[Mk2] [NA] Failed MOT, help needed within 3 days!!!

[princess_slc22]

Ok so my car just had its mot about 10mins ago and it failed, nothing major, i need a new tyre which i was expecting (however my tyres arent the cheapest and i'm bummed for money at the moment)

Anyway was just wondering if anyone can help as i'm not the cleverest at these things.

Failures:
Nearside brake light not working..... assuming that its the bulb but is there anything else it could be coz all the bulbs were new and put in at the same time when my lights were

Headlamp aim too low..... this has never come up in previous mot's and hasnt been adjusted since so i dunno but don't know how to fix it

Nearside front brake binding..... not a friggin clue what that means

As i am broke at the moment and have 3 more days off work i need to try and fix some of this myself, hopefully i can get a tyre ordered before the end of the week but the rest, any ideas??

Passed its emmisions anyway

I'm clueless i know.

Cheers!

[matt_mr2t]

I cant imagine it'll be anything other than your bulb for the brake light. You can usually tell by taking it out and looking at the filament to see if the metal is broken.

Head light is pretty easy to do yourself. Which side is it?
There are IIRC 2 screws beside the light unit, pop them up and take a look. By screwing the screws in and out it angles the light left/rightup/down.

The Passenger side should point strait forward the drivers side needs to be angled towards the passenger side a bit.

The trick is to pull up to a wall/garage door or something, shine your lights onto it and adjust them. If it's only your height thats out, adjust until the beam is the same height as the one thats not out.

As for the brake problem, sorry not up on brakes so I'll let some one else answer that.

For a tyre - try www.camskill.co.uk - I just got two 225/35/18 Falken FK452's for £76 each.

[GhostWKD]

I cant imagine it'll be anything other than your bulb for the brake light. You can usually tell by taking it out and looking at the filament to see if the metal is broken.

Head light is pretty easy to do yourself. Which side is it?
There are IIRC 2 screws beside the light unit, pop them up and take a look. By screwing the screws in and out it angles the light left/rightup/down.

The Passenger side should point strait forward the drivers side needs to be angled towards the passenger side a bit.

The trick is to pull up to a wall/garage door or something, shine your lights onto it and adjust them. If it's only your height thats out, adjust until the beam is the same height as the one thats not out.

As for the brake problem, sorry not up on brakes so I'll let some one else answer that.

For a tyre - try www.camskill.co.uk - I just got two 225/35/18 Falken FK452's for £76 each.

Headlight adjustment wise, there is one adjustment screw on the side and one on the bottom of the headlight, both can be got to with the headlight surrounds fully in place bottom one is to adjust height, side is to adjust width - Usually a good MOT garage will sort this for you whilst doing the MOT for free.

Brakes binding is a common thing with the mr2's unfortunately, its where when you let of the brake it doesnt actually move the pad away from the disc and instead sits there creating resistance sometimes unbolting the caliper and feeding it in/out can free it up, other than that its a rebuild of the caliper or a new one unfortunately

[toxo]

Nearside brake light not working..... assuming that its the bulb but is there anything else it could be coz all the bulbs were new and put in at the same time when my lights were

I cant imagine it'll be anything other than your bulb for the brake light. You can usually tell by taking it out and looking at the filament to see if the metal is broken.

Matt's right, if your other brake light works then it's very unlikely to be the wiring and it can't be a fuse. Check the filament in the bulb is still there!

Nearside front brake binding..... not a friggin clue what that means

That means that your passenger side front brake is stuck on, or not releasing as it should when you lift off the pedal. Probably just needs the sliders regreasing as they do tend to seize from time to time. Bear in mind that if it's been doing this for a while it can mash the pads, although if they were too bu88ered it would have been an advisory in the MOT. Check out http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60503

[SimonPearse]

Brake lights:it's unlikely to be anything other than the bulb, but have you changed the light assemblies? if so it could be a dodgy connection at the loom, but I'd try a new bulb first.

Headlight aim: most MOT places will adjust this for you for a minimal charge, which may be the easiest solution.

Brake binding: this will need the caliper removing, the slider pins cleaning up, regreasing and reassemble. If you cant do it yourself it is worth considering getting a new recon caliper forom Brakes international (who are not far from you). If the caliper i cleaned up it will probably not be a long-lasting repair, and the labour charge will be similar. from memory a recon calliper is something like £75, and fitting will be about an hour.
If you are going to do it yourself be carefull! It's not really a first time mechanics job, best to get someone who knows what they are doing to assist!

[princess_slc22]

Its camskill that i'm ordering it from they're the cheapest i've seen
Yokohama Parada spec 2 215/35/18 = £95
As opposed to £120, £135...

And apparently both headlights are too low which seems a bit odd but i can have a crack at that tonight when it gets a bit darker, he didnt say how much they needed adjusting though.

Thanks matt!

[matt_mr2t]

Pull up about 2 - 3 feet from the wall and adjust them so they're no higher than waist height.

[princess_slc22]

It's not really a first time mechanics job, best to get someone who knows what they are doing to assist!

Right you are there, lol!
Apparently theres a caliper in stock at the Bolton branch so i'm gonna pop down to pick it up later, if its worth buying a new one? Gonna have to paint it to match the others though
Thanks for that simon!
And i'll get them to sort the headlights out when they do a retest, cheers guys
Now, finding a replacement bulb

[toxo]

From memory it's a 380 bulb, but it depends what work you've had done to your rear lights I guess. Just take the broken one out and take it with you

[matt_mr2t]

It wont be a Toyota specific bulb so any motorspares place should carry what ever you have in stock.

[SimonPearse]

have you changed the wheels/yres since the last MOT- perhaps you have the wrong rolling radius on front/rear causing the headlight aim to be wrong?

[princess_slc22]

they are just lexus style lights, used the bulbs that came with i think. is that a halfords job?
so far i have located a tyre that i can pick up tomorrow, a caliper i can pick up tomorrow and a place that will fit them on saturday/sunday. Result as i have no days off next week then i can get a free re-test and get them to sort my headlights out and get his pass certificate

[princess_slc22]

have you changed the wheels/yres since the last MOT- perhaps you have the wrong rolling radius on front/rear causing the headlight aim to be wrong?

The tyres havent been changed since 2005 when they were fitted. Still got good tread on. The nearside front one has to be replaced anyway coz there is a chunk of it missing lol but headlight thing isnt too much of a problem so im not too worried just glad its gonna get sorted this week.

Thankyou so much guys for your help and speedy response
You don't know how much a hopeless amateur like me appreciates it lol

[toxo]

Good luck Doesn't sound like anything insurmountable.

[marc GT Turbo]

its all good fun sarah this mot lark

[HighwayStar]

Hope Shinobi feels better soon Princess.
My MOT a week today, wish me luck... I've not got it back from the bodyshop yet & still have to change over all the suspension yet (got new TRD topmounts, yellow billies and Tein S tech springs in my garage waiting along with new droplinks... Yeh!).

R.

[princess_slc22]

wooooo suspension dont get me started.
you've changed your username havent you, you were called rob before....?
shinobi will feel fantasic when he gets a new tyre & caliper, and his calipers painted blue
im trying to make my car look a little better for the jap north show next week, i dont want to embarrass myself when there's gonna be loads of gorgeous and highly modded cars there
much work to be done

Good luck with your mot

[HighwayStar]

Thank you Princess.
When our cars are both spic and span again and I'm anywhere 'oop' North we'll have to sort that threatened photoshoot...
I'm still called Rob (lol) but wanted a more... eloquent, username. Considering my favourite band it was either Highway Star or Speed King and Highway Star IS the greatest driving tune...

R.

[matt_mr2t]

I'm dreading my MOT, it ran out on the 27th, so far had 2 new tyres, waiting on brake pads and worried about the suspension.

Damn car drives fine, never breaks but always fails the MOT

[Morth666]

Just failed mine on 13 things Not trying to hijack the thread but what is a position lamp?