I went down to Newtownards Test Centre (the only test centre in NI that does SVAs) today to find out what was going on with my application for an SVA retest. I had sent in my retest application a couple of weeks ago after finally sorting out the emissions problems. I was told there that because the testers that perform the SVA are on strike (there are only 2 of them) I can't have my car re-tested. The strike is indefinite, therefore there is no prospect of it being tested. There are some MOT testers manning the station - I explained that I only required emmisions test and a manual check of the seatbelts (well within the abilities of an MOT inspector) - but I was told that MOT testers cannot 'finish' an SVA.
I asked was there any way I could bring the car over to Scotland to get the SVA retest performed. I was informed that I would need to book a new SVA (£240) and take my chances from scratch again. That, on top of the ferry charges, and the very real prospect of 2 or 3 journeys for retests I don't think I could do that.
I explained to the test centre manager I've spent maybe 500 hours building this car and for the sake of 15 minutes of testing (emmisions and a seatbelt check - both of which I am now sure comply) my car is not going to be road legal for the forseeable future.
There is no end in sight to the strike, they had a meeting last week and decided to continue with it.
To be fair, the reason for the strike is that lower level civil servants have been offered a 0% pay rise, whereas upper management levels have been offer up to 10% apparently. It's understandable from that point of view but it still leaves me totally banjaxed.
There's a guy in the Dept of Vehicle Testing on holiday at the moment who I've been told to contact so I'll give him a ring later in the week, but I have no idea what to do now.

Just thought I'd let you know what's going on. Anyone have any ideas???

Kinda depressed

Ali

MY PET HATE.....JOBSWORTHS..........GGGGGRRRRR

You must be gutted.....go do some track days to cheer you up.

Ali,
I could be way off the mark here, but whats the feasability of testing it in Eire.
Presumably would need full retest and then re registering for NI plates.
Just a thought.

Dont let the b@stards grind you down.

John

You live in Norhten Ireland right? How hard can it be to find a couple of guys with Black and Deckers and suggest to the SVA guys that they might like to spend half and hour back at the office one afternoon!

James

Alister,

whenever you want to take it out for a spin, just book it into a garage in that location to have some work done on your sealtbelts or emmissions and then don't turn up. Its perfectly legal cos you're travelling to get some work done on it for SVA.



Assuming you're insured.

[Edited on 16-6-04 by Hellfire]

Find where the testers are loafing and try and bribe them back to work for an hour or two!

Just a wee update.
Testing in Eire. I'm not sure what exactly I'd have to do for a test, but most likely an NCT - basically like an MOT. To import a car from ROI however you need to get a 'Certificate of conformity' - this is basically the cert given to mass produced cars instead of a Minister's Approval Cert. I could leave it on a southern plate, but that would cause problems with insurance - having a northern address and a southern reg isn't something insurance companies are tolerant off - they smell a rat. I know so much about this as I went through pure hell 'importing' my own car from down south (I used to live there).
The booking into a garage doesn't work as I can only drive it to an MOT or SVA test center - these aren't private garages like in the mainland, so I'd have to book it into a test station (28 quid for an MOT) - pricey and the cops would be very leary of me driving not directly to or from the station.
The black and deckers? Well I'm gonna pop into B&Q tomorrow

I'd rather not go looking for loafing SVA inspectors - could be very easy to be done for stalking (and black and deckering)!!

Seriously, the manager of the test centre tried to contact me today - but I was out all day. I'll give him a ring in the morning and see what he was wanting - hopfully it's good news. Or failing that some kind of straw I can grasp even!

I'm just hoping he's gonna take my word for it and post me out a MAC cert!! Ahhh I can dream!

Thanks for the sympathy y'all.

Ali

Oh yes the trackdays! I am scared shotless of using the car having gone through hell to get it to pass emissions I'm worried that a good blast round Kirkistown would see the aquarium valves fall off or something stupid happen!!!
<sigh>
I've been to see a spring and a hillclimb meanwhile though and when I do get the car going I'd be very interested in doing a sprint sometime next year. My driving is far too slow, but it's all about learning!

Update again. I got talking again to the manager of the Newtonards centre, and he's arranged for a guy at the Cookstown test centre to finish it off. He's going to sort out a date for it and contact me.
Happy ending. Well so far anyhow!
I'll let you know when it is.

A bit of sence at last, hope you dont have to wait long.
Its either light at the end of the tunnel or a train comming the other way.

The final (good) news is that she passed the SVA today. The manager in Newtownards arranged for a bloke in Cookstown to do the re-test.
Well the guy at Cookstown rang today and asked if I coul;d make it down for 4pm. I was down for 3 :-)
The teter was everything the original tester was not. Friendly and I genuinely got the impression he wanted to pass the car.
...And pass she did he had a look at the seatbelts and I explained what I'd done, and we did the emissions, and she passed.
Very very pleased. Thanks to all the folks here (esp snoopy and his aquarium method) and everyone else for providing so many shoulders to cry on!
They weren't able to give me the MAC cert there and then - it has to be issued at Newtownards but it's being posted onto me ASAP.
Might be road legal by the end of the week.

Now I can start all those post SVA jobs like fitting the good steering wheel, returning the dash to it's original shape etc etc.