2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 22:00
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - WoodsterT

Hi,

In a bit of a pickle at the moment, the car had an MOT two weeks ago and it passed. I had it taken to another garage today for a full service and they've come back and said it has numerous things wrong with it and shouldn't have passed the MOT. Bearing in mind I also had a mobile mechanic do pre-MOT checks on the car and he assured me the car was in good condition and was ready for an MOT.

Unfortunately I didn't think at the time to ask the garage to take a photo to have 'evidence' of the faults they claim the car has, but... apparently the N/S/R wheel bearing has excessive play to the point of it being dangerous and the "Front to Rear brake pipe is excessively corroded" (there are numerous other things they've found/listed) - My question is, could a wheel bearing go from being fine/not noticed on an MOT to have excessive play within two weeks? Same with the brake pipes, could they go from not being a concern to 'failure' point within two weeks of an MOT?

I get that an MOT is only as up to date as the day it was done, but I'm just really shocked and confused as to who I believe. I've not used either garage before (the guy I was using unfortunately passed away, so I'm now looking for another garage and trying different places.)

I'm not remotely 'car minded' when it comes to mechanical bits and bobs so I expect I'm prime target for some garages to take the biscuit, but I can't make my mind up. On one hand, why would a garage pass it with a dodgy MOT. On another hand, why would the service garage make up the faults - they didn't gain anything from me, infact they lost £100 because they insisted on stopping the service because they were coming across to many major problems and had to phone me to discuss it and ask what I wanted to do...

Any opinions would be appreciated, please - or suggestions as to what I do next. Ideally I want to be able to see with my own eyes if the faults exist or not, I don't want to take someone's word for it if it's a potential death trap.

Edited by WoodsterT on 11/07/2014 at 22:05

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 22:22
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - Galaxy

You appear to have visited two garages at either end of the scale; one incredibly strict and one that's normal or "Easy"!

You could take your car to a council-run MOT testing centre if you are worried about it. They don't do repairs there, only testing, so have no interest whatsoever in failing vehicles in order to gain work in repairing them.

Without actually seeing your car it's a bit of a difficult one to answer.

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 23:57
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - bathtub tom

This garage that you took the car to for a service, it wouldn't be a fit-quick type of place, would it?

You had a mobile mechanic do a pre-MOT and then an MOT at another place. I'd believe two out of three!

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Sat 12 Jul 2014 00:28
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - Bolt

This garage that you took the car to for a service, it wouldn't be a fit-quick type of place, would it?

You had a mobile mechanic do a pre-MOT and then an MOT at another place. I'd believe two out of three!

I would agree,has happened to people I know,though some agree to have the work done frightened by whats been said,bad practice imo

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 08:55
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - RobJP

Mobile mechanic (who would make a profit out of you if things needed replacing) says all is well.

MOT station (who would make a profit if things needed replacing) says all is well.

I agree. 2 out of 3 for me too.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 12:02
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - oldroverboy.

Mobile mechanic (who would make a profit out of you if things needed replacing) says all is well.

MOT station (who would make a profit if things needed replacing) says all is well.

I agree with others in this vein, but... a small query..

Had a mobile mechanic = Cost.

Mot = Cost

Service = Cost.

Taking this route is certainly more expensive than getting a joint service/mot done at the same time, but if the op is unfamiliar with cars and his trusted techie is no more, then I am afraid that there are still cowboys around all too happiy to fleece.

I remember well an incident where someone ordered a part (cylinder head) for a car and when the warranty would not pay attempted to get the workshop manager to fit it to another customers car to refit the "old" unit to the mechanics car. Well spooted the parts manager who got that sorted so that the innocent customer dd not end up paying for something he didn't need.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 13:29
2001 Ford Mondeo TDDI - Part deterioration - query - Wackyracer

This is where the MOT test is down to the opinion of the tester. One tester may think a wheel bearing has minimal free play while another person who likes to exagerate a bit will say it is dangerous and a failure.

The same with brake pipe corrosion, I knew an MOT tester who would fail a car on the slightest bit of surface rust on a steel brake pipe. Where another tester may put it down as an advisory.

There is a chance that a wheel bearing could fail or drastically deteriorate within 2 weeks but, I doubt a brake pipe could corrode that quickly in 2 weeks.

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