Kwik-Fit Aldershot MOT standards

[FJA]

Where do i start. Took my car in for MOT on 10/09, it passed which surprised me. This car is used by my daughter, so I need it to be road-legal.

 

The car arrived at 10:50, I left at 11:40. That is 50 minutes that the car was there. For 30 minutes of this 50 minutes, I was sat in the customer reception looking at the car sitting in the customer car park. So a supposed 45 minute MOT was completed in 20 minutes. Not bad going.

 

3 Advisories:

1. wipers in poor condition

2. general underbody corrosion

3. front exhaust blowing slightly

 

I knew the front tyres were questionable, so I stopped off at your Farnborough garage to check. Didn't tell them where I had come from. He told me that both fronts are barely legal, uneven wear and cracking on the outer wall - these are the original tyres, so 11 years old. Told him that they had just passed the MOT, without even an advisory, and he couldn't believe it. One of the rear tyres was also flat with a nail in it - I know this tyre has had a slow puncture for some time so this isn't new.

 

One of the front wipers was actually split - this is a failure.

 

Because of the corrosion, I took the car to my mechanic. We did a quick check of the car. Below are his findings:

 

1. front near-side side-light not working

2. front off-side wiper split

3. rear near-side tyre flat (10psi) with a nail embedded

4. both front tyres 1mm of tried, both un-even wear and cracking on outer wall

5. rear off-side wheel bearing noisy

6. off-side swivell housing deteriorating

7. 2 exhaust brackets snapped off - his 10 year son spotted this first whilst standing 5 feet away

8. downpipe corroded

9. corrosion on rear brake pipes

10. dampness around brake servo's

 

The underbody corrosion that was mentioned, we couldn't find it. Not even a hint.

 

In his opinion, the MOT provided by Kwik-Fit Aldershot isn't worth the piece of paper that it is printed on. He doesn't even believe that the car was put onto a ramp.

 

Not that I expect much to happen from this, the only cars I will be taking to Kwik-Fit for an MOT will be any wrecks that should really be put to salvage

[lookinforinfo]

Look at it this way. You have passed the MOT with only advisories. Had it been done properly, you would have had a fail, plus details of everything that failed on the sheet, and having to pay now to get them all put right before you could have got the car back on the road.

As it is, you have the MOT pass and you can then fix the other things to get the car satisfactory.

I agree that Kwikfit have done a below standard job but it has worked to your advantage this time. Another time you will fail when perhaps a different MOT station would have passed you . Swings and roundabouts.

 

Does not sound like Kwikfit as they are usually pretty quick [or kwik] to extract as much money as possible.

[Surfer01]

Having cracked tyres is not a MOT fail.

[FJA]

I'm glad it passed, but if my daughter gets stopped today she would most likely be fined to two dodgy tryes which weren't even put down as advisories. The car is spending tomorrow with my mechanic to get most of the issue rectified, but if an MOT is supposed to state the your car is roadworthy at the time of the MOT, Kwik-Fit has totally failed in this.

[KwikFit Official Customer]

Hi there,

 

We're sorry to hear about your recent experience at Kwik Fit. If you haven't already been in touch with us please e-mail [email protected] with the vehicle registration number and we will look into this for you.

 

Kind regards,

 

Kwik Fit Customer Service

[email protected]

[FJA]

I sent you exactly the same as what was posted on this site via your 'contact us' page.

 

James

[KwikFit Official Customer]

Hi James,

 

We have received this and it has been logged and sent on to an area manager for investigation. Please be aware that it may take up to 3 business days for the area manager to get back in touch with you regarding this.

 

Kind regards,

 

Kwik Fit Customer Service

[email protected]

[MaisyMouse]

I'm glad it passed, but if my daughter gets stopped today she would most likely be fined to two dodgy tryes which weren't even put down as advisories. The car is spending tomorrow with my mechanic to get most of the issue rectified, but if an MOT is supposed to state the your car is roadworthy at the time of the MOT, Kwik-Fit has totally failed in this.

 

You could always ask your daughter not to drive the car until the - almost - defective parts have been replaced.

[Surfer01]

A MOT is only applicable for the day it is issued. Afterwards your insurance requires that the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition when used on the roads.

[j66]

One of the front wipers was actually split - this is a failure.

 

No, it's not a failure.

 

A MOT is does not mean that the car is roadworthy, it's just a check that in the opinion of the tester that the items tested meet the minimum standard. There are lots of non testable items which can (if defective) make car unfit for the road.

 

Measuring tread depths on tyres isn't as straight forward as you think as any grooves not cut as deep as those containing the wear bar indicators aren't considered as part of the tread and measurements can only be taken within the centre three quarters.