Just a heads up...

I have read a few posts in the last few months that peeps have taken their cars for an MOT with the Mill light on after having a Sports Cat fitted and just about scraped through the emissions.

I was told yesterday at work that from next year, a car showing ANY engine warning light on the instrument display will be an instant Fail, regardless if it passes the emissions test.

Can anyone confirm this?

From MOT from December 2011, the below changes will come into force, which will be very bad news for some.

HID lights – Specifically those aftermarket kits that give the very bright headlight beams. Any cars found with these kits will be an automatic MOT failure. Testers are able to easily spot the difference between HID kits, and manufacturer fitted Xenon’s. Easy to spot as Xenon cars have suspension level sensors, in car beam adjuster, and usually headlight washers.

Chipped ECU’s - Unsure of just how/if this one will realistically be enforced, but any cars with chipped ECU’s will in theory be an MOT failure. I can only assume VOSA have found an easy way of checking ECU software through the cars OBD port (diagnostic plug).

Wiring harness – The general condition of he wiring harness will be checked to make sure there is no rubbing or chaffing, and that the harnesses are in generally good condition. If unsecure, or damaged again MOT failure.

Airbag warning lights - If any warning lights are illuminated, it will again be an MOT failure.
This is all the info i can find.

so any performance car or has been modified has now been made illegal to have on the road?

becuase in theory it would need to be chipped

i've just read on the VOSA forums that these statements have not been confirmed by the way they have been put forward by VOSA but wether or not they will be passed is unknown.

plus it is unlikely chipped ECU's will be passed, as LPG cars and non-modified cars are chipped to industry standards such as cars that are resrticted to certain speeds or revs.

It's currently okay to have any light bar the ABS on.

VOSA are curently thinking of changing it to all lights, but this is very unlikely.

That engine chip thing sounds a bit stupid. You can spend serious money modifying the car but your not allowed to have it run properly???

i'd imagine its to do with the extra emmissions the cars will be giving out, i assume giving cars more power by a remap will also increase emmissions.

If I remember correctly the remap/chip thing was on the cards last year aswel but never happened so carnt see it this year either

Chipped ECU’s - Unsure of just how/if this one will realistically be enforced, but any cars with chipped ECU’s will in theory be an MOT failure. I can only assume VOSA have found an easy way of checking ECU software through the cars OBD port (diagnostic plug).


good luck getting your MK1 RS's through an MOT then

ford chipped the standard 2L zetec ECU i believe to make it run with the turbo and tune it up...

the HID thing has been said to come in since the HID lights were 1st fitted to cars back in the early 2000's and nothing yet...

and my car last year had its MIL light on and it went straight through on emissions, he said as long as it gives out the right emissions it doesn't matter

if the chip thing does come in to play easy for me ill just take it off and put the original back on

they seem to like finding ways of making cars more expensive to keep running now

Nah they are trying to force cars that have been modified to be put off the road VOSA have been trying to do this for a while inconjunction with the DVLA who also have been trying to clamp down on modified cars.

as it is there is a large grey margine of legallity issues with some modified cars

i think standard Kenny your RS has a chipped ECU

have a read through here

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MOT%20Inspection%20Manual.pdf