2012 MOT's are going to be ridiculous!

[Adam]

Does this mean all our re-mapped cars will fail MOT next year?

There are to be some changes to the MOT test from 1st January 2012 which are being introduced in response to European Commission Directive 2010/48/EU of the 5th July 2010 and which will effect those with aftermarket HID headlights and remapped ECUs:

For anyone with a remap, section 6.1.9 may be relevant.

6.1.9 Engine performance:
(a) Control unit illegal modified.
(b) Illegal engine modification.

(by 'illegal', it is assumed that they mean changed/programmed differently from OEM specifications)

[Paul]

Mr MOT tester has no way of telling you have messed with the ecu.

I can tell you it will fail if the ECU light is on, thats the main new rule.

[Adam]

There are loads of things coming out I was told last night...

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

No money to pay for the equipment to test this, so don't worry.

[Paul]

There are loads of things coming out I was told last night...

Sounds like 'pub talk'

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repositor...May%202011.pdf

See above
Regarding the MIL or ECU light, new rules are

Illumination of malfunction indicator light (MIL) for electronic powersteering, electronic stability control,
electronic park brake control, brakefluid warning lamp, tyre pressure monitoring system and air bag/
pre‑tensioner.

[Ardenblueroy]

I've been told that if your car was fitted with a factory fitted air bag steering wheel and for example you fit a momo...it will fail. Not sure how true this is..as Paul said...a lot of it is pup talk. The tester has no way to access map files on an ecu. Same goes for Vauxhall to...that would never know unless you told them.

[Paul]

Well unless you can make the air bag light work, IMO, its now a fail.

[Ardenblueroy]

Even if the light is off (using a bag boss) the rule is the same as the cat rule.....it has to be in place...and I was thinking of binning my gsi wheel in favour of a aftermarket item.
It's as if the government or the powers that be don't want us motorists to have a single ounce of fun.

[Paul]

Fun is one thing, but as cars get more technical with safery systems removing the drivers air bag is not a good move.

The UK has some very easy MOT rules I think.

You could always refit the airbag at MOT time.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

Even if the light is off (using a bag boss) the rule is the same as the cat rule.....it has to be in place.

You don't need a cat, so not sure what you mean as you seem to be talking bollocks there??

BTW, front fogs don't need to work, and spare doesn't have to have legal tread.

[Paul]

The new rules state you'll need to have a cat fitted.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

My bad, thought we were on about current mot rules, not future/potential ones.
Seems a strange rule, as you could beat the insides out, and potentially pass emissions, and pass for having one fitted, even though it's doing nothing.

[Paul]

My old recovery truck had the insides removed then welded back up.

Never needed it come MOT time as the emissions rules are not very tight for engines running on LPG.

[Ardenblueroy]

You don't need a cat, so not sure what you mean as you seem to be talking bollocks there??

BTW, front fogs don't need to work, and spare doesn't have to have legal tread.

Any car built after 1st of August 1992 requires a cat to pass the current mot test. As for the steering wheel thing..what I was told was, if a aftermarket wheel is in place (non airbag) it will need to be replaced come mot time with the factory bagged model...even if you have a boss adapter with the air bag light turn off...it will still fail...it has to be the factory steering wheel.
Again I was told this by a non mot tester mate....so could be true or a load of old bs.

[Ardenblueroy]

The new rules state you'll need to have a cat fitted.

It's an old rule.....the cat has to be in place for cars built 1992 onwards. The steering wheel one is a new rule..I think.

[Paul]

My understanding of the current rules is you don't need a cat, but the emissions must meet the correct levels.

EDIT

Taken from the MOT testers own handbook questions

The MOT regulations say nothing about a vehicle having a catalytic converter. They merely set emission levels which have to be achieved if the vehicle is first used after a specific year. Certainly some cars with every efficient engines could achieve the required emission levels without a catalytic converter. However in your case, if your vehicle’s year is before the break year, then should the cat be removed, in all probabilty it should not affect the MOT.

Next years (2012) rules mean a cat must be fitted, or something like a cat.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

It's an old rule.....the cat has to be in place for cars built 1992 onwards. The steering wheel one is a new rule..I think.

It's not an old rule, is no mention of having a cat fitted - it's an EMISSIONS test.

[RAMBIRKETT]

It's not an old rule, is no mention of having a cat fitted - it's an EMISSIONS test.

As said, a diesel with decat such as my 2005 vectra wont get through a new style test

Dam it it missed 'Ardenblueroy's quote, i was agreeing with 'JustinAudiA4tdi

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

To clarify, you mean the proposed new mot test?
As currently there is no need for a cat.
Save people getting confused/spouting bollocks.

[Ardenblueroy]

It's not an old rule, is no mention of having a cat fitted - it's an EMISSIONS test.

I've always been led to think that the cat is required for that part...I had to put mine back on...always have...except for my old H reg Escort RS Turbo.
It doesn't state anything about the cat....but how many times have you heard people say...keep ur cat for mot time.
But it's all a nice way for the government and vosa ect to make money...I just buy fake mots......only joking.lol.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

No, is like spare tyre having to be legal, or if it's there it's got to work - many think incorrectly.
You keep cat as you'll probably fail EMISSIONS test without it.
Some will pass EMISSIONS test without cat, but isn't likely.

[Ardenblueroy]

To clarify, you mean the proposed new mot test?
As currently there is no need for a cat.
Save people getting confused/spouting bollocks.

Let's not argue.....it's getting confusing...I justntake the car to my mates place and hope for the best....so far so good...got mine in feb.

[RAMBIRKETT]

To clarify, you mean the proposed new mot test?
As currently there is no need for a cat.
Save people getting confused/spouting bollocks.

Yes to all of the above lol

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

There is no argument, as it stands at moment it's an EMISSIONS test, not a check to see if there's a cat fitted.

[Ardenblueroy]

No, is like spare tyre having to be legal, or if it's there it's got to work - many think incorrectly.
You keep cat as you'll probably fail EMISSIONS test without it.
Some will pass EMISSIONS test without cat, but isn't likely.

Yeah...I think thats kind of what I was saying but in a arse about face way...lol.