Just been reading about the new MOT rules, it seems if your EML (Energy Management Light) doesn't illuminate when you switch on the ignition it's a MOT failure.
Doh ! Some RR's don't have EML's, could be fun arguing the case with the tester.
Same applies to the ABS, car needs to be driven - the one mean band tester won't drive it onto the road, nor I suspect will the big boys due to insurance issues.
Brings me on to the "dangerous fail" - from what I've read up to now the car can't be driven anywhere at all after a dangerous fail.
Anywhere means anywhere, so will test stations be stacked up with immoveable cars, or maybe have a scrap dealer hawking round with his low loader waiting for freebies ?
Goodness knows how the LPG converted cars will be assessed.
Anyone out there have good news on this ?

Typo error..........should read "one man band"

I wouldn't be that concerned. Explaining the P38 oddities isn't exactly new - I've had to tell my tester about the ABS light not going off until driven.

As for the brake testing, if your testing station doesn't have a 4 wheel rolling road for permanent 4WD vehicles, then they have always had to test using a decelorometer - a device that sits in the car and measures the braking force while the car is driven on road and braked to a stop. If any tester or garage isn't either insured to or would 'rather not' road test a vehicle, then I'd be going elsewhere.

Even a Range Rover Classic going back to 1988 has an EML (Engine Management Light), CEL (Check Engine Light) or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) depending on what you want to call it, so that isn't a problem. The only time it doesn't light is when the BeCM and EMC have lost sync and it isn't going to start then so it couldn't be tested anyway.

Mentioned the other day that the EML is disabled on UK spec pre-2000 P38s. Think I'm right in saying that it'll not come on due to OBD errors but should come on when ignition is turned on, then go out and not come back on again when the engine is running even if there are OBD errors?

It does come on with errors but only if they are serious ones likely to cause damage, minor ones don't bring it on. Unlike the US spec ones that come on if someone farts within 100m and it detects the unburnt methane.

Hehe farts, are they that temperamental?
Hugh's was reporting both pre-cat probes broken heater circuits, no signal from one of them (other working OK despite broken heater), fuel trim lean error on the bank with the working probe. I advised both probes would need changing. Also the bank with working probe consistently reads +20% ltft over all rpms/loads so the MAF might be reading too little airflow too, won't be a vac leak if it reads the same +20% at higher loads and rpms. His metal plenum gasket had RTV both sides which I cleaned off before re-assembling.

Simon, what's RTV ?
Have the new and correct model ( as advised on this forum) Bosch Lambdas and a MAF is on the way - fingers crossed by next Thursday all will be fitted.

Sussed it....................it's silicon sealant.
No doubt put there by the mechanic when the short motor BCR engine was fitted a few moons ago for the previous owner

hugh wrote:

Simon, what's RTV ?
Have the new and correct model ( as advised on this forum) Bosch Lambdas and a MAF is on the way - fingers crossed by next Thursday all will be fitted.

This stuff is RTV > https://www.amazon.co.uk/Streetwize-UKASNCMBA7149-VITAL-BLACK-GASKET/dp/B00442NWOQ/

And on the dangerous fails understand there is a distinction between dangerous and major - Dangerous being a serious risk of something causing an accident (loose wheels, lack of any brakes etc). Probably something you'd already know was wrong anyway. Both will fail the MOT, my understanding is that Major would allow you to drive away, Dangerous would not (Dangerous usually resulting in them being unable to finish the test due to not being able to test some items).

Worth reading the below rather than anything thats in the papers about it.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mot-changes-20-may-2018

I would be more concerned with Diesels as they are making the Emissions requirement more stringent: Apparently some folks are panic selling their diesels (or, more sensibly, just getting MOTs done early - ie. before May 20th.)

I noticed that, any visible smoke is a fail. About time too......

Gilbertd wrote:

I noticed that, any visible smoke is a fail. About time too......

Any with a DPF will fail with visible smoke - as you say about time too, well overdue.

Interestingly, I took a P38 in for MoT this morning. Belongs to a mate and is a 4.6 GEMS fitted with a Prins LPG system. My usual tester was fully booked with dodgy diesels hoping to get a pass before the 20th so I decided to give a fairly new place at the other end of my village a try. Had heard lots of good things about them and I was pretty sure there wasn't a lot wrong with the car anyway. Told the tester it was running on LPG and he replied that in that case, it doesn't need an emissions test doing. Not at all. Knew what he was doing, knew about the ABS light only going out once it was rollingand knew that he had to test the brake with the deccelerometer too. Passed with nothing more than advisories for slightly worn rear discs. I'll be going back there for sure.

Not sure if the emissions was his interpretation of the rules or that is another of the changes but it's good news either way.

Sounds like he missunderstood the requirements.

As always with MOT's its finding somewhere decent that doesnt take the piss.

Clearly you want the guy to actually pick up stuff and not do a stevie wonder job, but at the same time, fails for stupid stuff "oh you've got a split wiper blade" is daft.

I think also, once they catch on that you fix stuff yourself, they can often change their tune a bit.

I've since checked the testers manual as from 20th and the emissions checks for spark ignition haven't changed. There's still the same flowchart that says if the fuel is LPG then they should do the basic test. Some vehicles are exempt though, hybrids and hydrogen vehicles being amongst them.

I recently paid a local mechanic to change the water pump on my Merc ML, would have done it myself if I'd had the time but I'm too busy doing what I do best (LPG stuff) and thought I might need the ML to pull a big caravan I recently bought because I haven't had chance to fit a towbar on the Elgrand I bought yet. I'd have used my MOT garage for doing the water pump but he said he was too busy and didn't want to do the water pump anyway.. but it still went to him for it's MOT straight from after having the water pump done. I normally watch the test being done but this time I left it with him and picked it up the next day. When I went to collect he said it'd passed with some advisories... he'd noted worn brake pads all round. Funny that - because I put brand new front pads on the it last year and it's only done a couple of thousand miles since, they still look new to me. I reckon he didn't even look at the car because he knows I'll sort anything that needs doing anyway. Told him not to worry I'd sort the binding OSF caliper lol.

I sometimes wonder if they get a bonus for each advisory. My "fave" so far was Headlights Slow to Illuminate - because I'd fitted a HID kit to my BMW E30. The garage owner hates HIDS but he couldn't fail me on beam pattern because the ellipsoid headlights worked perfectly despite the longer bulbs. The self levelling/washwipe stuff is only relevant for cars with HIDs from new or he'd have nailed me.

They don't get a bonus but they use advisories to show that they have actually looked at the car. Let's face it, it's expected that anything over about 10 years old won't be perfect.