TVR MOT Oddities
Author
Discussion

.Mark

Original Poster:

11,104 posts

305 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
Hi chaps,
Got both the TVR's booked in at a friends garage for MOT's next weekend. I'm entirely confident they will do a great job as they have been around performance cars a long long time (I used to mechanic for him when we were racing).
I know my way round the cars and know what's expected of an MOT as I was involved many years ago, but I'm just on the look out for any gotcha's that might rear their head.

So far I'm thinking:
Back lit number plates
Proper pull on the handbrake
Getting nice and very warm for emissions test

Anything else I need to 'guide' him on?

pinchmeimdreamin

10,892 posts

247 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
.Mark said:
Back lit number plates
This is the one I always have hassle over.

T66ORA

3,474 posts

286 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
Dodgy headlight alignment?, Not a 5 minute job to adjust.

Bodmin

596 posts

227 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
T66ORA said:
Dodgy headlight alignment?, Not a 5 minute job to adjust.
It is with a tyre compressor wink

For the cerb....a friendly emissions testing machine or another make of car next to it whistle

Bodders

dnb

3,330 posts

271 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
There is an emissions exemption for both the Griffith 500 and AJP Cerbera. The emissions test computer should be aware of these and apply them if necessary. I have used both sucessfully in the past.

rigga

8,805 posts

230 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
dnb said:
There is an emissions exemption for both the Griffith 500 and AJP Cerbera. The emissions test computer should be aware of these and apply them if necessary. I have used both sucessfully in the past.
What excemption for the Griff is that ? mine passes every year ok,but interesting to know.

Mr MoJo

4,698 posts

245 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
rigga said:
What excemption for the Griff is that ? mine passes every year ok,but interesting to know.
Me too, this is something I've not heard before either. Not had any problems before but if it involves getting a completely decatted car through I'm all ears ears

itiejim

1,822 posts

234 months

Saturday 26th March 2011
quotequote all
dnb said:
There is an emissions exemption for both the Griffith 500 and AJP Cerbera. The emissions test computer should be aware of these and apply them if necessary. I have used both sucessfully in the past.
Oh do tell ears

.Mark

Original Poster:

11,104 posts

305 months

Saturday 26th March 2011
quotequote all
itiejim said:
dnb said:
There is an emissions exemption for both the Griffith 500 and AJP Cerbera. The emissions test computer should be aware of these and apply them if necessary. I have used both sucessfully in the past.
Oh do tell ears
Yep I've heard of this but have no knowledge of it, so info would be useful smile

.Mark

Original Poster:

11,104 posts

305 months

Saturday 26th March 2011
quotequote all
T66ORA said:
Dodgy headlight alignment?, Not a 5 minute job to adjust.
Should be OK, recently done. I'll be with the car so may have to have a little 'rest' at that point anyway wink

dnb

3,330 posts

271 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
The emissions concession is only really useful if you have an aftermarket ECU and wideband lambda sensor.

It allows you to make the car run lean during the emissions test - lambda=1.03 is the usual lean limit, but this is modified to something like 1.1 for the Griff and 1.3 for the Cerbera. Essentially, it means you can run the car as lean as you like in order to reduce the CO content (at the expense of NOx emissions, but they aren't measured) to just below the limit.

A well tuned engine without cats can just about pass the fast idle test using this trick. Lambda isn't measured for natural idle, so the same trick can be employed, assuming the car will actually run.

Slade Alive

784 posts

188 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
dnb said:
The emissions concession is only really useful if you have an aftermarket ECU and wideband lambda sensor.

It allows you to make the car run lean during the emissions test - lambda=1.03 is the usual lean limit, but this is modified to something like 1.1 for the Griff and 1.3 for the Cerbera. Essentially, it means you can run the car as lean as you like in order to reduce the CO content (at the expense of NOx emissions, but they aren't measured) to just below the limit.

A well tuned engine without cats can just about pass the fast idle test using this trick. Lambda isn't measured for natural idle, so the same trick can be employed, assuming the car will actually run.
Doesn't sound like an exemption at all. More like a trick in fact?

dnb

3,330 posts

271 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
Yes, exemption is perhaps the wrong word - concession would be a better word.

I wouldn't say trick. That would imply dishonesty. wink

mandrew

61 posts

186 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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i have always had trouble getting most tvrs through the emission test the worst are speed six engines

BliarOut

72,863 posts

268 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
pinchmeimdreamin said:
.Mark said:
Back lit number plates
This is the one I always have hassle over.
I don't, I just let them look inside the boot to see it's working...

"It's a TVR, that's how they work" biggrin

.Mark

Original Poster:

11,104 posts

305 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
mandrew said:
i have always had trouble getting most tvrs through the emission test the worst are speed six engines
Emissions are one of my main concerns, maybe unfounded. I should be ok though, they both have proper engines wink

mandrew

61 posts

186 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
what area do you live in?

.Mark

Original Poster:

11,104 posts

305 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
mandrew said:
what area do you live in?
Hayling Island

mandrew

61 posts

186 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
your to far away i might have been able to help with a tvr friendly mot station

.Mark

Original Poster:

11,104 posts

305 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
mandrew said:
your to far away i might have been able to help with a tvr friendly mot station
Cheers, although they are friendly enough, I used to work with them smile