Would my car pass its MOT?

gizmo1990 · 21 May 2008 at 20:20

Its coming up to MOT time again for my car and I have a dilemma.

A few months back I took the car to the garage to check out a burning oil smell. Turns out that there's the suspicion that my head gasket is going. Some tubes were given a good clear out and I was told to keep driving it, top up the oil level occasionally and see how things go. Either way it wasn't worth the cost of the car to get a new head gasket fitted. My cars an old 306 auto '94.

Now since then the car has been running pretty well. No burning oil smell, no leaking oil around tubes going into the engine. Apart from the car being a bit lethargic and having a more throaty engine noise, everything seems fine.

So my question is, is it worth taking it in for its mot? Or would it fail by default on account of the head gasket problem?

Finances are low and I would gladly pay the mot cost to get a extra few months use out of it.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Kitchster_uk · 21 May 2008 at 20:23

It's £30 to find out, so unless you can find a runner with an MOT for less, take it in.

West · 21 May 2008 at 20:25

I would have thought, unless the Gasket causing emmision problems (which it proabably doesn't do anyway) it would pass it's MOT, the HG isn't checked, remember it's only a basic test of road-worthyness.. not every single mechanical component.

helpimcrap · 21 May 2008 at 20:44

take it and find out...

silversurfer · 21 May 2008 at 22:44

Just sounds like an old car and it'll probably fail on something or other. Hopefully it'll be a minor fix, I'd say rust is more likely to wreck your chances then the HG

Lopéz · 21 May 2008 at 23:03

West said:
I would have thought, unless the Gasket causing emmision problems (which it proabably doesn't do anyway) it would pass it's MOT, the HG isn't checked, remember it's only a basic test of road-worthyness.. not every single mechanical component.

What he said.

We used to get a lot of people worried they would fail the MOT for having a different colour door, or a slipping clutch.

Skeeter · 21 May 2008 at 23:05

Kitchster_uk said:
It's £30 to find out, so unless you can find a runner with an MOT for less, take it in.

Its £49 round here, where do you go for your MOTs?

The_Dark_Side · 22 May 2008 at 00:03

Skeeter said:
Its £49 round here, where do you go for your MOTs?

Try your local council depot.
Best place to go IMO.

Kitchster_uk · 22 May 2008 at 00:08

Skeeter said:
Its £49 round here, where do you go for your MOTs?

The place just up the road. My MR2 got an MOT as well as a full coolant change (12.6litres!) for £55 including labour recently. £25 for the fluid and labour, £30 for walking the MOT.

Scania · 22 May 2008 at 06:52

The_Dark_Side said:
Try your local council depot.
Best place to go IMO.

Indeed, or failing that somewhere that only does MOT's & not any form of repairs - no incentive to find a fail point....

helpimcrap · 22 May 2008 at 07:05

depending on where you go and who you know it will pass.

you still have to pop by to pick the certificate up though.

The_Dark_Side · 22 May 2008 at 19:05

helpimcrap said:
depending on where you go and who you know it will pass.

you still have to pop by to pick the certificate up though.

I know someone who had a car MOT'd over the phone then had the certificate mailed to them.

That was a loooong time ago though and for legal reasons I don't condone such behaviour.

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2008 at 22:32

Skeeter said:
Its £49 round here, where do you go for your MOTs?

I have only once ever paid more than £25 for an MOT.

mattpc · 22 May 2008 at 23:33

[TW]Fox;11739343 said:
I have only once ever paid more than £25 for an MOT.

Sorry but £25 is mega cheap. Even the council who I use for MOT charge £50 in Manchester.

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2008 at 23:36

mattpc said:
Sorry

What are you apologising for?

but £25 is mega cheap. Even the council who I use for MOT charge £50 in Manchester.

I know its mega cheap. It's great.

Council places are rubbish as they simply charge full price.

jamoor · 22 May 2008 at 23:39

The_Dark_Side said:
Try your local council depot.
Best place to go IMO.

Agree, they can be picky but that's more of a jobsworth type thing.

MrMatteh · 22 May 2008 at 23:39

would only fail if the emissions were effected (as said) or if the coolant temp warning light came on during testing (overheating)

jamoor · 22 May 2008 at 23:39

[TW]Fox;11739827 said:
What are you apologising for?

I know its mega cheap. It's great.

Council places are rubbish as they simply charge full price.

No they don't.
My local charges £40

silversurfer · 22 May 2008 at 23:50

Who does it for 25

Jamous · 22 May 2008 at 23:53

Had mine free for last 10 years, perks of working for a company with it's own testing station!
Not looking forwrd to paying for the next one as I've moved jobs.