Hi Everyone, congratulations to Steven Hall who won the inaugural monthly draw for November. I thank all who entered and remind you that everyone will get something from this. Your Free MOT reminder will come out to you a couple of weeks before it is due.
The prize Draw for December is now open.
To win £200 towards a Full Service and MOT print and email me the completed form that you will see in a previous blog.
Entry into the December draw ends at midnight on the 31st December 2014.
Those who entered last month can enter again, refer someone new and you will also be entered into this months draw.
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Monday, 24 November 2014
CAR REPAIR COSTS SET TO INCREASE
CAR REPAIR COSTS SET TO INCREASE if car manufacturers get their way…
Latest proposal of Telematic Systems will
make repairing vehicles an unfair playing field and will restrict consumer
choice. This will undoubtedly lead to an increase in repair costs should the
manufacturers get their way.
This video explains how this would affect
motorists, and the small local independent businesses they have come to rely on
to fix their cars…
Car manufacturers are determined to stop companies supplying
diagnostic equipment to independent repairers. They have asked the EU to allow
them to only allow a remote ‘telematic’ radio link from their vehicles’
computers to the diagnostic system. This means that there will be no socket
into which independent businesses can connect their equipment. If that is
allowed, then smaller independent businesses will not be able to access the
computer to fix any fault. Follow this link for the full story…
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Tests on Non Original Equipment components at MOT thwarted
EU wanted 'safety' tests on parts
An attempt to include checks specifically on
non-OE components fitted to vehicles as part of the MOT has been blocked by
aftermarket industry bodies and lobbying groups.
For full report click this link.
The explanation given was: “In case of non-OEM replacement parts or after-sales parts, that largely
deviate from the original parts, their impact on the safe use of the vehicle
has to be carefully assessed by the inspector. A downgrading of the level of
safety of the vehicle shall not be acceptable.”
Who are these unelected people making decisions
that can affect so many livelihoods.
I think that this is a typical case of desk
based personnel who has never carried out an MOT in their life putting forward
rulings without actually thinking them through. For example you can buy a
suspension lowering kit from a main dealer and you can also purchase an
equivalent kit from an aftermarket source. They both ‘largely deviate from the original parts’ but is it the quality of
part that is in question or the fact that the vehicle has been modified? With
some vehicles you can purchase the same vehicle with lowered sports suspension
from new. How is an MOT tester going to know if a vehicle was lowered from new
or afterwards? Unless every part that is replaced has a genuine stamp or
reference somewhere visible on it you could never tell. An MOT tester will have
to constantly be covering their backside and passing and advising on everything
that looks like it has been replaced on a vehicle.
Very few motor manufacturers make all their own
parts they rely on outside companies to produce parts for them. On many
occasions these are the same companies that produce an equivalent part for the
aftermarket.
What these unelected people do not realize is
that an MOT test is no more than a basic safety check. MOT testing in our
country is robust enough to highlight any safety issues a car may have at the
time of test without adding to it. The longer the MOT test takes to conduct the
more it will cost. Who will pay for this extra time required? You guessed it,
the motorist.
This is a ridiculous ruling rightly thrown out,
albeit the lobbyers used the ‘discriminatory’ card. Do these unelected people
have links with the main dealerships by any chance or am I being paranoid and
think that they are just out to get me?
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
New EU MOT rules starting from 2017
New EU MOT rules starting from 2017
For the motorist the biggest change will be that cars with defects which render them ‘dangerous to drive’ could be banned from the road.
In Britain it is undecided whether or not that this ruling will be used because the new EU rules are in the form of a Directive, so exactly how they will appear in the MOT Test can be decided by the British Government.
There will also be changes around how vehicles’ emissions are checked and regarding electronic components which have a safety related function, such as adaptive braking, cruise control and traction control.
The Department for Transport, working with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will in due course be working out the details. Until that task is completed it won’t be possible to say exactly how motorists will be affected.
http://www.motester.co.uk/mot-news/mot-news/new-eu-mot-rules-starting-from-2017
Monday, 17 November 2014
MOT Fee frozen until 2015
MOT Fee frozen until 2015
The new Roads Minister Robert Goodwill announced,
"...we are freezing the price for an MOT Test..." Good news for our
customers because this means that we are able to freeze our MOT price for a
further year. 
Jim Punter, editor of MOT Testing Magazine and Chairman of the MOT Trade Forum said, "I am very disappointed at hearing that the MOT fee is to be frozen yet again for another year – that's a five year freeze altogether.
http://www.motester.co.uk/mot-news/mot-fee-frozen-until-2015
As Jim explains some of these extra checks have very little to do with road safety. For example, ensuring that number plates are visible is purely so that enforcement cameras are able to read the registration so that the revenue from motoring fines can be collected from the motorist.
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Diesel Particulate Filters Removal Info
On the 16th February 2014 MOT testing stations began testing Diesel
Particulate Filters (DPF)
The
DPF plays an essential environmental role in enabling reductions in emissions
which help meet strict European emission standards, reducing air pollution and
thereby improving health quality.
It
has come to light that some businesses are offering a service to remove or
bypass the DPF. This practice compromises the MOT testing standards and
therefore undermines the principle of inspecting their presence.
The problem testing stations are facing is how would a VTS know if a DPF has been removed or tampered with?
Authorised
Examiners are responsible to ensure that MOT testing is carried out to the
required standards. If Vehicle Testing Stations (VTS) are found to be offering
this service, the DVSA may consider taking action to remove the VTS’s authorisaton
to test.
Click
the link for further news about DPF and a recent BBC ‘sting’ operation into
diesel particulate filter (DPF)….
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
MOT REMINDERS CLUB
THE MOT
REMINDERS CLUB
Would you
like to get a FREE MOT & SERVICE?
Then read
on……
Please
enter a friend or colleague’s personal and vehicle details and you and your
friend or colleague will be entered into our FREE
Monthly prize draw to win a ‘FREE MOT & FULL
SERVICE ’ (worth approx £200)’ There is
no restriction on how many times you enter. The only stipulation is that your
friend or colleague is not already a customer of ours.
Your
Name:______________________________________
Your Address:____________________________________
_____________________________ Postcode:__________
Mobile
Number: (For
Prize Draw and MOT Reminder Notification)______________
Vehicle
Registration Number:_________________________
Vehicle
Make:_____________________________________
Please enter the details of the person who you wish to refer to us.
Their
Name:_______________________________________
Their Address:_____________________________________
_______________________________Postcode:__________
Their Mobile Number: (For Prize Draw and MOT Reminder Notification)___________
Their
Vehicle Registration Number:______________________
Their
Vehicle Make:__________________________________
Return this
completed form to pen.motcentre@btconnect.com
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