Scottish Elises

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:53 pm

It is that time of year when I have to go get an MOT, the car is going into the local garage as it is handy for work. The same place Exigeken went to get his error codes when his wasn't running to well. from this I get the impression the MOT tester has never done an MOT on an elise so to make sure he doesn't break it. Is there anything I should tell him before I book it in? The reason I ask is I have heard they don't like it when you lift them on ramps or anywhere that isn't a jacking point. I am probably just being paranoid but she is haemoraging money ATM and I don't want things to get worse.

Nizzy

P.S. 135 head gets fitted tommorow WooHoo !

Post by **Shug** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 4:32 pm

Look in the manual for the jacking points and make sure he knows where they are. Also make sure you take it for a run beforehand - shouldn't be an issue, but I like to make sure the cat is nice and warm and working to it's best before the emissions probe goes near it.

Some MOT testers would require that the undertrays are taken off before they test it (it's actually in the instructions for the car - I've seen them) A lot don't bother though...

Hambo · Post by **Hambo** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:18 pm

Mot testers are not aloud to strip things to gane access.
Leve the tray no, If he cannot sea it he cant fale it

Post by **pete** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:05 am

Be there when they do it. Drive th acr youself carefully. I was guided onto the ramps by the mechanic at a place in Shortlees (Killie). Whilst they were very excited about seeing an Elise and passed me depsite no front plate (and not doing half the checks), I was less impressed that when he was "guiding" me onto the ramps he didn't notice my front clam was going to ground until it just after it did.

"Weren't me gov. You were driving." was the only reply. I decided a garage in Shortlees, outnumbered 4 to 1 was not the best place to object more forcefully.

Maybe go with a mate as well to see you onto the ramps...

Pete

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:51 am

They will jack the car in a weird place in order to lift the wheels off the ground with the suspension compressed.

If they do this wrong, they *could* bend a wishbone (not all that likely, but ...)

The jacking points in the manual are no use for the MOT - the point is to raise the wheels with the suspension compressed; the normal jacking points raise the wheels in full droop.

The best approach, IMHO, is to discuss the specifics of jacking with them - point out that the wishbones will bend if jacked anywhere other than directly under the ball joint or directly under the lower damper mount - either of these positions should be adequate for what they want to do and they are safe enough (for them - I wouldn't be comfortable working under a car suspended that way).

Leave the undertrays on for sure.

A proper MOT garage will warm the cat for you (it's part of the test), but there's nothing wrong with giving it plenty of stick before it gets there to make sure it's good and hot. Tell them beforehand that if it struggles to pass the emissions tests on the fast idle thing, they should just rev it harder - you are happy for them to run it at 4000RPM if that's what it takes to pass

Cheers,
Robin

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:57 am

As mentioned, BE THERE!

The upside is that if they are as confused as I have seen you'll have an MOT in under 45 seconds...

'Couldn't figure out how to open the bonnet mate...'

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:09 am

Dont fancy shortlees lol (kilmarnock people will know why) I will have a word with the guy thats doing it, I will leave the undertray's on as I know they can't remove to check it, a bloke I used to know was an MOT tester and he said the same thing. pity he moved down south as he just passed it anyway for me as long as I said I would fix it

s333fee · Post by **s333fee** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:18 am

go to autotech paisley, he does a few elises, has done S333FEE and all servicing etc for 4 years, knows the car well,

Autotech Paisley 0141 887 7395 also can do a sat morning if this helps

S333FEEE Support Team

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:06 am

The big problem is I work 6 days a week and don't want to take a holiday in an ideal world I would like to take it to someone who has experience but needs must.

james · Post by **james** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:28 am

Theres a place in Broxburn (West lothian) that does loads of Elises and looked after mine. Does tests in the evening so might be worth a short drive over.

woody · Post by **woody** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:43 pm

BiggestNizzy wrote:The big problem is I work 6 days a week and don't want to take a holiday in an ideal world I would like to take it to someone who has experience but needs must.

I'll take it down to croft garage for you

It's in tarbolton, they're fairly elise experienced, both shug and i have taken our cars there and they've had other elises & exiges in.

shortlees

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:41 pm

Wish Me luck She goes in tommorow (thursday) for her MOT and to get some T1R's fitted, to be honest I'm dreading it.

And so what if the picture looks a bit gay, I'm comfortable with my sexuality and no that isn't a euphemism for I'm a closet gay.

fd · Post by fd » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:07 am

The reving past 2.5K thing is useful to know if you have a breathed on engine . . .

The engine in my car is not happy running unloaded until it's doing at least 3->3.5K and the emissions tester can clearly see this with high hydrocarbons . . . the guy that does my car knows to give it some beans, I just ask that he leaves the boot open to help with cooling and keeps a close eye on the temp . . . they just love giving it some revs in their nice echoy workshop and I usually get what I'm after

Mines is in on Saturday as it happens, the very next slot after the Elise is the Caterham . . . which should be interesting as they will not be able to get into or out of it, press the pedals with normal workshop boots on, test the handbrake (LSD so no brake testing machine allowed), etc, etc . . . should be interesting for them and me. I'd suggest taking him for a spin in it to demonstrate the brakes . . . which would convince him . . . but no pax seat or harnesses fitted

It's just pure hassle . . . the sooner they make it every 2 years the better . . .

Fd

ExigeKen · Post by **ExigeKen** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:31 am

BiggestNizzy wrote:Wish Me luck She goes in tommorow (thursday) for her MOT and to get some T1R's fitted, to be honest I'm dreading it.

And so what if the picture looks a bit gay, I'm comfortable with my sexuality and no that isn't a euphemism for I'm a closet gay.

Good luck mate let us know how you get on

Post by **campbell** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:01 am

I take mine to Regent Motors in Linlithgow, based on a recommendation from Jonathan Neale a couple of years back.

Went and sat in on the test first time around, reminded them about jacking points etc (though Jonathan had done this before on his Elise anyway). Took their time, tested it thoroughly, and passed it with a couple of marginals.

Failed it a year later on some windscreen chips, I got Autoglass to fix, retested and passed fine.

Last year Lisa just took it in for me and left it. No probs.

This year I took it in and left it. No probs, albeit left a bit muddy here and there due to mega rain that day - but for a few quid discount and a clean pass, I can live with that

Elises are getting more common in smaller indpendents now, so less of a worry these days I think.

Campbell