Vaux Corsa fails MOT w brake issues - £600 ABS pump swap??

Vaux Corsa fails MOT w brake issues - £600 ABS pump swap??

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JBlogs

Original Poster:

96 posts

100 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Wife's Vauxhall Corsa SE with about 50,000 miles on the clock failed MOT with brake issues.

Fair enough, brake pads probably needed a change anyway. Now that's done - plus the discs on both sides, for a couple hundred quid.

Then on the road test, more brake problems - now it requires an ABS pump replacement, and will cost a nice round £600.

Seems legit?

More than a bit miffed at the way problems have been tumbling out of the MOT like clowns out of a clown car.

While the MOT centre are probably doing what needs doing, but can't help wondering if this is all legit as this is my first time at this particular shop



RobXjcoupe

3,351 posts

106 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Nothing stopping you going to a different mot/garage. Lots of variables regarding abs brake systems. Usually first sign is abs light lit on dash. That’s an mot fail

JBlogs

Original Poster:

96 posts

100 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Yeah, will probably need a second opinion for that kind of an estimate (but this will probably be classified as a 'Dangerous' failure reason, so I may not be able to drive the car away?)

So needing an ABS pump swap without having the ABS light go on in the display is odd?

Edited by JBlogs on Wednesday 1st December 18:34

Krikkit

27,440 posts

196 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
JBlogs said:
So needing an ABS pump swap without having the ABS light go on in the display is odd?
Very.

What are the symptoms? Did they even say?

JBlogs

Original Poster:

96 posts

100 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Very.

What are the symptoms? Did they even say?
Uneven braking on the left and right brakes, apparently.

The shop said pads on one side were shot, as was the disc, but apparently discs can only replaced as a pair, so replaced both.

When doing the road test, apparently the uneven braking continues, so they check again and apparently no brake fluid getting to one of the brakes, so they're now recommending swapping the ABS pump.

I wonder if I can even drive it away for a second opinion as it's now an MOT fail with a 'dangerous' failure.

Krikkit

27,440 posts

196 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Common fault then: https://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/vauxhall/...

Repair with them and it's £212 or so, plus removal/fitting and bleeding, all easy processes.

stevemcs

9,462 posts

108 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Its common, the ones we have seen have always been the NSF, on both occassions if you try and bleed the NSF caliper nothing will come out.

ECU testing rebuilt ours.

JBlogs

Original Poster:

96 posts

100 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Common fault then: https://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/vauxhall/...

Repair with them and it's £212 or so, plus removal/fitting and bleeding, all easy processes.
I guess I'll have to get this ordered?

Do you reckon I'd be able to drive away with an MOT failure on the brakes?

The Road Crew

4,270 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
JBlogs said:
I guess I'll have to get this ordered?

Do you reckon I'd be able to drive away with an MOT failure on the brakes?
It's not particularly safe to drive with defective brakes, but they cant prevent you taking your car away.

stevemcs

9,462 posts

108 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Has it failed as a dangerous defect ?

JBlogs

Original Poster:

96 posts

100 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
Has it failed as a dangerous defect ?
I haven't seen the report yet, but with a brake issue, I'd think it would be failed as a dangerous defect?

The Road Crew

4,270 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
Has it failed as a dangerous defect ?
OP said.....

JBlogs said:
I wonder if I can even drive it away for a second opinion as it's now an MOT fail with a 'dangerous' failure.

JBlogs

Original Poster:

96 posts

100 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
The Road Crew said:
I assumed it would be classed as a 'dangerous' failure. Perhaps not.. I'll know tomorrow when I see the sheet

Dog Star

16,973 posts

183 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
I’ve seen this no pressure thing on brakes a couple of times: flexi hose internals have collapsed.

Bit of a coincidence don’t you think? They’re changing your pads and discs, probably hanging your calliper on the hose (or similarly straining it)….. next thing no fluid getting through.




The Road Crew

4,270 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
I’ve seen this no pressure thing on brakes a couple of times: flexi hose internals have collapsed.

Bit of a coincidence don’t you think? They’re changing your pads and discs, probably hanging your calliper on the hose (or similarly straining it)….. next thing no fluid getting through.



I'd certainly be undoing the lines at the pump to see if fluid is coming out. Like you say, collapsing flexible hose internal structure is not uncommon.

Limpet

6,596 posts

176 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
My sister's Corsa failed the MOT at the Vauxhall dealer on exactly the same thing, with the same fix recommended.

Took it to another garage, making no mention of the recent fail, and it passed.

Robmainstgarage

79 posts

56 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Common as muck on corsa's nsf brake doesn't work due to no fluid coming out of abs unit, ecu testing repair them at a very reasonable price and think they offer a lifetime gaurentee on there repair

Little Pete

1,751 posts

109 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Robmainstgarage said:
Common as muck on corsa's nsf brake doesn't work due to no fluid coming out of abs unit, ecu testing repair them at a very reasonable price and think they offer a lifetime gaurentee on there repair
Beat me to it!

stevemcs

9,462 posts

108 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
JBlogs said:
I assumed it would be classed as a 'dangerous' failure. Perhaps not.. I'll know tomorrow when I see the sheet
Check the result online, it will be brake imbalance which isn't usually a dangerous defect.

Davie

5,578 posts

230 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
JBlogs said:
Uneven braking on the left and right brakes, apparently.

The shop said pads on one side were shot, as was the disc, but apparently discs can only replaced as a pair, so replaced both.
They were absolutely correct in replacing discs as an axle pair... only a lunatic would replace one single disc.