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xr2 mot failure, suspension travel and seat belts
FASTdan - 22/7/11 at 08:02 PM

Tried to get my xr2 mot'd today, having been stood for 3yrs whilst I restored it. Came back with 2 sheets of failures, the guys really gone to town with some really stupid fails (stuff that its passed many mot with previously).

Anyway, its failed on front suspension. he claims the coils are hard up against each other (same shocks, same ride height as previous 5 mot's). Now I've not had it on ramps yet, but there's plenty of travel.......as in I can stand on the turret and get 30-40 mm travel with little effort. What are the requirements on this subject? Is there a min travel requirement?Di

Second, the top seat belt mount. 'badly deteriorated' apparently. What he is referring to is a crack in the plastic coating that covers the hoop (crack is nowhere near the belt BTW). I mean wtf? It's non structural ffs! I'll try and get a pic of this 'deterioration', its laughable. but what do you do?!

Ninehigh - 22/7/11 at 08:07 PM

If you're really sure they should pass take it somewhere else?

adithorp - 22/7/11 at 08:13 PM

You've got three choices...

1, Fix the things they failed it on.
2, Take it somewhere else and see what it fails on. They might be more reasonable (might not also) but it'll cost yoiu another fee to find out.
3, Appeal to VOSA (the details are on the back of the failure sheet) and see what they say.

UncleFista - 22/7/11 at 08:18 PM

I'd fix whatever needs fixing then take it somewhere else.
If they pass it I'd be on to the original place for a refund and then on to VOSA.
Sounds like they're wanting more work to me...

Also, which garage did you use ? Being local I'd like to avoid it

britishtrident - 22/7/11 at 10:08 PM

If on bump the spring coils are likely to crash into each other and make solid contact so the bump stops are ineffective then it would be a fail in my book.

Steve Hignett - 22/7/11 at 10:19 PM

Is it the XR2 you've had for a while Dan?

Any chance you want to sell it - I'm after a project car!!!

FASTdan - 23/7/11 at 08:29 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
If on bump the spring coils are likely to crash into each other and make solid contact so the bump stops are ineffective then it would be a fail in my book.


Fair comment yes. But for that to be the case then the bump stops must be too short. All contributing parts to this problem are constant, even if springs have home soft so a bit lower, nothing has changed safety wise unless of course its riding the bump stops. Which is why I'm confused given the previous passes.

I'm going to ring them for clarity - I take it to my local garage who present it to the mot center on my behalf which normally works well as they are objective and offer what would like to think is impartial advice. On this occasion though its just added a layer of confusion.

Regarding taking it elsewhere, its the usual dilemma of spending more on another test on chance it might pass or fail, or dirt it for the free re test. Other problem is if I have to swap the struts I (which I am strongly against on principle) I'd get coilies, but thats £300 or more and id not get them in time for re test.


Steve ive had it 11 years, its worth more to me than someone will pay really (for the moment, as prices seem to be climbing and its a v solid car now, just needs finishing). But then I do sometimes wonder if its become a chore rather than pleasure.....hmmm.

britishtrident - 23/7/11 at 07:53 PM

Springs don't actually go soft with age, the spring rate stays the same, over a long period under load the spring will gradually collapse so the free length gets shorter. A reduction in free length means the the springs length under working load will be reduced by the same amount.

If storing a car for very long periods it pays to take the load off the springs by support the chassis on blocks/stands.

FASTdan - 23/7/11 at 07:59 PM

Having had it on ramps I can see up to the spring, they are not coil bound, they're close but not touching. With someone bouncing on the wing I can see the second and third coils move accordingly.

ChrisW - 24/7/11 at 11:24 AM

Hi Dan

I've got a set if Gaz coilovers for XR2 mk2 I'd be willing to let go. The fronts need to go back to Gaz for a rebuild as one of the valves has stuck (you can probably blag this under 'warranty'. The rears have never been fitted, but obviously they're not coilovers, just an uprated unit that retains the same spring position.

If you're interested, drop me a u2u and we can negotiate a price.

Cheers, Chris