Tow Socket and MoT Test

[DrZhivago]

I've just passed the MoT test, but they commented/advised that the tow socket did not work. Not surprising as I only activate it when I am towing*.

Is a test of the tow socket part of the MoT test or was it part of the "complimentary visual check" that the garage advertised?

* If I had left it activated the rear fog on the car would not have worked!

 

[camel]

My car recently went through it's MOT and the chap pointed out to me that my thirteen pin socket was not showing the brake lights working when he tested it, but they are when I'm hooked up,

 

[MichaelE]

The towbar was included in the mot test from 2012 this a visual examination for corrosion, correct bolts etc.
The electrical wiring is part of the mot but only 13 pin sockets are tested. The 7 pin is visual only.
Strange yours passed if you had a light failure on the socket. You would have to.use a tester plugged as this simulates something connected ie caravan or trailer.

 

[camel]

The towbar was included in the mot test from 2012 this a visual examination for corrosion, correct bolts etc.
The electrical wiring is part of the mot but only 13 pin sockets are tested. The 7 pin is visual only.
Strange yours passed if you had a light failure on the socket. You would have to.use a tester plugged as this simulates something connected ie caravan or trailer.

That's what he did so I'm afraid his tester is kaput,

 

[DrZhivago]

The electrical wiring is part of the mot but only 13 pin sockets are tested. The 7 pin is visual only....Strange yours passed if you had a light failure on the socket.

Even stranger then, that mine was passed with nothing working at all! The electrics of my towbar are my own design and build, and I can modify it further to sit up and beg if that is what the MoT testers want - but I need to know what exactly do they expect?

As it is, I connect and disconnect my towbar control unit as needed via a plug under the bonnet. When connected it suppresses the car rear fogs, so that would be no good for the MoT, but I could disable the suppression and leave the unit plugged in for MoT time, as I do not believe the suppression is a legal requirement , although customary. I could even implement automatic sensing of the caravan (earthing Pin 12) to suppress the car rear fogs if that makes the testers happy, even though I am not the sort of person who requires such things to be automated - after all I still need to plug the system in under the bonnet.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

I think it depends on where you have it tested. mine has gone through 3 mots most recent last Tuesday no mention of the tow bar electrics and I know for a fact there is no supply line for the fridge and battery charge as these were disconnected when I sold the van and didn't need this facility. the smart relay has been diverted to supply power for the wife's scooter batteries.

 

[camel]

Just had a look at the GOV MOT web site and tow bar electrics come under section 1.9 of the MOT test ,

 

[KeefySher]

My car recently went through it's MOT and the chap pointed out to me that my thirteen pin socket was not showing the brake lights working when he tested it, but they are when I'm hooked up,

Do you have LED lights on the car and caravan? Also the add on box in the caravan to ensure the lights on the caravan work, in which case the 'approved device to check that the socket is wired to correctly operate the trailer' might not be suitable to test a caravan as the wording only applies to trailers, not specifically caravans

 

[camel]

KS,
I think somewhere it did mention tow bar electrics and not caravan electrics so 1 up to you, that is why when the chap at the test centre said to me my brake lights are not working according to his test rig which was connected to my thirteen pin plug I was not really bothered, because when I connected up to the caravan they work, and hopefully they carry-on working all the way down to Lyme Regis next week,

 

[MichaelE]

My car recently went through it's MOT and the chap pointed out to me that my thirteen pin socket was not showing the brake lights working when he tested it, but they are when I'm hooked up,

Do you have LED lights on the car and caravan? Also the add on box in the caravan to ensure the lights on the caravan work, in which case the 'approved device to check that the socket is wired to correctly operate the trailer' might not be suitable to test a caravan as the wording only applies to trailers, not specifically caravans

Led lights on the car wouldn't make a difference as basically it's a separate circuit as the connections are piggy backed you cannot tap into the wiring.
As far as I'm aware it's only Baileys than fitted led lights and they have now stopped due to issues. For the electrics to sense them fitted resistors were fitted. This did not affect all cars .
A test unit is a spoof device to fool the circuits that something is connected.

 

[Raywood]

I think it depends on where you have it tested. mine has gone through 3 mots most recent last Tuesday no mention of the tow bar electrics and I know for a fact there is no supply line for the fridge and battery charge as these were disconnected when I sold the van and didn't need this facility. the smart relay has been diverted to supply power for the wife's scooter batteries.

I would not think the fridge and battery charge are tested as they are not a safety related issue. Basically what they need to be sure of is the road lights, indicators and brake lights work.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I think it depends on where you have it tested. mine has gone through 3 mots most recent last Tuesday no mention of the tow bar electrics and I know for a fact there is no supply line for the fridge and battery charge as these were disconnected when I sold the van and didn't need this facility. the smart relay has been diverted to supply power for the wife's scooter batteries.

I would not think the fridge and battery charge are tested as they are not a safety related issue. Basically what they need to be sure of is the road lights, indicators and brake lights work.

The specification in the MOT testers guide is
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/611019/mot-inspection-manual-classes-3-4-5-and-7.pdf

Look at section 1.9