Member Since: 27 Nov 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 32
MoT failure...3rd row seatbelt torn!!
Had my MoT today, and the tester failed for a tear in my third row seatbelt!
I never use these seats, and to be honest since buying the car a while ago, I have been tempted in removing the seats altogether! The tear must have become unnoticed in the previous test a year ago, unless the garage sneakily go round with a penknife I never noticed it before
Here's my issue(s):
1) should I buy a replacement LR seatbelt from ebay for £43 and fit myself;
Or..
2) should I remove the third row seats?!
The test station confirmed I would have to remove the seats and the seatbelts for it to pass; should I not want to spend the money. They did want £120 to change the damaged belt (supply and labour)!
How true is this?! Surely removing the seats alone would be suffice as the MoT in any case is only theoretically valid for the time and day it was tested No seats, no issue surely..
Otherwise, does anyone have any description to removing the trim and replacing the damaged belt...?!
Thank you kindly Pete
7th Apr 2014 6:19 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20778
It may have changed, but in the past, "disabling" the rear seats was enough. Some MDF screwed into the lashing points, that cover the rear seats, so they cannot be used was enough for a passMy D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72904
They are wrong saying you have to take the seats and belts out, if no seats are fitted then the belts are irrelevant if fitted. It says so in the MOT manual. My car is in for it's 5th MOT and has never had row 3 seats in there, belts tucked in the side boxes but still fitted at the top.
Taking them out though is a pain as they are heavy and flex in the middle, would be much easier to fit a new belt.
I had removed seats 6 & 7 - but not their seatbelts, as I sometime refitted them when load space was not at a premium.
The MoT tester failed the car having the seatbelts but no seats. I was told that to pass I had to remove the seatbelts, or refit the seats !
Seats refitted, car passed the test, & I removed the seats on the garage forecourt as soon as I had the certificate.
NJSSAm I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
7th Apr 2014 6:28 pm
Peteski1
Member Since: 27 Nov 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 32
Thanks chaps!
Maybe it depends on the tester....but then surely they all follow he same rule book?!
In my opinion, no seats should be no issues as the belts have no use...
I like the idea with the MDF as would make use to also fill in the gap!
Maybe I should ring around some MoT stations to get their opinions to see if this garage is just being awkward because I didn't want to fall into their £120 repair trap! After all they don't always like people who are handy and like to do their own repairs Pete
7th Apr 2014 6:36 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72904
Here ya go:
Click image to enlarge
No seat fitted then it's a bit of fabric with fixings, not a seatbelt.
7th Apr 2014 6:52 pm
Grunders
Member Since: 30 Apr 2011
Location: Manchester
Posts: 2302
For the price of £43 i'd fit the seat belt.....IMHOIf it ain't broke... Take it apart anyway, how else you gonna find out how it works
7th Apr 2014 6:59 pm
Peteski1
Member Since: 27 Nov 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 32
DSL wrote:
Here ya go:
Click image to enlarge
No seat fitted then it's a bit of fabric with fixings, not a seatbelt.
I like it
Is that off an official website though? Don't want them making fun of me when I walk in proud waving that in their face haha
I've just been googling and can't find anything government related, I.e. on VOSAs website
In fact it's pretty useless as it only really states the legalities that you need an mot by law, but nothing in terms of rules, or list of what is tested!Pete
7th Apr 2014 7:08 pm
Peteski1
Member Since: 27 Nov 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 32
Grunders wrote:
For the price of £43 i'd fit the seat belt.....IMHO
It's not really the money I'm worried about, just don't want to spend it if I plan to remove the seats anyway.. Saves me having to do two jobs
(Saying that...it'll need repairing eventually if I trade in for a newer )Pete
7th Apr 2014 7:16 pm
Fifth Horseman
Member Since: 23 Oct 2012
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 217
Member Since: 17 Aug 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1918
Re: MoT failure...3rd row seatbelt torn!!
Peteski1 wrote:
Had my MoT today, and the tester failed for a tear in my third row seatbelt!
I never use these seats, and to be honest since buying the car a while ago, I have been tempted in removing the seats altogether! The tear must have become unnoticed in the previous test a year ago, unless the garage sneakily go round with a penknife I never noticed it before
Here's my issue(s):
1) should I buy a replacement LR seatbelt from ebay for £43 and fit myself;
Or..
2) should I remove the third row seats?!
The test station confirmed I would have to remove the seats and the seatbelts for it to pass; should I not want to spend the money. They did want £120 to change the damaged belt (supply and labour)!
How true is this?! Surely removing the seats alone would be suffice as the MoT in any case is only theoretically valid for the time and day it was tested No seats, no issue surely..
Otherwise, does anyone have any description to removing the trim and replacing the damaged belt...?!
Thank you kindly
I've just changed one of mine that had been chewed by the previous owners puppy. They are not that difficult but there is a bit of stripping involved.
As said for £43 I would just change it. Even if you take the seats out most likely you will put them back in if you sell it.
I did a N/S one...
Open tailgate
Lift cover flap and take out 4 10mm bolts to remove.
Take out the lashing points.
Unclip the carpeted floor board
Unclip the the bottom tailgate support cable, only do the one side and remember not to sit on it until you put it back
Remove the trim around the latch pin
You can then unclip the side bottom trim and then the top rear pillar trim, remember there is an airbag behind there so be very careful
I was able to do mine buy just easing the side panel away at the rear and not taking it completely out. There times where you need to move the rear seats up or down to achieve certain bits.
It will all become clear once you start and one gotcha is the inertia reel has a safety latch that will only allow the belt out when it's in the correct orientation.
Put everything back when you done.
8th Apr 2014 12:28 pm
Peteski1
Member Since: 27 Nov 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 32
Thanks chaps! I will be attempting at the weekend and will be back at the test station early next week so I shall see what they say Pete
9th Apr 2014 8:31 pm
CDS Site Sponsor
Member Since: 12 Oct 2009
Location: All over the UK!
Posts: 3330
For the first time this year I got an advisory saying that they couldn't test the rear seat belts as the seats were 'inaccessible'. I guess removing the rubber boot mat and putting the seats up was too muh of a technical task it also passed with a decat pipe......
Discovery 3/4 & RRS keys cut and programmed at your home or work
Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto retro fit - see it here
BAS Remaps/ EGR Blanking
Software updates/ enabling
Mobile Servicing & Repairs
9th Apr 2014 11:55 pm
dubbs
Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
Put mine in for MOT with a hatch bag and TransK9 cage in the boot and oddly enough the car passed without the rear seats being checked at all.
That was at a council MOT station - I always use these now as garages just seem to use the MOT to drum up more business.MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
Prospeed rock/tree sliders w/steps
HSE Winter wheels
TransK9 B24
Travall Cargo Guard
Hatchbag
10th Apr 2014 7:18 am
Peteski1
Member Since: 27 Nov 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 32
Had the retest done today, and with the third row seats removed it passed
Also I trimmed a sheet of 12mm ply to cover the boot space for a nice snug fit. It'll save me some fuel economy as the seats were rather heavy! Thank you for all the advice guys... Now onto my compressor issue Pete
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
I never noticed it before 
No seats, no issue surely..
)
