Failed MOT

[Andy Mac 1]

My 96 Golf VR failed its MOT this morning. Absolutely gutted. Reason for fail was: -

Centre Box has a broken Bracket

Rear Box blowing

Rear Number Plate light

ABS Warning light.

In terms of parts how much can I expect to pay for the centre and rear exhuast boxes. I changed my rear pads just under a year ago and the ABS light has been on ever since, I assume I wont need a new sensor and the old one has just been knocked out. They have quoted my £68.33 for the senser, but they are going to put the car on a code reader to determine if it needs it. The garange have quoted £436 inc labour to do all the work needed. Sounds like a lot to me??

[Paul1982 0]

Sounds like a good time to get yourself a nice stainless exhaust system ;-)

Bugger getting OEM exhaust. £436 is silly money aswel.

£250 cat back system and pull the fuse out of the fuse box on the ABS sensor. 95% of the MK3's with ABS have doggy sensors - doesn't always mean they dont work. Take it out go brake hard some where and see if shes still OK. for an MOT u dont need a ABS light - BUT if there is a problem showing they have to fail you.

Do it yourself and save hundreds plus the car will run alot better with a stainless exaust.

Do it my way and it will put a smile on yourface every time you drive her ;-)

[IbiVR 0]

for an MOT u dont need a ABS light

Actually you do. If you pull the fuse on the abs then the light wont be on when its first fired up - when it tests the lamp not the system. Ie if you have an abs light and it doesnt come on with the ignition.

Thats a fail too, although they may not notice it. If you go for a retest on ABS light they probably will.

Tom.

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Nothing major there.

VAG-COM is the only way to know what's at fault with your ABS.

It's normally something as simple as a sensor, which can be replaced (DIY Job) fairly cheaply, depends if it's a front or rear sensor, you can get these from GSF (which as a premium member, your entitled to 10% discount of all parts).

If money is a problem, there will be loads of breakers that should be able to offer you a cheap replacement, or again GSF new, or look for some stainless ones.

All these jobs can easily be completed by anyone who can pick up a spanner in less than a day.

I wouldnt hand over £436 for something you can do yourself.

[VR6Pete 1,455]

I would never advise anyone to take out the fuse for the ABS system.

If there's a fault there, fix it! dont just cover it up for the next person to worry about.

ABS is there for a reason kids!

[Andy Mac 1]

How much can I expect to pay for a good SS cat back system.

[Paul1982 0]

from £250 - £500 depending on what you want. Make sure they use 2 and 3 quarter inch piping as the VR runs best on it.

By the way lads the ABS is not on the MOT test sheet - what is on there is fault finding (meaning - if there is any faults shown its failed) just like you dont have to have a spare tyre in the car but if you do and its warn then you'll fail. Lots of cars that have been in crashes in the past will have had there airbag light on all the time - 90% of traders just pull out the fuse and it passes the MOT. Its sad i no but traders will do anyting they can to make a quick buck. I should know as i know loads of them :-(

[Andy Mac 1]

Where is the best place to shop for a new cat back system?

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Stealth Racing, The Phirm, Awesome GTI Store are just a few...

have a look in the premium members discounts sections Macs VR6... im sure there must be something in there

[Andy Mac 1]

Right, just had a call from my garage and the code reader has said the sensor needs replacing as it is broken. They have quoted £68.33 for a new sensor, does that sound right? So the quote to do the lot is £436 inc VAT for parts and labour. Work to be done is:

New centre Box

New Rear Box

New ABS Sensor

New Number Plate

Still seems very expensive to me?

[Paul1982 0]

I believe in Powerful/Longlife/Pro-Speed exhausts as they are all custom fitted and individual to your taste. I believe they work out cheap in most cases.

Also - the VR6 rear silencer (before backbox) is massive - i recommend having a straight through pipe as it creates better flow and correct back pressure. This will save you weight 2 :-)

My Exhaust system:

Raceland 6 branch manifold (£150 - Ebay awesome deal)

Sport Cat (full racing spec - £260)

Full Stainless 2 and 3 quarter inch system (manifold back) with twin DTM rear and no silencers - £450)

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Right' date=' just had a call from my garage and the code reader has said the sensor needs replacing as it is broken. They have quoted £68.33 for a new sensor, does that sound right? So the quote to do the lot is £436 inc VAT for parts and labour. Work to be done is:

New centre Box

New Rear Box

New ABS Sensor

New Number Plate

Still seems very expensive to me?

[/quote']

Look on GSF site... I cant remember if it's the front or rear sensor that's the cheapest to replace off hand...

Yes, thats still expensive IMO... why do you need a new number plate if the bulb had gone?

[Andy Mac 1]

Thats what I meant, I dont need a new number plate!! The other dilema I have that if the garage do the work, the re-test will be free.

[mike 6]

gutting, good exuse to upgrade your exhaust tho

[Mr_GTI 0]

As long as you take the car back for a re test with in 10 days you should only have to pay a partial fee if any at all. Mine failed on saturday on a couple of brake lines, I took it home, fixed them and the garage are re testing for free tomorrow. Pays to pick a garage who are fair and won't try and rip you off.

I think my front ABS sensors on my old MK3 were about £15 from GSF can't see the back ones being that much more????

Also check the rotors as I had a stone in one of mine which bought up a sensor fault

[jims13 6]

hi mac, if youre near colchester, pop over to me or i can come to you and we can stick it on vag com and see whats what, ill even clear the fault codes for you.

jim

pm me if it easier

[jims13 6]

btw, its the rear sensors thatg are the expensive ones, i need both sides, but i just periodaclly clear the faults and all well for a good few weeks normally

[IbiVR 0]

By the way lads the ABS is not on the MOT test sheet - what is on there is fault finding (meaning - if there is any faults shown its failed) just like you dont have to have a spare tyre in the car but if you do and its warn then you'll fail. Lots of cars that have been in crashes in the past will have had there airbag light on all the time - 90% of traders just pull out the fuse and it passes the MOT. Its sad i no but traders will do anyting they can to make a quick buck. I should know as i know loads of them :-(

ABS is tested.

Testers Manual - Section 3, brakes - Subsection 4, abs - test point 1, warning lamp.

Reason for rejection c: ""the lamp does not follow the correct sequence of operation"

On a mk3:

light on with ignition and off within 5 secs = pass

anythign else = fail.

Tom.

[nivag27 5]

If the rear abs sensor is the same as a gti I can get them for £29 from a specialist in hatfield. But I cant wait for my exhaust to go then its stainless for me.

[Jk* 0]

See if you can pick up a cheap exhaust system off the bay, the ABS sensor i think is about £15 iirc and the number plate light is pence.

[Paul1982 0]

Just had a look on flebay and there are some nice exhaust systems on there for reasonalbe money. But the OEM vr6 exhaust is 2 and a half inch bore and the 16v one is 2 or 2 and a quarter. People dont think about this and install them all the time not knowing that they are taking power away and not adding it. When i bought my car the previous owner was so chuffed with the bubble of the exhaust it was his big selling point. When i told him it was a GTi system on there he was gutted lol

[Andy Mac 1]

Thanks for all the help guys. The problem I have is that the tax runs out at the end of the month and I cant get it taxed until it has passed the MOT. So I am going to just bite the bullet and pay the cash. I havent got the time to look for cheaper part on the web and then for them. This is a blow for me and really gutted. I have also had the air con compressor replaced this year.I hope this is just a blip in the cars life. If I had more time I would spend time looking for a nice SS one. Just gonna have to wait a couple mpre months now.

The rear sensor is the expensive one, just my luck. I changes the pads last may and the ABS light have been on ever since so should have got that sorted ages ago. Lesson learnt!!!

[purple highline monster 0]

you can get a Jetex stainless system for around £250 direct from them, and you can pick up a abs sensor for about £30 from GSF or Euro car parts, so when you add the labour that price dont sound too bad really, if it gets the car through another years mot and you can afford it? then get it done

[vr6madmike 0]

Eurocarparts sold me a rear abs sensor for a tenner! Cant you get the hanger re welded to the centre box then just get a rear box from gsf?

[Andy Mac 1]

Eurocarparts sold me a rear abs sensor for a tenner! Cant you get the hanger re welded to the centre box then just get a rear box from gsf?

I did think about that and I wouldn't save that mush cash TBH. I am just going to get the job done properly. I want to get the car running as it should ans replace any parts that need to be. The I can start on some subtle mods. I just want to get it through the MOT and have my beloved back