Well first attempt at SVA today that ended up pretty disaterously. Firstly the car wasn't ready, this was due to a number of problems in the last few weeks including a knee operation and failure of a friend to do anything they promised on the trim front I was also let down by a well known trailer hire company so was left with no option than to drive the 50 miles or so to the test station. I was at the lock up to finish the interior panels before 6 this morning intending to leave about 6.30 for the 8 AM appointment. Eventually I left the garage about 7 Am and headed out of town trying to get used to the experience of driving a 7 in traffic. Eventually got up a reasonable speed only to find the engine temp hitting the top of the scale, so off the motorway to find out what was wrong. Well nothing was obviously wrong so waited a while to let it cool and tell the SVA I was running late. They said that I was too late and the test was canceled though i could come in and see the tester. So I take it easy to the centre and the guy eventually came out berated me for being late and was not willing to give me much help. So I headed back home and the problems started . The speedo stopped working after a mild graunching from the back end on some bumpy bits then as I was making good speed along the motorway there was a bit of a bang and a lot of vibration followed by difficulty selecting gears so , off the motorway and open the tranny tunnel, I was expecting to find a knackered gearbox mount so I was very surprised to find the top plate of my remote gear change broken right through! So a bit of fiddling got me into third and cable ties were used to try and keep the broken bits away from the prop shaft. So back home in 3rd all the way. It looks like I have a lot to do before my rebooked SVA date

Caber

its all good fun mate

i've had bits falling off my car since sva inc a front wishbone lol

bad luck and all the best for next time

caber

I had a pretty bad SVA experience a few years ago (followed by two retests) - it's worth it in the long run!

All part of the build it yourself journey!

Best of luck for the retest!

Wyn

That sounds a really sh*t day, my heart goes out to you.Better luck with the next one.
Steve.

Thanks for the sympathy got to go to London this weekend so I have 2 weekends to sort it all

Caber

Bad luck!! Still they say what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger.

If it's any consolation I did 48 hours solid building prior to my first SVA (thank god for red bull) and still failed..... Infact, my airbox fell apart into about six pieces when I took the bonnet off A bit embarassing....

Still, at the very least it's a result to be legally driving on the road!!!

Bad luck Caber!

My 1st SVA was a bit of a disaster too! Its always the way though - all our development happens on the way to the SVA centre but at least you made it back! I ended up on the back of a recovery lorry!

Better luck next time!

Geoff

hats off to you caber, this is exactly the sequence of events that would happen to me in this kind of situation. only i'd be travelling from spain some 2000 miles and not 50!!!

Look on the bright side - you did get to drive the kit which must have been a blast - well until the problems started.

Good luck with the retest ...

cheers
Jim

After three days straight at it I was up to 1:00am and back at the garage at 5:00am after 3 hrs sleep for a 08:00am test - So tired that I spend 10 mins deperately looking for the last nyloc I knew I had only to find it already secured - Was almost eating Nescafe directly out of the tin by the end!

It failed but I tried - All part of the magic...

Respect mate!
I've still not gone to a destination 50miles away in mine, & I've been legal 9 months!
Better luck next time
Bob

All the best mate - I'm sure with an experience like that it'll prepare you better for next time and you'll probably fly through!
Best of luck

Steve

Chin Up

It will all seem so unimportant once you pass the re-test (and DVLA) and get some plates in your hands.

Good luck with getting it sorted and back on track.

Well done for getting that far.

Look at it as a shakedown test for the real thing.

thats realy tough, but keep at it it will get through in the end.

sorry to hear of your bad day!

I think I may book an MOT in mine when I'm ready and use that as a bit of a shake down drive -as the SVA is pretty expesive thing to miss *gulp* (thats legal right??)


chin up though, it showed up some faults, but nothing too terrible - fingers crossed for your next (last??) SVA.

Nae luck mate. I bet that was a bit scary working on the car on the hard shoulder of the M8. Good luck with repairs and retest.


Ronnie

Thanks for the support folks. I wasn't daft enough to stop on the M8 hard shoulder! Scariest was in Glasgow crossing the slow lane between trucks to make the exit as I am sure you can't be seen if they are right behind you! ATM I have no windscreen or roll bar so highest thing is my head

Not sure what to do about prop shaft, try and repair the one I have or get a new one made. Not happy about going back to the place the mods were done after this so anyone suggest who can make one in about 1 week preferably with the hardy spicer units held in with circlips rather than staked!

Caber

next time will be better

quote:

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Originally posted by caber
....Eventually I left the garage about 7 Am and headed out of town.....

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dangle_kt
sorry to hear of your bad day!

I think I may book an MOT in mine when I'm ready and use that as a bit of a shake down drive -as the SVA is pretty expesive thing to miss *gulp* (thats legal right??)


chin up though, it showed up some faults, but nothing too terrible - fingers crossed for your next (last??) SVA.

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It can be worth getting it MOT tested if they don't put it in the computer and issue a certificate (of either colour).

Missing the SVA is expensive, but you can postpose a while before if you know you won't be able to make it in time.

sorry to hear about your day. i bet the M8 at that time would not have been fun