MOT Test on a C4

[Dave Wilkinson]

Having had the yellow peril on a SORN since the end of December last year and an MOT which ran out in January I thought I'd better dust off the old girl and make some preparations for the (hopefully) better weather.

I took the car to the trusty body shop who have done all the paintwork on the car since I've had it - not to mention that they do a Tuesday "special" charging only £20 for an MOT test!! Since I know them quite well I had the opportunity to take part rather than just watch and it brought to mind the age-old question of whether it is safe to use the 2WD rollers to test the brakes on a C4.

It was a subject they knew well and the explanation was pretty obvious once I thought about it. The rollers rotate each wheel (left or right) quite slowly and independently and test the effectiveness of the brake on the tested wheel. As long as the car has a centre differential (which the C4 has) there is no problem in rotating the front wheels independently from the rears (or vise versa) and it's not necessary to test the car on the road with the alternative Tapley device. The test imposes nothing like the strains on the system as would be created in the event of a suspended tow - which is always advised against for most 4WD cars.

I'm pleased to say that the car passed with flying colours with emissions very, very low (despite having a cat bypass fitted) and brakes better than normal (would I expect anything else?). No advisories issued and we're all set (once it's taxed) for the coming months.

On the subject of road tax, I just realised that the present £190/year tax is due to increase with effect from 1st April to £205/year.

Regards

Dave

The only cars that can cause a problem are the likes of some of the Range Rovers which drive all 4 wheels simultaneously

 

[rjc]

Like Dave, I've just had mine MOT'd and also passed with flying colours.

I also had some work done on the old girl in preparation for better weather. On recommendations from this forum I used Northway Porsche at Reading. I would endorse everyone else's recommendations about Northway. Very friendly, helpful and professional. A chap called Mike took care of me. The work done was clutch replacement (it was on the rivets sir) together with replacing all the oil pipes to/from the oil tank. When the engine was out we also discovered that the gearbox speed sensor and some other sensor that I've forgotten needed replacing, together with the gaiters on the steering arms. I found the price charged very fair (and a lot less than an OPC). She's now running as beautifully as ever and ready for another season.

Next job, take care of those rust patches at the bottom of the windscreen. Should have done it last year but hey, better late than never.

Happy 964'ing.

 

[madmoog]

Impreza's have to have the brakes tested out on the road, but judging by the sound of the engine and the grin's my tester and his assistant aren't complaining []

My 964 is off for the pre season oil change and mot in a few weeks too, new anti roll bars or not, that is the question.......

 

[da_gleadless]

I stumbled into the local outsourced OPC MOT centre with a flat, having noticed several porsches outside recently, but putting it downto coincidence.

Its right outside my office.. a lucky find []