I wonder if the author 'retired auto-electrician' Geoff Marshall is on this Forum??
There's a segment about repairing the Self Cancelling mechanism of the Indicators, a nice little luxury for those with later cars, but I was taken aback by the opening sentence:
This is a vital road safety issue, not just an MOT failure point.
I would love to know the reference for Geoff making this statement, since there is no requirement to check the self cancelling of the indicators.
On most, if not all, cars fitted with self cancelling system, if you don't make a sharp enough turn the self cancelling won't operate anyway...
Directly from the MOT Manual:
I do wish people would fact check their submissions to the magazine. It's not practical for the magazine staff to fact check everything they're given...4.4.3. Compliance with requirements
Direction indicators must be amber.
Vehicles first used before 1 September 1965 may have white front indicators and red rear indicators, if the direction indicators are combined with stop lamps or combined with front or rear position lamps.
Switch on the direction indicator lamps and operate all the other lamps in turn to see if the direction indicator lamps are adversely affected.
On vehicles first used on or after 1 September 1965 with direction indicators combined with position lamps, the position lamp may or may not go out when its direction indicator is flashing. The direction indicator must flash amber only, with no white or red light.
A semaphore arm must light up when switched on, but it does not need to flash.
The precise position of lamps is not part of the inspection. You should check visually that they are at about the same height and distance from each side of the vehicle.
You must assess damaged or repaired lamps for security, colour, light output and durability.
Direction indicators that function sequentially/dynamically are not to be considered a reason to fail.
