gadgetmind Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 I dropped my D3 A8 off for an MOT this AM and the place called to say they don't know how to test the handbrake and the dealers woffled a lot but basically said they don't either. Lifting and holding the lever seems to apply the footbrakes and not handbrake so how do you measure the braking force of the handbrake? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 That is the handbrake. The system screws in the pistons on to the caliper at up to 70% of main braking force if I remember the figures from the manual correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 Not so urgent now as they have given up. :-( Pulling and holding the lever seems to activate the main brakes, so they can't test the handbrake on the road. And the 4WD means they can't do a roller test. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberto1954 Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 audi dealers do free mot's sorted.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 Because the handbrake operates the main brakes. There is no seperate unit. When you activate it, it screws in the pistons. If they've passed you, then great, but that's how the handbrake in the D3 works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 audi dealers do free mot's sorted.. Do they really? Wow! OK, I guess I'll have to drive it to the dealers. They are close to my office, but that's in the city centre, so a sod to drive to/from, which is why I nearly always commute by bicycle. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 Did they pass or fail it? surely they could just park it, and see if they can move it? Have the MOT regulations been changed to accomodate these new electronic parking brakes? Under the rules as I know them, any car with an electronic handbrake, should fail the MOT, as a permanent mechanical link to the driver is required. Just as an aside, one of our drivers was going on about the new emergency stop button in his car, wondering what he was on about, I asked him to show me, and it turns out that pressing the handbrake button while your driving does indeed result in a fairly rapid stop, can't see how hitting the button could possibly be quicker than pressing the brake though, and I'm sure it probably doesn't do much good to the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenjoe90 Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 ian i went to main audi dealer in bradford for my mot and it cost me nothing. they did the mot, full car inspection, full car clean and vacuum. then gave me the invoice of £0.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 Did they pass or fail it? surely they could just park it, and see if they can move it? They hinted that this is what they would have done if the VOSA inspectors hadn't been in that day. BTW, the VOSA guys called Audi to see what to do, but didn't regard Audi's solution as legit. The MOT was aborted. Have the MOT regulations been changed to accomodate these new electronic parking brakes? There are Vehicle Specific Instructions for some models, but for the Audi 4WD models there just isn't enough detail. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrundleFly Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 Other option with Audi is that you pay for your MOT (£50) and they give you up to £750 cover for any repairs that are needed (although I'm sure there must be some caveats with that). I think the free MOT is only if you also get it serviced there as well.. For an A8 though I think I'd want it done at the dealer unless you have a really good indie nearby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 My local indy (Audi Care in Pudsey) are OK, and they correctly diagnosed a faulty ignitor coil that was causing a misfire (Leeds Audi said I needed a new ECU) and an intermittent immobiliser coil (Leeds Audi said new ECU again!) But then they said I needed a new AC compressor, which I tracked down to an off-balance electric fan and replaced myself. In summary, I trust them both about as far as I could comfortably spit them, but at least Audi Care don't charge £100+ per hour for being slightly crap. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untruenorth Posted August 8, 2010 Report Share Posted August 8, 2010 FYI, on the free MOT front, Huntingdon Audi MOT'd my B5 S4 for the grand total of bugger all, even though I'd been servicing it with an indie, and never used Hunts Audi for anything until that point. They sorted the dodgy horn out for free too. So on my statistical sample of, er, one, the offer really does seem to do what it says on the tin. 'course, now I'm in an A8, I quite like the sound of that 50 quid deal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 Leeds Audi said no dice on the free MOT as it hadn't been serviced with them. They then failed it on a front tyre (95% of the tread fine, inner edge worn through) said they couldn't get one that day, didn't like the look of the spare, so ended up having the car overnight. They also said some LEDs out in a rear light (£290 to fix!) and rear pads very low (£200 for new pads!) I tried my local indy for the pads, and they said £60 all in, but their machine said "upgrade required" when they tried it and a vag-com they borrowed said "communication error". Guess I need to try with my lead. The pads have 2mm of material left so there is no hurry. This electronic parking brake is a serious PITA. BTW, Leeds Audi charged £270 for the new tyre and fitted a Pirelli with a totally different tread pattern to the Dunlops that were on it. I paid a local tyre place £230 for another Pirelli so the front matches, I've got two goodish Dunlops on the back, and a Dunlop with 2mm left to the wear markers as a spare. However, the Dunlops are direction, which as a spare is another PITA. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untruenorth Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Ouch. That's all I can think of to say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted August 11, 2010 Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 That's why if you do take it for a free MOT at Audi, do it a month or so before it expires, that way if they fail it you can get the work done elsewhere if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 If your vehicle fails its MOT, then it has defects that mean it is unroadworthy and its can't be used on the road until they are rectified. Of course, the chances of you getting caught are slim, but having the MOT fail on record won't help you in court. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 11, 2010 Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 Not correct, your still covered on the original MOT until it's expiry date, having your next MOT early and failing it does not override your original MOT, so there is no legal issue whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 Yes, you have a valid MOT, but you also have an unroadworthy vehicle. See here - MOT Failure Question - MOT - MOT Test: All the Information You Need VOSA says - "An MOT certificate is valid until its expiry date. However if your vehicle fails a test before this date and you do not rectify the defects then you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle which is an offence." Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 11, 2010 Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 That all depends on what it fails on really though doesn't it, and the MOT fail is irrelevant, as you don't need to have your car tested for it to be unroadworthy, wether it's been tested or not, a bald tyre (for example) is still illegal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted August 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 Yes, I guess so, but having a written record that you knew it was illegal and still drove would certainly count against you if there was (say) and insurance claim. Anyway, it was no big deal leaving the car with them as the only times I've driven it in the last few weeks have been to get it the MOT(s) done and tyres fitted! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now