Failed MOT

[Rory101]

So took our 54 reg 1.2S to the dealer for 4yr (40K) service and MOT.

Failed MOT on NS wishbone bush (why this one should be a fail, and the other one perfectly OK baffles me) and uneven rear brakes.

Both quickly fixed - a mere £200 that we hadn't expected.


Car has only done 33K is very lightly used. I emailed SEAT to ask how long the bushes should last and they said they only warrant bushes for 6mths or 6250 miles!! Can this be correct??

Uneven brakes was annoying too - needed nothing more than cleaning, surely should be part of service if it's needed to get through MOT?

 

[Altech]

The standard voided wishbone bushes are a rubbish design as they crack and split easily. I've replaced mine with the Cupra version, which are solid rubber and won't crack

 

[Aimez]

mine are okay on its second MOT I was totally paranoid it would fail on them?

 

[andycupra]

id never let a dealer do an MOT.

I always go to test only places. (ie no repairs)

 

[ettlz]

I emailed SEAT to ask how long the bushes should last and they said they only warrant bushes for 6mths or 6250 miles!! Can this be correct??

It would seem a rather "odd" (and costly!) engineering decision to knowingly use a part rated to last 6 months in a car that's warrantied for three years.

 

[Rory101]

id never let a dealer do an MOT.

I always go to test only places. (ie no repairs)

You're right - I knew that but I let my guard drop as they do MOT free as part of the service package.

Of course it's just a way of finding a couple of quick little jobs and adding a couple of hundred pounds to the bill, which is exactly what they did. I won't be making that mistake again.

 

[Rory101]

It would seem a rather "odd" (and costly!) engineering decision to knowingly use a part rated to last 6 months in a car that's warrantied for three years.

I thought it was odd too - they said (cut and paste from their email):

"Rubber bush components are covered under warranty as a wear and tear item. The period of cover for the rubber bush component are, a claim can be made in the first six months or 6,250 miles which ever were to occur first."

I've emailed them back and asked them to clarify, but that seems to be saying that the 3 yrs warranty doesn't apply to bushes.

 

[sydoggkdy]

mines is 54 plate with 14000 miles on it and i needed my NS bush replaced aswell for my MOT lst month! ur lucky u gt twice the millage out of yours LOL

simon

 

[Aimez]

what im on 36 on my second MOT seems ridiculous some people have to replace them that early. 54 plate only 14k wow!

 

[ettlz]

I thought it was odd too - they said (cut and paste from their email):

"Rubber bush components are covered under warranty as a wear and tear item. The period of cover for the rubber bush component are, a claim can be made in the first six months or 6,250 miles which ever were to occur first."

I've emailed them back and asked them to clarify, but that seems to be saying that the 3 yrs warranty doesn't apply to bushes.

I guess the six months applies to parts replaced outside the usual manufacturer's warranty period.

Still, doesn't inspire much confidence in the component in the first place, does it!

mines is 54 plate with 14000 miles on it and i needed my NS bush replaced aswell for my MOT lst month! ur lucky u gt twice the millage out of yours LOL

simon

Heh, 56 plate with just over 10k miles now. In for service next week with special attention to be paid to the rather chatty chassis.

I reckon some SEAT underwriter will look like this by the time all the rattles are eliminated! HAVE WARRANTY --- WILL TRAVEL

 

[Nath.]

what im on 36 on my second MOT seems ridiculous some people have to replace them that early. 54 plate only 14k wow!

Some people probably drive up/down dropped kerbs on full lock every day and drive over speed humps and pot holes all the time

 

[ettlz]

drive over speed humps and pot holes all the time

...i.e., the British Highway.

 

[Rory101]

Some people probably drive up/down dropped kerbs on full lock every day and drive over speed humps and pot holes all the time

Well, that's true, but certainly not in our case - the car couldn't have an easier life, pretty well all it does is a gentle main road run to work and back, and we have a dropped kerb.

Anyway, these cars are made in Spain - how do they get on there? Once you're off the main roads many of the others are little more than tracks!

 

[roccotune]

My car had its first MOT (40k) and got advisory for both front wishbone rear bushes.

The dealer replaced these under the extended warranty. The new bushes felt the same\no better that the old ones showing just how poor the design is! I fitted powerflex bush inserts and they are have really improved the feel of the car and i would imagine that the cupra ones are better again. I will fit these when i have a chance!

Its very poor of Seat as, for example, i have a 1984 Scirocco that has had a hard life and its on original VW bushes and its fine!

 

[CHR15B]

It doesen't surprise me to see your Ibiza failed with those.

The wishbone bushes, as said before on this thread are a nightmare and fail all the time - if they replaced them with the same ones I'm sorry to say they won't last long either. The bushes have voids in them as part of the design and are made of rubber in a plastic surround, the ones off the Cupra model are solid rubber in a metal casing... they are a direct fit and not expensive to buy. (When they fail again, get the Cupra ones).

The rear brakes I was going to say is due to the poor sticky calliper design, this isn't Seat's problem it's a VW problem - the rear brake callipers on the Mk4 Ibiza are the same ones used from early VW's (Mk2 Golfs etc) and are prone to sticking ... The reason I won't say this is your problem as you won't have rear callipers as I'm guessing it'll be drum brakes.

Just thought I'd point out the bush thing for your future reference, aparently it tightens up handling but I never noticed a difference.

 

[mixupz]

can someone clear up the powerflex wishbone bushes option?

 

[roccotune]

can someone clear up the powerflex wishbone bushes option?

Yep,


They are inserts that go into the voids of the current bush and stop it from moving so much. (look like little tables - flat top 4 legs)

They are easy ish to fit if you have a large g-clap available to push the retaining button into place.

there has been talk of them popping out but mine have been fine so far. Probably only any good if your void bushes are new as mine are.

 

[Rory101]

It doesen't surprise me to see your Ibiza failed with those.

The wishbone bushes, as said before on this thread are a nightmare and fail all the time - if they replaced them with the same ones I'm sorry to say they won't last long either. The bushes have voids in them as part of the design and are made of rubber in a plastic surround, the ones off the Cupra model are solid rubber in a metal casing... they are a direct fit and not expensive to buy. (When they fail again, get the Cupra ones).

Thanks for that - the Service Manager told me the bushes had been modified, although I'm not convinced that's correct, unless they did fit the Cupra one, which seems unlikely without asking me (and as they only fitted one).

The rear brakes I was going to say is due to the poor sticky calliper design, this isn't Seat's problem it's a VW problem - the rear brake callipers on the Mk4 Ibiza are the same ones used from early VW's (Mk2 Golfs etc) and are prone to sticking ... The reason I won't say this is your problem as you won't have rear callipers as I'm guessing it'll be drum brakes.

Just thought I'd point out the bush thing for your future reference, aparently it tightens up handling but I never noticed a difference.

It is drums, and I know they stick, 'cos they freed them off once before but did it as part of the service.

I was just miffed this time the car is on a dealer servicing and MOT package but they came across as a bit hard-faced - it was like "tough luck, we've got the car and we're going to screw £200 out of you". I'm more annoyed with myself for taking the service package, but it seemed a good deal as I never expected it to need anything other than routine servicing. Won't make that mistake again.

 

[mixupz]

Yep,


They are inserts that go into the voids of the current bush and stop it from moving so much. (look like little tables - flat top 4 legs)

They are easy ish to fit if you have a large g-clap available to push the retaining button into place.

there has been talk of them popping out but mine have been fine so far. Probably only any good if your void bushes are new as mine are.

after all this time someone has finally made me understand what they are!!!!!!!! thanks so there is no need to mechanically dismatle anything, just slide it into the voids of the current bush and fix in with some kind of cable tie?

 

[FR3000]

Seat seem to be good at the warranty tricks - I had mine for 7 months from new and at the first service I was told the rear discs were knackered due to uneven wear and scoring.

I was told they were only warranted for 6 months even though aftermarket bits come with at least 12 month and OEM parts usually 3 years. A quick rant to seat on the phone got it sorted.

Now it's out of warranty I get work done by a good local mechanic that I know quite well - had more than enough of Seat dealers giving me a load of bull and charging me big money for privilage.

Best bet is to push them continuously until you get a decent answer - it's a pain but it seems to be the only thing that will get them to take any action - wont work if you don't have any warranty to fall back on though.