Haynes' Top 10
Pre-MOT checks

As four-letter words go, fail is not the rudest. But it is one of the most disheartening. Indeed, many car owners take it personally when the MOT tester says, "Fail". Then, of course, there's the expense and inconvenience of getting the problems fixed and the car re-tested.

All cars over 3 years old must have an annual MOT test - an important contribution to road safety. It's also a potential opportunity for you to learn about the general mechanical condition of your car - a friendly tester will sometimes point out items which, although not part of the test, could require attention soon.

About one-third of cars submitted for the test fail on minor items like blown light bulbs or worn-out wiper blades. While you can't undertake all the checks that the MOT tester does, a little time spent preparing your car for the test could prevent it failing because of a fault you could have fixed easily.

Haynes Manuals have a section detailing the checks you can do before your car's MOT test. Haynes is the world's leading publisher of automotive repair manuals and renowned for teaching millions of car owners how to carry out routine maintenance and repairs. Haynes publishes manuals for more than 500 models of cars and vans as well as useful glovebox guides such as Your Car and Driving Abroad. Haynes is truly a brand you can trust to help drive down the cost of motoring.

For more advice on model-specific procedures, please refer to the appropriate Haynes Service and Repair Manual. Haynes Manuals retail at £17.99 (hardback) and are available from all good car accessory retailers and bookshops including: Halfords, Motor World and WH Smith. A comprehensive stockist locator can be found at www.haynes.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

The information above is supplied courtesy of Haynes Publishing, please credit accordingly if you intend to use it. For further information, please contact Rebecca Nicholls on Tel: 01452 260063 or email: pr@haynes.co.uk

Below, we summarise the essential pre-MOT checks.  

1. From the driver's seat, you can test the handbrake, footbrake, steering wheel and column for correct operation and excessive play.
2. Still in the driver's seat, check that the windscreen is free of cracks or damage. Check the operation of the horn and the windscreen wipers and washers.
3. Now check that the door latches work and that all seat belts are in good condition and fasten properly.
4. Moving to outside the car, check that the wiper blades are in good condition and that the lights work. (You'll need an assistant to help check the brake lights.)
5. Bounce each corner of your car to assess the condition of the shock absorbers. If the car wobbles like a jelly, chances are they've had it.
6. The wheels and tyres should be inspected thoroughly. Wheels should not be damaged and tyres must be free of cuts, tears, lumps or bulges. Check the tyre pressures and the tread depth - a minimum of 1.6mm over at least three-quarters of the tread width is the current legal requirement, but they should be replaced long before that.
7. Look for corrosion in the vehicle structure - especially in critical areas such as side sills, suspension mountings and so on.
8. If you're being really thorough (and you know how to do it safely), jack up the car and support it on axle stands. This will allow you to check for play in wheel bearings and suspension joints. You can also examine brake pad wear and the condition of driveshaft gaiters.
9. Still with the car supported on axle stands, look for leaks in the fuel system or damage to the exhaust system.
10.  Finally, clean the car thoroughly, inside and out. The tester can refuse to examine a car which is filthy underneath. Besides, a car which looks well cared for will give a good impression.