Are we getting lazy when it comes to simple driveway DIY, or being put off tinkering with our cars by their increasingly complex nature? Well, both possibly, according to a recent survey – and this means our cars are failing their MoT on things that could easily be fixed at home beforehand…
In our increasingly hectic work/life/partying schedule, it’s all too easy to drive a car to an MoT test without even bothering to do basic checks – which is why the national MoT failure rate is a shocking 39.52%. That’s ridiculous, and considering the potential hassle involved arranging a retest – it’s something that easily can be avoided. Indeed, Warranty Direct, who did the survey, state that carrying out simple checks and basic DIY on our cars could prevent 1.5 million MoT failures every year.
Increasingly complex cars put many motorists off maintaining their own car, and with some bang up to date vehicles requiring you to take off a front wheel to change a headlamp bulb (we jest not!) it’s easy to see why. Then there’s the more involved stuff such as errant ABS and airbag warning lights, error codes and emissions tests which take specialist diagnostics equipment to identify and correct.
With the MoT set to become even stricter in years to come, the risk of breaching manufacturer patents (even on old cars!) and car makers increasingly building in features designed to prevent owners meddling with them themselves, we’re wondering whether the whole concept of the ‘home mechanic’ will soon become a quaint thing of the past. Just as well us lovers of older Dubs can rest assured that there will always be things we can fiddle and fettle with on our cars without things getting overcomplicated.
Nevertheless, going back to the survey results, there’s no excuse for the vast majority of MoT failures. Said Warranty Direct boss David Gerrans: “It never ceases to amaze us how many MoT failures can be avoided with the simplest of pre-test checks. Things such as making sure there are no cracks in your number plate, your wheels and tyres are undamaged and ensuring there are no splits in windscreen wiper rubbers are all things motorists can do at home, but if left to test day can be the cause of MoT failure.”
Tell us how much DIY you do on your classic Dub – and whether indeed the scary prospect of a ‘fettle proof’ modern car is what keeps you interested in older VWs…
Ian
The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage.
I recently asked a garage to add an oil and filter change to my MOT test and they charged me £111 for the oil change. It was a wake up call as It would usually cost me about £45 with the best oil.
There are lot of things that can be check or repaired before taking car for MOT test. Thanks for highlighting DIY factor that can be performed before MOT test. Find your post very helpful.
Modern cars are unreliable! – and outrageously expensive with their fancy unpredictable electronics. So i am amazed and delighted to find myself reverting the the good old Beetle; the extra cost of fuel is offset 10x+ by the cheaper repairs and parts costs. An old aircool mechanic nearby, and parts available from VW Heritage etc, make it possible. Along with John Muir’s superb, delightful How to Keep Your VW Alive, which makes DIY work feasible. (From VW H, Amazon or Abe Books). It enables you to make decisions, find out what’s wrong, and decide if you can do it. Unlike Haynes etc; Muir shows Mr Haynes how to do it! You can establish a friendly working relationship with your VW; doesn’t happen with new cars! And it helps you get through the MoT. BUT – preserve it from the Rust!
Hi all,
I don’t accept for a second that DIY mechanics will die out. Simply because mechanically minded will always want to take cars to bits.
Electronics are what make modern cars great, and while you can’t put your head in a wiring loom to see what the 1’s and 0’s are doing like you can in a classic flat 4 engine, they offer greater reliability (although can be harder to fix), new functions (adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights, gearbox which select gears based on terrain ahead, abs, TC etc etc)
But what you can do with electronics is tune an engine to within an inch of its life, have cars with split personalities (eco, comfort sport).
They are a new challenge and every day people release new modifications for your modern car. For me it’s not a sad day when you need a laptop to fix a car it’s a new exciting challenge. All those sensors just waiting to let you push to car further in every way.
But sometimes I do wish carbs and a dizzy…. And I worry for the future generations if DIY mechanics do doe out as they will never know the joy of holding a spanner. Or being able to change a wheel..