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Original poster

AIBU to disable a faulty tyre pressure warning to pass the MOT?

92 replies

NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 06:12

I’m aware the latter option probably isn’t legal. Keep in mind the car is old and I will keep it until it dies so won’t be passing this problem onto someone else.

I have a light on the dashboard because the tyre pressure monitoring system valves have failed. I took it to a garage a year ago who said it wouldn’t be a mot failure. That it would be about £500 to fix and they recommended I learnt to live with it.

Fair enough i thought. None of my previous cars have had a tyre pressure monitoring system I can live without it. So bought a pump which plugs into the cigarette lighter thing and I regularly check my tyre pressures and inflate if needed. Old fashioned maybe but safe.

Turns out it is a mot failure after all. The mechanic suggested I find someone who can do something to my car to make my car think it hasn’t got a tyre pressure monitoring system and then the light will go out. Someone has offered to do this (I think for free). Or I pay circa £500 to have it fixed.

OP posts:
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LostFuse · 30/07/2026 09:54

RedPony1 · 29/07/2026 14:16

DP finished his MOT quals 2 weeks ago as another notch on his job belt, so up to date fresh training, they don't plug it in.

Just like they cant be overly tough on checking for rusty sills.

MOTs are very minimal checks in the grand scheme of things

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Whilst they don't use it to view fault codes, some MOT emission test analysers plug into the vehicle's 16-pin OBD port to pull live data like engine temperature and RPM speed needed for the test.

Negroany · 29/07/2026 23:31

NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 14:51

Fair point. So I have no idea why he said it but that’s what he said. 🤷‍♀️

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Ime, garage mechanics say shit like that to women. I don't know why. Possibly some kind of "white knight syndrome".

I bet they've never said it to a man.

My last year's MOT he said he'd passed it but the handbrake was loose - he implied he was doing be a favour. Seemed odd to me as I'd just had all the brakes replaced. I took it back to where they'd done it and they checked it all (a small place, I was literally sitting by my car as they did it) and said there was no problem at all and they didn't know what he was talking about. I've never had a problem and it passed this years MOT.

I can give you about five stories like this. I'm kind of immune to it.

Loopylalalou · 29/07/2026 18:20

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 15:27

I'm confused on what you are saying

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Shakes head….

330ml · 29/07/2026 17:20

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 14:18

Yeah they are totaly pointless. It's normal to just check tyre pressure regularly anyway

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I disagree. They give advance warning of a tyre problem.

We got a low tyre pressure bong due to a puncture while driving on the motorway towing a trailer. It gave enough time for us to come off the motorway and fix it in safety.

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 15:27

Loopylalalou · 29/07/2026 14:54

Perhaps an independent garage with a strong and loyal customer base may wish to offer that extra care (subtext doing work as required and before a massive problem). Don’t ever believe a main dealer offers 1st class care.

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I'm confused on what you are saying

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 15:26

MsGreying · 29/07/2026 15:22

And looking at your tyres is really sensible too.

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Well obviously if you are checking the pressure you are more likely to notice wear or cuts etc

MsGreying · 29/07/2026 15:22

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 14:18

Yeah they are totaly pointless. It's normal to just check tyre pressure regularly anyway

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And looking at your tyres is really sensible too.

Loopylalalou · 29/07/2026 14:54

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 13:46

Err I know. Why would they be doing that? Have u never watched your car being MOTed

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Perhaps an independent garage with a strong and loyal customer base may wish to offer that extra care (subtext doing work as required and before a massive problem). Don’t ever believe a main dealer offers 1st class care.

Original poster
NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 14:51

pinkandwhiteroses · 29/07/2026 14:48

It's of no benefit to him to "be nice" though - because surely if it's a fail he can then fix it? Confused

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Fair point. So I have no idea why he said it but that’s what he said. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 14:50

Removing a warning light bulb on a Vauxhall Astra dashboard is physically possible on older models, but modern Astras use soldered-in digital LEDs linked to the computer. It will not fix the underlying car problem, and a missing mandatory warning light causes an instant MOT test failure.

so probably not a good idea sadly.

OP posts:
pinkandwhiteroses · 29/07/2026 14:48

NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 13:56

That is literally what he said to me. I took the car and that’s what he told me. Nkw whether he was exaggerating how bad it was to make himself look good and gain me as a repeat customer that’s a possibility. It’s down as an advisory but he said it’s his judgement as to how bad it is whether it’s a fail or an advisory and he’d “be nice and put it down as an advisory”.

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It's of no benefit to him to "be nice" though - because surely if it's a fail he can then fix it? Confused

Original poster
NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 14:44

thenightsky · 29/07/2026 14:10

I hate TPMS systems. Most useless invention ever. How did we ever cope before they were invented? Hmm

OP, can you get someone to remove the little bulb behind the dash or take the correct fuse out?

Well I thought about that but am worried as someone said all lights should flash on initially and then Go off. So there is a potential for a switched on mechanic to notice it never flashed on.

OP posts:
Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 14:18

thenightsky · 29/07/2026 14:10

I hate TPMS systems. Most useless invention ever. How did we ever cope before they were invented? Hmm

OP, can you get someone to remove the little bulb behind the dash or take the correct fuse out?

Yeah they are totaly pointless. It's normal to just check tyre pressure regularly anyway

RedPony1 · 29/07/2026 14:16

LostFuse · 29/07/2026 13:35

Think again...

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DP finished his MOT quals 2 weeks ago as another notch on his job belt, so up to date fresh training, they don't plug it in.

Just like they cant be overly tough on checking for rusty sills.

MOTs are very minimal checks in the grand scheme of things

thenightsky · 29/07/2026 14:10

I hate TPMS systems. Most useless invention ever. How did we ever cope before they were invented? Hmm

OP, can you get someone to remove the little bulb behind the dash or take the correct fuse out?

nomas · 29/07/2026 14:04

What happened to the mechanic checking the tyre pressure with an air pressure gauge?!

I would get a second opinion.

Original poster
NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 13:56

dscugie · 29/07/2026 13:37

They can’t afford to ‘be nice’ - why would they risk their MOT approved status just for a customer. That’s utterly ridiculous.

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That is literally what he said to me. I took the car and that’s what he told me. Nkw whether he was exaggerating how bad it was to make himself look good and gain me as a repeat customer that’s a possibility. It’s down as an advisory but he said it’s his judgement as to how bad it is whether it’s a fail or an advisory and he’d “be nice and put it down as an advisory”.

OP posts:
Cloverdaisies · 29/07/2026 13:48

My now 11 yr old Honda Jazz developed an annoying false low tyre pressure warning when it was 18 months old. I had it back to the dealership a few times while still under warranty but they couldn’t identify why it was happening.

The false alarm happens within 15-20 miles of when I’ve routinely inflated the tyres. I can cancel it via the on screen settings by selecting tyre pressure and scrolling down to initialize. The warning light goes off and I don’t see it again till the next time I top up the tyre pressures.

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 13:46

Loopylalalou · 29/07/2026 13:05

You think? And there was no need for the bloody.

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Err I know. Why would they be doing that? Have u never watched your car being MOTed

dscugie · 29/07/2026 13:37

NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 13:31

I rang them this morning. They’ve now decided it would be a fail. 🤷🏻‍♀️🙈

oddly enough they mot my daughters car last week and said it should have failed due to brake catching/sticking but they’d be nice and pass it. Now to me that sounds more dangerous. Obviously we’ll fix it but that’s not the point

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They can’t afford to ‘be nice’ - why would they risk their MOT approved status just for a customer. That’s utterly ridiculous.

LostFuse · 29/07/2026 13:35

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 11:45

They don't plug a diagnostic computer in during the bloody mot though

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Think again...

Original poster
NorwichMom · 29/07/2026 13:31

dscugie · 29/07/2026 13:12

Why don’t you take it to the garage that told you it wouldn’t be a fail?

I rang them this morning. They’ve now decided it would be a fail. 🤷🏻‍♀️🙈

oddly enough they mot my daughters car last week and said it should have failed due to brake catching/sticking but they’d be nice and pass it. Now to me that sounds more dangerous. Obviously we’ll fix it but that’s not the point

OP posts:
dscugie · 29/07/2026 13:12

Why don’t you take it to the garage that told you it wouldn’t be a fail?

Loopylalalou · 29/07/2026 13:05

Timeforachange26 · 29/07/2026 11:45

They don't plug a diagnostic computer in during the bloody mot though

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You think? And there was no need for the bloody.

LeftBoobGoneRogue · 29/07/2026 13:04

i had a tyre pressure warning sensor fixed on a Ford Fiesta and it cost just £110 a year ago. That was at a local independent in London, not the main dealer. @NorwichMom

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