Car failed MOT!

[Surfer]

Took the Toyota Corolla for its MOT and it failed as the petrol cap
was not lockable! On previous MOTs with same fuel cap which is behind
the locked flap which can only be accessed from the inside of the car, it was a PASS! They kindly let me go to Halfords to purchase a lockable one at a cost of £16.95 and the car passed okay.
Apparently this is something new thought up by the powers to be! As the car is no longer standard, I wonder if I have to notify the insurance company of the "Modification".

 

[Raywood]

From an insurers point of view a modification has to be something that increases the risk to them. A locking petrol cap should not come under that heading.
Never heard of this new requirement and my daughters car passed its MOT in June without a locking petrol cap. The MOT is safety related and it beats me what difference this makes unless they are worried about somebody dropping a lighted match down the filler tube.

 

[JonnyG]

Took the Toyota Corolla for its MOT and it failed as the petrol cap
was not lockable! On previous MOTs with same fuel cap which is behind
the locked flap which can only be accessed from the inside of the car, it was a PASS! They kindly let me go to Halfords to purchase a lockable one at a cost of £16.95 and the car passed okay.
Apparently this is something new thought up by the powers to be! As the car is no longer standard, I wonder if I have to notify the insurance company of the "Modification".

no such thing surfer and if i were you would get back down there and ask for written proof you can fail for fuel line conditions now or rather since jan 2012 but there is nothing about fuel caps and my mondeo passed its MOT 3 weeks ago it also has no locking cap but has a flap that locks....i'd make them pay you for the fuel cap as well and report them too

 

[Parksy]

My Pajero has a flap which is locked until released from inside via a lever and behind it is a normal non lockable fuel cap.
It passed the MOT on 19th July before it's due date on 7th August and no mention was made of locking fuel caps.

 

[Damian]

Taken from the testers list for MOT,s:
MOT Test of Fuel System
Any fuel leak will result in a fail. Checked under the bonnet and throughout the run of the fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine.

• Fuel filler cap must fasten securely
• The seal in the cap must not be torn, deteriorated or missing (includes self-sealing flaps)
• No other defect which could cause fuel to leak out
• The fuel tank must be securely mounted
• A fuel pipe or hose must not be excessively chafed or damaged

Nowhere does it say a locking cap must be fitted, just that the cap must be secure, so no wads of rag stuffed in the filler hole, or a loose fit plastic thing that used to be widespread.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Surfer.
What exactly was written on the fail notification?

 

[otherclive]

All three of our cars have non-locking fuel caps, but they sit behind a lockable flap. all have gone through varoius MoTs without a problem. You have good reasons for a complaint.

 

[Gagakev]

Is the MOT station owned by Halfords

 

[Surfer]

Is the MOT station owned by Halfords

Owned by an in dependent. It seems that the fuel cap was one that is known as a "temporary" fuel cap as it has fins on it and you simply push it in. As it is behind the locked fuel flap I would have thought it was secure.
I had never heard of a "temporary" fuel cap and as we had not changed the cap in the past year after it went through the MOT at purchase, I thought no more about it.
Halfords only sold the "temporary" one or a lockable. They were also under the impression that the temporary one was a MOT pass. I guess overall I cannot complain as except for the fuel cap the car which is a 1996 flew through the MOT!

 

[Gafferbill]

........ IMO this is a sensible long overdue requirement.

The fuel cap does not have to be lockable......it has to be secure.
'Secure' is Ministry of Transport language for......it must not be able to spill fuel.
In the world of trucks this has been taken seriously for some time .....spillages from trucks can result in hefty fines being imposed on the driver and owner.

Spilt fuel is dangerous ......ask a motorcyclist!!

 

[SteveW77]

Why would anyone take a vehicle for a MOT test with a "Temporary" fuel cap, surely the clue is in the name, Temporary, IE: as a short term emergency measure, not a permanent fixture.
Steve W

 

[JonnyG]

Why would anyone take a vehicle for a MOT test with a "Temporary" fuel cap, surely the clue is in the name, Temporary, IE: as a short term emergency measure, not a permanent fixture.

Steve W

Given the apparent new mot test concerning fuel cap condition, is anything really permanent? and how long is the measurement of temporary? given that until 2012 apparently the so called temporary fuel cap would have passed an Mot anyway then why not? especially as unlike a lorry unless the fuel tank is over full up to the neck fuel isnt likely to spill just incase that was a
planned responce and there is also an outside fuel flap in place too in said toyota. indeed on modern cars they also have a one way fuel flap in the tank neck to stop fuel from coming back up the neck of the tank and spilling fuel,...Alas most hgv tanks have none of these functions....

 

[ProfJohnL]

It is my understanding that the fuel cap must engage the fuel filler in a mechanically secure a way such that it cannot seep or leak or disconnect and unseal without a deliberate action.

This is met by the typical push and twist bayonet engagement system, or a keylocked system. A simple push fit or 'Temporary' fails in this respect

This requirement is for safety rather than to prevent theft of fuel.

Lockable caps or flaps are fitted by manufacturers more form the theft perspective after customer pressure, but it also helps to meet the fuel safety aspect also.

 

[SteveW77]

Why would anyone take a vehicle for a MOT test with a "Temporary" fuel cap, surely the clue is in the name, Temporary, IE: as a short term emergency measure, not a permanent fixture.

Steve W

Given the apparent new mot test concerning fuel cap condition, is anything really permanent? and how long is the measurement of temporary? given that until 2012 apparently the so called temporary fuel cap would have passed an Mot anyway then why not? especially as unlike a lorry unless the fuel tank is over full up to the neck fuel isnt likely to spill just incase that was a
planned responce and there is also an outside fuel flap in place too in said toyota. indeed on modern cars they also have a one way fuel flap in the tank neck to stop fuel from coming back up the neck of the tank and spilling fuel,...Alas most hgv tanks have none of these functions....

I think that these plastic push fit petrol caps have been a failure for a long time, more than just the last twelve months.
As for the meaning of temporary, I don't think anyone could seriously consider 12 months temporary.

Steve W

 

[Surfer]

We purchased the vehicle in Aug 2012 and it passed the MOT with the fuel cap in question and until it went for its MOT on Thursday, we had no idea it was a temproary fuel cap as it was behind a lockable filler flap. Strange though that Halfords think that the tempoary cap will result in a MOT pass?

 

[SteveW77]

It would appear that you "got away" with it last year.
As for Halfords, I would not rely on their advice for anything, from my experience of their stores they appear to be staffed by moronic adolescents, with no interest in their customers at all.

Steve W

 

[ProfJohnL]

Strange though that Halfords think that the tempoary cap will result in a MOT pass?

Ther can be a need for a 'temporary' fule filler cap, if the original cap is lost or damaged, a temporary one will stop debris from getting in to the tank. Their use should be limited until a proper cap can be obtained.
So its not wrong to have such items on sale, but it is up to the purchaser to use it properly and replace it with a cosha one. Don't forget it is the drivers resposibilty to ensure that any work or components on a car are roadworthy and legal.
There are many similar things on sale where legally they should not be used such as numberplates where the character spacing is altered, or some headlight bulbs, some colours of running or additional lights, exhaust mods to remove Cats or silencers etc.....,
Some such items may be necessary for temporary or emergency use, but most others are simply matters of vanity.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi,
had my car tested last week went straight through after replacing the wipers, cautionary note on test papers "headlight bulbs wrong colour" whats this I said " the bulbs have a blue tint in them", yes of course they have there Xenon blubs from Vauxhall, fitted by the dealer, I tow a caravan with it and like to see where i'm going

, yes he said but they are not standard on your model but the wattage is correct and so is the alignment so it's passed but I have added a note to that effect,
all this is fine exept he never mentioned the fuel cap!! this is a push on one with diesel written on it and not standard as the original has a screw!! seeing as how Vauxhall want near £50+vat for a new one its staying on temporay or not,

 

[otherclive]

Push on ones can be a safety hazard in the event of an accident. A good rear end shunt has been sen to dislodge them even if the tank is in front of the axle (if there is one). The air pressure surge from the tank will vent up the filler neck. Any anti siphoning device/flap has marginal effect in damping this surge. Presumably such an outcome could happen in a side shunt too, or shudder the thought in a roll over. Personally for the sake of a few pounds I would fit the proper type and minimise the risk to myself, passengers or other parties.