MGC Forum

Another annual test passed yesterday, but......this tester REALLY put the CGT through it.

He picked up on everything, (quite correct that he did as they should). However my recent history is that the testers have hitherto ( just) checked the brakes, lights and steering and noting that the car is well above many moderns just gently.....checked matters.

Not this time - levers, bars the dreaded automatic wiggle waggle wild steering auto matic test which is pretty severe for older vehicles, watching your front wheels be strained and oscillated in such a wild way is sobering...... Hammers and screwdrivers all over the dare I say it clean clear and no corrosion chassis on pur dar. Torches and mirrors used into all the darker nether regions.

He even noted that the headlamp main beam speedometer located warning light was in his words "a bit dim and difficult to see" in side the car when on main beam ("perhaps needs a new bulb" were his words). Aloso that the rear lights are not too bright......(well compared to newer cars the old filamrnt bulbs are of course dimmer).

Friendly enough bloke but has a reputation here for failing over 85 % of the cars he tests.

Sad always to see someone with heavy hands prodding about on ones pride and joy....He said "Tim your have a car better than when it was new........." As he issued the PASS with no advisories....

Oh well thats it for another 12 months...

Yes......I know some tests in orher countries are worse than in UK.....and I should he "grateful" I live here. Still better always that our old cars get no special treatment when being tested after all they are capable of killing ourselves and orher road users as much if not more so than modern cars and should be tested properly...

.. your 1947 Rover?. No Test required. Many argue that older cars should be tested. But my opinion is ( like the Government I assume) that there are so few very old cars on the road, and even then, very, very few miles. Plus of course 99.9% of owners of such vehicles keep them in immaculate condition.So actually quite sensible. Remembering of course that although no Test is required,it is still illegal to drive an unroadworthy vehicle and police will still prosecute if you do.
Tim /, Hope you are OK. One of these days I will definitely get up to Scotland. Would be great to see you and of course your cars.
R

Tim, glad your car passed. In the state of Missouri we have a similar test annually/bi-annually whenever your plates expire. The inspectors have to apply to the state for a license to conduct the test. As always there are unscrupulous testers that will take the money (I think $15 U.S.) and pass your car without even looking. These inspectors obviously take the chance of losing their license. If you have a regular mechanic that works on your car, he will usually look at your car semi-thoroughly and if there is anything wrong will fix it on the spot. Our C is due at the end of August. Can't remember if I can go 2 years after this one or not. Have to check plates.

Steve

Here in SC we have no testing. If it runs go for it.
Ron

My recent experiences with UK MOT testers is not good, in terms of missing obvious serious defects. When I bought my MGCGT 3 years ago one of the conditions I put on the purchase was that it had a fresh MOT, which the previous owner agreed too. When I picked up the car it came with a new MOT certificate but when got it home I had a good look and noted some obvious defects that are an instant fail.

I got the car retested by VOSA, the MOT authority, and they confirmed the defects I had found but also found that the pinch bolt on the steering column was very loose, which was very scary (he immediately tightened it up for me).

I contacted the previous owner who seemed more shocked than I was and immediately agreed to have all the defects sorted by a local MG specialist in Derby at his own cost. I was very grateful for this as I had lost confidence in the car. The VOSA people said that they were to investigate the original MOT tester but could not tell me the result.

The moral of the story is 'Buyer Beware' and do not take anything for granted especially on old cars where the quality of previous servicing and care cannot be verified easily.

Mike

No testing in Florida, either. Yet in spite of a lack of testing, the carnage from vehicles flying apart is surprisingly low.

Almost all of our fatalities are caused by intoxicated or stupid drivers, not defective cars.

My MGC went off the road after taking it to a non expert garage and is still off the road for a "clunk in the rear", at the time I had no experience of the common diff clunk and so accepted the testers insistence that it was splines...We had a young family and wires and splines was beyond our budget. Turned out as you can guess, to be the $15 clunk diff repair! but by then the car was shed weary and required a full refresh.

So if you have a fail take it to an expert if it seems insurmountable. I am sure lots of cars go off the road because of this sort of issue. Ie someone who doesnt understand older cars and expects tolerances that are not normal in those cars, fails it for something quite normal or within tolerance.

Ahh older and wiser but too tired to take advantage lol.

Muz

Another test, another fun time, our CGT under examination once again.....at least for Tommy the test examiner our 46 year old car gave him a respite from the usual rusty euroboxes!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-08-02 12:18 AM by Tim Moore.