Failed MOT

mattpanton

mattpanton

Registered User
Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Messages
121
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
Suffolk, UK
My A4 has just failed the MOT on drivers side front upper control arm ball joint, it's the one that is closest to you as you look into the wheel arch and I believe attached to the right hand side at the back.

Any idea of how much a replacement is going to cost me? I'm gonna try and get an Audi one if I can. Are they much of a job to do?

Not looking forward to being car-less for a few days now!

Thanks

Matt
 
Makes you fume when you see some of the scrap heaps on the roads with supposed MOT passes, especially vans & lorries.
Yes my 97 a4 failed on exactly the same thing, luckily the VAG specialist I use was able to get one same day so wasn't too much of a pain.
The part was £42.50 + approx 1 hour @ £40 per hour to fit as I got them to do both sides upper & lower for a total of £260 incl VAT.
Expect to pay double at a dealer.
 
Thanks for that, won't be getting done by a dealer, I'm going to see my mechanic in the morning to arrange a service anyway, so will get him to quote that too, just hope that I can get it done fairly quickly I hate being without a car, feels so wrong!
 
I would suggest not letting your MOT run out before getting it renewed, but that would be hypocritical of me as I seem to do the same thing every year, it always catches me out.
With the new online MOT system you should be able to set reminders and have them emailed to you way before it expires, but that would be too helpful.
 
We get a reminder before our Tax runs out... I'm sure VOSA could employ a similar system... But like you say, that would be far too helpful! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
The old ticket runs out on tuesday, I'm not sure on whether I can still drive it until then or not really? I would assume that the failure would void the current MOT? Anyone shed any light on that?
 
[ QUOTE ]
The old ticket runs out on tuesday, I'm not sure on whether I can still drive it until then or not really? I would assume that the failure would void the current MOT? Anyone shed any light on that?

[/ QUOTE ]

You've got a valid MOT...So as long as you get it fixed before it expires, its OK.

RIch
 
Thanks for that, don't think i'll be able to get it sorted before tuesday, but at least I can use it until then,
 
[ QUOTE ]
My A4 has just failed the MOT on drivers side front upper control arm ball joint, it's the one that is closest to you as you look into the wheel arch and I believe attached to the right hand side at the back.

Any idea of how much a replacement is going to cost me? I'm gonna try and get an Audi one if I can. Are they much of a job to do?

Not looking forward to being car-less for a few days now!

Thanks

Matt

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't want to put you on a downer at all but would recommend that you either get a garage to do this for you or at least someone who has oxy-acetylene equipment......
There is a transverse pinch bolt that secures the balljoints of the arms you're referring to to the suspension leg upright.
Just undo this pinch bolt and take off the suspension arm.....yeah right.
I needed to renew an outer CV boot on my car a few months ago and as per the manual needed to get the suspension leg off in able to get at/renew the boot.
That damned pinch bolt wouldn't budge ; I had already got a replacement bolt as my local main stealer casually mentioned that they were often a bit of a swine to get out.....
I tried to heat the bolt with a propane gas torch but despite careful use of an asbestos mat still managed to singe both balljoint rubbers of the 2 suspension arms /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burningmad.gif .
Ended up having to remove the suspension arm mounting on the inner wing (held in place by 3 nuts) and remove the whole front suspension leg.
Clamped in a vice on my workbench I had to apply loads of heat and knock the hell out of that pinch-bolt before it would move at all......
If I had had access to a proper source of heat initially I wouldn't have had so much aggro...am dreading the day I ever have to get the offside suspension leg off my car now....
Have since discovered that this pinch bolt is also found on the Passat (same set-up) and is infamous for seizing on that model too....


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Take the car to a leniant MOT station, evrybody knows a friendly MOT inspector, obviously if the joint is knackered I would change it.

hope this helps Jason
 
i had that exact same problem when i did my own pre MOT check, changed it myself quite easily. DIY toolbox and a bit of my own time and i've saved a fortune,these car's are not rocket science as the the badge lead's you to believe.....
 
I did those bolts to change to coilovers.... they were an *** BUT i got them out with WD40... hammer and bar.

If you heat the bolt it will expand and wont move anywhere!
 
Thanks for the info guys.
Car is booked in for monday morning for a service and getting the joint done, so will be sorted soon /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
"You've got a valid MOT...So as long as you get it fixed before it expires, its OK."

Errr, no its not. You no longer have a valid MOT. MOT failure means that you are only ok to go to and from a repairer and mot testing station.

Thats always been the case but wasn't ever a problem in the pre-computer days because nobody could tell that you had failed. Now that the mot system is on line the police and the roadside dvla cameras can pick you up on it.

OK its unlikely that you will get picked up on it, even if stopped and given a producer it would need a keen bod at the station to go away and check Might be a problem if you have an accident
 
Thanks for clarifing that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I've only got to drop it off at the garage tomorrow evening now, so it won't be used anymore before being fixed, Then i'll have to sort a retest out. Hopefully all will be good by the middle of the week /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
audi upgrades
[ QUOTE ]


If you heat the bolt it will expand and wont move anywhere!

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have a partially rusted/corroded fastener/bolt etc a mechanical attempt to remove it will often result in the said item shearing.....heat will very often cause enough expansion between the surfaces to break any corrosion and allow the item to be dismantled successfully......
Have lost count over the years where heat has successfully shifted a stubborn fastening!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I'll second that! Had a seized slide pin in a brake caliper once, got a bit of heat into the caliper and BANG out flew the pin! Putting a nice dent in the shed wall about 6 ft away! Glad no one got in it's way! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Heat is gooood!
 
Well, car is now fixed, had it serviced and the control arm fitted.
Only trouble is the soonest MOT re-test I can get is thursday! So car has to sit in my garage now until then /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Ahh well, at least it's sorted /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Pleased to hear your car is sorted. What was the price of the repair?
Top arm, genuine Audi, from Vagparts is £58.31 incl VAT and post but I notice Clickapart on Ebay is selling top arms for £30 incl post.
Apparently they are "e-approved"; a very good price but has anyone tried them?
 
Cheers /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Overall came to just under £200, but I had to buy the control arm in advance at a cost of £55, which was from Eurocar parts, did want to get an Audi one, but couldn't get one in time. Just gotta fork out £20 for the re-test now, joy!
 
thought retests were free
 
"Overall came to just under £200" - Ouch, glad I've found a good specialist.
Autotechnik did mine, both sides, top & bottom for £260 with OEM parts.
 
That was £200 including a full service so, not too bad at all really /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Re-tests are no longer free due to the system being computerised now, they have to do a full test again, even though the work has quite clearly been done and the rest of the car is fine anyway! So the bloke will look under the car to see the new arm, then click all the other boxes on his computer as ok, then sit about for the rest of the hour! Gotta love modernisation!
 
Ahhh, that's more like it.
The place I use only does MOT's, there's at least 3 guys running it and they can only really do one car at a time. I'm amazed they make any profit at £40 per hour between 3 of them + all the overheads and they never seem that busy. I'm sure it's a front for money laundering or something more sinister.
 
Just been back for my re-test, it passed! wooo! got my car back!
They did it in 10 mins and only charged me a tenner, apparently he managed to 'fast-track' it, instead of doing a full test again, very handy!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S4_dan
FAILED MOT :-(
Replies
18
Views
1K
S4_dan
S4_dan
M
failed mot
Replies
5
Views
964
aragorn
A
Broken Byzan
Failed MOT
Replies
9
Views
1K
Broken Byzan
Broken Byzan
rasA4
MOT Failed
Replies
18
Views
2K
rasA4
rasA4
S4_dan
Failed MOT AGAIN!
Replies
1
Views
786
Bradderz_1988
Bradderz_1988
Top
Back