benjyboots Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 Hello all. I had my SVA at Southampton yesterday, and as some of you were expecting, it failed. However, I have to say that the ordeal wasn't as bad as I had been lead to expect. The chaps at Southampton seemed sound enough, and the SVA tester I had was very helpful and informative. They were looking for 'good engineering practice' and 'quality of build'. They said that my build was very good, not be downhearted, and that I shouldn't have any problems with the items to be retested. I basically failed on a list of minor points to do with the projections, and some parts i've included which deviated from the standard build. Items which failed due to a radii less than 2.5 mm were: cycle wing edges, 2 instuments on the dash, exhaust can and bracket, and nose cone (no grille = all the innards having to conform to the external projections criteria). The under side of the dash failed due to the scuttle / body edges projecting more than 3.2mm in places. Steering wheel boss supplied by westfield failed, because the part no didn't match the approved type. (This was westfields fault, spoke to mark on the phone and he's sending me the correct one) Failed due to not having any reflectors on the back (I used some round lights as discussed in a recent thread, but didn't know about the reflectors) Wipers don't park, as I didn't know they needed to, and the offside rear hand brake doesn't work correctly. Locknuts on the steering arms on the front, and front wishbone locknuts need to be covered. Also failed emissions as I'm awaiting a new set of carbs, and she runs like a bit of a bull dog! That list which should take a day or so to sort out is all fairly trivial stuff, and major items or itmes people have identified as contentious during SVA (such as using the 4 point seatbelt mountings) all passed with colours a flying. I was pleased on the whole, as all the mechanical stuff which was looked at thoroughly passed, which gives you added peace of mind and confidence in the car. The test only took 4 hours, and they reckon the retest should be swifters, so happy days all round. I'll sort that lot out over the weekend, and then hopefully next week, it's rock and roll time! Quote
moomin Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 Well done Ben, and good luck for the re-test. Moomin Quote
steppenwolf Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 Well done and I'm pleased that yours was not such an ordeal as mine although 4 hours is still taking the p***! I was pleased on the whole, as all the mechanical stuff which was looked at thoroughly passed, which gives you added peace of mind and confidence in the car. I agree - I was delighted that mine passed all the things that mattered to ME and only failed on very minor items as you may have seen in my SVA report. Although my experience of the SVA was not a good one, I think that it is a Godsend for builders like me to have their mechanical work so thoroughly checked by a third party. Certainly it gave me further confidence that I had 'constructed' the car to a suitably safe standard ...... Quote
Turbowestie.co.uk Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 Top respect to anyone that decides to built there own car. I have got to agree that you read all the SVA stuff on the DVLA webby and read the Westfield suplied stuff etc and it strikes fear of failure into you straight away. (not helped by the fact that my car is way off the Westfield spec too) But as mentioned, when you actualy get there they are much nicer and more helpfull than you could imagine. I had mine tested at Derby, and really enjoyed the whole day (minus the 100 mile maiden voyage in the middle of winter and mapping it on the way to get above 40 mph without the roof on, i was told the pop studs for the hood would fail it so i removed them :/ ). Fortunatly it passed, but the inspector mentioned in passing that carbon can was verging on acceptible limits for rads and added a cable tie to the right rear indicator loom. Oh, almost lost the inspector on the "tappy" "tappy" brake test ........which was nice Quote
Mike H Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 Wipers - park ? Do they really need to ? I'm not sure they do on my Audi let alone on my old Westy which was SVA'd. I would check that if I were you. The grill thing's a bit pedantic. Good luck on the rest - it'll be worth it. Mike Quote
Mark Stanton Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 Items which failed due to a radii less than 2.5 mm were: cycle wing edges, WHAT !!!!!! Are these the Westfield supplied ones, fitted to thousands of cars already, is MR Inspector having a laugh Does this mean that the rules have changed and Westfield may have to re-style or everyone is gonna end up looking like a Dutton with that awful edge trimming. Most of the other stuff can be overcome, exhausts are generally border-line - but radiused trim can be attached Good Luck next time Quote
neilwillis Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 I have heard from a few people that have been told to put edging strip on the cycle wings. Another point to note recently is that the protective rubber caps and strips need to be glued in place. The latest trend is for them to want everything to be permanent, and not something you can rip off round the corner from the test centre when you have the coveted certificate in your pocket. What do you think my chances are of a first time pass on May 12th? Shall we start a sweep about what my car fails on? Quote
hilux Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 `kin `ell I didnt realise it was that arduous Good luck Boy, am I glad I bought second hand Quote
hilux Posted April 16, 2003 Posted April 16, 2003 I presume that once its passed all that `protective` stuff is removed Dont see it on many other westies Quote
benjyboots Posted April 17, 2003 Author Posted April 17, 2003 Yup. You can remove the trims from the cycle wings etc as soon as the test is finished, and the tester even said as much! Most of the stuff I could have got round while I was there, as I took lots of sponge / trim / rubber etc. But because I failed on emissions and not having the rear reflectors, very early on in the test, I thought I might as well get a list of stuff to do which I can sort out at my leisure rather than with the fella looking over my shoulder! Bummer I won't have it for this weekend though, what with the nice weather and all the lovely short skirt that's about. Quote
neilwillis Posted April 17, 2003 Posted April 17, 2003 Take all the protective trim off, placed there to prevent injury to pedestrians that stray into my path? I had of course fully anticipated having a little old lady sucked up under the cycle wings, where that nasty little sharp edge would have probably snagged her blue rinse I'd never dream of removing any of it afterwards!!!! (That was the closest smiley I could find to portray an innocent grin) Quote
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