Why washing your car before the ITV test could actually cause it to fail

Thinking of giving your car a sparkling fresh clean before taking it for its ITV in Spain? It might seem like a natural thing to do to make a good impression, but some mechanics warn that a fresh wash could actually bring on a false fail.

The mechanics’ warning about car washes

Spanish newspaper El Debate reports that water from a pressure hose or roller machine collects in the nooks and crannies of a car and can run into the engine bay. Mixed with dirt and traces of oil, it can appear to look like a leak. Inspectors, it says, have no time to analyse fluids, so they might assume the worst.

What the rules actually say

Spanish law sorts faults into three levels – minor, serious and very serious. Oil traces or damp patches on the engine without dripping count as minor, however, active dripping is serious. A wet engine could therefore earn a minor note, but it would take actual drips to count as a serious.

A car with only minor defects receives a pretty good result, the owner must repair them within two months and nobody has to return to the test centre to prove it. A serious defect is what causes a rejection. If several defects affect the same part of the car, an inspector can treat them together as a more serious problem. Think of two or three small brake faults rather than a few unrelated niggles.

So, should you wash it?

A wash is unlikely to sink your test, but there is little to gain from one either. If you do wash, a short drive beforehand should help the water run off. One motoring site adds that a car in an extremely dirty state, or with a boot full of clutter, can make an inspector refuse to start. Tidy and tolerably clean is a safe middle ground.

El Debate also recommends driving until the engine is warm and braking firmly a few times to clean the discs and pads. This is the author’s advice rather than an official requirement, though warming the car up does no harm.

Quick checks worth making

Lights – A poor main beam counts as a serious defect, but a blown sidelight bulb is only minor.
Wipers – worn blades are a minor defect, but they are worth replacing anyway.
Paperwork – take your registration document and your inspection card.
Timing – If you pass within the 30 days before the old inspection expires, your next due date is still counted from that expiry date.

A few minutes of checking beats a second dreaded trip to the test centre.