Diagnostics
Reading fault codes and working out what is wrong before anyone replaces a part.
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Sunday closed.
When to book it in
A warning light is on, whether it is the engine light or another one.
The car loses power or drops into limp mode.
A rough idle, stalling or poor fuel economy that is new.
A fault that comes and goes, which is the hardest kind to find.
Worth knowing before you book
A fault code points to a system or a circuit. It does not name the failed part, so ask what was tested to confirm the part before it was replaced.
A diagnosis is more useful written down: what the fault is, how it was confirmed, and what the repair involves.
What the MOT does and does not cover
If a car fails its MOT, the test report names the item that failed and the manual section it was failed under.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
The report is specific. An entry such as a corroded brake pipe tells you more than a warning light does.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
The test is a snapshot of the day it is carried out. A car can pass and still be unreliable, and the reverse is also true.
GOV.UK, car parts checked at an MOT
Where this shows up in the MOT test
The test covers all six of these areas. Each is a separate section of the DVSA manual with its own reasons for rejection.
Brakes
Service brakes and the parking brake are checked for condition and for how well the car actually stops.
Manual section 1
Steering
Each joint is rocked by hand. Any free movement at the wheel is a defect, not a comfort setting.
Manual section 2
Lamps and reflectors
Headlamps, brake lights, indicators and reflectors are tested while the engine is running.
Manual section 4
Tyres and road wheels
Tread is measured against the legal minimum, and every sidewall is checked for cuts and bulges.
Manual section 5.2
Suspension
The car is lifted so each wheel can be rocked to expose play that is invisible when it is sat still.
Manual section 5.5
Body and structure
Structure, attachments and bodywork are inspected for corrosion and for whether anything is loose.
Manual section 6
Book it in, or ask us first
We are at 19 Dane Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1JQ.