MOT Fail?

[Jamie P]

G'day chaps,

Well, the cupra has been out of MOT for the past 4 or so months whilst being away... It should pass straight through, but this is my question... My ABS unit seems to be shot, so the TCS and ABS lights are illuminated on the dash...

Would this be an MOT fail?

Thankyou,

Jamie. x

 

[Slimy]

At a guess, this would be seen as your car being driven with a faulty safety feature, so yes it will fail.

 

[Jamie P]

Thats what i thought, but then on the flip side, it doesnt affect the braking capability of the car...?

 

[AlexGSi2000]

If the inspector knows what he is doing then yes it will fail.
If the car is equipped with ABS, the light should illuminate for a few seconds when the car is started. - If it doesn't light up, or they stay lit its a fail.

A dodgy ABS unit wont affect braking capabilities, but if the wheels lock up then the ABS wont cut in.

Im onto my second ABS unit now.

 

[dalegolf215]

abs light on = fail 100%

 

[Jamie P]

Brilliant... Never mind eh! Guess i'll go on the search for a new ABS unit!

 

[Bakkums]

@Alex

Why don't remove the ABS? Yes it is saver when it rains but when it fails everytime it will cost you lots of mony. Just saying. Back to the good old days without safe equipment

 

[truCido]

Why do you think your ABS is shot? Those two lights on are common when the MAF has gone...get it on VAG-COM and make sure...

 

[AlexGSi2000]

@Alex

Why don't remove the ABS? Yes it is saver when it rains but when it fails everytime it will cost you lots of mony. Just saying. Back to the good old days without safe equipment

I agree to an extent, I prefer driving with no driver aids (unless they are top quality driver aids.. i.e ferarri)

If a car is manufactured with ABS then I believe it MUST have ABS to go through an MOT, even if it has been professionally removed.

 

[Jamie P]

Tru... I think its my ABS unit, because when i scanned up on Vag Com... It said so... Pretty much...

 

[Bakkums]

I agree to an extent, I prefer driving with no driver aids (unless they are top quality driver aids.. i.e ferarri)

If a car is manufactured with ABS then I believe it MUST have ABS to go through an MOT, even if it has been professionally removed.

Oh oke, that i didn't know. You can always program the ecu to ignore the abs. So you can get trough a MOT. Or are they also checking this in the UK?

 

[iainjubb]

Or take the bulb out and sort it later ;-) I cant say most mot testers would notice, certainly mine wouldnt!

 

[truCido]

Tru... I think its my ABS unit, because when i scanned up on Vag Com... It said so... Pretty much...

that sums that up then have to check these things

Or take the bulb out and sort it later ;-) I cant say most mot testers would notice, certainly mine wouldnt!

Any "proper" MOT tester should also fail that. As the ABS light should illuminate on ignition and turn off and that is part of the test.....however if you know someone......

 

[dan1990]

that sums that up then have to check these things



Any "proper" MOT tester should also fail that. As the ABS light should illuminate on ignition and turn off and that is part of the test.....however if you know someone......

Thing is with these cars alot of people dont even know they have a 20vt in them let alone abs unless he pokes his nose under the bonnet i bet he wont even notice mate.

 

[craig.]

Thing is with these cars alot of people dont even know they have a 20vt in them let alone abs unless he pokes his nose under the bonnet i bet he wont even notice mate.

Spot on i think and good point

 

[andycupra]

Yes it will fail,
Not on the traction control as this is not a requirement for an MOT.

However where ABS is fitted, it MUST WORK.

It is clear in the MOT testers procedures that when the ignition is turned on the ABS light must come on to indicate the system is working, and then go out to indicate it is free of faults.

A constant ABS light is definately a fail.

Regards the traction control light, this is not a fail, however why is it on? as the reason for this may lead to failures elsewhere, eg emissions.


As hinted above, find out whats wrong, replacing the ABS is potentially a waste of time and money.
Traction control could be maf,
but my guess given its on tandem with the ABS is that it would be an ABS wheel sensor. Its comon for the wires to one of the sensors to get damaged or stretched. If it is a sensor its not a cheap fix, but way way way cheaper than a new ABS unit, - especially if this does even fix it!

 

[m0rk]

A dodgy ABS unit wont affect braking capabilities

It sure will - it cannot control the bias, so you're more likely to have no pressure at the fronts, and lots at the rear... it could be like pulling the handbrake up - scarey if it's on the wet motorway.

 

[AlexGSi2000]

It sure will - it cannot control the bias, so you're more likely to have no pressure at the fronts, and lots at the rear... it could be like pulling the handbrake up - scarey if it's on the wet motorway.

Really? I was told that if the ABS unit disables or turns itself off it wont affect the brake bias as its set constant mechanically inside the ABS unit.
I have done a few track-days with my ABS disabled & haven't noticed any difference.
Isn't it 97% front bias on the Ibizas anyway?

 

[m0rk]

Yes really. It's not the right thing to do.

If you want a car without ABS, either buy a proper car or do it properly - pulling the fuse is not the right thing to do.

 

[AlexGSi2000]

Yes really. It's not the right thing to do.

If you want a car without ABS, either buy a proper car or do it properly - pulling the fuse is not the right thing to do.

I wish I had pulled the fuse - would be a lot cheaper to repair!
Im onto my second ABS unit now - must have an underlying problem somewhere - I seem to get about 6 months out of them before they disable with the error "Pump not communicating"

On a serious note though - I have noticed no difference in the feel to the braking, and thats pushing it on DS2500's, elliptical discs and Brembo callipers, but ofcourse the wheels lock whereas the ABS would cut in.