Steps on my T25

Post by **rustyundchen** » 03 Jun 2008, 08:53

Hi,

My T25 is up for MOT in a few weeks and I was just looking for some advice.

Overall the underside of the van is solid but I am not sure about under the two steps that lead into the drivers and passengers seats. The main floor is solid but I think the steps are a bit rusted and wonder if this would fail an MOT? I haven't tried pushing a screwdriver through from the bottom or even removing the 2 little rubber mats as they seem stuck and I wonder if I'd rip the floor up with them.

Could I remove most of the flaky metal from the underside and fibreglass then cover in waxoyl underseal? Or will i need to get it cut out and a plate welded over these areas and if so how much does one reckon that might cost to have done.

I think I have done a mighty 90 miles since the last MOT!!!! but sitting around clearly hasn't been the best for it. I think some water had got under the little step mats and slowly rotted away. I had a problem with the windscreen before I fixed it......

Thanks for all advice in advance.

Russell.

Post by **shepster** » 03 Jun 2008, 09:57

Mine had holes in the steps and the tester told me although they aren't a fail they need sorting because if trod on they could cause a fall.

I pop riveted a plate over and undersealed them and it's passed ever since (4 yrs).

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 03 Jun 2008, 16:16

We got an advisory on one of our cab steps this year (holed due to corrosion) even though the tester said that it wasn't actually part of the test . . . so why did they lift the plastic tread on the step to look underneath it?

Tony

Post by **rustyundchen** » 03 Jun 2008, 18:36

Thanks all. I'll lift up the rubber and have a look. If it's not too bad I fibreglass and seal it. If bad I might get a plate put on top then seal.

Russell

Post by **rustyundchen** » 10 Jun 2008, 14:52

UPDATE.

Didn't have time to fix up the steps and thought I'd get an advisory.

Van went in for a MOT today and the guy has failed it on the two steps!!! I said I thought this would just be an advisory and I'd fix it myself so he said he'll look into it.

It also needs a touch of welding under the rear offside wheel arch which is close to a load bearing point so no quams there. It also failed on CO emissions!! He said I could try changing the fuel filter which I had done the previous night. I suspect they tried to put it through the test with the engine not up to operating temperature. Would this make a difference?

All else Ok mind so it's not that bad.

Regards

Russell.

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 10 Jun 2008, 18:00

Nicola&Tony wrote:We got an advisory on one of our cab steps this year (holed due to corrosion) even though the tester said that it wasn't actually part of the test . . .

Russell, sorry to hear about your mot fail. Our mot was only done on 12th May 2008 and as I said above, we were told the cab step wasn't part of the test but got an advisory about the corrosion.

I'd go back to your tester and ask why the same problem gets a different response in different parts of the country, worth a try I would've thought. Mention that you're in a vw club and know of other members that weren't failed on this. Still gonna need fixing though!

Tony

Post by **umgum** » 11 Jun 2008, 11:29

the cab step is not part of the mot
we repaired ours only to be told by the tester we needn`t have bothered

Post by **plurker** » 11 Jun 2008, 19:16

Post by **rustyundchen** » 12 Jun 2008, 09:03

Yes I guess so................

Anyway I was going to get it fixed up anyway so I might as well just do the job and seal it all up.

The place I took the van to is a big engineering place close to my work who specialise in larger vehicles. Maybe they are just used to being harsh with all the commercial vehicles that pass through.

I'll give him a phone back today and se what he says.

Cheers

R.