- Thread starter ClareP
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Stuart Delahoy
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Thats right, its fine to have a km speedo in this country...
bantamallan
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Put self adhesive numbers on the glass for mph
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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It's annoying the car was rejected as the speedometer calibration is not an MOT requirement (it is a construction and use requirement but not one checked by the MOT). I have been running around in a R4 with km/h speedometer for years and nobody seems to mind.
The easiest fix is to get some little number stickers in mph and stick them to the front of the speedo. The only other difference apart from the markings is the odometer, and there is no rule I am aware of that requires it to be in mph.
The easiest fix is to get some little number stickers in mph and stick them to the front of the speedo. The only other difference apart from the markings is the odometer, and there is no rule I am aware of that requires it to be in mph.
retrospecparts
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It is definitely not a legitimate reason to fail an mot. (The only relevance of a km speedo in an mot is that the Vosa computer system gives the mot tester the option of entering whether the odometer reads in miles or kilometers). Ask the tester to show you where in the tester's manual it shows it as a "reason for refusal". (You can see the tester's manual for yourself online: I'll see if I can find the url and post it here later)
retrospecparts
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André4Renaults
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I'm a tester and the speedometer will only fail the M.O.T. if it (quote) "is not fitted, is incomplete, is inoperative, has a dial glass broken or missing or cannot be illuminated"; nothing about the units of measure used. Personally I ignore the rule about illumination-with the sunshine on a warm afternoon I have difficulty in seeing numberplate lights, leave alone the dashboard lights!
There used to be a rule that the speedometer had to record "speeds in excess of 12 M.P.H.," but I can't remember when that one was taken out of the test (& no-one I know ever bothered about that, either!)
There used to be a rule that the speedometer had to record "speeds in excess of 12 M.P.H.," but I can't remember when that one was taken out of the test (& no-one I know ever bothered about that, either!)
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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Trying a different MOT garage could be a plan too. If the one you tried is fussy about stuff that isn't even in the MOT they might also be a bit strict about fuzzy areas that are covered by the MOT. I prefer to use independent garages - mine is part of this network: http://www.boschcarservice.co.uk/ though I don't know if they are all as good.
pepper
Pepper The One and Only!
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You're only in Lewis, you could do worse than ask Mr Reno, Paul of this parish for some help,
On my Transit I have markings at the MPH points with little stickers, but on the digital speedometer on my wife's Twingo, no one can tell anything at MOT time..
On my Transit I have markings at the MPH points with little stickers, but on the digital speedometer on my wife's Twingo, no one can tell anything at MOT time..
retrospecparts
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Is that all it failed the mot on? If you take it for an mot somewhere else, you'll have to pay the fee again plus you run the risk that it might fail on something that the first place missed or had a different opinion of. If I was in your shoes, (and if it had passed on everything else), I would dispute the legitimacy of his decision that having a speedo in kms was a reason for failure and ask him for an appeal form, which he is obliged to provide. Unless he is absolutely convinced that he is correct, (which he isn't), he won't want to risk VOSA coming and finding out that he's not carrying out mot's properly, so hopefully he'll then pass it, perhaps with an advisory, (which he is entitled to do if he feels it's worthwhile).
PS: I used to be an mot tester and then a service manager at a main dealer that did mots but I am not now, so any recent changes to the appeal procedure may have passed me by. As Andrew4Renault is a current tester, he may be able to give more up to date info.
PS: I used to be an mot tester and then a service manager at a main dealer that did mots but I am not now, so any recent changes to the appeal procedure may have passed me by. As Andrew4Renault is a current tester, he may be able to give more up to date info.
mr-reno-139
AKA Paul Cunningham
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Hi my.local mot test station here in worthing is definitely classic friendly and have been testing my yellow peril since I it in 1985
This doesn't mean they will pass a car that shouldn't
Just a bit more interested in keeping old cars on the road without a jobsworth attitude than some mot testers are
Message me if you want to chat
Paul
This doesn't mean they will pass a car that shouldn't
Just a bit more interested in keeping old cars on the road without a jobsworth attitude than some mot testers are
Message me if you want to chat
Paul
When I had my LHD registered in the UK in 1995 I had to take it to the DVLA regional office to have it verified before they would issue a V5 and UK registration number. They checked it very carefully including the chassis number (inside the RH door), the new headlights AND the speedo. The car already had a UK MOT, but it seemed that the miles/km speedo was a requirement for UK registration (individual Type Approval).
The rules may have changed now but I'd have thought it would be worth changing the speedo anyway if possible. If for no other reason, you can read the speed in miles immediately rather than having to do a quick calculation (and thus diverting brain-power from the task of concentrating on driving).
Probably simply swopping the front glass would do, although the odometer would of course continue to register in Km.
The rules may have changed now but I'd have thought it would be worth changing the speedo anyway if possible. If for no other reason, you can read the speed in miles immediately rather than having to do a quick calculation (and thus diverting brain-power from the task of concentrating on driving).
Probably simply swopping the front glass would do, although the odometer would of course continue to register in Km.
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André4Renaults
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Ah, sorry! My earlier comment referred to the requirements of a M.O.T. test. I know nothing about what is needed for a personal (as opposed to a commercial) import.
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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The current rules for cars imported from Europe is to first send a NOVA1 customs form so bureaucrats can spend a couple of months deciding your Renault 4 is more than 10 years old and is therefore not subject to VAT. Then you just get an MOT and register the vehicle with the DVLA. The MOT people read the chassis number to prove the vehicle exists which saves the DVLA doing it.
Previously in 1995 (I had to do this back then too) you also had to drive to the LVLA so they could read the chassis number to make sure the vehicle existed, but fortunately they figured out it was unnecessary bureaucracy if the MOT man had already managed to read the chassis number and write it down. But you didn't have the NOVA1 wait in those days as you could decide yourself if your 30 year old Renault 4 was more than 10 years old.
In summary the system these days that doesn't cover any speedo stuff - it's only the MOT that look at the car and it is not part of the MOT test. The MOT tester who rejected this car was wrong to do so.
Previously in 1995 (I had to do this back then too) you also had to drive to the LVLA so they could read the chassis number to make sure the vehicle existed, but fortunately they figured out it was unnecessary bureaucracy if the MOT man had already managed to read the chassis number and write it down. But you didn't have the NOVA1 wait in those days as you could decide yourself if your 30 year old Renault 4 was more than 10 years old.
In summary the system these days that doesn't cover any speedo stuff - it's only the MOT that look at the car and it is not part of the MOT test. The MOT tester who rejected this car was wrong to do so.
orsome
1
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"In summary the system these days that doesn't cover any speedo stuff - it's only the MOT that look at the car and it is not part of the MOT test. The MOT tester who rejected this car was wrong to do so.[/QUOTE]"
Correct !
Even here in nowhere middle of forests MOT people did not require speedo to work. Mine had lost the pointer somewhere.Even more happy i am of the non-need of testing exhayúst emissions when it's pre 1979 model.
Took last week off the the instrument panel and it looked like this, inside just like new. After few hours work it looked like little better with pointer fond and put(glued) to its place. I'm checking all connections and seeking cause for odd earthing problems as well as partly or not lighted up bulbs.By the way, from where you could buy these kind of bulps with 12V and 2w only?
Correct !
Even here in nowhere middle of forests MOT people did not require speedo to work. Mine had lost the pointer somewhere.Even more happy i am of the non-need of testing exhayúst emissions when it's pre 1979 model.
Took last week off the the instrument panel and it looked like this, inside just like new. After few hours work it looked like little better with pointer fond and put(glued) to its place. I'm checking all connections and seeking cause for odd earthing problems as well as partly or not lighted up bulbs.By the way, from where you could buy these kind of bulps with 12V and 2w only?
orsome
1
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"
Question: earthing of the instrument panel, is it on the backside middle of speedo a elleiptic hole where a same form nipple with thread shall be connected?
- mine was loose when i took panel off, maybe took off when panel was disconnected or is the original cause for non lighting oil etc bulb for a long period?