

New for 2012 is a check of the front drivers' seat position movement.
The front drivers' seat with the capability to do so will need to move
in a fore and aft direction and secure in the selected positions. This
point is particularly problematic for the aircooled VW owner, in
particular Bay Window owners as many front drivers' seats have not been
moved for years and are seized on the runners. Buggies and Trekkers
suffer from the same problem and it can be very time consuming to free
off the seat runners.



Door Hinges and Catches

Previously the opening of front and rear passenger doors was only
checked during the MOT. Now the condition and operation of door catches,
hinges and pillars are checked for security and condition. If your car
has a seized door catch or hinge which does not allow normal operation
or movement, then the vehicle will fail the MOT.



Speedometer

New for 2012 is a check of the vehicle speedometer. All aircooled
VW’s will have their speedometers checked as part of the MOT test. The
MOT tester will be checking for a speedometer to be present, the
condition and that the speedometer can be illuminated. It does not
matter if the glass is slightly cracked as long as there is no
possibility of misreading the speedometer. Despite these checks, the
speedometer operation itself is not checked

However, if there is broken glass or the cracks obscure the
speedometer and the speedometer is clearly inoperative or does not
illuminate then these are a reason for rejection.



Fuel Lines

Fuel lines are now inspected not only for condition as before, but
for chafing and damage. This is especially an issue in aircooled VW’s
where the fuel line passed through the rear bulkhead and into the engine
bay.



Obligatory Mirrors

Previously all aircooled VW’s made on or before 1^st August
1978 were checked for presence of at least one mirror whether it be an
internal rear view mirror, an exterior offside mirror or a nearside
exterior mirror. As from January 2012 a mirror fitted to the vehicle is
checked to ensure it is neither obscured, damaged or detoriated so that
the view to the rear is seriously impaired or does not provide an
adequate view of the rear or is incapable of being adjusted to provide
an adequate view of the rear. 'Albert’ style swan neck mirrors or
‘peeps’ may fall under this reason for rejection if they are the sole
mirrors fitted to the vehicle as they don’t provide a very good view to
the rear, only a good view of your rear quarter panel, the sky or your
running boards.



Rear View Mirror Hangings

Previously if you had a Magic Tree or some garlands or similar
hanging from your internal rear view mirror, it would have been an
outright fail as the tester is not allowed to remove it before or during
the test. Under the new rules, the tester may, at their discretion,
remove the offending items from the mirror prior to the inspection and
this will be noted as an advisory.



Hopefully the above breakdown of the new 2012 introductions to the
MOT Testers Manual will dispel any myths and allay any concerns which
the aircooled VW owner might have regarding the MOT test. Many of the
items mentioned in the 2012 MOT test on the internet which have arisen
during forum discussions are items which were originally up for
consultation when the list of new test criteria were being considered
and many have since been dropped.



If you wish to study the MOT testers manual in depth, you can download the manual here.



Or view it online here



The full list of changes to the MOT for 2012 can be viewed on the official VOSA bulletin here.

Liam wrote:Just shows how little they checked before really