Please read the whole of the CHAPTER 1, SAFETY FIRST! before carrying out any work on your car.
fUADTCSA I En Hr
GETTIIMG THROUGH THE MOT
This chapter is for owners in Britain whose
vehicles need to pass the 'MoT' test.
Obviously, you won't be able to examine
your car to the same degree of
thoroughness as the MoT testing station.
But you can reduce the risk of being one of
the 4 out of 10 who fail the test first time by
following this check-list.
iMFTri
The checks shown below are correct at the
time of writing but do note that they are
becoming stricter all the time. Your local
MoT testing station will have the latest
information, should you need it.
1 p Chapter Contents -
Page No. Page No.
PART A: INSIDE THE CAR 28 PART C: VEHICLE RAISED OFF THE GROUND 30
PART B: VEHICLE ON THE GROUND 29 PART D: EXHAUST EMISSIONS 31
PART A: INSIDE THE CAR
Steering Wheel and Column
O 1. Try to move the steering wheel towards and away from you and then from side to side. There should be no appreciable movement or play. Check that the steering wheel is not loose on the column.
02 . Lightly grip the steering wheel between thumb and finger and turn from side to side. Cars with a steering rack: free play should not exceed approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.), assuming a 380 mm (15 in.) diameter steering wheel. Cars fitted with a steering box: free play should not exceed approximately 75 mm (3.0 in.), assuming a 380 mm (15 in.) diameter steering wheel.
Ob . If there is a universal joint at the bottom of the steering column inside the car, check for movement. Place your hand over the joint while turning the steering wheel to-and-fro a little way with your other hand. If ANY free play can be felt, the joint must be replaced.
04. Ensure that there are no breaks or loose components
on the steering wheel itself.
Electrical Equipment
OS . With the ignition turned on, ensure that the horn works okay.
OE . Check that the front wipers work.
07 . Check that the windscreen washers work.
o 8. Check that the internal warnings for the indicator and hazard warning lights work okay.
Checks With An Assistant
O9 . Check that the front and rear side lights and number plate lights work and that the lenses and reflectors are secure, clean and undamaged.
o 10. Check the operation of the headlights (you won't be able to check the alignment yourself) and check that the lenses are undamaged. The reflectors inside the headlights must not be tarnished, nor must there be condensation inside the headlight.
o 11. Turn on the ignition and check the direction
indicators, front and rear and on the side markers.
o 12. Check that the hazard warning lights operate on the
outside of the vehicle, front and rear.
o 13. Check that the rear fog light/s, including the warning
light inside the car, all work correctly.
o 14. Check that the rear brake lights work correctly. These checks are carried out all around the vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
o 15. Operate the brake lights, side lights and each indicator in turn, all at the same time. None should affect the operation of the others.
SAFETY FIRST!
• Follow the Safety information in CHAPTER 1, SAFETY FIRST! but bear in mind that the vehicle needs
to be even more stable than usual when raised off the ground.
• There must be no risk of it toppling off its stands or ramps while suspension and steering components
are being pushed and pulled in order to test them.
Windscreen and Mirrors
O 16. In zone 'A' of your windscreen, no items of damage larger than 10 mm in diameter will be allowed. In the rest of the area swept by the windscreen wipers, no damage greater than 40 mm in diameter will be allowed, nor should windscreen stickers or other obstructions encroach on this area.
o 17. Check that the exterior mirror on the driver's side is in good condition.
o 18. There must be one other mirror in good condition, either inside the car or an external mirror on the passenger's side.
Brakes
O 19. You cannot check the brakes
properly without a rolling road brake
tester but you can carry out the
following checks:
O 20. Pull on the handbrake. It should be fully ON before the handbrake reaches the end of its travel.
O 21. Knock the handbrake from side to side and check that it does not then release itself.
O 22. Check the security of the handbrake mountings and check the floor around it for rust or splits.
o 23. Check that the brake pedal is in good condition and that, when you take hold of it and move it from side to side, there is not too much play.
o 24. Push the footbrake down hard, with your foot. If it creeps slowly down to the floor, there is probably a problem with the master cylinder. Release the pedal, and after a few seconds, press down again. If the pedal feels spongy or it travels nearly to the floor, there is air in the system or another MoT-failing fault with the brakes.
o 25. Check the servo unit (when
fitted) as follows: Pump the pedal
several times then hold it down hard.
Start the engine. As the engine starts,
the pedal should move down slightly.
If it doesn't the servo or the vacuum
hose leading to it may be faulty.
Seat Belts and Seats
O 26. Examine all of the webbing (pull out the belts from the inertia reel if necessary) for cuts, fraying or deterioration.
o 27. Check that each inertia reel belt retracts correctly.
o 28. Fasten and unfasten each belt to ensure that the buckles work correctly.
o 29. Tug hard on each belt and inspect the mountings, as far as possible, to ensure that all are okay.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Checks apply to
rear seat belts as much as front
ones.
O 30. Make sure that the seat runners and mountings are secure and that the back rest locks in the upright position.
Doors and Door Locks
O 31. Check that both front doors latch securely when closed and that both can be opened and closed from both outside and inside the car.
PART B: VEHICLE ON THE GROUND
Electrical Equipment
See Part A: INSIDE THE CAR for checks on the operation of the electrical equipment.
O 1. Examine the wiper blades and replace those that show any damage.
Vehicle Identification
Numbers (VIIU)
O 2. The VIN (or chassis number on older vehicles) must be clearly displayed and legible.
O 3. Number plates must be secure, legible and in good condition with correct spacing between letters and numbers. Any non-standard spacing will not be accepted.
Braking System
O 4. Inside the engine bay inspect the master cylinder, servo unit (if fitted), brake pipes and mountings. Look for corrosion, loose fitting or leaks.
Steering and Suspension
OS . While still in the engine bay, have your assistant turn the steering wheel lightly from side to side and look for play in steering universal joints or steering rack mountings and any other steering connections.
OE. If your vehicle is fitted with power steering, check the security and condition of the steering pump, hoses and drivebelt, in the engine bay.
O 7. Look and reach under the car while your assistant turns the steering wheel more vigorously from side to side. Place your hand over each track rod end in turn and inspect all of the steering linkages, joints and attachments for wear.
o 8. Go around the vehicle and
'bounce' each corner of the
vehicle in turn. Release at the lowest
point and the vehicle should rise and
settle in its normal position without
continuing to 'bounce' of its own
accord.
A Accelerator linkages and cables 118,119 Aerial 112 Airbag 14, 63, 128 Air cleaner/filter 51 Air Conditioning 12,41 Alternator, drive belt . . 49, 50, 110 Antifreeze 43, 44 Anti-roll bars 131 Auto-Biography 1 Automatic transmission fluid 45 gear selector cable 102
B Ball-joints steering and suspension 57 Battery disconnecting 36 electrolyte 36 safety 7 Bellows, steering gear (see 'Gaiters') Bonnet 15, 143 Brakes 59 to 62, 134 to 142 bleeding 141 caliper 59 to 61, 135, 137 cylinder (master) 138 discs, front 59, 135 discs, rear 61, 137 drums 60, 136 fluid, check level 35,36 handbrake 61, 142 hoses/pipes 62, 141 pads 59, 135, 137 pressure regulating/proportioning . . . valve (ABS) 140 pressure regulating/proportioning valve (Non-ABS) 139 RPM sensors (ABS systems) .... 140 safety 7 servo 138 shoes 135 wear sensors (non-ABS) 60 Bulb renewal (see 'Lights') Bushes 57 Bumper removal and refitting. 146
c Cables accelerator 118,119 automatic transmission ... 101, 102 choke 119 clutch 46, 101 handbrake 61 Caliper, brakes (see 'Brakes') Camshaft belt 43, 66 Capacities 19,154 Carburettor adjustment 53 removal 117 Catalytic converter 54, 55 safety 6 Central locking 114 Choke 119 Clutch adjustment 46, 100 hydraulic 46, 105 replacement 100 cable 46, 101 Coil, ignition 47, 107, 108 Coil spring 57 Constant Velocity (C.V.) joints (see 'Driveshaft') Contents 4 Controls and switches ... 10 to 14 Cooling system .. 35, 43, 106 to107 change coolant 43 radiator pressure cap 35 Crankcase ventilation system 42 Cylinder head Diesel 87 to 93
Petrol 67 to 73
D Data 17 to 27 Diesel bleeding the system 126,127 fuel filter 52 glow plugs 115 injection pump 56,124 injectors 126 Disc, brakes (see 'Brakes') Distributor 108, 109 cap 47 Marelli Breakerless 48 Marelli Digiplex 2 48, 49 Doors hinges 62 locKs and handles 147 to 150 removal and refitting 147 trim panels 146 Drivebelts alternator 49, 50, 110 camshaft 43 Driveshaft C.V. joints 103 gaiters 45, 103 removal and refitting 103 Drum (see 'Brakes')
E Electrical system 110 to 115 Electronic control module 54 safety 7 Emergency starting 16 Emissions 31, 51 to 56 control 53, 54 legal limits 31 Engine bay layouts 34 Engine dismantling Diesel 95 Petrol 73 Engine mountings Diesel 95 Petrol 83 Engine oil (see 'Oil') check level 34 Engine refitting Diesel 94 Petrol 82 Exhaust manifold 56 Exhaust 56 system 56, 122 Expansion tank 35
F Facts & Figures 17 to 27 Fan 50, 106 Fast idle carburettor 53, 54 fuel injection 54 diesel 55 Filter air 51 diesel 52 petrol 52 oil (see 'Oil filter') pollen 63 Fire Extinguisher . 6 Fluoroelastomers, safety 8 Fuel cut-off switch 13 Fuel gauge 114 Fuel injection 52, 54, 55, 117 Fuel lines/pipes 51 Fuel pump electric 120 mechanical 120 Fuel system 51 to 56 evaporation control system . 54,122 Fuel tank 121 Fumes, safety 6 Fuses 40
Gearbox (transmission) .... 44 to 46 oil (automatic) . . 45 oil (manual) 44 Generator drive belt (see 'Alternator, drive belt')
H Handbrake 61, 142 Headlights (see 'Lights') adjustment 62 bulb replacement 37 Headrest 153 Heater 11 Hoses/pipes (see 'Pipes and hoses') HT leads 47 Hub front 104 rear 134
I Identification numbers 27 Idle speed adjustment (see 'Carburettor') Ignition system 46 to 51, 107 to 109 coil 47,48 safety 7 Ignition timing 19, 48 to 50 Instruments 110 panel lights 10 Intercooler 123, 124
J Jacking safety 5 wheelchange 15, 16 Jump leads (Jump starting) 16
L Lambda sensor ... 54, 55, 121, 122 Lights fog lights 13, 38 hazard warning 13 headlights 13,37 indicators 13, 37 interior 15, 39, 40 MoT 28 number plate 39 rear lights 38 reversing lights 39 sidelights 13, 37 Locks and latches 9, 10, 62 Lubricants 154
m Manifold fixings 56 Mirrors 14, 150 Mixture adjustment (see 'Carburettor') Model years 17, 18 MoT, getting through 28 to 31
m Number plates (lights) . . 28, 39, 145
o Oil change disposal 7, 8 engine 41, 42 transmission 44, 45 safety 7 Oil filler cap 35 Oil filter 41 Oil level engine 34, 35 gearbox 44, 45 topping up 35
P-Pads, brake (see 'Brakes') Pipes and hoses brakes 62, 138, 141 hot air 121 radiator (cooling system) 43 Plastics, safety 7 Production changes 17, 18
ft Radiator .* 106 Raising the car 5 Repair data 20 Road test, brakes and steering ... 63 Rotor arm 47, 49
s Safety First! 5 to 8 Seats 14, 151 to 153 mountings 62 Seat belts mountings 62 pretensioners 151, 152 Servicing Your Car 32 to 63 Shock absorbers 57,131 Shoes, brake (see 'Brakes') Sidelights (see 'Lights') Spark plugs 47, 154 Specifications (see 'Facts & Figures') Speedometer cable 110 Starter motor 110 Steering 57, 58, 127 to 131 lower wishbone 127, 130 power steering 58, 130 rack gaiters 58, 133 Steering wheel 128 Sun roof 151 Suspension ... 57 to 59, 127 to 134 front 57, 127, 131 rear 58, 59, 128, 133 strut 57, 131
T Tailgate wiper (see 'Windscreen wipers') Tailgate and strut 144 Thermostat 107 Throttle cable and pedal (see 'Accelerator, linkage and cables') Timing belt 43 Diesel 85 to 87 Petrol 65, 66 Torque wrench settings ... 23 to 27 Track control arm (inner bushes). . 57 Track rod ends 57, 58, 128 Transmission. . 80 to 83, 95, 98 to 106 removal 80 to 82 separation and reconnection (Diesel). . 95 separation and reconnection (Petrol). . 83 Transmission fluid 44, 45 Turbocharger replacement 122 to 124 Tyre checking 30, 36 pressures 18,36
u Universal joints 28, 58 Using your car 9 to 16
¥ Vacuum unit, distributor 48 Valve clearances 42, 43, 79, 93 Valve grinding 72 Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) 27
w Washer fluid reservoir 36 Water pump 107 Wheel alignment 28 Wheel bearings 57, 58 Wheel bolts 59 Wheel changing 15,16 Wheel cylinder 137 Wheel sizes 18 Windscreen, damage 29,162 Window regulator 147 to 149 Windscreen washers 112 Windscreen wipers 13,111 Wiring diagrams 155 to 174
Gaiters 30, 57
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