MOT Failure....YAY...

[n1k85]

Took the car in for MOT this morning and just got a call to say that is failed on the following:

O/S Headlight Aim
O/S Rear Parking Break
N/S Rear Parking Break



I was aware of the issue with the O/S Headlight already, as the bracket that holds the bulb in place seems to be damaged, but i'm hoping that fitting a HID Kit (Which I was going to do anyway) would rectify this? Any suggestions?

But I had no idea there was an issue with the parking break, I've never even used it!

Any Ideas how much it will cost to put this right?

Any help would be great!

[Johnny chimpo]

by parking break do they mean the handrbake?

[dirtymonkey29]

Handbrake probably just needs adjusting up, how many clicks when you pull it up? Might be worth getting the rear drums off for an inspection if there is much left to adjust. Is the bulb holder broken for the light then or something internal?

[dirtymonkey29]

Hand brake adjustment:

www.csfrancis.net/BMW/pbdiy.pdf

[X5Sport]

BMW TIS Data for Parking Brake - to give it the official name - handbrake to the rest of us .

http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/e53/X5_3. ... ing_brake/

From this thread....

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2916

If you never use it then the drum & shoes may be corroded and that will drop the efficiency and fail the MOT. Sometimes just driving the car forward with the brake very slightly applied with 'polish' the drum again and clean the brake shoe surface. They could also be gunked up and stuck if not being used as it sounds as if you might be relying on the Park Pawl in the gearbox?

[dirtymonkey29]

[quote=""X5Sport""]Sometimes just driving the car forward with the brake very slightly applied with 'polish' the drum again and clean the brake shoe surface.[/quote]

I do this every so often just to keep them in order. At about 30mph just pull it on 2 or 3 clicks then let it off again, do this a couple of times in a row

[n1k85]

Thanks for the replies, hopefully it won't be too big an issue then,

They are calling me back later to advise me how much it will cost to get the faults sorted. How much do you think is fair to pay for them to sort out my handbrake?

And re the headlight, I can't exactly remember what is broken, but I have a feeling it was some clip on the headlight unit itself. I will confirm, later though!

[Waka]

[quote=""n1k85""]
But I had no idea there was an issue with the parking break, I've never even used it! [/quote]

That'll be why then!

Mine failed on the hand brake at the last MOT. It seemed the previous owner didn't bother with the hand brake either and inside the drums were all rusted.
The drums form part of the rear disk assembly and I'm pretty sure mine were about £60 each (plus fitting). So I ended up with new disks as well for that price which I was pretty happy with as the pads had been done the year before

[pvr]

I am guilty to that as well as I have never used mine ...

Mrs PVR does use it so it balances it out a bit I suppose, but mine only just passed the MOT with it.

[X5Sport]

And this may also make some folks think about starting to use the parking brake too. Most vehicle manufacturers and many car mechanics do not recommend using the automatic transmission's 'parking pawl' as the main or only means of securing a parked vehicle. It should only be engaged after first applying the vehicle's parking brake. Interestingly the X6 says put the parking brake on after selecting 'P' and turning off the engine, but then it's an electrically operated handbrake - though why the difference I have no idea.

Constant use of only the parking pawl, especially when parking on a steep slope, means that all the driveline components, as well as the transmission internals, are kept constantly under stress, and can cause wear and eventual failure of the parking pawl or transmission linkage. The pawl might also fail or break if the vehicle is pushed with sufficient force, if the parking brake is not firmly engaged then your P&J may not be where you left it! I've not seen reports of such an incident, but it certainly sounds feasible from an engineering viewpoint.

Given the proliferation of gearbox failures on the E53, maybe using the handbrake is a safer and cheaper option....

I know when I was taught to drive, I was always told to use the handbrake to secure the vehicle from moving and I've never done it ny other way, regardless of gearbox type. Not that we all do things we were taught and get into bad habits....self very much guilty of such.....

[Rusty]

I always use the 'parking brake' when stopped, just habit I suppose. I never liked the way auto's settle to a stop after releasing the brake if only using the gearbox park. All that stress on a small pawl, not good in my book either.

Re transmission stress, am I not correct in thinking that Land Rovers of up to and including MkIII, maybe further, have the handbrake drum attached to the back of the gearbox, therefore all the load is passing through the diff ( both and transfer box if in 4wd ) etc?
I know it's not through the gearbox and, but none the less.

Just my thoughts


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[X5Sport]

Indeed it is so ObiWan. One thing apparently you never do in a LandRover is to pull hard on the handbrake whilst in motion. My RAF Driving instructor said it was usually followed by a number of bangs as the half-shafts snapped. Needless to say I've never tried it. Upsetting the MT Sergeant was never a good thing to do. Unless you liked driving the worst Metro in the fleet that is....

[Rusty]

[quote=""X5Sport""]Indeed it is so ObiWan. One thing apparently you never do in a LandRover is to pull hard on the handbrake whilst in motion. My RAF Driving instructor said it was usually followed by a number of bangs as the half-shafts snapped. Needless to say I've never tried it. Upsetting the MT Sergeant was never a good thing to do. Unless you liked driving the worst Metro in the fleet that is.... [/quote]

Lol, drove a 2a for about six months whilst between cars, always keeps you on your toes in traffic, and being a SWB cab, stomp on the brakes and it would spin ACW, Yey.


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[n1k85]

I went to collect the car last night but turned out that it was stuck up in the air on the ramp.

The ramp had broken and they were having to call out an engineer to fix it. So i ended up leaving the car there overnight.

This morning they said they have adjusted the brakes and should now pass the MOT. I mentioned the headlight aim but he said he'll sort it out...

So fingers crossed for the re-test.

[X5Sport]

[quote=""n1k85""]I went to collect the car last night but turned out that it was stuck up in the air on the ramp.
The ramp had broken and they were having to call out an engineer to fix it.....[/quote]

Probably a failed parking brake.................

Hope all goes well and you are back together later today..