What a day! Failed and passed in one day. Loaded the car up onto trailer last night, woke up to a hard frost -6 C and setting on some very icy roads, which had not been gritted at 6:30 am. I made the right decision to trailer it. I would have spun off on ice into a ditch if I drove the kit car.

Arrived OK, met Doug, the VOSA mannie, first test was the emissions which it failed, he was doing a CAT test with fast idle readings, we tried it twice but no luck. I questioned the test as I was expecting the 3.5” CO and 1200 PPM at natural idle, he showed my some pages from the SVA manual (section 18*, pages 5 and 8) which seemed to show a post 92 engine needed a CAT test, he seemed to know what he was doing. (My engine is Aug 94)

Next fail was I did not have a nozzle restrictor in the fuel filler.
Also, after he took it for a drive round the centre, he noted I needed a throttle return spring as the throttle took too long to close after he took his foot off the pedal.

He also spotted that the top rear shock bolts were loose and gave me time to tighten them up on the ramp. I had forgotten to check these!!!

Everything else was OK. So just 3 fail items, he wrote out the fail sheet and I loaded the car back on the trailer. I was still not convinced about the emissions test, so called Mark at Mac#1, he thought that the wrong test was done and called his SVA mannie to check. Then advised to go back in. So I went back to find Doug and asked him to check again and call the SVA technical centre if he wasn’t sure. He consulted the manual, with my proof of engine age letter for about ˝ hr and got more confused, then called SVA technical centre in Swansea to check. They confirmed I had been given the wrong test. A natural idle with 3.5% CO and 1200 PPM was all that was required. A CAT test is not required. Also the nozzle restrictor rule did not apply.

I began to get excited, I asked for 15 mins to make a throttle return spring, Mark’s suggestion was,”pop into a nearby office, ask for a red rubber band and fit it to the carbs”. I did just this using 3 bands to get an improvement. Some mechanics from a nearby tyre place came over to help out, along with 6 people just passing by.

I drove back to the SVA centre, he had already written out my MAC and did not check the new throttle return spring.

I drove off after a total of 4 hrs, with a big smile on my face, straight to DVLA office and handed in all my paperwork, so should get the DVLA inspection soon.

Doug was fine and admitted his mistake and apologised for the hassle.
So….after a long emotional roller coaster of a day, I got a first time pass!!!!!!

Thanks to Mark at Mac#1, for his advice, not just on the day, but over the last 3 years.

Result!



SVA frosty morning
A cold and frosty morning



at SVA centre w burger van
Handy burger van



Passed SVA
On the way home with Mac#1 and MAC Cert

[Edited on 6/3/09 by Slater]

[Edited on 6/3/09 by Slater]

Good result, great feeling, well done!

Brilliant pass, yep certainly pays off to politely question something you feel is wrong, end of the day everyone is human, the trick is to do without been arrogant in my view.

Nicely done m8, ready for the summer!

Rich

thats brilliant news.

Congratulations on the pass - great feeling hey!!

I'm very surprised the SVA tester didnt know the emmissions rules off by heart!! Makes you wonder how many others he has failed without good reason for what i know off the top of my head!!

Well done.

Your dead right about Doug.

He was most helpfull when I got my car SVA'd there.

Cheekily after the test I asked him to carry out the DVLA inspection as they are an inspection center too, Within 30 seconds he was filling out the inspection form with my chassis number and faxed it to Dundee DVLA..
Dundee DVLA accepted this as inspection and I got my plates and tax in double quick time.

Never had a burger van outside when I was there though !!!!!

great result well done

chris

What a roller coaster of lows and highs for you!

Well done, enjoy, but be careful out there...

ATB Fozzie

Edit to add:- Just seen you live in Old Rayne!

Stayed over night at a pub there a couple of years back when we took the VXT up tour Gods Back Garden.....

[Edited on 6-3-09 by Fozzie]

Well what a day!
Well done

Fozzie, that will be the Lodge Hotel, I live very close to it, about 40 paces. It's closed down now though. If you are passing again, stop off and I'll provide refreshments. There is a camp site about 60 paces away, if you want to stay the night.

There are some very good quiet roads up here for a driving tour.
Keith.

[Edited on 6/3/09 by Slater]

Well done. Now get some miles on the clocks.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slater
Fozzie, that will be the Lodge Hotel, I live very close to it, about 40 paces. It's closed down now though. If you are passing again, stop off and I'll provide refreshments. There is a camp site about 60 paces away, if you want to stay the night.

There are some very good quiet roads up here for a driving tour.
Keith.

[Edited on 6/3/09 by Slater]

---

Well done mate!! Bet your glad you checked if he was wrong!!

A big well done Keith. He was a bit iffy about my engine as well re cat test but we agreed as my v5 was feb 92 and his paperwork said post aug 92 that a non cat was the way to go.

I hope you realize how bloody lucky you were.I had to walk across the road to get to the burger van