Grrr Mot testing station

[les_taxi]

Took my spotless,gleaming taxi in already pre-MOT'd for it's 6 monthly compliance test.

After not ringing me to say it had passed/failed I rang them.

"Oh sorry mate, it's failed on a list of things

1/Left and right rear shocks severely leaking fluid

2/Top rear window Brake light-less than 50% of LED's light up

3/Anti-roll bar joint worn".

Well I flew up there in a rage as I know it was .......s, got young lad in reception to explain it all

I said if it's severely leaking how come none on my drive?-The answer was "Don't know mate!"

I mentioned it had been pre-tested 24 hours before would it not have been noticed?

His answer was: "Maybe the tester is having a bad day." I said, "I will make it worse, Ipromise!"

Then we discussed brake light - the 3rd light if you know what I mean - I said, "When I press my brake it lights up red." He said, "Not enough red"

Apparently that's a fail so can't argue, but I still think people know what it means. Plus I have my main Brake lights too.

Anti roll bar joint fair enough, but it certainly wasn't clattering.

Said get me the boss and I said I don't believe it's leaking fluid he came to look.

Straight away he admitted neither shocks were leaking and looked sheepish.

I said, "how come?" He replied that the tester must have got mixed up!

What is annoying is, I lose money all the time it's off the road. If I had said in the earlier phone call, "Ok, please fix it all", then I would have had to pay for 2 shockers.

Anyway, I said just to do the light and joint today if possible - to which they agreed - as it's too much hassle taking the car back to my own garage for them to order etc.

I was lent a transit van to get home in.

Anyway, the bill better be around the £100 mark and no-more.

Annoyed from Harrogate!!!

[Dedworth]

Who can you report these shysters to Les ? - DVSA (was VOSA) ? Local Authority Trading Standards ?

[les_taxi]

They will say it was a simple error. No point.

Trouble is the other official taxi testing Station is worse - Kwikfit!

You never get than a quickfix fitter - been on Watchdog twice

[Dedworth]

I understand the test stations in Bradford are less than thorough

[bigmarco]

I remember in 1998 I bought a brand new Metro Cab just under £30k. It was taken straight from the showroom to the carriage office and was failed

[Pete/London]

I am lucky now after all these years to have found a garage that is honest and they look after all the families cars. They put bulbs in if needed and we just settle up later. No pass, no charge.

Very frustrating MOTs, years ago I had a Marina van from new and it failed its first MOT on indicator-flashing speed. I had never known it to be any different from new, but they insisted I had to have a new indicator unit. I was so mad, and took it up with the main dealer and British Leyland. Well, you can guess what they said!

[Slip]

I use the same mechanic my grandfather has used for 30 years from when he was in the used car sales game.

For an extra £20 I drop the car to him on the way to work. He gives it the once over then takes it for the MOT. If it fails on anything silly, he will do the work and the MOT place passes it. Anything major, he phones me first for the go ahead.

[grahamw48]

Yep....good trustworthy garages and testers are worth their weight in gold...and rare.

Funnily enough Les, I've generally had good experiences with Kwikfit, and that's with many different branches.

I remember one time I just needed a hubnut re-tightening on my car (230lb/sq in), which needed a massive torque wrench, so toddled off down to my local Kwikfit, which was then Thornaby branch.

The manager did it for nowt, and just wanted his picture taken with my car.

.


Over the years though, I've found that the average garage breaks more than it fixes ...hence I taught myself to fix most things myself.

.

[les_taxi]

I have a good garage been with 'em 20 years. It's just the testing stations -
you are at their mercy

[KeithD]

If you slipped my mate in Liverpool £20, he'd pass this....

[Michael Parnham]

If you slipped my mate in Liverpool £20, he'd pass this....

You're a lad Keith!

[les_taxi]

Got it done, noticed on advisory they had put slight leak on shockers - on fail they had put severe leak!

Didn't have to replace rear stop light - just put in a few bulbs, did anti roll joint thingy and bill was £76.00

Annoyed - but always happy to get Taxi test passed ok for another 6 months.

[grahamw48]

Well done Les.

Back to raking it in now mate.

[les_taxi]

Well not tonight. I'm annoyed, so pizza and some cans a bit later.

Makes me want to post something more annoying than I normally do.

[Ako Si Jamie]

These garage grubs are more likely to rip-off customers who have none or limited knowledge of cars. Women are a favoured target. Helps enormously if you know someone in the trade.

[KeithD]

I took a crap old banger in for an MOT once. They failed it, and said it'd cost about £800 to pass it. I said go ahead and do all the work ..... I left. The car wasn't mine, I'd stolen it

[Terpe]

I took a crap old banger in for an MOT once. They failed it, and said it'd cost about £800 to pass it. I said go ahead and do all the work ..... I left. The car wasn't mine, I'd stolen it

[bigmarco]

I took a crap old banger in for an MOT once. They failed it, and said it'd cost about £800 to pass it. I said go ahead and do all the work ..... I left. The car wasn't mine, I'd stolen it

That reminds me. Friday before the Bank Holiday I wanted to get the car washed before heading up to the Cotswolds for the weekend.

Popped into M&S and a nice African man came running over asking if I'd like the car washed.

"Of course", I said - "but I've only got 20 minutes".

"No problem", says he - running off to get his trolley, whilst I headed into M&S to get my bits.

20 minutes later, I returned to be met by the smiling African car washer. I said, "You've done a first class job, but alas I won't be paying you".

"Why?" says he.

"Because that's not my car", I said - opening the boot of my still dirty Focus 2 bays along.

His face was a picture!

[les_taxi]

Why didn't you steal it back after they had fixed it?

[fred]

Oh its soooo nice not having to go through MOT traumas here..

That said, a Smoke Emissions Test IS required once a year to get registration renewal.

I drove into the official smoke test area..Turned off engine. They stuck the prod into tail pipe and asked me to fire up the engine..I complied.

They put a camera at the rear showing my number plate and the probe inserted.. Lasted about 3 minutes.

Smoke test passed and paid 500.00 Pesos..

I said to the Mrs.. "I just remembered that the tail pipe is not attached to the rear muffler"!!

She said.."Who cares..You passed the damned smoke test so what's the problem?"

As always..She`s right!

[grahamw48]

Hahaha.... Only in the Phils.