CursedBones Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 This is a list that I go through once per year, 4 weeks before my MOT is due. This is a pretty OCD and OTT list. I like to do this once per year so that I can keep track of any issues that arise. It also prevents any MOT tester from trying to BS you, and from pulling your pants down. Probably nobody is interested in following my lead on this one... However someone may want to devise their own checklist based on this. Probably not.. But yeh! Enjoy. ---------------------------------------------------------- Need to have ---------------------------------------------------------- Trolley jack 2 axle stands 2 wood kickers Chocks Torch Code reader Crow bar Pulley bearing stethoscope (optional) ---------------------------------------------------------- Interior inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- -Check computer (fault codes) -Inspect seatbelts (material deterioration, lock off hesitation, slow retraction) ---------------------------------------------------------- External inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- -Inspect registration plates (damage & ease to read) -Inspect wipers (smearing) -Inspect brake pads (at least 2mm of material) -Inspect brake discs (significant lip & excessive scoring) -Bounce test each corner of the car -Check that all lights work ---------------------------------------------------------- Engine bay inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- -Inspect the drive belt (bad cracks or slipping) -Inspect all drive belt pulleys (bearing noise & excessive wobble) -Check for significant engine blow by (oil filler cap) -Check dip stick & inside oil cap (milky oil or metal filings or petrol smell) -Inspect battery terminals (corrosion) -Inspect all rubber hoses (leaks, bulges, splits/cracks) -Inspect thermostat housing & expansion tank (cracks & leaks) -Inspect all engine bay brake lines (leaks) -Inspect strut mounts (rubber cracks) -Inspect strut mounts (push car up and down and feel/listen at the strut mount) -Inspect radiator fan (turn AC on) -Inspect radiator (excessive corrosion & leaks) -Inspect front crash bar (excessive corrosion) -Inspect engine/transmission for leaks (coolant & oil) ---------------------------------------------------------- Camera visual inspection (part 1) ---------------------------------------------------------- [Set up a camera pointing at the right hand side engine mount] -Accelerate in 1st with the handbrake fully engaged (check for excessive engine lift & check if the rubber is detached on the mount) [Set up a camera pointing at the left hand side transmission mount] -Accelerate in 1st with the handbrake fully engaged (check for excessive engine lift & check if the rubber is detached on the mount) [Set up a camera pointing at the rear transmission torque restrictor] -Accelerate in reverse with the handbrake fully engaged (check for excessive engine lift & check if the rubber is detached on the mount) [Set up a camera pointing at the exhaust tail pipe] -Start the car & check for any blue smoke ---------------------------------------------------------- Driving inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- -Inspect power steering motor (audible whine when turning full lock whilst stationary) -Inspect power steering (resistance turning whilst driving) -Inspect wheel alignment (test on a flat road & test whilst braking) -Check for steering wheel vibration whilst driving straight -Check for bearing noise when driving at various speeds -Drive over a speed bump (front end shouldn't bounce more than once) -Launch the car & check for the rear suspension excessively bottoming out -Moderately hard braking (steering wheel vibration when braking from a relatively high speed) -Emergency stop (Check that the car stops well) -Test horn ---------------------------------------------------------- Camera visual inspection (part 2) ---------------------------------------------------------- [Make sure that the engine is warmed up] [Set up a camera pointing at the exhaust tail pipe] -Start the car & check for any blue or excessive white smoke -Hold the revs at 3,000RPM for 2 minutes (check for any blue or excessive white smoke) ---------------------------------------------------------- Front end - axle stand - visual inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- [Put the front end of the car on axle stands] -Inspect front tyres (tread is evenly worn & above 2mm & free from nails/dry rot/cracks/rips/bulges] -Inspect for any signs of brake fluid on the alloys -Inspect brake hoses (cracked, damaged, leaking hoses or excessively corroded ferrules) -Inspect shock absorbers (leaking fluid, bent or scored pistons) -Inspect front coil springs (snapped & excessively springs) -Inspect suspension arm bushes & boots (split & pancaked boots) -Inspect inner & outer CV boots (splits) -Inspect ARB bushes & brackets (missing bolts & split bushes) -Inspect drop links (split & pancaked boots) -Inspect steering rack (leaks & split boots) -Inspect track rod ends (split & pancaked boots) -Inspect subframe (excessive corrosion & loose/missing bolts ) ---------------------------------------------------------- Front end - axle stand - physical inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- -Put a crowbar behind the rack and pinion and check for play -Listen at the upper strut mounts for any noise when turning the wheel full lock both ways -Shake drop links and check for any play or noise at the ball joints -Spin the front wheels fast by hand & see if they spin 1-2 rotations to check if the brakes are dragging -Shake the wheels back and forth at 12 and 6 & feel for any play and listen for any clicking/clunking noise from the suspension arm ball joint -Shake the wheels back and forth at 9 and 3 & feel for any popping motion and listen for any clicking/clunking noise from the track rod end ball joint -Push & pull the wheels in and out whilst holding the inner track rod end to see if there is any popping motion or noise -Shake the wheels back and forth at both horizontal positions & feel for any play from the wheel bearings -Spin the front wheels fast by hand & listen for any bearing noise -Spin the front wheels fast by hand whilst holding the coil spring to see if there is any vibration from the wheel bearings ---------------------------------------------------------- Front end - axle stand - camera inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- [Set up a camera pointing at the suspension arm bushings] -Turn the steering wheel to full lock & jerk the steering wheel back and forth towards full lock position to check for any excessive play in the suspension arm bushings -Lower the car back down ---------------------------------------------------------- Rear end - axle stand - visual inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- [Put the rear end of the car on axle stands] -Inspect sills & frame rails (excessive corrosion) -Inspect exhaust heat shield (secured properly) -Inspect full exhaust (failed hangers & excessive corrosion) -Inspect fuel lines (leaks & excessive corrosion) -Inspect brake lines (leaks & excessive corrosion) -Inspect handbrake cable links (excessive corrosion) -Inspect fuel tank (physical damage) -Inspect fuel tank straps & filler pipe (excessive corrosion) -Inspect rear axle (excessive corrosion) -Inspect rear crash bar (excessive corrosion) -Inspect rear shock absorbers (leaking fluid, bent or scored pistons) -Inspect rear coil springs (snapped & excessively corroded springs) ---------------------------------------------------------- Rear end - axle stand - physical inspection ---------------------------------------------------------- -Spin the rear wheels fast by hand & see if they spin 1-2 rotations to check if the brakes are dragging -Shake the wheels back and forth at all positions & feel for any play from the wheel bearings -Spin the rear wheels fast by hand & listen for any bearing noise -Spin the rear wheels fast by hand whilst holding the coil spring to see if there is any vibration from the wheel bearings -Lower the car back down ---------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.