Just failed the MOT on rust near a seatbelt mount, but he said it's right underneath the seat. How far away from the mount does it have to be? And does it have to be a hole? Cheeers :-)

Within 12" of a seatbelt mounting point, and it does'nt have to be a gapping hole, if the tester's hammer/spike will penetrate then it's considered sufficiently corroded and an instant fail, it also is the same for suspension mounting points (within 12")

Thank you very much. This may seem a ridiculous theory.. but.. you know mot testers aren't allowed to remove anything? What would happen if I silicon'd a small square of aluminium over the top then painted over it?! That way they wouldn't be able to penetrate it, and you wouldn't be able to see corrosion! Thanks again

Thank you very much. This may seem a ridiculous theory.. but.. you know mot testers aren't allowed to remove anything? What would happen if I silicon'd a small square of aluminium over the top then painted over it?! That way they wouldn't be able to penetrate it, and you wouldn't be able to see corrosion! Thanks again

You might get away with it! but don't you think the tester would be wise to such a gash bodge!! That part of the test is there for a reason! in the event of an accident the structural integrity and safety of the seat belt mounting could be comprimised and you end up going through the windscreen or your chest caved in against the steering wheel, is your life worth that risk?? when a proper repair would only cost around £50

for what it's worth you might as well get it fixed properly, it's only going to get worse and if it's bad enough to fail an mot now just think how bad it will be come the next mot. besides you've got to drive this car and carry people in it

agree that you should get it repaired properly,for safety more than anything else as it isnt going to go away

testers are quite cute to bodged metal work,they tap the area around the suspect area as well and listen for a change in tone

same way they find filler where it shouldnt be

Edited 16 December, 201015 yr by gaz2000