Speedometer and MOT

[Chris Mc]

Hi Guys its been a while since i posted as my Alphy is running sweet she is a 2007  AH10 went for its third MOT in  NI yesterday and she failed as the speedo is not showing  dual display of miles and kilometres, even thought it has passed the past two MOTs her in NI at standard test centres,  the guy was vague and said i could get stickers  for the display, but i thought the instrument cluster was a sealed unit so how would i  place them, or has anyone had a similar problem and got a successful  solution.

 

Chris

[Gamith]

I have a GPS HUD but I don't know whether that would be Ok for the MoT. The previous people had fitted a simple conversion chart of values which I can only assume is Ok for MoT purposes, maybe that was what your tester was referring to. 

[PaulE]

I have passed 3x MOT with the original Km speedo display and no issues. I suspect the MOT tester does not know what they are talking about. I would protest this asap. I have an MPH HUD on the dash but I don't think this is necessary for MOT. As regards recording "mileage" I make sure the tester records the ODO distance in KM. no problems.

[Rojie]

 

Take it somewhere else for your MOT; but ask them beforehand !

 

Many Alphies do not have the kmh/mph conversion and the MOT records their mileage (in Kms), as the miles.

Not to good on resale values. It should not make any difference, but may.

[Tonyatco]

I found many years ago a replacement Speedo card, by removing the binnacle then the Speedo/instrument cluster , the Perspex cover unclips, needles removed then take the Kph card out and replace with Mph card then reassembly is the exact reverse

[smurf]

The only MOT requirement for a speedo is that it must be working. There is no requirement for the tester to do a road test to confirm this.  If it is obviously non functioning then it is a fail. If they do have to drive the vehicle to do a brake test then they must check the speedo actually works.

 

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 basically require that a car first used after 1984 must have a speedo capable of indicating the speed in mph and kph. 

 

So, a speedo only capable of indicating in mph isn't legal for use on the road but that is an issue for the police to deal with, not an MOT tester. 

 

Odometers can record in km or miles. It doesn't matter, but it will be recorded as it is displayed on your MOT certificate. 

[Picasso]

my importer put a piece of black electric tape over the kph had 3 mots since no problems  

[Rojie]

My importer 'blacked-out' the k (of kmph), with matt black paint, extremely well done too.

[Chris Mc]

Guys many thanks for all you replies, and suggestions i found on the DVA website for Northern Ireland the Speedometer  must display  miles and kilometres, even thought it has passed the previous three occasions, i would love to take it elsewhere to get tested but  but regular garages do do testing here in NI its all done by a government agency  so no matter what test centre i go to they will look to see if it is fixed.  i think i will do belt and braces and get some stickers plus a gps digital display and hopefully that will satisfy the jobs worth.

 

Many thanks again guys 

 

Chris 

[Gerrymclean]

Hi Chris, I am in NI and they have recently changed the rules. I have down loaded their guidance book and it has changed from my last mot. They are different from English mot rules in that they require dual display. I put sticker over mine and initially the did not accept it but I pointed out to them that their rules did not specify where the stickers would go. So they had to pass it. Oh and also their booklet precludes the use of a digital GPS speedo,

Thanks

Gerry

Edited February 10 by Gerrymclean
Misspelling

[PaulE]

Hi this is a link for replacement professionally made speedo dials, www.kmh-mph.co.uk

 

1st Generation

[John Harrison]

On 2/9/2025 at 2:56 PM, Chris Mc said:

Hi Guys its been a while since i posted as my Alphy is running sweet she is a 2007  AH10 went for its third MOT in  NI yesterday and she failed as the speedo is not showing  dual display of miles and kilometres, even thought it has passed the past two MOTs her in NI at standard test centres,  the guy was vague and said i could get stickers  for the display, but i thought the instrument cluster was a sealed unit so how would i  place them, or has anyone had a similar problem and got a successful  solution.

 

Chris

 

[Chris Mc]

On 2/10/2025 at 6:41 PM, Gerrymclean said:

Hi Chris, I am in NI and they have recently changed the rules. I have down loaded their guidance book and it has changed from my last mot. They are different from English mot rules in that they require dual display. I put sticker over mine and initially the did not accept it but I pointed out to them that their rules did not specify where the stickers would go. So they had to pass it. Oh and also their booklet precludes the use of a digital GPS speedo,

Thanks

Gerry

Hi Gerry i went back to the test centre at Mallusk today and got talking to one of the testers and explained my issue i said that i was advised to just get stickers, by the guy who failed me on Saturday, he said yep we get imports in all the time with stickers and we pass them event thought they look absolutely rubbish. By the way where did you get the  link to their booklet. on the infrastructure site?

 

Chris  

[Gerrymclean]

Hi Chris,

Yes look for the dva infrastructure site and guidance for mot testers it will be on there,

Thanks

[starider]

I have found a simple and cheap way of making my speedo compliant.. For just over £12, I purchased a sheet of self adhesive white stick on numbers[you cut from a sheet] and stick on the outside of the speedo head where the white marks are between the KPH numbers[Make sure you use the correct white marks] There are also stickers to add MPH onto the centre of the speedo face.

The seller sends an extra set of numbers in case any mistakes are made.

 

EBAY Number286074653037

Edited February 14 by starider