Rust - how to check if it will be okay?

[jaxabin]

Hi, i saw the recent post about rusting and it made me wonder about mine, does anyone know what kind of rusting fails MOT?

I have some rusting near the real wheel arch, but in my MOT with this new garage there weren’t even advisory for it, but in the year before i  had

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
Fuel Pipe/s corroded

This year:

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

They said nothing to worry about with the advisories, should i be okay for next year without too much spending?

will post image of the rust that I can see tomorrow

[Lord Voltermore]

Here is the Government MOT testers manual  guidance on rust assessment

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/appendix-a-structural-integrity-and-corrosion

Many areas of the MOT are subjective.  ie its the testers personal opinion of what is acceptable .

Also MOT testers are subject to spot checks  by Vosa inspectors.   They will often record  things as an advisory to  'cover their backs ' . If there is ever a  dispute or enquiry  by Vosa  they  can claim they did a thorough inspection and did  indeed spot that area was not perfect but  was, in their opinion, acceptable at the time of testing.

[jaxabin]

Here is the Government MOT testers manual  guidance on rust assessment

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/appendix-a-structural-integrity-and-corrosion

Many areas of the MOT are subjective.  ie its the testers personal opinion of what is acceptable .

Also MOT testers are subject to spot checks  by Vosa inspectors.   They will often record  things as an advisory to  'cover their backs ' . If there is ever a  dispute or enquiry  by Vosa  they  can claim they did a thorough inspection and did  indeed spot that area was not perfect but  was, in their opinion, acceptable at the time of testing.

Thank you, that's useful. Bedtime reading for today

I'm attaching some pictures.

Also have a hum on the motorway, pretty loud. Looked at the underneath and didn't find anything loose or anything. ChatGPT said it could be uneven tyre wear? The other tyre is fairly new so does this one look uneven?

[bill888]

fwiw, your MoT advisories refers to rust on underside of the car.  How does it compare to this rusty example posted on reddit?
https://www.reddit.com/r/CarTalkUK/comments/12enyp3/2005_honda_jazz_failed_mot_due_to_rust_scrap_or/

humming on motorway might be worn wheel bearing, but this would have been picked up by MoT?

[jaxabin]

fwiw, your MoT advisories refers to rust on underside of the car.  How does it compare to this rusty example posted on reddit?
https://www.reddit.com/r/CarTalkUK/comments/12enyp3/2005_honda_jazz_failed_mot_due_to_rust_scrap_or/

humming on motorway might be worn wheel bearing, but this would have been picked up by MoT?

I think the underside looks better than that when I looked around, just some surface rust

Thinking the same about the bearing, I guess it’s ok and it’s a tyre, it’s quite an old tyre that one. Will have a proper check of the tyres and see

[Lord Voltermore]

Tyre wear looks quite even to me. Its not showing the classic signs  of uneven wear due to tracking misalignment   or suspension wear , or 'aggressive driving  (all most often on  front tyres)  or over inflated tyres (central section worn) , or under inflated  (edges worn)    I would be surprised if this tyre tread  is the primary cause of any humming. But cant comment on tyre condition as a whole.   

In my (inexpert) opinion I dont think that rust  is in a structural area so shouldnt fail the MOT .  But could fail  if it gets bad enough that sharp edges might injure passing pedestrians. (or passing  MOT testers ) But if so it could possibly repaired with some body filler .  But  best to accept that  a 2005 car, maybe  over 21 years old with signs of rusting  may not pass many more MOT's, if any. 

Looks like the bumper joint has been reinforced with Gaffer tape. I'm in favour of such practical measures but the MOT tester would need to be satisfied the bumper is securely attached with no   sharp edges.