Post by hutchey on Sept 18, 2020 12:24:58 GMT
Hi,
Had a good run to the test centre yesterday, got there super early and filled up with fuel as required.
The first part of the test is meet n greet and then general checkover of build, some Q&A with the examiner and then checking of VIN number and plate.
We did the emissions early as I'd not long arrived but we couldn't see the engine number and the V5 is NOT proof of age of this and so the test was based on much newer emissions standard. So subsequently failed that and we thought we could try again at the end of the test.
Lights were next and the Dominators are utter crap - anyone still hoping to get these through IVA - don't bother. Buy better light units. I've tried tilting, new bulbs and so on and they dip the wrong way to Europe and not UK. Plus the light emitted anyway is useless. Failed this one.
Harness Bar - anyone bolted one in, best ff weld it in now if you can or you'll also need to remove it, make the metal around the bolt hole much more beefy and then effectively enclose the end for added strength. There's not much chance of this holding in event of a full frontal impact. Again a fail point here too.
Interior projections - I forgot about the inside top edges of the side panels and assumed these would be ok - not so.
I made some infill panels for above the side panel and missed a couple of edges here that just stick out a tiny bit and got caught out here too.
Side indicators - So this is a grey area and the examiner actually said it was effectively silly but the rule says that at the height of the indicator you must be able to see it all from the rear at the correct angle - trouble is my rear cycle wing is high enough to prevent the side indicator from being seen fully so it either needs put on an extension outwards a bit (no room to go higher) or I can put the little round led one on the side of the front cycle wing. Which is what I was going to change to anyway afterwards. Easy fix here too.
I had an earth issue and when we used the full beam, the dash warning didn't light up. Also, using the flasher part, the rear fog came on and off. I think this was a wiring issue with the front headlight as I had played with that the day before. Should be an easy fix.
The examiners were brilliant, kept asking questions, allowed me to tighten a non-important bolt and also helped me to replace the shredded alternator belt that happened upon the testing of the speedo.
Make sure your rearview mirror can see back far enough and low enough or you'll need both side mirrors to pass.
Cycle wings, make absolutely sure that the rear centre of the edge comes down far enough to meet the 50 degree angle. Mine were set to fail but I queried it (I'd made a template and had it right I was certain). They let me explain my interpretation of the manual and got the kit out to retest and using the tool and a measuring tape, we found that I was ok by about 12mm.
They love loads of rubber lined p clips - the more the better. They hate the plastic stick on holders for cable ties and really don't let many pass with cable ties anyway.
I didn't need to remove my rear tank as I have an access panel to get to the filler hose and fro there he could see what he needed and from underneath could see the rest. But expect to have to remove this. Make sure your tank is earth strapped with something pretty big AND is sat on the frame. No rubber bits inbetween ideally. Mine sits on the frame and also I made a metal mini frame that's welded onto the subframe to add support for the weight of the tank when full.
I had to take the steering wheel off to prove the airbag was disconnected and also one of my wheels to show the type of wheel spacer I had on. They don't like the non-welded in bolt type much as these tend to bend. If you have them then replace or ditch them.
We ran out of time to retest the emissions again but in reality we both thought it would fail as the newer level is pretty much unachievable on a standard ECU. He did give me a copy of contact details for Mazda where I can apply for the information on my engine number (UK spec Mazda not a Eunos) and this will satisfy them as to the age and so the emissions test can be done again on the right levels.
Apparently the average fail or advisory points for a kit car are 30+ (even on cater hams would you believe) and they said that my build was really good and really the fail points were about 3 not 7 as some were related like 2 on edges and 2 on lights/earth.
The entire process took about 4.5 hours with 30 mins to write it up and talk me through what they would like to see on my fixes for my retest.
It was formal but informal and they were very helpful, guiding, advising and allowing me to ask questions and satisfy my own curiosity. Naturally being a kit, lots of others came over to have a look and ask some questions. At one point I had 5 men in yellow jackets looking at the car. Thought I was in trouble but they were admiring and wondering what it was.
A rocket had gone through recently too and that had a fail too. The amount of 1st time passes are apparently very low.
If you go with an open attitude and not defensive about stuff then it makes the whole process far more easy. They want us to pass but have an important job to do to ensure we are safe and that's fine by me.
Anyway, it was a good experience, my 3rd kit car test over the years. Here's to the retest, which I can apply to book the day after the IVA. It only tests the fail points but I'm not planning on suddenly appearing with anything different just in case.
Had a good run to the test centre yesterday, got there super early and filled up with fuel as required.
The first part of the test is meet n greet and then general checkover of build, some Q&A with the examiner and then checking of VIN number and plate.
We did the emissions early as I'd not long arrived but we couldn't see the engine number and the V5 is NOT proof of age of this and so the test was based on much newer emissions standard. So subsequently failed that and we thought we could try again at the end of the test.
Lights were next and the Dominators are utter crap - anyone still hoping to get these through IVA - don't bother. Buy better light units. I've tried tilting, new bulbs and so on and they dip the wrong way to Europe and not UK. Plus the light emitted anyway is useless. Failed this one.
Harness Bar - anyone bolted one in, best ff weld it in now if you can or you'll also need to remove it, make the metal around the bolt hole much more beefy and then effectively enclose the end for added strength. There's not much chance of this holding in event of a full frontal impact. Again a fail point here too.
Interior projections - I forgot about the inside top edges of the side panels and assumed these would be ok - not so.
I made some infill panels for above the side panel and missed a couple of edges here that just stick out a tiny bit and got caught out here too.
Side indicators - So this is a grey area and the examiner actually said it was effectively silly but the rule says that at the height of the indicator you must be able to see it all from the rear at the correct angle - trouble is my rear cycle wing is high enough to prevent the side indicator from being seen fully so it either needs put on an extension outwards a bit (no room to go higher) or I can put the little round led one on the side of the front cycle wing. Which is what I was going to change to anyway afterwards. Easy fix here too.
I had an earth issue and when we used the full beam, the dash warning didn't light up. Also, using the flasher part, the rear fog came on and off. I think this was a wiring issue with the front headlight as I had played with that the day before. Should be an easy fix.
The examiners were brilliant, kept asking questions, allowed me to tighten a non-important bolt and also helped me to replace the shredded alternator belt that happened upon the testing of the speedo.
Make sure your rearview mirror can see back far enough and low enough or you'll need both side mirrors to pass.
Cycle wings, make absolutely sure that the rear centre of the edge comes down far enough to meet the 50 degree angle. Mine were set to fail but I queried it (I'd made a template and had it right I was certain). They let me explain my interpretation of the manual and got the kit out to retest and using the tool and a measuring tape, we found that I was ok by about 12mm.
They love loads of rubber lined p clips - the more the better. They hate the plastic stick on holders for cable ties and really don't let many pass with cable ties anyway.
I didn't need to remove my rear tank as I have an access panel to get to the filler hose and fro there he could see what he needed and from underneath could see the rest. But expect to have to remove this. Make sure your tank is earth strapped with something pretty big AND is sat on the frame. No rubber bits inbetween ideally. Mine sits on the frame and also I made a metal mini frame that's welded onto the subframe to add support for the weight of the tank when full.
I had to take the steering wheel off to prove the airbag was disconnected and also one of my wheels to show the type of wheel spacer I had on. They don't like the non-welded in bolt type much as these tend to bend. If you have them then replace or ditch them.
We ran out of time to retest the emissions again but in reality we both thought it would fail as the newer level is pretty much unachievable on a standard ECU. He did give me a copy of contact details for Mazda where I can apply for the information on my engine number (UK spec Mazda not a Eunos) and this will satisfy them as to the age and so the emissions test can be done again on the right levels.
Apparently the average fail or advisory points for a kit car are 30+ (even on cater hams would you believe) and they said that my build was really good and really the fail points were about 3 not 7 as some were related like 2 on edges and 2 on lights/earth.
The entire process took about 4.5 hours with 30 mins to write it up and talk me through what they would like to see on my fixes for my retest.
It was formal but informal and they were very helpful, guiding, advising and allowing me to ask questions and satisfy my own curiosity. Naturally being a kit, lots of others came over to have a look and ask some questions. At one point I had 5 men in yellow jackets looking at the car. Thought I was in trouble but they were admiring and wondering what it was.
A rocket had gone through recently too and that had a fail too. The amount of 1st time passes are apparently very low.
If you go with an open attitude and not defensive about stuff then it makes the whole process far more easy. They want us to pass but have an important job to do to ensure we are safe and that's fine by me.
Anyway, it was a good experience, my 3rd kit car test over the years. Here's to the retest, which I can apply to book the day after the IVA. It only tests the fail points but I'm not planning on suddenly appearing with anything different just in case.