19 replies to this topic

[miniaddict92]

Hello a question about seats and MOT rules . i haven't got a locking system on my new seats and so if i were to crash the seats would tilt forward with out restraint now i am thinking of fabricating some thing like these
http://www.ebay.co.u...=item460877532b
to lock the seat down manually as i dont want to spend a fortune on new subframes for them. what are the rules regards to MOT and seat restraint ? and would it pass with these working ?

cheers in advance

[charie t]

original is a steel fixing, a rubber bung isn't secure

Edited by charie t, 17 November 2012 - 09:28 PM.

[miniaddict92]

yer i know the original fittings were steel. does the MOT state how the seat has to be locked down and would it fail?

[miniaddict92]

new frames will come to 70-80 quid posted and need the railing to lock to aswell and i havent got much money left to spend on the mini because as usual its already eaten all my money up already and going on holiday etc and mot is at the start of next year so just need some temp fix and then will get some proper stuff fitted when she comes off the road next year for some maintenance. unlesss anyone had any other ideas?

[charie t]

http://www.dft.gov.u...lsandguides.htm

[miniaddict92]

http://www.dft.gov.u...lsandguides.htm

ive already seen something like this and thanks for the link to VOSA'S manuals and i think its literally is going to be to the discretion of the tester and if he were to view it to have significantly reduced. which as far as i can see as long as its locked and secure, the locking system isn't scrutinized as how it works as long as it does.

[Relatively Normal]

Hi,

I assist with MOT testing and as far as i know the seat has to be secure to the floor (it doesnt say how it has to be secure, just secure) BUT as of earlier this year if the car seat was designed to have sliding fore and arft movement then it MUST work.

I guess by fitting these rubber straps it would stop the forward and backward movement of the seat??

Regards

[tommy13]

The testers manual says,
Check that the backrests of all seats (front and rear) can be secured in their normal upright position.
I understand this to refer to seats which have a tilting or reclining mechanism usually released by a handle or lever and refers to the seat back only, not the base. Minis up to Mk3 and many other 2 door cars of the era all had seats which tilted forward but did not lock, to allow access th the back. The manual had a note saying that " original design characteristics should be accepted"
The tester may consider that the security of the seat may be a fail if the lock down mechanism is missing or inadequate.
The security of the driver’s or any passenger’s seat is significantly reduced.
Frankly, considering the fact that BMC thought the original Mini seats were secure enough without a lock down mechanism, then I would pass your seats with a possible advisory. In my opinion the wording in the manual is open to misinterpretation and needs to be studied carefully. At the end of the day it's going to be down to how your tester sees it. Best plan as always is to nip round to your test station before the test and ask what they think.

[Relatively Normal]

Hi,

Like Tommy said but I'd go to more than one test station, go to a couple of test stations before the test just to get an average opinion

[bmcecosse]

Just bolt them down - safest way.

[miniaddict92]

Hi,

I assist with MOT testing and as far as i know the seat has to be secure to the floor (it doesnt say how it has to be secure, just secure) BUT as of earlier this year if the car seat was designed to have sliding fore and arft movement then it MUST work.

I guess by fitting these rubber straps it would stop the forward and backward movement of the seat??

Regards

it has runners so seats slide forward and back just the debate on fixing them in place when driving so as i say if i were to crash fingers crossed not the seat stays static and does not follow momentum forward and cause me injury. and then simply unclip to let people in back aand clip down again to drive.

The testers manual says,
Check that the backrests of all seats (front and rear) can be secured in their normal upright position.
I understand this to refer to seats which have a tilting or reclining mechanism usually released by a handle or lever and refers to the seat back only, not the base. Minis up to Mk3 and many other 2 door cars of the era all had seats which tilted forward but did not lock, to allow access th the back. The manual had a note saying that " original design characteristics should be accepted"
The tester may consider that the security of the seat may be a fail if the lock down mechanism is missing or inadequate.
The security of the driver’s or any passenger’s seat is significantly reduced.
Frankly, considering the fact that BMC thought the original Mini seats were secure enough without a lock down mechanism, then I would pass your seats with a possible advisory. In my opinion the wording in the manual is open to misinterpretation and needs to be studied carefully. At the end of the day it's going to be down to how your tester sees it. Best plan as always is to nip round to your test station before the test and ask what they think.

Right the seats i have are cobra low slung buckets so are not original to the car and have runners fitted to slide back and forth but the guy before me removed the rails which original seats would have used to fit his stupid fixed bucket seats. so they are in and fixed in place at the front to the cross member but are free to tilt forward and back without restraint. i have read the MOT manual thing on their webby like you quoted and i agree that it is open to misinterpretation and could come down to the tester. think its worth checking with mot station as many people suggest it

[Ethel]

How old is your car, it only became a requirement from '76 I think. Interpretation can be eclectic, I once got pulled for not having a couple of tiny self tappers fitted that secured the seat squab to the frame and I know Landrovers that have similarly being knocked back over the press studs holding the seat cushions - fastening the studs met the test standards. A trip to your local scrappers will likely offer up a solution.

[ANON]

£5.00 rubber straps + crash = smashed in face, teeth knocked out, jaw wired etc...

£80.00 secure subframes + crash = bit of a saw shoulder from the seatbelt.

i know what one i'd go for

[miniaddict92]

£5.00 rubber straps + crash = smashed in face, teeth knocked out, jaw wired etc...

£80.00 secure subframes + crash = bit of a saw shoulder from the seatbelt.

i know what one i'd go for

well seats are in and strapped for cash as im not on a great wage and luckily going on holiday in a month and got no spending money because of the moneypit need to save so short term i need something as currently there is nothing stopping them. and yes its my safety and im not an idiot so if it doesnt do the job and doesnt meet the security i want then i will have to put it on the card or beg for money and worry later . this isnt a long term fix just short term till march and i have some spare dosh or april when MOT is due and it would at least pass till can be replaced when i take her off the road for 2 weeks to do a good strip and clean down of the whole car

[Ethel]

What bits of the hold down catches do you still have? LDV vans have similar hooks with the loop bit for the hook on little bolt on brackets.