Query Re Car Purchase

[thelewisgang]

I am buying a used car from a local garage on Tuesday & thought I would check on the gov.uk site for MOT info etc.

The garage I am buying it from put it through an MOT yesterday. It failed on a couple of lights being defective & obviously they are easily fixed. But it also failed on something else & haven't the foggiest what this means/whether it is important & more so whether it is something that can be easily sorted. T

The wording states: Offside outer front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc". This was an advisory on a previous MOT so presumably not sorted last year. Does this involve a big job to correct it & does the garage have to correct it for a valid MOT to be issued?

Please reply if you can help with this question. I have already paid a deposit on this car but don't want to go through with purchase if it is something major.
Thank you

[tonyav]

It's only a rubber gaiter that covers the constant velocity joint, won't take a mechanic very long at all to replace that.

[tonyav]

This what the gaiter will look like.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Rubber-Outer-Constant-Velocity-CV-Joint-Boot-for-Volkswagen-Passat-B5-/181133933425?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&;hash=item2a2c6c7b71

[Prudie]

Surely you won't buy the car unless the garage issues you with a current MOT

[thelewisgang]

Thank you for your quick replies.

Of course I won't buy a car without a new MOT & this is something they said they would do/give me.

As it was an advisory on a previous MOT & presumably not sorted/done I really want to know if this SHOULD be corrected before my purchase
The garage at this moment do not know I have found out this information from the gov.uk websit

[Prudie]

I had advisories of a damaged cv joint on a car for a few consecutive years but I still don't understand what you are saying? The garage has told you it failed on this and will put it right no?

[SirOracle]

I would expect any reputable garage to replace this free of cost to you. As already said it is of minor concern and cost.

[tonyav]

thelewisgang, it was up to the previous owner whether he / she did anything about the advisory ( obviously they chose not to ). So long as the car seller has it fixed it and there is 12 months MOT on the car all should be okay.

[Dodger666]

If the gaiter has been damaged for a while, you say at least 12 months to your knowledge, dirt & grit could have got into the joint and damaged it. The grease inside the gaiter could also have been lost.

Personally I would ask for a complete new joint & gaiter.

[bhg481]

I'm intrigued that this could ever have been an advisory. I thought that a damaged CVJ gaiter was a fail.

[tonyav]

So did I, bhg481.

[tonyav]

Mind you it probably only got an advisory on it's last MOT because it wasn't bad enough to be losing it's grease, but between that MOT and this one it's worn even more and has lost it's grease.

[TWR]

As a few answers, if the Gaiter was showing "signs" of wear, Slight Cracking, the garage was in order by saying Advisor to put him / her self in the clear, the seller should replace the Gaiter FOC Thelewisgang, regards the loss of Grease, what I think the garage will do is clean out the Joint & refill with Clean Grease, the Gaiter is like putting Plaster on to keep the dirt out & the Grease in to lubricate Thelewisgang, I would also ask about the N/S!

[Iggle Piggle]

I ran my car with no CV boot at all for a few days, replaced the rubber boot, re-packed with grease and the car still runs fine ! Not suggesting this is a good idea, just that it can be done.

[bhg481]

I've only had MoT failure with a cut in the boot so hadn't thought of the boot aging. In both cases the joint was re-packed with grease when the boot was replaced and I never had problems with wear in the joint.
I don't feel that a replacement joint is necessary.

[thelewisgang]

Prudie. If you read my original post you will see it was NOT the garage that told me this. I said I acquired the information from gov.uk website & it was also on there I read the "advisory" on previous year's MOT.

I would like to thank you all for your helpful answers. Being a retired, recently separated woman with my ex husband keeping the car we jointly owned I wanted to make sure I wasn't entering into a dodgy purchase

[thelewisgang]

TWR sorry for my ignorance but what is the N/S you have said I should ask about

[gingejbee]

N/S = nearside ie the same thing but on the other side of the car.

[Mamyalynne]

TWR means, get them to check the Near side as well as the Offside you mention.

Put simply, if its' a fail they must do it, if an advisory they don't have to - but from an experienced point of view it would be a poor dealer who lost a sale due to a CV boot replacement/repair.

[TWR]

As has been advised by many on this section Thelewisgang, do you trust the Garage? do you know the Garage owners? have you heard any reports on their work? If money is ok with you, get someone who knows a bit regards the Mechanics of a car, what has this car done? depending on the mileage has the Cam Belt been chained? If not, this in some cases can cost you a new engine.

[Prudie]

Thelewis sorry but that's what wasn't clear to me. So you know the garage did an MOT yesterday and you know it failed 1) because the garage told you or 2) because you read it on dvla website? What exactly has the garage told you