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[Markie]

Need some advice...

Jeep was going for retest today. Failed on emmissions ( think there ok now), Failed on handbrake ( adjusted) failed on 3rd high level brakelight inoperative.

On Saturday i took the high level brake light off to replace the bulb. Trouble  is, there is no bulb   and there is no housingn behind the exterior light....and it doesnt appear as if its been removed ( why would it be)

 Seems that the brake light has only " cosmetic" use.

Went to two scarpyards and dismantlend the trim to get to said part - only to find them exactly the same......

Jeeo - invariably - wont be able to supply the the part given their record!!!Ebay and google show up nothing...

So.....can i just remove the whole trim part and not have the third brake light......is it like a spare tyre, i.e if its there its tested and if not its not?

Thing is i need thi on the road and if i dont get it in today i will need to pay for a re test but at the same time i dont want to appear a smart arse and pi$$ of the MOT man by beating him on a technicality  

Thoughts ?

[JamesV6CDX]

I don't know 100% mate but if there's a brake light on each side, I would remove the cosmetic light - if it's not there, they can't test it!

Same with the rear wash/wipe on the Disco, that packed up, so I just removed the wiper arm and the switch for the MOT  

[hotel21]

Think its like any lamp on a car in that if its fitted, it needs to be working.  Ask the tester (or a tester at another test station) or contact VOSA at Livingston.  

[Andy B]

Think its like any lamp on a car in that if its fitted, it needs to be working.  Ask the tester (or a tester at another test station) or contact VOSA at Livingston.  

Agreed    .
IIRC some 'foriegn' cars are coming to the UK with a fog lamp on each side but only one of them is wired up. Technically illegal.

[Markie]

Gets more confusing.

My concern is that he has "failed" it on this, so not sure of the audit trail / process of now "passing" it when its not there as part of a retest.

Anyway despatched Dad to MOT man to discuss.

Jeep want £78 for the internal housing for a third brake light!! Oh and it will take 3 days from dealer - so in essance if i do it by the book it will cost another £120   adding in the retest.

[JamesV6CDX]

I still think you'll get away with ripping it out

[Markie]

I still think you'll get away with ripping it out

Nope   Now i am bl00dy furious

Dads been to MOT station - he has much more tact and diplomacy than me.

Situation is Jeep was tested 10 days ago. Failed. MOT test station afterwards announce they were closing for 10 days for Holiday. IE that day.

I have tried to submit this before 10am this morning to them - in other words they have only been open 2 hours since jeep test and its done 4 miles since.

There adamant it requires full retest and full payment for retest  

Oh and it needs to have the brake light complete and fitted if the wiring is there.

So i now have to wait another 4 days to submit this and spend another £110.

Most definatley a complaint about this MOT station, after the retest.

Oh and i wont go elsewhere just now as i suspect that the headlight and one tyre are borderline and dont want to open any additional cans of worms  

[hotel21]

I still think you'll get away with ripping it out

Nope   Now i am bl00dy furious

Dads been to MOT station - he has much more tact and diplomacy than me.

Situation is Jeep was tested 10 days ago. Failed. MOT test station afterwards announce they were closing for 10 days for Holiday. IE that day.

I have tried to submit this before 10am this morning to them - in other words they have only been open 2 hours since jeep test and its done 4 miles since.

There adamant it requires full retest and full payment for retest  

Oh and it needs to have the brake light complete and fitted if the wiring is there.

So i now have to wait another 4 days to submit this and spend another £110.

Most definatley a complaint about this MOT station, after the retest.

Oh and i wont go elsewhere just now as i suspect that the headlight and one tyre are borderline and dont want to open any additional cans of worms  

Dont agree 100% with that but some on here are full time testers and may confirm.

My understanding is that if, say, your headlight was not working then it will fail.  If the complete headlamp unit is removed then, in theory, it should pass.  I still say ask at another test station ....

Remove the lamp unit and hide the wiring.  Testers are not allowed to remove plastic covers etc to view ahts beneath....

[Markie]

I still think you'll get away with ripping it out

Nope   Now i am bl00dy furious

Dads been to MOT station - he has much more tact and diplomacy than me.

Situation is Jeep was tested 10 days ago. Failed. MOT test station afterwards announce they were closing for 10 days for Holiday. IE that day.

I have tried to submit this before 10am this morning to them - in other words they have only been open 2 hours since jeep test and its done 4 miles since.

There adamant it requires full retest and full payment for retest  

Oh and it needs to have the brake light complete and fitted if the wiring is there.

So i now have to wait another 4 days to submit this and spend another £110.

Most definatley a complaint about this MOT station, after the retest.

Oh and i wont go elsewhere just now as i suspect that the headlight and one tyre are borderline and dont want to open any additional cans of worms  

Dont agree 100% with that but some on here are full time testers and may confirm.

My understanding is that if, say, your headlight was not working then it will fail.  If the complete headlamp unit is removed then, in theory, it should pass.  I still say ask at another test station ....

Remove the lamp unit and hide the wiring.  Testers are not allowed to remove plastic covers etc to view ahts beneath....

the problem is Broocie that the trim at the top of the rear screen has a part on it holds the brake light. So by removing the light i have a piece of trim with a huge hole.

I have thought about doing this but i just want it passed its test and dont want to get on the wrong side of this guy. Suffice to say he will have no future business.

Theres some folk you dont complain about i wa always told, The Polis, anyone serving you food, your postman and your MOT test man  

[lee4206]

I haven't got the manual to hand but if you remove the wiring and thell them its not wired in we have to beleve you and pass it. I would cover the lense and put it back in. if they argue check the manual with them and there is a section conserning 3rd brake lights.
Hope that makes some sort of sense but im not very good at descibing things.
lee

[Markie]

I haven't got the manual to hand but if you remove the wiring and thell them its not wired in we have to beleve you and pass it. I would cover the lense and put it back in. if they argue check the manual with them and there is a section conserning 3rd brake lights.
Hope that makes some sort of sense but im not very good at descibing things.
lee

Thanks Bud, already checked and legislation dictates from 1971 cars must have 2 stop lamps. If they have additional they must conform.

In theory everyone on this thread is correct. However this joker at the test station holds the trump card. Currently sourcing a replacement unit from a breaker ( fingers crossed anyway)

This guys has had 9 cars in for MOT from me this year. He wont have any after this. I think he is being pedantic cos I keep fixing the ones that fail myself  

[Markie]

Faither has just managed to track the part down second hand in a resonably local breaker. He`s en route back so fingers crossed.

And also got a headlight and air filter box ( cracked) so i guess i have done resonably well.

How ever something irks me, and if i have another set back today i`m going to go into Michael-Douglas-in-Falling-Down-Mode.

Why would someone remove a third break light unit....wiring issue LOOMing  

[davlad22]

Why would someone remove a third break light unit....wiring issue LOOMing  

Maybe knackered in the first place??? Or how about the vehicle was used for towing and the reflections from high level brakelight caused glare!?! Or the vehicle has a spoiler also fitted with a brakelight, where 3 are only permitted? Just a couple of wild stabs  :-?

[Jay w]

i have had tis discussion with the local MOT station as i am thinking of removing the high lever light on the CDX.

The rule is:

If a light is fitted it must work, if it not fitted then they cannot demand it works.

My CDX currently has no front fog lights, the holes are there and the wiring is as well as the switch, mine passed with no issues, they are 'non essential lights and so do not come under the 'obligatory' category.

Personally i would be speaking to VOSA about this

[theowletman]

IIRC there is no obligation  to have a 3rd brake light, 2 are required as previously stated, however if it is fitted it must work, a driver behind may be looking for it. Cover it with something, a sticker on the outside if it is in the window. Would an aftermarket light fit ? Better than the full dealer price.