He's a Tory cabinet member and left sensitive documents on the seat and now worried who's seen them.
My Guess: Car failed MoT on one tyre, you took it to Kwik Fit (other discount tyre fitters are available), they've damaged something unrelated (e.g. caught a brake pipe while jacking it up and crushed it). Garage saw new tyre and passed it. You're now miffed that they didn't spot the other damage and possibly following a failure want to pass on some liability?
Didn't really see any point in mentioning the car brand, is that relevant to question.
The thread title is a reference to the one I started 18 months ago that became 'one of those threads'; as it turned out the OP ended up buying the same model of Merc not long after me.
My car failed on 3 tyres with splits on the inner edges (Maxxis car tyres aren't as good as the pedal bike ones), went and got 4 fitted at another garage next day, came back and MOT tester handed me the certificate. We always take the cars in there. Failed this year on rear brakes and a front suspension knuckle. Had the rear brakes done with them, but the front knuckle was boarderline (some slight wear allowed on one model but not specified on mine). Only issue was part was on a back order, so MOT certificate was issued and car fixed some months later when part arrived.
@molgrips It is indeed.
The brand of car is only relevant if the answer to the original question was that the car should go on the ramp to be inspected. As that is not a requirement, the brand , model, colour, etc is immaterial.
I don't think this will be Thread Of The Week.
I reckon the ramp collapsed, causing OP's car to topple off and the boot to pop open.
Then his collection of vintage gentleman's magazines tumbled out and landed in an oily puddle - rendering it useless.
Are we getting warmer OP?
Naah - close the thread - OP is being an arse.
I hope they haven't damaged your lovely motor.
Somebody has...
You know the stupid bloody parking brake release? Well, it's now broken and I'm trying to establish the likelihood of who broke it; the MOT garage or the tyre fitters.
The MOT garage got all uppity about it when I had the temerity to ask if they did it and claimed their technicians always, without fail, apply the parking brake when they leave the vehicle so establishing if it went back on the ramp would show they knowingly passed a car with a defective parking brake mechanism. If the car didn't move the second time it went to them, I'm no further forward and will have to suck it up and repair it myself.
What's the issue with it?
They still have the foot pedal or is it all ****y and electrical now?
Foot pedal on, plastic release lever in dash.
The MOT garage got all uppity about it when I had the temerity to ask if they did it and claimed their technicians always, without fail, apply the parking brake when they leave the vehicle so establishing if it went back on the ramp would show they knowingly passed a car with a defective parking brake mechanism. If the car didn’t move the second time it went to them, I’m no further forward and will have to suck it up and repair it myself.
A parking brake test isn't done on a ramp - it's done on rollers in the floor.
Ooh - you mean the release handle on the right, or the mechanism itself? I was told that if you move it when the brake isn't absolutely fully released it damages the brake itself. Mind you, it bongs at you straight away so you'd have to really ignore that.
A parking brake test isn’t done on a ramp – it’s done on rollers in the floor.
No, but they would have noticed it was broken. Unless they already knew…
There was no mention of it when I collected the car after the retest meaning they either didn’t move the car or they purposely didn’t tell me. That’s why I wanted to know if putting the car on the ramp was a requirement.
It went to the tyre place then you drove it back to the MOT place? Could it have been the tyre place that broke it?
given its a fairly old car is it not reasonable that is just broke rather than "was broken"? something failing through wear and tear whilst with a garage isn't their fault.
also
was told that if you move it when the brake isn’t absolutely fully released it damages the brake itself.
part of the test will be moving the wheels whilst the parking brake is applied. If thats a common failure mode the damage may have occured during the test (but not noticed till later)
Reminds me of taking a customer's cars for their MOT's, how many variations on a handbrake can there be?
The other fun one was having to park it in the road, go inside and ask where reverse was (behind a very stiff sprung gate, you literally had to slap it over as hard as you could). Or the one with the worn gearbox bushings, so selecting gear was completely pot luck, thankfully it was a great big V8 so it didn't really care if you were setting off in 1st or third.
given its a fairly old car is it not reasonable that is just broke rather than “was broken”?
I would say not, but even it was, would it not be reasonably to inform the unfortunate owner accompanied by the immortal words “they all do that sir”?
part of the test will be moving the wheels whilst the parking brake is applied. If thats a common failure mode the damage may have occured during the test (but not noticed till later)
I think you have misunderstood the nature of the damage. It can only be caused by someone yanking on the lever.
It went to the tyre place then you drove it back to the MOT place? Could it have been the tyre place that broke it?
Yes, which is why I tried to establish the requirement of the ramp
The MOT place immediately blamed the tyre place in a most aggressive manner, I have no doubt the tyre place will do the same.
if you drove it back to the MOT place did you leave it without operating the lever? Otherwise you'd have noticed, no?
^^ was the parking brake on when you collected it from the tyre place??
I don't recall. I only use it if I am parked on a hill and it was over a week before I had cause to use the parking brake after the retest.
I don’t recall. I only use it if I am parked on a hill and it was over a week before I had cause to use the parking brake after the retest.
In which case, you Sir, are bolleauxed! I'll eat my pants if either party now admit liability. 🙁
I always use it out of habit but also because it can seize up.
