Changes to the 2011 MOT test.

Hi all,

Thought you might find this interesting.
Picked from another forum that i visit.

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2011 VOSA changes to MOT

Still 13 months away until these new regulations come into force, but some interesting changes. From MOT from December 2011, the below changes will come into force.

HID lights – Specifically those aftermarket kits that give the very bright headlight beams. Any cars found with these kits will be an automatic MOT failure. Testers are able to easily spot the difference between HID kits, and manufacturer fitted Xenon’s. Easy to spot as Xenon cars have suspension level sensors, in car beam adjuster, and usually headlight washers.

Wiring harness – The general condition of he wiring harness will be checked to make sure there is no rubbing or chaffing, and that the harnesses are in generally good condition. If unsecure, or damaged again MOT failure.

Airbag warning lights - If any warning lights are illuminated, it will again be an MOT failure.

The perplexing potential issue is the mention of ‘illegal engine chipping’ becoming a part of the MOT – whatever that means…?
It’s clear they haven’t found a way of checking for this in the VOSA document, and I’m not overly sure they will be ever be able to at a generic level…? This one will be interesting to keep an eye on though.

The above was confirmed in the October 2010 VOSA newsletter. Which can be viewed as a PDF from their website. Link below.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/M ... 202010.pdf

Thanks for posting this, Paul, very interesting.

HID lights – Specifically those aftermarket kits that give the very bright headlight beams. Any cars found with these kits will be an automatic MOT failure. Testers are able to easily spot the difference between HID kits, and manufacturer fitted Xenon’s. Easy to spot as Xenon cars have suspension level sensors, in car beam adjuster, and usually headlight washers.

I think there's a bit of a muddle of information there. The difference is between High Intensity Discharge bulbs and incandescent Filament bulbs. Xenon is used in HID bulbs but is also used in the brightest filament bulbs.

The critical thing is the way the lenses for HID bulbs must differ from the lenses for Incandescent bulbs. Stick a HID light inside an enclosure meant for incandescent bulbs and you'll throw light around in a way that should fail an MOT. I'm very pleased they're doing something about this now - and I'm pretty sure Monsieur Dell will be too.

I haven't gone through the document fully but what I've found just says that they're looking at ways of testing for "headlamp bulb and unit incompatibility".

Airbag warning lights - If any warning lights are illuminated, it will again be an MOT failure.

Oh cockerel.... My Xantia's one has been on for ages. I bet they'll be checking the light comes on with ignition too just so they know the bulb hasn't been removed. That could open up a can of worms for those of us with elderly airbag-equipped cars!

The perplexing potential issue is the mention of ‘illegal engine chipping’ becoming a part of the MOT – whatever that means…?
It’s clear they haven’t found a way of checking for this in the VOSA document, and I’m not overly sure they will be ever be able to at a generic level…?

I can't think of any way they could tell either, unless they look for interference on the ECU - but if they haven't revoked the rule about being able to dismantle stuff then it'd need to be in plain view!