|
|
Mar 29, 2008 20:48:50 GMT
|
:)As some of you know I'm running a garage that does MOT tests. I enjoy what I do on the whole. I get to work on a great variety of cars, both modern and retro. One thing that does make it difficult though is when mates bring their old motors in and expect "illegal favours"...ie let it go mate and I'll sort it out when I get time, or "what do you mean it's failed, I thought we were mates?". Now I'm more than happy to help out where I can, and if for instance a ball joint has play in it which I consider is safe enough to warrant a pass and advise I'll pass and advise it. I'll even stay late and help repair a mates car that has failed...done that many times. If I start issuing MOT certificates to cars that don't actually pass I'm putting everything that I love doing on the line, and I think it's pretty unfair that supposed mates expect me to do that!
Sorry if that seemed "rantish", I just needed to get that off my chest! What are your thoughts on the matter?
Are any of you guys/girls MOT testers? Do you get asked to do dodgy things?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 20:59:40 GMT
|
I think it's pretty unfair that supposed mates expect me to do that! I'm with you on this. Any 'mates' who are asking for bent MOTs are essentially asking you to risk your livelyhood just to save them a few pennies. Very selfish behaviour of them imho.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:05:08 GMT
|
Obviously not the sort of Mates you need then, I'm pretty friendly with the guys at the MOT station I use as the owner is/was a friend of my late father, but I'd never dream of asking favours like that apart from the fact that I'd like to know what I'm driving is safe which if it fails MOT it may well not be.
|
|
|
|
Garry
East Midlands
Posts: 1,722
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:07:31 GMT
|
Tell them simply, friends are handy but work pays the bills.
|
|
Last Edit: Mar 29, 2008 21:08:06 GMT by Garry
|
|
|
M.O.T. friendly rant!BenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:07:54 GMT
|
Next time someone does that, ask them to steal a couple of hundred quid's worth of stuff from their workplace for you. When they refuse, say "I thought you was a mate?" ;D
I'm all for a couple of "you should get that fixed" type of things, but I'd never expect someone to risk their job passing an unroadworthy wreck.
|
|
|
|
1900sr
Part of things
I like Mantas me!
Posts: 875
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:09:06 GMT
|
As above. I've got a mate who does all my MOT's, and I trust him to be honest. I'd never ask him to pass something that shouldn't as I want it to be safe for myself and anyone else (kids etc) to travel in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:09:19 GMT
|
I guess theres a difference between passing dangerous cars and passing a car thats borderline. MOT stations issuing bent MOTs on any old wrecks very quickly get closed down.
|
|
1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
|
|
Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,517
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:10:15 GMT
|
I think you're bang on the money Dave.
For the past umpteen years I have used places that I know are used to seeing older cars because I feel it helps tremendously if the tester has an appreciation of the engineering involved in a classic. I have also heard many stories about perfectly OK things getting failed at "modern" test centres because of play or whatever that is acceptable on something older but the tester only normally deals with newer cars.
However I treat the MOT as a proper test and would not expect "favours" to be done and something dangerous passed by a "mate". Who's that kidding? Puts their job and my safety in jeapordy.
|
|
Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
|
|
v6pop
Part of things
Posts: 110
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:10:21 GMT
|
Well said that man. Ive been in the trade many years and your worst customers can also be your mates!!! Havent lost any mates over problems but have come real close,if they are a good mate then they usually don't take the pi$$ because they know how I work.
Anyway,its good to rant every now and then ;D
|
|
|
|
chrisw
Part of things
Posts: 171
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:26:50 GMT
|
The best thing for an MOT tester to be is honest, don't be anything but and you'll never get any problems. If I was doing your job and had a hint that a 'friend' wanted a bent MOT I'd just make up excuses not to even look at their car. Probably easier said than done mind...
|
|
Last Edit: Mar 29, 2008 21:29:27 GMT by chrisw
|
|
|
kevfromwales
Posted a lot
the conrod's REALLY out the block now!
Posts: 3,909
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:38:36 GMT
|
any of you mot testers out there know what the law is regarding side repeaters? want to take them off the hunter (73 model) - is it just that if they are fitted they have to work? or is there a cut-off date for them?? cheers also, on the subject of hookey mot's, a lot of our club use one guy, as he's an 'old car' type garage, but after noticing that my hunter passed with non working brake lights, I'm stopping going there - not good I'll be getting my old man to do mine in future, despite the fact that the fail list will be twice as long, at least all will be safe and legal
- kev
|
|
Almost on the road: b11 sunny breadvan, e36 tds, 325i skidcar,
nearly there: ford f250 tathauler, suzuki alto, u11 bluey
not for a while: ford pop, 32 rails,
not in this lifetime: ruby, '29 hillman
''unfortanatly I'm quite old and scruffy and in need of some loving. my drive shaft needs a new boot....''
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:42:59 GMT
|
|
|
To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:53:55 GMT
|
I remember one chap who brought in a Trooper to the place I worked for 4 tyres. He had taken it for MOT just previously and it had passed, but the tester said "better get the tyres changed soon" so up on the ramp it went.....curse word me, 4 COMPLETELY bald tyres, i mean proper slick-style. It had passed with these. It also had a snapped anti-roll bar, which going by the rust and dirt, had been snapped a long time. It was generally a shonky old raft, but had just passed the test with no advisories.
I guess the garage is one of those places where you ask for an MOT and the guy looks out the window..."yep, looks ok from here, £50 please"
|
|
1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
|
|
rowleyclassics
Part of things
Rowley Classics and Customs Coombs Rd Halesowen
Posts: 194
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 21:54:40 GMT
|
mates worse for mot testers, no there is one worse than mates
FAMILY
i was a mot tester and that caused the falling out between me and my brother, sad thing is to save a few quid he was willing to risk is kids lifes, seems like i had his kids best interset at heart and not him,
you can choice your freinds but not your family, too true
|
|
1963 Hilman super minx 1963 Moggy Minor Montego estate HL Morgan kit car and 1 wife 6 kids lots of debts am i happy oh curse word YES
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 22:00:51 GMT
|
I htink that MOT's are very important for retro car drivers, it will pick up on things that you don't normally look at. My charade just passed with flying colours, anytihng it would have picked up on i would happily change as it is obviously not worthy of driving on the public highway!
|
|
|
|
kevfromwales
Posted a lot
the conrod's REALLY out the block now!
Posts: 3,909
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 22:30:33 GMT
|
good site cheers! doesn't state categorically that I can't have them, just says post 86 cars must have them - so off they will go!! that's one less thing to fail on! ;D
|
|
Almost on the road: b11 sunny breadvan, e36 tds, 325i skidcar,
nearly there: ford f250 tathauler, suzuki alto, u11 bluey
not for a while: ford pop, 32 rails,
not in this lifetime: ruby, '29 hillman
''unfortanatly I'm quite old and scruffy and in need of some loving. my drive shaft needs a new boot....''
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 22:38:09 GMT
|
mates worse for mot testers, no there is one worse than mates FAMILY I was a mot tester and that caused the falling out between me and my brother, sad thing is to save a few quid he was willing to risk is kids lifes, seems like I had his kids best interset at heart and not him, you can choice your freinds but not your family, too true and Family in law, O/T related mini rant excluded! yeah it sucks Dave rapper, you are spot on. You are the kind of guy who takes his job seriously so its good that you have an important role IMO respect. Seth is right all you want is a garage not full of monkeys, and sympathetic and knowledgeable understanding of older cars and laws on older cars. Last MOT just gone I think 'first impressions' guaranteed me a fail TBH. "Looks a bit rough that" *frowns* "yeah but theres loads of new bits, tyres, shocks etc..." Stuff me and my mechanic spotted didn't fail, and stuff we didn't,, DID! needless to say it was expensive and surprising along the way doing both, but we know we're legal now, and reasonably safe. Oh and my mechanic saw said test station boss repairing a landrover chassis with filler! might try somewhere else next year!
|
|
it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 23:00:02 GMT
|
I'm with you dave. You are a skilled mechanic with a sense of safety and an obligation to follow set procedures and laws. Selling bent MOTs is a totally different business. Mates should be glad you are strict (within the rules). It could save their lives.
|
|
|
|
Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 23:22:13 GMT
|
I would say a mate who does MOT's is to be prized because you can trust him to be honest and fair. He'll not fail your car on bogus stuff in order to fill up the workshop because he's a mate, and he'll not send you out onto the roads in a death trap, because he's a mate
Friendship works in two directions. Anyone willing to put a mates livelyhood on the line isn't a mate. a real mate wouldn't even ask the question.
|
|
This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
|
|
Rich G
Posted a lot
Keyboard Worrier
Posts: 1,059
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 23:27:09 GMT
|
My safety is important to me, as is that of anyone who travels with me. I'd much rather be told something is unsafe and have a fail than get a dodgy ticket and lose the car, or worse, for the sake of spending a few quid.
|
|
|
|
|