False advice by mot garages
 

I am posting this in the hope that it encourages members not to take without question the advice of those mot testers who feel the answer to any mot failure is to "buy a new car". My 1,8t failed recently on disastrous emission readings which led the garage owner to say I needed to get a new engine or completely overhaul the one I have. The car was at the end of its life anyway he said and the best way out was to scrap it. I had a diagnostic test and the answer was a faulty sensor - costing about £80. I took the car back for a retest and was told "it's now a different car". I reminded him of his earlier comments and he didn't know what to say.

annoying for those that dont know.

I am sure this is a tru story but forty years on, who knows. My sister was quoted for a new gearbox for her MK1 Cortina. When she got home and told our dad, he went outside, had a look .......and closed the ashtray that was vibrating against the gear lever in 1st and 3rd

really glad you got your car sorted for such little money but you must be glad you had it properly diagnosed before going to a replacement car or engine

professionals bah humbug

macafee2

This is why I keep going on about finding an MOT testing station that you can use every year and does not do repairs.

The testing station I use will do his utmost to get a car through a test for his regulars, I was down there a few weeks ago getting a friends car tested, the car before me he was struggling getting the emissions low enough to get a pass, he had a cloth stuffed up the tail pipe, he was revving it to get the cat as hot as possible and after several mins he managed to get a pass on the machine. A lot of places will just put the test probe up the exhaust and if it fails it will be down to you.

The shape of the 75 tailpipe/s can give testers a problem even getting the probe in, due to the curved shape. (Just an observation!) Mine got damaged and spit out its "horses mane" (sound deadener) after one test!:duh:

Was it a faulty Lambda/Oxygen sensor ?:shrug:

Glad you have got it sorted easily

It was a faulty oxygen sensor.

Council depot's all do MOT's and they don't do repairs, our local bus garage also does MOT's without repairs.

Lol. A true professional is never afraid of a second opinion. Always get a second opinion or even a third when you get a big quote. Another great example of Caveat emptor.:eek:

This is why I'm loath to take a car to the like of Halfords , Kwik Fit etc , they always seem to be looking for work , my local testing station has no angle to them at all , if it fails the MOT that's the end of it ," bring it back for a retest when you get it sorted " none of this "we can give you an estimate " nonsense .