MOT brake-test

A print out is only produced at some VTS for the purpose of transfer by the MOT tester of data from one computer to another. It can be given out of courtesy to the vehicle presenter after this task has been carried out as the tester is not compelled to keep it any longer unless he desires for his own purposes.
The VTS is not compelled to give this print out to any other person but I can see no reason why it shouldn’t.
If you ask nicely you may be given it, you can also view the test as it happens to see the results live.
On most occasions you would we better off letting the garage work on your brakes otherwise you can end up going in circles in more ways than one.

Thanks for the replies

I've probably still got print-outs from cars from years ago.

iirc used to always get one stapled to the back of the rest of the papers

I would actually like to see the test done live but I can't imagine they'd be insured for the public walking about in the garage area and I don't think there was a window to look through

Will report back tomorrow - whether it fails or passes

May not be long before you aren't given any papers at all.

Pre 2008 diesel, mil light on only an advise at most. I had this conversation with a vehicle examiner. The tester can not fail it!
If they do, ask them for appeal form. And tell them to read the manual, on the part quoted.
And also, the test station has to allow you to see your vehicle being tested, whether from a viewing area or on a TV monitor.

So I got a PASS yesterday 

Before the test I asked about the print-out and the girl on reception rifled thru a few other customers' papers on the counter and asked if I meant one of these showing me exactly what I was talking about.

When I got back an hour or so later the car had passed and I got the print-out but, disappointingly, it showed a very borderline pass on the handbrake. 


I know there is a formula shown in the MOT Manual for establishing the efficiency of the brake but I'm not sure how 16% is the accepted pass mark.


One thing I found interesting was the Imbalance figure for axle 1 & axle 2. I don't know which is which but would imagine 1 is the front. If 2 is the rear seems a bit odd that mine are almost perfectly balanced but the handbrake is so poor. I'm aware that the balance figure here is probably for the service brake but it still seems a bit odd.

Am also surprised at how comfortably my (nearly 18 years old) 2.2 diesel is passing the smoke-test.

When I took it for an MOT in summer 2022 after doing a lot of work on the brakes etc the guy at the station said it won't pass the smoke-test. We used to get a lot of Mk3s in (Mondeo) but they were all failing the test.

My reading that time was (1.05) iirc and this year I'm getting 0.55 (before EGR fixed) and 0.65 (with EGR fixed)


brake print out


smoke-test when MIL was on (EGR faulty)


smoke-test after EGR fixed

 
  

16% is what DVSA have laid down as a pass for a car with a dual line brake system. This is because the park brake is actually being tested as an emergency brake. The Idea being if your brake system were to spring a leak only half of it would stop working so 16% efficiency along with half the service brake wl bring the vehicle to an emergency stop.
On an older vehicle fitted with a single line system has a required park brake efficiency of 25%.

Yes someone on the Mondeo forum spotted that before I'd even updated my thread.

I had glanced at the (soaking wet) paperwork when I got it home and didn't notice that.

So I'd actually covered about 20 miles between the tests but now it looks like I've lost 1880 miles 


NB the car was on SORN and parked on a farm about 4 miles from my flat so I was walking 8 miles a night to work on it and getting soaked many times. Worst of all was the day I picked it up to go for the MOT

You can read the information regarding a gradient test in the on-line manual.
www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles