The MOT Files

Section 1 · Brakes

1.1.17 Load sensing valve

Manual indexed

Quick answer

Sub-section 1.1.17 of the MOT inspection manual covers load sensing valve and lists 5 defects, 2 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(1.1.17 (a))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "Load sensing valve linkage defective", about 0.0 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

  1. 1.1.17 (a)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails

    Load sensing valve linkage defective

  2. 1.1.17 (b)Major

    Load sensing valve linkage obviously incorrectly adjusted

  3. 1.1.17 (c)(i)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails

    Load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ABS functioning

  4. 1.1.17 (c)(ii)Dangerous

    Load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ABS not fitted or inoperative

    ABS warning lamp indicates a fault explained: what it means and what puts it right

  5. 1.1.17 (d)Dangerous

    Load sensing valve missing where fitted as standard

Wording and categories reproduced from the DVSA inspection manual under the Open Government Licence. Frequencies are items per 100 failed class 4 tests across the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset; a clause with no figure was not recorded often enough to appear in any model’s top forty failure items. 1 of 5 clauses link to our own explanation.

Grading

What the categories mean

Dangerous
a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The vehicle fails and must not be driven until repaired, even to a garage.
Major
a defect that affects safety, the environment or other road users. The vehicle fails.
Minor
a defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment. Recorded on the certificate; the vehicle passes.

The full guide to defect grading

Section 1

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 1.1.17 mean on an MOT certificate?
It refers to sub-section 1.1.17 of the MOT inspection manual, "Load sensing valve", within section 1, brakes. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 5 listed here. 2 of them are graded Dangerous, 3 Major and 0 Minor.
Which load sensing valve defect is recorded most often?
"Load sensing valve linkage defective" (1.1.17 (a)), recorded about 0.0 times per 100 failed MOT tests nationally.
Does a Minor defect fail the MOT?
No. a defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment. Recorded on the certificate; the vehicle passes. Major and Dangerous defects fail. A Dangerous defect also means the car must not be driven until it is repaired.