New Mot Rules

[coastline taxis]

new rules from the 1st jan 2012.

if you car was made with a cat as standard then it has to have a cat fitted regardless of what the emissions say. In the past weve removed them and welded pipe in but that practice would now fail the mot. the answer is you now cut a square (or circle)out of the cat then remove all the guts out of it then weld back up and that will pass as weve just found out.

Also changed are the following

 

steering lock must work withkey out

warning lights must go out with engine running

tow bar sockets tow board conected and all lights must work

inner cv boots no leaks or insecure

ball joint/track rods rubber cover must be intact

 

theres a few more but these are sort of the main ones

 

have fun gentlemen

[TheGoose]

Hi there Steve. Wouldnt it be easyier to just remove the cat system from the car, then bash out the guts completely with a bar, then re-assemble? That way the Cat looks completely untouched. I have done this with my dpf/cat on my citroen as you know. And ive also done this to my old vectra 2.6 v6 with no problems!

 

The only problem that could occure with this method is whether the motist may pick up on the slight noise which is created from the hollowness of the cat system? Im not sure. However on the vectra this noise wasnt really noticed. But I have noticed on my 2.2hdi citroen that you can here the turbo whistle alot louder than before. So maybe it would be this that an motist could pick up? I honestly dont know with the new mot rules yet. But my mot is up in April so il obviously find out!

[coastline taxis]

you know when you get one of them days when you say to yourself ^why didnt i think of that^ well youve just done it to me ha ha. never ever thought of doing that but will do from now on cheers

[Johndouglas]

tow bar sockets tow board conected and all lights must work

 

I believe this only applies to 13pin sockets. Older 7S & 7N are still only looked at.

I also heard that seats have got to move and lock in positions.

[DaveHerns]

I think that applies specifically to electrically adjustable seats

[paul.h]

The MOT testers inspection manual can be downloaded free through the direct.gov websites (http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm)

 

I have copied the relevant bit which includes reference to towbar sockets.

 

Section 1.9 Electrical wiring and battery.

Method of Inspection:

1. Check the condition and security of the

battery(ies).

2. Check the condition and security of all visible

electrical wiring.

3. On vehicles fitted with a towbar, check the

condition and security of the trailer electrical

socket.

Note: This check applies to both 7 pin (12N)

and 13 pin electrical sockets.

4. On vehicles fitted with a trailer 13 pin Eurosocket,

use an approved device to check that

the socket is wired to correctly operate the

trailer:

• Position lamps

• Stop lamps

• Direction indicators

• Rear fog lamp

 

Reason for rejection:

1. A battery insecure or leaking electrolyte.

2. Electrical wiring:

a. insecure or inadequately supported so that

it is likely to become damaged

b. damaged or deteriorated to the extent that it

is likely to cause a short circuit or become

detached

c. insulation damaged or deteriorated to the

extent that bare wiring or connectors are

exposed.

3. A trailer electrical socket:

a. insecure

b. damaged or deteriorated to the extent that

the connecting lead could not be securely

connected.

4. A trailer 13 pin Euro-socket not operating the

trailer lamps as intended.

[Bobster]

Hi there Steve. Wouldnt it be easyier to just remove the cat system from the car, then bash out the guts completely with a bar, then re-assemble? That way the Cat looks completely untouched. I have done this with my dpf/cat on my citroen as you know. And ive also done this to my old vectra 2.6 v6 with no problems!

 

The only problem that could occure with this method is whether the motist may pick up on the slight noise which is created from the hollowness of the cat system? Im not sure. However on the vectra this noise wasnt really noticed. But I have noticed on my 2.2hdi citroen that you can here the turbo whistle alot louder than before. So maybe it would be this that an motist could pick up? I honestly dont know with the new mot rules yet. But my mot is up in April so il obviously find out!

 

Hi,

 

I recently had my 2.2 HDi ('03 plate) MOTed. After it passed I asked the guy about removing the FAP as I am thinking of doing this. He said as the car was pre 2008, it would not be a problem. The CAT of course would remain in place.

 

Regards,

 

Bob H.

[TheGoose]

Hi,

 

I recently had my 2.2 HDi ('03 plate) MOTed. After it passed I asked the guy about removing the FAP as I am thinking of doing this. He said as the car was pre 2008, it would not be a problem. The CAT of course would remain in place.

 

Regards,

 

Bob H.

 

 

When you say the CAT would remain place do you mean the shell? or the actual Cat innards (ceramic bit). As when I smashed all mine out, I could of left just the Cat in there, as the section is bolted together in two halfs. According to other people on the forum, if you Totally smash the innards out the car still passes the smoke test. My MOT is up in April, so I will find out, however I havent really seen any massive amounts of smoke comming from my engine anyway. Nothing other than the usual amount.

 

Mike

[paul.h]

I am not sure the catalyst would affect the smoke, that is/was done by the FAP. The cat should only help burn/oxidise residual hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water.

[ukwide]

My 57 plate 2.2HDi VTX auto went through its MoT yesterday and the only advisor was 'No peak emmissions output'. I asked what it meant and the Tester replied when they measure the emmissions output there is usually an upper and lower reading and my car didn't register on the upper limit, meaning even at the upper end it was super clean.................and thats an advisory, how strange.

[TheGoose]

My 57 plate 2.2HDi VTX auto went through its MoT yesterday and the only advisor was 'No peak emmissions output'. I asked what it meant and the Tester replied when they measure the emmissions output there is usually an upper and lower reading and my car didn't register on the upper limit, meaning even at the upper end it was super clean.................and thats an advisory, how strange.

 

I would argue that with the DVLA/ VOSA whoever. Just becuase your car is Super Clean, why should your MOT history be penilized with an advisory note!

[ukwide]

I would argue that with the DVLA/ VOSA whoever. Just becuase your car is Super Clean, why should your MOT history be penilized with an advisory note!

 

I was thinking the same thing, if you came to buy the car and asked to see the MoT, would you view the advisory as a positive message about the car, I don't think anyone would? I might take it up with VOSA and see what the response is, if any!

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Thanks for this interesting thread and particularly to John Douglas and Paul.h for the towbar wiring requirements.

 

I have a 13 pin socket wired into a 7 pin harness - everything works except that I have to make a connection manually in the boot to disbale the car fog lights and enable the caravan foglights when towing, so I imagine that will be a fail for my car.

 

However, as my harness connects to my 13-pin cale using 4mm connectors (pinched from my model aeroplane stock) I will just remove my towball and socket for the MOT and see what happens.

 

Just another minor irritant in life's rich tapestry. At least the cost of the MOT is a modest £54.85..........

 

(That last sentence was a joke - is there any progress on the proposals to make the MOT test every 2 years?)

[paul.h]

Picassoconvert,

Another option to removing everything is to fit a 12N socket and use a 12N to 13 pin adaptor and it would not have to be tested at the MOT.

I am guessing you have a 12N system and have put a 13 pin socket on the cable. If so, you probably will not have a reverse light either. Do you tow a caravan or just a trailer so do not need 12S wiring ? If you have a caravan and a mark 2 C5 then it may not be that difficult to wire up the 12S bits since there is already a towbar 30 amp 12 volt supply to the back (at least on my latest C5, 2007 2.2 hdi VTX estate). I will be adding to a towbar wiring post about this.

[Johndouglas]

is there any progress on the proposals to make the MOT test every 2 years?)

 

I haven't heard anything about that - but I do know from another website frequented by prof. mechanics and mot testers that there is a lot of opposition to going bi-annually. They bleat about loosing income and even going out of business. The easy way for the Government is to do nothing.

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Paul.h - thanks for your comments. I do tow a small German-built caravan with a Mk1 2.2HDi estate. I picked up a twin socket Citroen wiring harness cheap from the (now-ex) Citroen dealer in Boston. After quite a bit of huffing and puffing (documented elsewhere on the forum) I got everything wired up and working, except the fog lights. So I now have a connection in the side pocket of the boot. When I hitch up I have to remember to make this connection which causes the car fog lights to become inoperative and the fog lights on the caravan to be operative.

 

However, I do have a "thoughful" MOT tester so we will see how we get on.

 

Yes, John, I suppose there will be lots of commercial pressure to resist any change to less frequent MOTs.

[paul.h]

Picassoconvert,

by coincidence, I have just put an update on the post where you did your towbar wiring. Provided your Citroen bypass relay has the fog wire, it would not be much effort to connect this to the car harness fog light wiring using a blue snaplock connector. If you remove the right tail light, you will be able to identify the correct wire (colour and its number) although I suspect you already have this to make your temporary connection.

[ukwide]

I was told by the MoT Tester who gave me the Advisory for having too clean an engine, the new rules also mean anyone who has headlight bulbs which give off a blue or blueish tint are an automatic failure also, that will p1ss off the boy racers..........

[DaveHerns]

So how come the MOT testers turn a blind eye to all these modified/mis-spaced personal number plates ?

[ukwide]

So how come the MOT testers turn a blind eye to all these modified/mis-spaced personal number plates ?

 

Dave, I agree but the unofficial reason they do not fail them is the fact people can remember them if there's a sequence to them so they turn a blind eye, for example B4 TTS when read BATTS is easier to remember..................!

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Picassoconvert,

by coincidence, I have just put an update etc................

 

paul.h

 

Thanks very much for your help. I installed a Citroen harness based on the old-style UK towing sockets (12N and 12S?) and this simply connected neatly into the existing harness. However, I couldn't get hold of a wiring diagram for the bypass relays and ended up with the problem of having to turn off the car fogs/turn on the caravan fogs by making a manual connection (I can hear the bypass relay click when I do this, so the relay is doing the switching - my connection is simply poering the relay)as part of my 13 pin wiring.

 

I have been thinking that what I need to achieve is a positive supply to my wire which becomes live when the caravan lights are on (as they have to be on before the fogs are operable anyway). I will look at this again when we get a nice day when I have some time.

 

I just wonderd how the relay got its power when the caravan was connected under the 12S/12N wiring.

 

In the meantime, I got an unofficial view from my MOT tester last week that my towbar wiring will be acceptable as it stands, so good news there.

 

David

[paul.h]

This may help a bit if the Citroen 7 way bypass relay for the lights has the same coloured wiring connecting to the car lights as the last one (and previous ones) I have used. Most of these are also the same colour as the 12N socket wires.

 

- near side flash - yellow

- fog - blue

- off side flash - green

- off side tail - brown

- brake - red

- near side tail - black

- reverse - grey

- earth point - white

- also a separate 12 volt supply from the battery (in your other post you mention 3 supplies including the 12S relay so I assume one of these goes to the 7 way relay - if not, none of the caravan lights will be working).

 

If you can find the relay fog wire (blue ?), it should simply need connecting to one of the car fog light wires using a blue snap lock type of connector. I am surprised that there is not already a connection though - if there is, maybe it is a bad connection or the wire is broken). You do not need to provide another 12 volt supply.

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Thanks for this interesting thread and particularly to John Douglas and Paul.h for the towbar wiring requirements.

 

I have a 13 pin socket wired into a 7 pin harness - everything works except that I have to make a connection manually in the boot to disbale the car fog lights and enable the caravan foglights when towing, so I imagine that will be a fail for my car.

 

However, as my harness connects to my 13-pin cale using 4mm connectors (pinched from my model aeroplane stock) I will just remove my towball and socket for the MOT and see what happens.

 

Just another minor irritant in life's rich tapestry. At least the cost of the MOT is a modest £54.85..........

 

(That last sentence was a joke - is there any progress on the proposals to make the MOT test every 2 years?)

 

Well, I can report that my car sailed through its service and MOT last week, including the 13-pin towbar wiring without any jiggery pokery, so to speak. I also had the cambelt/water pump done as 9 years/80,000 miles.

 

So, hopefully good for at least another year of civilised transport.......

[TheGoose]

Hi there, just an update. I had my 2001 C5 2.2 HDI mot'ed in April just gone, and it passed the MOT with no problem at all. 100% Hollowed out CAT/DPF and ECU modded for this. I had no advisories for emissions either. I have done a few thousand miles since the dpf removal and now that the hollowed out chamber has coked up a bit the Turbo has quietened down a fair bit. Its just about right now sound wize!

 

Another thing, I had 4 new tyres fitted before the MOT, all balanced correctly and I have had the Tyre Pressure Sensors removed, with standard valves put in place. I get a message pop up telling me there not there anymore but thats about it, message comes on about once for every time I drive the car, then goes out after a few seconds. No STOP or SERVICE lights on either, and no Limp mode.

 

Thanks

 

Mike!