Some kind soul has evidently bumped my car in a car park or when it has been parked somewhere and, as a result, the boot lock has gone wrong and can no longer be opened or closed. I have had a look at the MOT website and it is a little unclear - doors have to be checked for opening and closing, but is the boot on a hatchback considered to be a door? If it is, I am snookered!
There is no other significant damage to the car, but I imagine that I would be charged megabucks to put the boot right and the car is only worth about £12 - 1500, so I'm not to keen to spend on that. The engine is sweet and I have only recently had a new exhaust and clutch, so I am not overly keen to get rid of the car.
Can anyone advise me on this one? Any ideas of what to do if it would fail?
|
|
Hatch is considered a fifth door.but as yet I have not had it looked at.so I doubt it is part of MOT.have you tried adjusting the lock to get it to lign up or close.ps on a lot of 214`s the boot has to be pushed shut from the centre of boot lid otherwise it will refuse to close.come across this many a time usually after a small bump.caused by twisted hatch but once closed all ok.
|
I think you'd be OK so long as there are no sharp sticky-out bits as a result of the shunt.
|
|
|
|
Hi Chaps,
A work colleague has MK3 escort estate and the rear offside passenger door has been missing a outside handle for the last 2 years or so and can't be opened from the outside but has just passed a second MOT in said condition, this may help with your problem.
Pastyman..
|
I can confirm the boot lid is not checked on the MOT
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Reply |
Report as offensive
| Link
|
Thanks a lot for all the advice. Looks like I'm safe! I am completely confident that the car will pass other than that slight concern.
|
|
MV,sorry to upset you over the matter of your tailgate/bootlid,but any mot tester worth his salt should refuse to test your car because he is unable to gain access to inspect areas within the boot, ie: structual parts,rear suspension top mounts etc,it does state this in the testers manual at the beginning when you first do your initial checks of the vehicle etc.I know this to my own costs because i was penalised for the very same thing by the VI on a recent MOT appeal !!
|
Arrgghh! Do you reckon I could persuade him to look in by letting the back seats down? I have nothing to hide here, as there is not a spot of rust on the car and it is structurally fine. The bump must have been extremely minor and the lock is marginally out of alignment. It used to open and close, but then the striker on the lock failed (probably due to the misalignment) and so now if you open it the only way to close it is to mess around inside and flick the lock closed with a screwdriver.
Can anyone with expertise in the area give an idea of how much it might be to put it right? There is no external structural damage and you would never know unless you wanted to open the boot.
Thanks for all the input so far.
|
|
it may not have been a knock sometimes slamming them shut can cause it.should think you would be able to get one from scrap yard.
|
It is definitely a knock. The back bumper is also slightly bent up where the impact must have taken place. I have already replaced the lock with one from a scrap yard once, but now the striker on that one has failed too. It is very slightly out of alignment, but I do not have the necessary skills to put it right.
Thanks.
|
|
It wont be slightly if it cannot be adjusted.would suggest finding someone that is able to straighten panel.no other way out as far as I can see.plus as panel is out of line tailgate possibly is not sealing correctly so exhaust fumes may enter car.you may be lucky enough for that not to happen.
|
I think that it is sealing OK, as it has been like this for about 10 months and I have suffered no ill effects. There are no water leaks or anything like that either. I'm not sure that it can't be adjusted, just that I haven't got the skill to adjust it! I think I'll have to take it to my usual garage and explain to him and see what he reckons.
Thanks for all of your help.
|
|
If you look at the striker bar it has two screws that secure it in possition.undo them and move the striker according to direction needed to make it lock.from what you said pull it back toward you slightly untill either the lock works without a prob or reaches its max adjustment.if it reaches max adj and still wont lock panel will need straightning.you wont know untill you try it.worth a go I think.
|
|
