New Milton Advertiser 15th Jan 2021

28 · Friday 15th January 2021

news@adt.press · advertising@adt.press · 01425 613384

Motoring

Deadline: Wednesday. 12 noon • Death Notices 5pm Call 01425 613384 or email classifieds@adt.press

advertiserandtimes.co.uk/motoring

Let me purchase your mot faiLure/unwanted car Best prices paid coVerinG the new forest VehicLe recoVery serVice All relevant paperwork completed. Tel. Rick 01425 610662/ 07768 727694 SB Recovery, 27 Yew Lane, New Milton END OF THE ROAD FOR YOUR CAR! BUMPER repair specialists, minor crash repairs and paint spraying all makes of cars. No VAT. — 01590 645313 / mobile 07561 049432. Unit 6, rear Silver Street Farm, Hordle (200 yards past Brewers Fayre Pub). WANTED • Vans • Cars • Caravans • Campervans • 4x4 etc Any age, any condition from scrap to prestige condition. Cash waiting Phone Steve on: 07557 344555

Your MOT: Just the ticket for essential mobility

Set your mind at rest with proper service before the annual safety scrutiny THE modern MOT test is a sophisticated annual safety scrutiny and seeing just what is being checked makes it clear why regular professional servicing is essential. To help owners, the government has detailed on its GOV.UK website the parts that are checked in the MOT and it is clear that “brakes, lights and steering are okay” is simply not good enough.

■ By Glynn Williams MBE, Motoring Correspondent LOCKDOWN means essential travel only but we must keep our cars safe and legally up-to-date with tax, MOT and insurance for when we do use them – and sadly nobody knows when they might suddenly have to make hospital runs.

engine warning light is prob- ably the most critical and needs urgent diagnosis using a professional’s computer.

Not included in the test are the engine, clutch and gearbox but as the examination includes revving the engine for exhaust emission checks you need to be happy that it is in good order and not overdue for a cambelt change. Corrosion is less of a problem in modern cars but can sneak up in water traps, affecting areas such as suspension points on the chassis, battery mounts and door locks and hinges as well as exhausts. An MOT test must be booked as normal up to a month before expiry but drivers must be prepared for some changes at the MOT test station, in addition to wearing their own face mask and exer- cising social distancing. Obviously anyone with coronavi- rus symptoms will be sent home and advised to follow the stay-at-home guidance. The centre will refuse to carry out a test if the customer has symptoms and should be in self-isolation. Government guidance is that recep- tion staff should wear single-use gloves to handle keys and if there is space to follow social distancing rules customers can view the MOT test or wait in recep- tion during a test which will take a little longer.

Car showrooms might be closed although business continues under safe distancing and local travel laws with click-and-collect operations at most new car dealerships – larger used car sites will offer something similar – although test drives are out of the question. But garage workshops remain open and MOT testing continues, with regular re-testing continuing and the final weeks of the six-month extensions applied until last August for owners whose vehicles were due a test between 30th March and 31st July 2020. Quite apart from giving your car a thorough check, it is well worth doing your homework for any “advisories” at the last MOT test – you can do this at www.gov.uk/check-mot-history This is because if signs of wear detected then have not been rectified they are certainly likely to cause prob- lems this time, even if the car has hardly moved in the past year.

MOTs arranged. Repairs, servicing, welding, air conditioning servicing; free collections and delivery. Qualified, friendly service. — M. Cutler, Automotive Engineer, 01590 675050. Rodlease Farm, Rodlease Lane, Boldre.

First bodywork, vehicle structure and general items will be inspected to check they’re free from excessive corrosion or damage in specific areas, with no sharp edges likely to cause injury. Not so obvious but plainly critical for their role, towbars will be inspected for secureness, condi- tion, inappropriate repairs or modification and that the 13-pin electrical socket is working cor- rectly. The speedometer must also be working. Checks under the bonnet – itself checked for security – include engine mountings, wiring, and the fuel system to ensure no leaks, pipes and hoses are secure and in good condition and the fuel cap fastens securely, including use of any key. Depending on the age and fuel type of the vehi- cle, the tester will check that it meets the rules for exhaust emissions as well as checking that the exhaust system is secure and complete, has no serious leaks or is too noisy and includes a cata- lyst if one was standard. For owners of diesel vehicles, the government warns: “The MOT tester will refuse to test your vehicle if they think that the smoke test may damage your engine. You should tell them at the start of the MOT if you think this may happen.” It says to reduce the possibility of damage and increase the chances of passing, you should keep your vehicle maintained, have the camshaft drive belt replaced at the recommended intervals, not tamper with the governor settings and to go for the MOT with a fully warmed up engine – “it will produce less smoke and is safer to test.” Inside the car will be checked to ensure the mandatory seatbelts are securely in place, suita- ble for the vehicle, in good condition and work- ing properly. All seats are inspected for secure fitment, that seat backs can be fixed in upright position and the driver’s seat can be adjusted. Now to those warning lights – firstly the mal- function indicator lamps (MILs) or dashboard warning lights will be checked for the air bags, seatbelt pretensioners and seatbelt load limiters. Also for the anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), electronic park brake and brake fluid warning lights, electronic power steering and headlamp main beam, and the tyre pressure monitoring system on vehicles first used since January 2012. Doors will be inspected to check the latch is secure in the closed position, front doors open from inside and outside and rear doors open from outside, with all hinges and catches secure and in good condition and the boot or tailgate also closes properly. The vehicle will be inspected for the minimum number of mirrors, their condition and security as well as indirect vision devices such as reversing cameras. Brakes are not only subjected to the efficiency test on rollers but also inspected for condition such as worn discs or pads, and anti-lock brak- ing system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) where fitted. Tyres and wheels on the vehicle – not spares – are checked for condition including tread depth, security and size and type. Number plates are checked for condition, colour, correct form and spacing of characters and secure attachment. Lights – including indicators and number plate lights – are checked for condition and operation, the headlamps for aim, cleaning, self-levelling and security. Driver visibility checks include wiper and washer operation plus windscreen condition and obstruc- tions for a clear view of the road, and the horn for operation and suitability. Steering and suspension are inspected for con- dition and operation including steering lock oper- ation, steering oil level, power steering pipes or hoses. ■

WINTER CAR CHECK The key items of inspection relate to lights, brakes, tyres and steering but there is a great deal more to it than that, whether the obvious windscreen washer bottle or more rarely checked power steering fluid level. Firstly the tester should open the vehi- cle’s windows five minutes before start- ing the test to ventilate the vehicle and the tester and any assistant should use a new pair of single-use gloves for every test, including changing them after fin- ishing the interior and exterior checks. They should also use a new seat cover for every car or passenger vehicle MOT test.

Servicing & Repairs to all makes MOT • Welding • Tyres Body Repairs & Paintwork Friendly local GaraGe – competitive prices

Free Courtesy Car/Pick Up with any service or repair C & M Motor Services 17 Williams Ind Park, Gore Road, New MiltoN , BH25 6SH T: 07976 666820 or 01425 618748

Some clues to trouble lurking can be found in the array of dashboard warning lights and if any are illuminated you will need to get the problem fixed before you can pass an MOT test. Some warn- ing lights are obvious, such as for worn brakes or low tyre pressure, although the

Testers are told not to print MOT cer- tificates unless the customer needs it for a specific reason. Instead, the cus- tomers will be told they can download and print the certificate when they get home and check their MOT history at www.gov.uk/check-mot-history ■

Absolutely All

Cars, Commercials, any year or model, Plant, Machinery, Scrap Metal and all Nonferrous Wanted

TOP PRICES PAID On board weighing system. Skips available.

Car Parts for all makes

Fully insured and licensed salvage/scrap metal merchant. All vehicles recycled as per EA rules, certificates of destruction issued. Full

company receipts issued with or without VAT. L R Jones Ltd. 01590 681250 • 8 til 8 Landfalls, Mill Lane, Sway, Hants Helping tHe environment

To keep you travelling safely this winter! Batteries – Battery Chargers – Bulbs

De-Icer – Scrapers – Anti Freeze – Wiper Blades for an unrivalled range of quality parts from stock call in at 56 old milton road or call 01425 616213 or visit www.mpdonline.co.uk Trade & Retail Welcome • Massive Stocks the Power to supply

MOT TEST CENTRE CLASSES 4, 5, 7

Cars · Vans · Motorhomes (all sizes) Trucks (up to 3½ tons) · 4x4s · Mini Buses

DO YOU DRIVE:

Servicing · General Maintenance and Repairs Eco-friendly decarbonising engine cleaning Performance and Economy Remapping Diagnostic Testing - Petrol & Diesel All makes and models — large or small 01425 620969 CAIRD AVENUE, NEW MILTON (near Tesco)

Audi Seat

Volkswagen Škoda

We offer dealer-level servicing and diagnostics - MOT - testing - repairs. We also specialise in cambelt replacements, DSG gearbox oil changes, 4WD Haldrex coupling oil changes, adblue top-ups, 4 wheel alignment and ADAS calibration and repairs. Upon completion of service we can update manufacturers online digital service records. Why not pop in so we can introduce ourselves while we carry out a free winter level, battery, antifreeze and tyre check. We are a family-owned independent Bosch Car Service Centre, serving New Milton, Highcliffe, Lymington and surrounding areas for 36 years. Combining old-fashioned customer service with today’s modern

complex car technology, by Bosch trained technicians. Courtesy transport to and from work/home available.

For more information on BOSCH Car Service Centres visit www.mps.boschauto.co.uk

Bridge Farm, Hare Lane, NewMilto n