Testing a Car (MFK)

There are numbers on the tyres and those show in what country you bought them

It shows where they are made not bought. My old tyres were from japan but bought in uk.

Maybe the big "F" sticker gave it away?

I also passed the MFK a few days ago after failing the first time. The re-inspection was a breeze, they didn't check everything that was supposed to have been done (some of which I personally deemed unnecessary, but for fear of failing again I had it done anyway)...a lesson for the future perhaps?

There are SOME, not many, vehicles that require an Abgas test BUT no actual sniffer test is done. Kind of a cross-over year. About 2002 I think, but not all cars. B02 with a certain motor.

Only way to tell is look in the Abgas book. If the previous techs have written down EL (short for electronic) through pretty much the ENTIRE column then all that's done is check for OBD engine vaults. None there? Pass. Ta Da, the end. New sticker and out the door pretty much. But it's still considered necessary, albeit redundant.

Don't think swiss selling and french selling tyres have the same numbers ...

Doing those test for years---already not sending your garage is a huge step...

There is no requirement for a sticker for a car of any age.

I also heard that in some cantons it is more easy to pass, quite a few people find good enough reasons to pass in an other canton when needed

They do.

They are manufacturing numbers, and tires in CH are sourced from D, I, and F wholesalers who surely aren't going to be bothered looking at each tire to figure out which country it can be sold in, nor is the manufacturer going to bothered to stamp them differently.

Tom

So my MFK appointment is in two days, and this morning the front brake service light came on in my Audi A6. Does anyone know if they will even go forward with the test?

I can't get the car in to the garage before then and quite frankly, I don't want to have the brakes done and then get a laundry list of repairs that leaves the car not worth fixing as it has 200k km's and is 10yrs old. For example, the catalytic converters have surface rust, that depending on inspector, may or may not pass. If they insist on replacing those now, the car is junk as they are CHF 2k each.

Thanks.

Disconnect the light.

Tom

Its an advisory light.. not a fail light. I would tell tester right at start that the pads are ordered.

Absolutely. Make sure to say that it's only come on in the last couple of days and that you've arranged to get it looked at ASAP.

And as for the surface rust on the catalytic converters, they aren't part of the body or frame, and as long as the exhaust isn't rusted through they don't care.

It is a tough one to call - and depends on the inspector!!

Light on - they will be suspicious, and will then make sure they cross every T and dot every I of the MFK.

Light off - they will treat it like any other well presented car.

I can't remember if they do a pad depth check - but if they do they may well fail the car on it anyway.

You mentioned elsewhere you have the timebomb multitronic gearbox - so it is really up to you whether you get the pads swapped. (Shouldn't cost a fortune if you have them).

They don't. When I went my car to get tested, pads in the front were almost done - changed them about 1000Km later. No problem whatsoever.

As soon as the car passes the brake force test and the final drive round the building, you're good to go

Basically don't have a car with open spoke wheels then!! I'd bet a shiny 2fr coin - if you turned up on the backing material with open spoke wheels they'd fail you.

Just worried the guy will try to stick a screwdriver into it. That happened to a friend from work. Tested fine before the hole.

Thanks guys. From the outside, pads are less than half worn, though the insides run out faster as the caliper compresses the inner into the rotor first. Could just be some crap picked up with the wet roads is effecting the sensor. My plan is to set up an appointment with ATU for next week and show the inspector the appt.

Naah. Even if you do have single-sided calipers there is no real wear on the pad until pressure is applied, which cannot happen until both pads are equally pressing on the disk.

Man! I SO agree with you PAY and get...wait a minute, what? Good feeling? :P