IVA....Damn close..... but no cigar.

[paulbuckley]

Good and bad day so far today....
IVA this morning at very short notice (they called me yesterday at 4pm)...at Norwich.

Highlights were...

Overall fail - on fuelcap tethering , which is apparently back in the test now! The testers call many people and eventually the policy engineer advised with his interpretation.
Front/Rear brake ratio was borderline - overall brake performance ok, but too much to the rear (bias is correct etc etc)-(bedding in pads, discs, and possibly a little bit of air)

That was it. A touch frustrating, but overall experience was very good. The guys there are real enthusiasts, and rigorous.

Car drove like a dream... only thing that I need to look at is cooling fan fuse which blew (I seem to recall this has been an issue??)

Had a discussion with the tester about brake balance bars, and he did indeed slide down under the dash to check it was welded up, and immobile.

So, next step, is bleed brakes, tether fuel caps, investigate blown fuse, and I'll be good to go!

Cheers
Paul Buckley

[pilbeam_mp62]

Good news Paul - almost there !

My car passed IVA last October - the fuel caps are NOT tethered.... have the IVA rules changed since then ?

Regards


ETA - My fuel tanks have a fitting at the top where the pump nozzle goes in, with a "spring-hinged" circular plate, the size of the unleaded nozzle, and I am thinking that because the IVA regs (with respect to fuel tanks) are designed to prevent "excessive evaporative emmissions", non-tethered fuel caps were not required in my situation.

The factory kindly took my car for it's IVA, so you could possibly ask them for advice ?

Edited by pilbeam_mp62 on Tuesday 20th April 13:29

[paulbuckley]

Norwich testers advised it's back in. They checked the book, talked to the policy engineer at VOSA, talked to Ultima, I think they may have talked to Nottingham test centre as well in the end.... all culminating in the fact that whilst their may have been individual elements of interpretation at different test stations, the fuel cap needs to be tethered.

Theory is that you shall not be able to "leave a fuel cap removed" (i.e. when filling up) then drive away. So the cap either needs to be tethered, or the same key as the ignition, and not removable from the cap when the cap is off.... if that makes sense. Easiest fix is tethering each cap on an Ultima.

On the bright side, with only 14 hrs notice and what was a significant amount of "finishing" to prepare her, I'm now pretty pleased (having calmed down!)

[Steve_D]

I would regard this as a good day despite the fail.
Easy fix with no further scope for interpretation so an almost guaranteed pass in the next few days.

Well done.

Steve

[robm3]

Paul, I think overall this is great news. You could be up and driving in this lovely weather soon enough (post some piccies too).

[robm3]

Oh, can you adjust you brake balance via the length of the brake cylinder pushrods e.g. either extend the front one or shorten the rear one?

[Steve_D]

robm3 said:

Oh, can you adjust you brake balance via the length of the brake cylinder pushrods e.g. either extend the front one or shorten the rear one?

Sorry no, that's not how it works.

Best to get in there after IVA and cut out the old balance shaft and replace with a new one.
Perhaps we should campaign for suppliers of balance bar kits to supply two shafts as standard.

Steve

[Spid]

Hi Paul

Few questions if you don't mind, I'm not too far away from the IVA, month or so.
Can you drive the car there? if a test is booked. Insure it on the chassis number
Do you need to take all your bills for new parts, or is that for registation.
Adam

[Steve_D]

There will be a load of stuff you need to send VOSA before you are granted a test appointment. Mainly around proof of self build like a raft of photos of your build stages.

At IVA you may need proof of engine age for emissions.

Yes you drive it to the test and the tanks are supposed to be full so you should plan to top off the tanks close to the test centre.

You will need all the receipts etc for DVLA. DVLA will also want to inspect the car. Some come out to you but most will require you to take the car to their office. You cannot drive to this inspection.

It is well worth taking a support vehicle to the IVA test with a full compliment of tools, cable ties, gaffer tape, edging strip etc. If you fail on something silly like a sharp edge you have the option of fixing it in the carpark and getting it retested. They may not even require a retest as the tester will just hold off typing out a fail and wait to see if you can get a pass.

Good luck.

Steve

[Spid]

Thanks, best give them a ring

[Watto GTR]

HI paul well done my car was in norwich 2weeks ago no mention of fuel cap tethers then. Did you set balance bar as per factory setting as mine was fine at that.

[TuxMan]

Well done Paul ,be great to see her at Le-man !!

[paulbuckley]

Watto GTR said:

HI paul well done my car was in norwich 2weeks ago no mention of fuel cap tethers then. Did you set balance bar as per factory setting as mine was fine at that.

Yep - balance bar set per factory, suspect there's a tiny amount of air in the front brake circuit pipes/calipers... will bleed again this weekend and see. I suppose worst case it could be a duff master cylinder seal. I think fuel cap tethers are very very recent, and certainly they'll be looking having clarified it with the VOSA policy engineer.

[paulbuckley]

Spid said:

Hi Paul

Few questions if you don't mind, I'm not too far away from the IVA, month or so.
Can you drive the car there? if a test is booked. Insure it on the chassis number
Do you need to take all your bills for new parts, or is that for registation.
Adam

To add to what Steve posted... I'm no expert, but did the following...

1. Called VOSA several weeks before I was ready for test to confirm what I needed to do. Also checked web site which was useful.
2. VOSA advised 7 working days to process (mine was longer due to easter & staff shortages)
3. Send off the required test application forms, fee, proof of build (2 CD's with hundreds of build photos in my case), photocopies of all major receipts for the build.
4. Phone VOSA at least every week to cehck progress of application!
5. Your test centre will call you to arrange your date (I got a call at 4pm and was there 8am next day) - mine was Norwich and usual wait is upto a couple of weeks.
6. Took all original receipts/ proof and more build CD copies (you'll also need a certificate of newness from Ultima). They may ask to look through some or all of it.
7. After IVA... reg process (the above docs, plus insurance cover note)...I'm not quite there yet, but fortunately have a local office literally on the way back from test centre so will drop in my application then and hope they'l do a quick check (they always say no, until you point out of the window and say the car is there... and that's easier than me phoning daily to keep asking on progress. On my previous SVA, I got reg / plate done the same day... but need to be lucky for that. Strictly speaking they don't need to inspect vehicle if they're satisfied with the docs / build proof, but more often than not they like to eyeball the chassis number and possibly engine number at least.

Hope that helps
Cheers
Paul

[paulbuckley]

IVA PASS ! After check of fuel cap tethers and recheck of brakes after I'd bled some air out of the front.

Now I need to be nice to the DVLA... who advised I should be able to have a plate before the weekend if all goes well!

[pilbeam_mp62]

Congratulations Paul - Nice one !!

[Spid]

Thanks Paul
Filling in the forms asks max designed road speed? Will give ultima a ring tomorrow just need to finish the exhaust and I'm done