Club 80-90 Forums

Our van is coming up for it's MOT and trying to decide where to take it. We just wondered where you guys take yours? Do you take it to a specialist or a garage chain ie nation wide, kwik fit etc.
Thanks in advance for any advice,
Rob n Sarah

I use a dedicated MOT centre....although they do repairs, they are mainly MOT.....and an independent garage who doesn't do MOT himself, but takes it to a man who can!

Depends on what I think needs doing.

Em
x

Ther used to be (5 or 6 years back) a bloke called Frank with a small unit on a side street near Elland Road stadium that was very good with Beetles and often had vans around too. Didn't do the MOT's himself, he would do a pre test then run it up to a different garage for its test once he was happy all was well. Fingers crossed I've got his details somewhere fo you. I'll try and find some paperwork with an address on for you in the week. Failing that if you fancy a run to Whitby, call in and see Donald at Blue Bank Garage in Sleights. Slow & methodical, proper old school garage - you could always make a weekend of it

Could also try your local Council's mot place. They're not allowed to do any of the work that might need doing, so there's no incentive to fail it if it doesn't warrant it. More info here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tony

I take to a local "old school" type mechanic...he then takes to another garage for MOT. Does all types and relies on reputation. I would avoid chains (kwik fit etc) was in one recently to get a new tyre on company car and you could see the look of delight on the guy behind the counter when a middle aged woman came in and said she needed an MOT. Even chanced arm with me by saying "brakes seemed a bit off when we pulled car into bay...shall we have a look?" - car had been dealer serviced the week before! did a report on tyres for the lease company and rated the other 3 at 70% : that was my favourite one as they had been fitted(by a Kwik fit mobile unit) during the service! They had nearly 200 miles on them

Take mine to a garage that does commercial vans. He's strict but absolutely fair. Would rather he noticed anything that needed attention.

a total hit and miss.
even at each test station there are different testers who will fail/pass different things.

if unsure about and fail items just ask the tester/station to 'show you in the book the REASON FOR REJECTION on any item'

the mot book will basically list the description of why its failed. if it aint in the book it cant fail!

remember , front steps are NOT a reason for a fail , nor is a missing bumper end cap!
most of the sill is not a failure , only up to 12 inches in front of the rear trailing arm mount!
rear wheel bearings must have EXCESSIVE play or have roughness or tightness when spun and be likely to fail (break up soon),
before excess play there is NO PLAY , SLIGHT PLAY ,PLAY and LOTS OF PLAY all of which are advise

E D I T from book ,reason for failure
1 Excessive roughness in a near wheel bearing.

2. Excessive play in a rear wheel bearing, indicating severe maladjustment or wear.
http://www.motuk.co.uk/default.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; go to search page and enter the area your van failed to see a reason for rejection(fail)

Rob,
Garage in the village behind the hand car wash is sympathetic to campers & pretty fair.
Jamie

Thank you all very much for your help and advice,

i think we'll go for one of the small local garages a few of you have mentioned, will also give it a good once over this weekend with the aid of the haynes and try sort any daft problems which are easily recitifed.

So fingers crossed.