MOT today

[tobyfield]

My car has gone in for its MOT today. I think that it will pass without too many problems, but will keep my fingers crossed.

The off-side rear tyre is pretty on the limit, so I think I may have to buy two new rear tyres.

The hazard warning lights are temperamental. They only usualy work if you have the ignition on and the indicator on either left or right. A good whack on the dashboard will get them working again, but only for a copuple of seconds. I think it's the hazard relay that's faulty, but how can I actually tell. A new one is £37 + VAT and delivery from Eurocarparts, but they have no stock. If it's not that, I've wasted money trying.

The only other thing I think it will fail on is emmissions. The DI cassette has been playing up over the last year and the fact that it has been running on 3 cylinders, makes me think that unburnt fual has gone to the cat and may have damaged it. I dont want to have to think about buying a new cat. I will probably have to buy a 2nd hand one.

I'll wait to hear from the garage later today and let you know how she gets on (I call her she but she doesn't have a name. My wife calls her my 2nd wife, and she calls my computer my first wife!).

[neel]

Good Luck on the MOT Toby.

The CAT was one big worry on my mind when I went for the MOT a couple of months back. Basically when I bought my 9K 7 months back, the RAC mechanic who inspected the car suggested that I ask the seller to get a new MOT on it. But for the price for which I got an immaculate R reg Anniversary, the seller wouldn't do it and I just took the risk. God be praised , the car flew through the MOT for £19.50 (the charge for the MOT) and 3 pounds of fuel to get it and back from the garage. I hope yours flies through as well.

BTW, my wife calls the 9K my first wife as I bought her (Saaby) 4 months before our wedding (to my wife ofcourse ).

Cheers,
Neel.

[tobyfield]

The only problem with mines, shes now 10 years old and I'm sure it's the original cat.

[ms08]

I need to get my MOT done soon on my '94 900 and am chancing it but putting it through with a new JT 3" front pipe - cat removed.
Toby
With regard to your hazards - are they and the indicator relay/switch one and the same as if they are would you thought the problem would show up on both - or does it.
If not can they be interchanged to see it the fault 'moves'?
Are there any scrappies you could pick one up from?

Mike

[tobyfield]

I'm not sure what you mean Mike.

My hazards don't work at all with the ignition switched off unless you give the dash a whack. If you leave the indicator on while you switch the ignition off, you get a loud indicator clicky/buzz noise.

If I have the ignition on, the hazards will not normally work either unless I put either the left or right indicator on.

[marks carlsson]

the loud clicky/buzzy noise you are referring to is the relay getting stuck

[tobyfield]

I just got a phone call from the Garage.

It failed on two things.

1. Number Plate light.
2. Non-Working NS rear Handbrake.

The NS Rear caliper is seized and has played up before, so I now have to find a cheap one as the garage want £130 for a caliper.

The search is on.....

[Mark B]

I suspect that you could manually adjust the caliper so that the handbrake works and therefore pass the MOT. The test measures the functioning of the brakes, not the adjuster. Obviously this would only be a short term solution.

I recently replaced a chum's caliper, obtained in a rush from a local auto factor for £75 + £40 deposit until I returned the old one. It's very easy to replace, but follow the instructions about the handbrake adjuster!

[tobyfield]

German Swedish and Euro car parts both do the Caliper for £69.33 + £35 surcharge. They both charge nearly £9 for delivery.

[ms08]

Toby
Is it the caliper seized or the handbarake mechanism on the caliper which might free up - don't think you find cheaper than Euro or Swedish.
I had a seized caliper that used to rattle like hell on the back as it wouldn't move on the rods but still functioned.

Mike

[zeppelin]

yuor biggest problem might be changing the number plate light.i had to break mine to get to bulb as both screws were rounded.if this happens to you,tap the bulb cover at the screw holes with a hammer and thin flat blade screwdriver.this will break holder and release it but you can refit and then cover with sellotape to keep it waterproof.i did this three months ogo and it is still ok.

[tobyfield]

Mike, it's the handbrake mech that's seized. I was told almost two years ago that I should replace the caliper. A year ago, they managed to lubricate and get it working again, but this time they reckon it will break if they try and free it.

[ms08]

Toby
Can only suggest heating gently with blowlamp and WD40 and perseverance - is the cable free moving. If you are keeping the car though might be a good time to change it.

Mike

[ben hall]

Toby,

I know exactly what you mean about the hazard flashers. Mine are the same, and the last but one time the car was MOT'd the guy who did it said that the relays can get gummed up if they're not used. I don't know exactly how the relays for the individual indicators relate (if at all) to the relay for the hazards, but I find that if I give the hazards a 10-15sec blast every now and then (when getting the car out of the garage for example) it seems to keep them happy.

cheers,

Ben.

[rageT16S]

I have replaced several CS hazard switches as they were faulty. As you have proved by banging the dash to get it to work, i believe the switch is faulty.

Hope to have helped
Paul