General Panda 4x4 MOT test

[Herts Hillhopper]

Quick question:
Does anyone know if the 4x4 Panda presents any problem at MoT test stations, thinking in particular about the brake tests on the rolling road. Can 'ordinary' test centres test the Panda 4x4 or only those that specifically mention 4x4 vehicles?

Pete

 

[Sammyboy]

Of course they can. They test 4x4's the same way as standard FWD cars.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Not so sure... a roller brake test rig that drives one axle only can potentially damage the viscoous coupling in the 4x4 system. There's talk of special tests for 4x4 vehicles with a viscous coupling needing a special test (see here: http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_370.htm) carried out on a road, not in the test centre, and using a decelerometer unit (Tapley tester). Wondered if anyone's had to have this done? Not many 4x4 Panda's in the UK will have needed an MOT yet - mine (reg March 05) may well be the first!
P

 

[Sammyboy]

I worked for a garage in Cannock and this is how they tested them.

 

[doctorchris]

Interesting, that MOT link, as I have a Panda 4x4.
In addition My previous 2 cars had rear LSDs and I'm sure they still had their brakes tested on rollers.
Keep us informed as to what the MOT station say when you take the car in.

 

[D4nny8oy]

As with all 4x4's an MOT tester would drive down a quiet road with a decelerometer in the footwell and stamp hard on the brakes to test their efficiency.

Panda's have a viscous centre diff, and running them in standard rollers will wreck it.

Fiat state that if towing a Panda 4x4 you must have all 4 wheels on a flat-bed. You cannot under any circumstances tow with either the front or rear wheels off the ground on their own.

 

[johne]

Agree with the above, when I had an Alfa 33 permanent 4 I had no problems at my local MoT place, meter in the footwell and off down to the nearest quiet lane

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Correct, D4nny8oy - it was the specific mention of not towing with wheels on the ground that made me look into what needed to be done for an MoT test. Its going in on Friday, so I'll let you know how they do it. Watch this space...

As if the car knows its going to be tested, it picked up a big stone ship on the windscreen right in front of driver's eyes this morning (well known glass repair company repairing or replacing tomorrow), and last week the front fog was broken by something. Replaced that thanks to online Fiat parts company shop4parts.co.uk (who were very good, and half the main dealer's price)
Pete

 

[Omad]

I watched one being tested just earlier this week, and it had to have a tapley meter test due to it being permanent 4x4. and in answer to your question i dont believe it makes a difference what mot testing station you go to, im led to believe that all testing stations have a tapley meter just incase the rolling road goes down or like in your case a permanent 4x4 comes in.

for all the garages i have worked in, they have all had a tapley meter aswell as standard rolling road.

Hope this helps

 

[Toomanytoys]

An LSD in the rear of a car is different to a VC in the panda 4x4 system... and other 4wd cars did not have a VC for transmitting power to the rear/front...

In France my VW Transporter Syncro Double cab (has a VC to transmit drive to the front) Each axle was tested on the rollers, but the rollers were "decoupled" and so meant that 1 roller went the other way, basically the diff was doing its job and the vc was not "engaged".. of course if there is an LSD in the one of the axles then that cant be done either and a decelerometer test would have to be performed...

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

So, I can now report back: Good news is that the brakes were tested with Tapley unit (and passed). Not so good news is car failed owing to 'excess play in anti roll bar linkage ball joints', both sides. So, new drop links to follow and re-test Tuesday. (Seems to be a built-in weakness in many modern cars. The 'old' method of simply bolting the AR bar to the suspension had a lot going for it!. My Multipla is on third set of drop links. I blame speed bumps, and the poor state of Herts roads, personally)

 

[100hpJames]

poor state of roads all over I reckon

 

[doctorchris]

Did you get your test done in the month before it was due, so that it was still under warranty? If so, did the dealer warranty cover the failed ball joints?
How many miles has your car done? I would have been disappointed at these parts failing if the mileage was average. However, gives me something to look out for at my MOT in July.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Sorry guys - been too busy to reply until now!
Owing to being ill in the couple of weeks before test due, wasn't able to get done within three years of being new. Also, as second owner and not having paid Fiat to transfer warranty, not covered unfortunately. Silly, maybe? Always unclear anyway as to what that covers - says it excludes parts that display wear and tear that reflects the mileage (33,000 ish). But all fixed now, passed MoT and good for another year. Had my friendly (and inexpensive) mechanic fit the rear brake pads too. I bought from shop4parts but didn't have wind-back tool to do it.