30 replies to this topic

[Mat]

Morning everyone, I've recently bought an electric fan for my Mayfair. I don't plan on fitting a thermostat, I'd much rather be able to flick it on and off when I want to. Question is , can I get rid of the brake fluid level switch to put a switch for the fan in the dash, or is this needed for the MOT? It's a pretty pointless switch as far as I'm concerned, but as it's originally fitted does it need to stay? Thanks in advance, Mat

[L400RAS]

A warning light for low fluid needs to stay for MOT, and the switch just tests the bulb. If you can find another way to do this, then you could fit a fan switch in this location.

[pusb]

Does make me wonder how mine had a full mot when I bought it and the switch wasn't even wired up!

[The Matt]

Does make me wonder how mine had a full mot when I bought it and the switch wasn't even wired up!

Because it wasn't tested correctly.

[Mat]

It'll have to wait till I make my new dash then! Thank you!

[Minigirl]

Does make me wonder how mine had a full mot when I bought it and the switch wasn't even wired up!

 

Same… makes me wonder where some people take there cars… Our switch doesn't work, Car hardly ran, Fueling was WAY too rich (Off the scale on the Gunson!!!) Tyre edge was worn right down, headlights set too high yet was sold with full years MOT!….

[Tupers]

I replaced that switch with one for an electric fan on one of my Minis a couple months ago and it passed it's MOT no problem. 

 

 

 

Go and ask your tester. 

Edited by Tupers, 16 August 2014 - 10:29 AM.

[Tamworthbay]

Does make me wonder how mine had a full mot when I bought it and the switch wasn't even wired up!

 
Same… makes me wonder where some people take there cars… Our switch doesn't work, Car hardly ran, Fueling was WAY too rich (Off the scale on the Gunson!!!) Tyre edge was worn right down, headlights set too high yet was sold with full years MOT!….

it works like this - bloke in pub 'I need an mot', other bloke 'no probs £50 mate'. They are clamping down a lot but the there are still some dodgy people out there. That's assuming that it isn't a forgery but that's much harder with the database system they have been using for a few years.

[surfblue]

I have never seen an mot tester even look near this switch

[CityEPete]

I have never seen an mot tester even look near this switch

I am on Mini number 5, they have never pressed it and it is totally pointless anyway. The spade is broken off the resevoir cap on mine yet the lamp still works as normal, I presume the float switch is wired as normally open which is a design fail rather than an MOT fail IMO, Lol

[IainNeon91]

My brake fluid switch hasn't ever been wired up since owning my mini... Over 3 years now...

[Ethel]

I couldn't say if it's tested, though I think it would be covered by the same amendment that brought airbag lights into the test. Even so, it was a regulatory requirement so it'd be better if it was still there should your car ever be looked at, maybe after an accident where brake failure was a possible cause.

If you ran you auxiliary fan off the test switch, via a latching relay, it wouldn't be an issue - or you cloud replace it with a handbrake switch and separate warning light, like on other cars.

[CityEPete]

Why not just fit the thermostat anyway?

[KernowCooper]

You know a car run in the UK without a thermostat takes longer to warm  up and may not reach optimum running temperature? and if its not running hot enough this can lead to increased engine wear and poor mpg. I'd just run a thermostat

[Ethel]

I'm guessing the OP meant thermic switch, as he's after controlling a fan.