dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

Well in true Land Rover fashion the disco is in the garage as we speak. Not bad to say I only picked it up Saturday.

So last night the handbrake warning light came on, topped up the fluid and thought that was that. Going on the school run today and the light comes back on and the pedal is slowly sinking to the floor while I hold the vehicle on the brakes. Then yep it goes all the way to the floor and no brake fluid left.

Well it's in the garage so we will see what the problem is, hoping for a cheap fix but who knows.

Oh and it was only MOT'd a week ago so I've asked them to check and see if the problem should have been picked up on the MOT. If it did I will be having some serious words, do I have any rights to make them take responsibility for the problem? It was taken in by the previous owner, maybe they know each other well hmmm

Spong · Jan 27, 2015

Probably have to take it on the chin I'm afraid... They might have 'known each other' but to be fair, a caliper seal may have failed shortly after it came off the ramps. Unless it was leaking beforehand, a seal in poor condition wouldn't have been seen. But it depend on where the failure is - see if your garage thinks it shouldn't have been missed by the tester. Personally I view the MoT as a snapshot of the cars condition on the day it was done.

And frankly, if you took any legal action it would probably cost waaaaay more than a complete brake system rebuild!

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

I imagine your right but that wont cheer me up if somebody has knowingly left it in a dangerous state. Will have to wait and get the diagnostic before jumping the gun.

trax · Jan 27, 2015

why would the garage be responsible for a worn/broken part.. even if it was missed on the mot?

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

trax said:
why would the garage be responsible for a worn/broken part.. even if it was missed on the mot?

if it was a corroded brake line for instance this should have been picked up by them

MrNasty · Jan 27, 2015

dimbers said:
if it was a corroded brake line for instance this should have been picked up by them

And then what? They should pay? Why?

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

MrNasty said:
And then what? They should pay? Why?

They should have made note of it by either failing the car or making an advisory. The whole point of an MOT is to check the vehicle is roadworthy, I mean what would be the point of an MOT otherwise?

If the seller knows the tester well he "could" have it passed regardless, but the tester would need to take responsibility if the worst happened.

Lets be right about this, i had 5 kids in the car this morning and the brakes failed. How would you react?

trax · Jan 27, 2015

dimbers said:
if it was a corroded brake line for instance this should have been picked up by them

yeah, but they would just fail it, not replace out of their pocket.

mots are pretty basic, they don't even remove the wheels, so won't see everything brake related.

also if someone greased up/painted the brake pipes, then they would have a hard time seeing how bad it is. they can scrape a bit.

so it could easily pass on the day, but be bad an hour or so later.

you really need to check the vehicle yourself or get a mechanic to check it over for you if you are unsure about the vehicle

trax · Jan 27, 2015

dimbers said:
They should have made note of it by either failing the car or making an advisory. The whole point of an MOT is to check the vehicle is roadworthy, I mean what would be the point of an MOT otherwise?

If the seller knows the tester well he "could" have it passed regardless, but the tester would need to take responsibility if the worst happened.

Lets be right about this, i had 5 kids in the car this morning and the brakes failed. How would you react?

it's not good and i understand; but ultimately you, the driver, are responsible for the state of the vehicle you drive.

if you have any doubt, take it to a garage you trust for a once over as soon as you buy a vehicle or see if they will go and check one over for you. it's worth it, especially if you are carrying your children in the back

never trust anyone selling you a secondhand car.

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

trax said:
yeah, but they would just fail it, not replace out of their pocket.

Correct, and then it would be put back onto the previous owner to repair the fault, or at least i would have been aware of the issue before buying.

Im probably getting ahead of myself anyway, will wait and see what the garage says and hopefully no foul play.

Yes i should have had the vehicle checked immediatly and it was booked in this week for someone to go over it for me, not soon enough it turns out. But we learn from our mistakes and wont make them again

brian47 · Jan 27, 2015

As it says in Note 2 on your MoT certificate:

"A test certificate relates only to the condition of the components examined at the time of the test. It does not confirm the vehicle will remain roadworthy for the validity of the certificate."

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

brian47 said:
As it says in Note 2 on your MoT certificate:

"A test certificate relates only to the condition of the components examined at the time of the test. It does not confirm the vehicle will remain roadworthy for the validity of the certificate."

And if the vehicle passed when the condition of the components were not fit for purpose, and this was glaringly obvious what then?

biolandy · Jan 27, 2015

During brake testing the hydraulics are pushed harder than normal-could simply be a stressed component during the test has subsequently failed-have whole system inspected now and rectify accordingly

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

Its the brake pipes front to back which are severely corroded and split. The garage advised me to call the MOT station and inform them of the problem, saying that if for any reason they had missed anything like this on an MOT they would pay to have the work completed and rectify the problem.

I have spoken to the tester and he was willing to carry out the work however hes in Darlington and im in Leeds so he will speak to my garage and hopefully cover part of the cost, we will see.

meego · Jan 27, 2015

I agree with the OP. If I had a car MOT't one week, and the breaks failed the next due to a corroded break line, i would be back at them. These guys are supposedly the professionals you have employed to test and "inspect" your car and tell you if it is road worthy.

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

New brake lines fitted on both sides, front to back, and paid for by the tester, result.

19reef64 · Jan 27, 2015

Hi, great result. Which garage in Leeds did work for you ? I've used Brian up at Green Oval @ gildersome in past and always been well pleased.

dimbers · Jan 27, 2015

19reef64 said:
Hi, great result. Which garage in Leeds did work for you ? I've used Brian up at Green Oval @ gildersome in past and always been well pleased.

Hi mate

Used marina motors on Pudsey road, was the closest one when the brakes went, and I've used them before for other vehicles. They've always been good, not the cheapest though.

19reef64 · Jan 27, 2015

Same @ Green Oval, not cheapest, but always done it right for me.
Hope everything goes well from now on

trax · Jan 27, 2015

dimbers said:
New brake lines fitted on both sides, front to back, and paid for by the tester, result.

result, better than i'd expected

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