Drivers urged to check 'ignored' car part or risk failing their MOT

Cody Carlson & Emily Chaplin
·2-min read
Motorists can reduce fuel consumption by changing their driving style
Motorists may be unknowingly ignoring red flags when filling up -Credit:Getty Images


A car part often overlooked by drivers can cause an MOT test failure - but experts say it's easy to check if there's something wrong with it. Mechanics have a whole checklist of things that can prevent vehicles from passing their annual MOT.

Even small parts like fuel caps need to be in working order as they work as a seal, blocking dangerous fumes from escaping. But minor damage or wear and tear can cause this component to raise red flags during an MOT inspection.

Graham Conway, from Select Car Leasing, said: "There are numerous things that can mean you don't pass an MOT and have to book in for expensive repair work before a retest. But there are also some minor ones that are particularly annoying if they come up in the failure column - including broken bulbs and worn-out wiper blades.

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"One of the most often ignored is the fuel cap, which, despite being used regularly, flies very much under the radar for the majority of motorists."

Conway explained that modern cars and vans have spring-loaded fuel caps that self-seal once the fuel pump nozzle has been removed, as the Express reports. "If they crack, or the rubber seal around them is damaged, fumes can seep out and pose a real danger," he said. "You can understand why it's on the MOT checklist."

Problems with the fuel cap won't always cause a light to pop up on your dashboard, but if they do, the warning will tell them that something is wrong with the evaporative emission control systems (EVAP). Thankfully, Graham says there's an easy way to check if your fuel cap is playing up.

He said that while it is normal to smell some fuel when filling up, a persistent and noticeable fuel scent when the cap's closed is a sign that a closer look and potentially a replacement part is needed. Popular YouTube mechanic Scotty Kilmer also advised drivers to avoid buying cars with 'flex-fuel' written on their fuel caps.

Flex-fuel indicates that a car can run on ethanol, regular gas, or anything in between. Kilmer warns the configuration can cause a vehicle's engine control unit (ECU) computer to read the wrong fuel type, leading to the ECU adjusting engine parameters incorrectly based on false readings. The YouTuber said these can then cause further problems for the car's performance, emissions, and fuel system while increasing your fuel bill.

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