11 replies to this topic

[Ste84]

Hi all,

My mini faild on it's MOT for the sills rotton (as well as many other things). I've done all the other stuff that needed doing and left the welding to a welder. Two brand new sills and all the holes and wheel arches patched later I thought it's be fine getting through the re-test. Oh no how wrong could I be -

The MOT place said - "Sills had to be seam welded all the way along not spot welded - fail"

Welder man said - "The MOT bloke doesn't know what he's talking about, a brand new panel can be spot welded on as long as it's a complete panel and not just a patch. It's also better to spot weld it than to seam weld it." He also added "Here's a list of MOT companies who I weld for, any of these will agree with me and pass it"

So I said I'd check it out with someother MOT companies first.

Anyone know who's right and who's wrong?

Cheers Ste,

ps - Welder man did say that I could bring it back and he'd take them off and seam weld them for nowt if I wanted.

[chairchild]

The welder is correct - and your MOT man is an arse.

[Guess-Works.com]

Depends what sill he used... If it's a geninue sill ( ie as fitted in the factory ) then it can be spot welded, if it's an oversill or wide sill then YES it needs to be seem welded as it is a non original fitment panel...

[vasi]

My rule of thumb is, if in doubt, seam weld throughout.

Irrespective of factory spec, genuine panels and strength issues. I would personally not consider spot welding any groundside panel as gaps in paneling are tinworms favourite meal.

[camp freddy]

as guess works said

[pinch]

guessworks is 100% right......

[fikus01]

im with GW! 100% correct!

[Woody]

Where there is a factory join you can use the same method to fit a panel at that point/seam
where there was no factory join you have to seam weld
so , the sill can be spot welded along the doorstep/rear 1/4 and spot welded along the bottom edge as well as long as it is the factory type narrow sill
where a larger type sill is used the lower seam must be seam welded
so as GW said

BUT i would love to know who it was that started the blatent lie about it is illigal to weld a subframe .
'because if that was the case all new subframes from the factory would be illigal !

[minimanclive]

I've heard that the MOT tester wouldn't be too happy if a rotten rear subframe had been repaired with the plates you can get to weld on the bottom.

[minidaves]

spot welding is some applications is stronger than seam welding, the mot rules i dont agree with in full but it a rule book they work too because the front part of the sill can be missing for a mot, alone with the botom part of the rear qtr panel where it meets the sills can be rotten and that aint a failure either.

other non failable item is play within steering rack,

dave

[Guess-Works.com]

You've lost me there Dave.... ( not on the welding, but on the fail points )

[Ste84]

Hi,

Thanks for everyones reply. I've spoke to a few different MOT places and got different answers - some are saying "no has to be seam..." others are saying "fine if it's a complete panel". So I'v got it booked in to one of the ones the welder recomended to me - at least this way I know it'll pass.
I'd be interested to know what the official VOSA legislation is though as i've had so many varying views.

Ste