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IVA on Tuesday - Fuel filler cap question
rb968 - 22/5/11 at 05:52 PM

Just been round the car again getting ready for Tuesday and am having a panic about my filler cap.

Its lockable but you can remove the key when the cap is removed by essentially lockming the cap out of the filler body.

So I realise it needs to be tethered (stupid oversight I know!)

My question is I have been right through the IVA manual and can't find reference to a reducer for unleaded I thought you may need. This thread indicates it might not be specified for IVA as it was for SVA?Linky

Can any one clarify? If it is needed I can get one turned up tomorrow AND drill a hole in it to tether the cap to. If so what size should it be? If not where should I thether the cap to?
The cap has a little hoop on the underside I can thread a piece of throttle cable through. Can't really drill the body of the filler as this will surely allow fuel fumes out?

Feel a right idiot missing this until now!

Rich

[Edited on 22/5/11 by rb968]


big_wasa - 22/5/11 at 05:59 PM

I was under the impression it was no longer needed due to no leaded being available ?

dont just take my word for it


snapper - 22/5/11 at 06:05 PM

Engine age decides wether unleadedadaptor is needed, I suspect yes, to tether the cap a large bolt and some push bike cable attached to thecap and dropped into the tank, enough cable together the cap off.
As for unleaded adaptor, measure the fuel pump spout in your local fuel stop.


Daddylonglegs - 22/5/11 at 06:21 PM

I have the same issue, I need to tether the cap. I was going to drill a hole in the rolled-over lip on the filler neck, does yours not have a lip?


rb968 - 22/5/11 at 06:59 PM

Snapper, I can't find anything age related for the unleaded restrictor in the IVA manual.

As mentioned in an earlier thread, I have seen them in the CBS catalogue but no reference to the test?

Think I can drill a small hole in the cerrated bit the fuel hose fits over and loop a bit of throttle/bike cable round and through the underside of the cap so the tether bit I can sort out.

Looking at the cap can't see an easy way to fit a restrictor anyway. I would have to epoxy it in.

Rich


stevegough - 22/5/11 at 07:10 PM

Rest easy-

Point no.1: if you can't remove the key when the cap is out, that is deemed compliant for IVA. (Ok, you can remove the key by locking the cap out of the filler socket, but that isn't a problem).

Point no.2: I can also confirm that the former requirement for the unleaded reducer was dropped over a year ago. (However, some parts suppliers, Europa and CBS were still suppyling these when I IVA'd in december - they probably still are now? - Ignore them, and read the manual.

Good luck with the IVA on tuesday.


rb968 - 22/5/11 at 07:29 PM

Steve sir you are the man!

Knowing you recently went through this nonsense I appreciate the advice.

Panic averted......well apart from all the other things !

Thanks to all as ever.

Rich


stevegough - 22/5/11 at 07:40 PM

Looking back on the IVA tests, I have a very different view of it - yes, you are right, there is a fair bit of nonsense in it, but there was a couple of issues that were picked up - one in particular (on the steering) - that could have killed me if left as I presented it.

It was also an extreme challenge ( to me, anyway) to build my car to a standard that stood up to close scrutiny.

Enjoy your test, the guys doing the testing seem to be, generally, quite decent and almost human!!


rb968 - 22/5/11 at 07:52 PM

I agree of course, in fact the radiusing of parts is probably the biggest pain and what seems nonsense in some areas. I wish I had though about it more as things were coming together.

We all like to think we know what we are doing but it will be nice to hear that it has all turned out right and safe.

Just looking forward to after 2 1/2 years ! Feels like forever.

Rich


stevegough - 22/5/11 at 08:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rb968
I agree of course, in fact the radiusing of parts is probably the biggest pain and what seems nonsense in some areas. I wish I had though about it more as things were coming together.

We all like to think we know what we are doing but it will be nice to hear that it has all turned out right and safe.

Just looking forward to after 2 1/2 years ! Feels like forever.

Rich


took me 2 and a quarter ys, but it will all be worth it when the hot summer comes stormin' in - supposed to be in the 90s in june and july!!


40inches - 22/5/11 at 08:52 PM

2 and a bit years you have only just started, can't have finished already


Davegtst - 22/5/11 at 09:00 PM

Didn't know about the restrictor not being needed anymore. Cheers, saved me a few quid.


martyn_16v - 24/5/11 at 08:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stevegough
Rest easy-

Point no.1: if you can't remove the key when the cap is out, that is deemed compliant for IVA. (Ok, you can remove the key by locking the cap out of the filler socket, but that isn't a problem).


Yes, it is (or can be depending on your tester). My tester decided that being able to take the key out of the cap only after 'locking' it off the car was a fail, and I have to tether the cap. Like anyone is actually going to do that...

I just looped a bit of thin electrical cable through a convenient plastic loop on the cap, and wedged it in the join between the fuel cap and filler pipe. Job done, straight back off when I got home.


stevegough - 25/5/11 at 06:54 AM

Sorry, to hear your tester wasn't playing the game, Martin, but to quote from the manual......

16.
The fuel filler cap must either be tethered to the vehicle or be of a lockable type where the key can only be removed when the cap is locked or an automatically opening and closing, non-removable fuel filler cap


I think he was out of order, but then its not a great idea to argue with them, is it?


martyn_16v - 25/5/11 at 08:31 PM

Yeah, I didn't agree with it either but apart from that he was really friendly and helpful, and it wasn't exactly difficult to 'fix'. If it had been the only thing I was failing on it might have been different, but by then I had a bit of a list anyway.

I'm glad that that's about the closest I got to a 'grumpy anal tester' experience, from the horror stories you hear I was half expecting to have the car scattered across the floor of the testing station by the end of the day, having heated arguments about the provenance of every single nut and bolt. As it was, proof of engine age for emissions went as far as me saying 'er, 92?'. Lovely

[Edited on 25/5/11 by martyn_16v]