Ring urges technicians to focus on bulbs and batteries this MOT season

As the MOT season hits its peak, it’s vital for technicians to think about the ramifications to their customers of a fail or advisories on an MOT test.

Premium lighting and accessory supplier, Ring, has issued advice for technicians with regards to lighting and batteries for the MOT season. 

Alongside the MOT season coinciding with the start of autumn, there are certain products that are at the forefront of a technician’s and driver’s mind. Two of which are bulbs and batteries. Both of which are relied on more during these colder months, and, as the MOT season hits its peak between September and October, it’s the perfect time for technicians to be checking both thoroughly.

One test involved in the MOT is checking the bulbs, and while drivers may assume this is just the headlights, technicians know it’s most of the lights on the vehicle, such as side lights, registration plate bulbs, indictor bulbs and more.

For technicians to be prepared for every eventuality of an MOT, it’s a good idea to have a stock of bulbs to hand, in case there’s a replacement needed.

Ring is also impressing on mechanics the need to offer bulb alignment as a paid service.

This is a unique selling point for all garages, compared to the DIY process. While anyone can and should know how to change a headlamp bulb, that doesn’t mean it was fitted correctly. After changing a bulb, all workshops should then check the alignment, to make sure there is no risk of causing glare to other road users.

Ring’s impressive range of over 900 bulb types covers approximately 99% of the vehicle car parc meaning there is a bulb for almost every application on a car, motorbike or truck. Dependent on the type of bulb a customer would prefer, Ring offers its Brighter range, which as the name suggests, puts more light on the road for the driver. The Whiter bulbs give a high spec look, and matches the white light emitted by LED daytime running bulbs, which are road legal and require no wiring change. The Enhanced Performance range covers long life car bulbs, rapid response bulbs and enhanced quality bulbs. 

The company also supplies standard bulbs for other areas of the vehicle, such as the humble R501, which is Ring’s most popular bulb by volume, as it has the possibility of being fitted to seven or eight different applications on a vehicle, such as the instrument panel, interior lights and side and tail lights, so it’s one to keep a high stock of due to its versatility.

To further back up its commitment to premium quality, Ring has state-of-the-art lighting laboratories in both the UK and Germany. In these facilities, the company checks the endurance, light output, beam patterns and light colour of its bulbs, to ensure they meet the highest standards and are road legal. Ring's lighting laboratories have been awarded ISO:9001 for the manufacture and assembly of automotive lighting.

Ring is also urging technicians and workshops to consider charging customers for changing their bulbs, if they don’t already. Even if the added charge is just £10, it will not make much of a difference to the customer. This price is justified, with the cost of the product and the time it takes to fit, so many drivers will understand and pay for the work done, and the workshop gains a new revenue stream. 

While to check a bulb on a vehicle can be easier, as it just requires a visual test of the bulb, as well as looking at the beam pattern it gives out, a battery needs equipment to check it effectively.

Ring recommends technicians to check every battery that enters the workshop, which includes ones in for an MOT test. While this battery check can be carried out after the MOT, it shouldn’t take long to offer this extra service and see if there’s any issues with the battery. Equally if a replacement battery is needed, the new battery supplied in should also be checked. It could have been sat on a motor factors shelf for some time and may have naturally discharged below 12.5V. 

For conducting this check, Ring’s new battery analyser (RBAG950) can provide a complete health check of the battery and electrical systems in both 12V and 24V vehicles, including motorcycles, cars and vans.

Suitable for 12V lead acid, AGM, EFB, gel and LiFePO4 lithium, as well as start/stop batteries, this multi-functional analyser is able to test the battery, alternator, starter and vehicle earth, via its intuitive graphical interface.

The battery analyser test simply carries out a battery health check and gives the user a reading detailing the state of the battery, whereas the alternator test, for both normal and

smart 12V/24V alternators, will detect battery charging problems by checking if the alternator voltages fall within normal operating ranges.

In a similar vein is the starter test for both 12V and 24V vehicles, which checks for potential starting problems by measuring battery voltage drop during engine cranking. The final test this battery analyser can undertake is the earth test to check that the earth connections between battery, engine and chassis are in good condition.

The RBAG950 can also diagnose if a battery is faulty or not. As is known, if a battery falls below 12.5V, then it will be in depletion mode and will have damaged the plates. So, even though the battery is not that low, the damage done is permanent. Yet, if the battery is at 12.5V or above, it can be charged and will work effectively, so there is a known tipping point for battery charging states.

Ring also suggests that technicians should advise their customers on keeping on top of regular maintenance with their vehicles to give them the best chance of passing an MOT. This can include bulbs, tyres, batteries, brakes and regular servicing, including changing the filters and oil.