Owners Forums for Ford and Volkswagen MPVs / SUVs

My wife's MK1 failed the MOT on a sticky handbrake/calliper, a missing or split exhaust clamp, a missing tie wrap/clip on the NS steering rack gaiter  and a bulging tyre. Oh yes also failed on missing seal on the fuel cap?  Which was rather good as when I got the car home the cap was missing!. 

When checking the sticky calliper I discovered that both rear brake cables were starting to fray badly, and also the centre cable adjuster was so rusty that when I tried to move it snapped.  The cables are cheap at £13.00 each for the rears and £7.00 for the centre one.

The tyres are a different story.  The existing tyres are Continental Vanco 2 XL's - - the front ones are down to 2mm but the rears looked absolutely fine. When I examined the one it failed the MOT on I found that it had indeed bulged in the tread area not the side walls. Definitely a fail.   I intend to put Dunlop's on it - at £65 each.  I had replaced two of the continentals as a result of punctures etc. but was a bit miffed that this one had started to disintegrate - so I looked up my receipts and found that I had bought them in 2005!! not bad going. But it made me realise that tyres can die of old age as well as just plain wear and tear. 

Further to my post yesterday they also failed the car on the fuel cap seal not present or ineffective. Which was a new one on me. When I got the car home I went to check it and found they hadn't replaced it. It goes in for a re test tomorrow after 4 new tyres all new brake cables but as I can't replace the seal I amy get screwed. Does anyone know what the seal size is?   Anyone feel ike measuring theirs