air bags

Air bag light on = Fail
Air bag(s) obviously missing = Fail

SRS lamp on - fail. I would agree with nitros44, pass on the seats.

Not part of the test, a lamp on due to deactivation is a P&A. Only Fail the lamp if it clearly indicates a fault @dougie71. The lamp could be on due to seats being removed so benefit of doubt goes to Presenter. At the time of test no codes can be read..

I'd still be failing it for the lamp indicating a fault

To qualify even further I have seen this on rally prepped cars...pass and advise

If an airbag is designed to be deactivated there is normally a separate lamp indicating that it has been isn't there? If the SRS lamp is lit, then to me it is indicating a fault and I will fail it as such. I won't be checking under seats or anywhere else. When I hand the failure sheet to the presenter and he tells me there is an acceptable reason for this situation, he gets the benefit of the doubt and I will issue a pass.

Absolutely Gaz, although I would tell him first that it is still going to fail, thus giving him the chance to change his mind, and not throw away his retest.

How do you know it's a fault though?

An example, take a Jaguar for instance. If you clip in the front passenger Seat Belt on an unoccupied seat and start it up the passenger SRS Lamp illuminates. It also deactivates the Airbag itself if the occupant is under a certain weight. Basically it's a very clever bit of kit they use.

dougal71 never said the light was on, he said it was covered. If it's covered and you can't see it operate (lamp on/lamp off) how can you fail it?

Indicating a fault means you must be sure it is a fault before you fail. Reading faults can't be done during the test either. Benefit of doubt always goes with the Presenter Gaz.

That's why we can't fail inner rack joints mate, We know they're knackered and we know the play is excessive but, we can't fail what we can't see without dismantling. We can feel that they're knackered and we know that they are but as we can't see it due to a gaiter being over them we cannot fail them. We have to P&A

A wheel may only have 1 nut fitted, if hub caps are fitted, P&A.

If you can't see a spring in situ during test, assume it's ok and P&A.

Unless you can prove the Failure at anytime to anyone without dismantling or using none approved equipment P&A mate

ABS has totally different fail criteria. If the ABS Lamp was covered with tape that alone would fail Gaz.

We can't assume a Failure, it's a minimum standard safety inspection carried out by us (NT's) and I on behalf of The Secratary Of State For Transport. We sign with his authority when we sign a VT20/VT30/VT32.

The rule of testing is basically; if you can prove your failure beyond all doubt anywhere at anytime then fail simples.
If we have to think about a decision chances are it'll be a P&A a fail tends to be obvious.

Likewise, if we can't see any particular item we think could be a failure or don't know if a lamp being on is indicating a fault that's provable there and then we can only P&A.

If an Airbag lamp don't work it's a P&A (ABS lamp is a fail), Airbag lamp on due to deactivation is a P&A (ABS lamp on is a fail), Can't see an Airbag lamp properly to determine it's a fault without reading codes it's a P&A (ABS is a fail).

This went through the Councils prior to becoming part of the test Gaz. Airbag MIL Lamp was intentionally going to carry the same fail criteria as ABS MIL Lamp along with a similar MoI.

That was until it became apparent to all involved that gathering all the relevant data on different test procedures and ignition self test methods and plonk in onto VSI was virtually impossible to do within the EU deadline. Not only that, there was a lot of worrying speculation that if it became Manditory the trade would foot the bill for the relevent data (we all know how we're fleeced now with Emission data).

Outcome was a very simplified version of the original:

Lamp illuminates? - yes or no (both Pass with 1 advise)
Lamp stays illuminated? - yes or no (mmmm I've thought about it) continue to next question
Lamp staying illuminated and without doubt indicates a fault? yes or no (don't know becaue I can't prove it P&A)

Some MIL's flash, some stay on, some stay off and others do as they please when indicating faults. But unless we can prove it's indicating a fault during the MOT Test we can only P&A.

We have calibrations on our equipment to ensure we don't fail something which was in fact faulty equipment. The maintainace level of our equipment is quite strict for that reason mate.

The then VOSA, VTS Councils, DfT and other bodies realised prior to introduction that proving a fault can't be done during an MOT Test basically. We have to test it due to EU Legistlation but failing it can be very difficult to justify..