Failed MOT, welding required...

Helium_Junkie · 15 Jan 2009 at 15:47

I don't understand what the guys telling me, he says that some welding (to the tune of £150...) needs to be done near the seatbelts.

Does this sound at all plausible? :/

This is a new garage, conveniently located for work... never had trouble at my old garage

Clarkey · 15 Jan 2009 at 15:50

sounds perfectly plausible, the seatbelt mounting points are one of the prescribed areas, and for good reason. Rot within 30cm of a prescribed area = fail.

Helium_Junkie · 15 Jan 2009 at 15:51

Damnblast

Didn't know cars would rot

Wicksta · 15 Jan 2009 at 15:54

Helium_Junkie said:
Didn't know cars would rot

What did you think cars were made from?

mrk · 15 Jan 2009 at 16:01

The solidified tears of dead devil babies!

Lashout_UK · 15 Jan 2009 at 16:03

What car is it?

Hxc · 15 Jan 2009 at 16:15

Had to havet his done on the mini for the MOT. Think £150 is a bit steep unless it's a very complex area to reach or patch up.

Lum · 15 Jan 2009 at 16:15

Ahh seat belt anchorages. Your seatbelts are bolted to the metal of the car, if that's all rusted then in a crash they'll just tear the rusty metal out and then you'll go through the windscreen just as if you wern't wearing a belt at all.

Probably a good idea to get that sorted. before you drive too far.

Note: If it's the rear seatbelts and the car is a banger that you're running into the ground then a cheap option would be to convert the car to a two seater by removing the rear seat and associated belts.

Deleted member 66701 · 15 Jan 2009 at 16:35

I don't understand what the guys telling me, he says that some welding (to the tune of £150...) needs to be done near the seatbelts.

I don't understand what you don't understand.

Helium_Junkie · 15 Jan 2009 at 16:49

mrk said:
The solidified tears of dead devil babies!

Hehe, maybe... No I understand that metal corrodes, just the word rot made me think of the metal "going off" like fruit or something

It sounded strange

Lashout_UK said:
What car is it?

2001 Fiesta 1.2

Lum said:
Ahh seat belt anchorages...

It's both the front belts, but thanks for the advice and explanation.

amigafan2003 said:
I don't understand what you don't understand.

I didn't understand how welding would be required, or what the problem was, so I asked for help. Subsequent thought and explanations have helped this lack of brainage. I presume they weld more metal onto the area to improve integrity or some such. Whether thats true or not, I at least now have a better understanding.
Or were you just being rude because I have less knowledge of engineering than your esteemed self?

The Edge · 15 Jan 2009 at 17:00

Helium_Junkie said:
2001 Fiesta 1.2

That must be within the corrosion warranty, or close enough to be worth taking this up with ford.

Helium_Junkie · 15 Jan 2009 at 17:02

There is such a thing? :O

Edit: from a quick google it appears to be 6 years only.

Finglonga · 15 Jan 2009 at 17:07

Helium_Junkie said:
2001 Fiesta 1.2

It's both the front belts, but thanks for the advice and explanation.

Jeebus!! Have you parked it in the sea? It shouldn't need any welding at 8 years old unless it has been in an accident and badly repaired. My Festa is 2001 and has no sign of rust on it's belly.

Helium_Junkie · 15 Jan 2009 at 17:14

Its under the sills of the doors.
Nope, don't live near any salty air either.

SB118 · 15 Jan 2009 at 17:57

£150 of welding? :eek:

Must be ready for scrapping!

The Edge · 15 Jan 2009 at 18:06

Helium_Junkie said:
Edit: from a quick google it appears to be 6 years only.

I'd take it somewhere else for a second opinion. If they also say it's a cast iron fail and it's corroded for no obvious reason i'd still be very tempted to send ford a few emails asking what they'd like to do about it. Corrosion bad enough to require welding on an 8 year old car is very bad form and if you don't ask you don't get

It is quite possible that the garage you've taken it to have seen a few bubbles and though they can fail it and get soem money when all it needs in reality is sealing up with Shutz.

Take it to your regular garage and see what he says

Lopéz · 15 Jan 2009 at 18:24

Helium_Junkie said:
I didn't understand how welding would be required, or what the problem was, so I asked for help. Subsequent thought and explanations have helped this lack of brainage. I presume they weld more metal onto the area to improve integrity or some such. Whether thats true or not, I at least now have a better understanding.
Or were you just being rude because I have less knowledge of engineering than your esteemed self?

You cut out the old rotten metal and weld in new steel.

Helium_Junkie · 16 Jan 2009 at 15:52

Thanks again for the advice.

I bounced around a couple more garages this morn and received more quotes.

The first quote was £120 from the MOT garage. The second was £115 from a local. The third was £57 from a smaller garage a little out of the way.

I'm suspicious of the last one.

I asked the local about the warranty but he didn't know. I'll have to dig out my paperwork and see if I can find anything about a warranty, or should I just email them?

Finglonga · 16 Jan 2009 at 16:02

Did they all look at the underside and agree it is corroded and needed doing?

Helium_Junkie · 16 Jan 2009 at 16:21

It wasn't the underside, and I told them all it had failed its MOT because of this, I didn't specifically ask if it needed doing. I am going by another independent MOT garage when getting a wheel replaced on weds, so will ask them then.

Just tried fords "email us" link, after hitting send it forwards to a blank page :/ woot.

Failed MOT, welding required...

Deleted member 66701

Deleted member 66701