Engine MIL Inoperative MOT fail

[Buckey75]

An Sc430 I'm interested in was put in for it's MOT and failed with engine MIL.  Is this serious? They passed it the same day with the speedometer reading stayed the same as when failed. I don't understand how it failed and then passed in such a short space of time.  Does anyone have any experience with this please?

[PaulWhitt20]

Car goes in for MOT with MIL light on, MOT fail

Plug in laptop/phone and reset fault code. Redo MOT and it passes.

We had a Golf that had the MIL light on but drove normally. You could reset the light and then it would come on again after a few miles. 
You need to know what the error code is to decide if it is serious or not. 

[scudney]

Good advice,could be something trivial or something more serious but best trying to find out 

[Malc1]

my Honda Legend 2006 has had the orange MIL lights on for some years .  they tell me it's a silly vestigial sensor in the gearbox that doesn't prevent the car driving wonderfully well and safe all the time ...........  and thus far it passes the MOT ok .  the lights are off for that moment in time the Tester does his stuff !

I don't want to have ( to pay for ) the gearbox taken to pieces for the sake of a vestigial underperformance of a trifling non-essential issue 

I think you need to KNOW what's causing the issue to understand if it's detrimental to you and the car's performance and safety ....  then go from there 

Malc

[Neil E]

If it was reset, just ask them for the error code. 

If it's intermittent and responds to a reset, it could be something like the MAF sensor needs cleaning or a slight vacuum /air leak, exhaust leak, loose connection to an 02 sensor. 

[Buckey75]

Thank you everyone for your time and help.  I have decided to contact Click Mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection which should give me a more detailed description of the condition of the car. Will post again an update.

[Buckey75]

Update, I have purchased an 2004 Sc430 and so far it's doing good.  Thank you again to everyone for your advice.

[lawler999]

Never known a mil engine light fail an mot

[HPS13]

From the GovUK MOT manual -

Section 8.

(g) Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Major

[Malc1]

bit like a wheel falling off then …… often a simple fix ! 

Malc