Iva Test

[Guest alexpink]

So... Took my S7 over to Kidderminster this morning. 50 mile drive in an unproven car at 6am;started out stressful but once I got half way I realosed there wasn't much point worrying as anything that could go wrong would have done by then! It drove absolutely flawlessly and I loved it. Arrived before the station opened and had a chat with Paul who was to be my tester; there was another chap present (whose name I can't remember) who is the IVA quality inspector and was checking that the tests were being carried out to the correct level- this worried me a bit. They had a look around the car, poking things and asking me about various parts of the car. Started with the speedo test, which was absolutely spot on. Then moved onto emissions, which it failed pretty miserably- it had failed in pretty much the first 15 minutes.. I think changing the valve stem oil seals and getting the carbs set up on a rolling road may fix it, or I may try to borrow a single carb setup off someone as the twin 40s will never be great on emissions.

Continued with checking the lights were all working and functioning in all sorts of combinations. Put it up on the ramp to check underbody structure, and set the headlamp aim, which again was pretty much spot on. They then checked that the brakes worked correctly, again no problems there.

They asked me to go and wait outside while they had a chat about the car and ran the noise test, then Paul took it for a spin around the centre to check the handling performance, self centering and general feel of the vehicle. Commented that it drive very well which was nice.So... Took my S7 over to Kidderminster this morning. 50 mile drive in an unproven car at 6am;started out stressful but once I got half way I realosed there wasn't much point worrying as anything that could go wrong would have done by then! It drove absolutely flawlessly and I loved it. Arrived before the station opened and had a chat with Paul who was to be my tester; there was another chap present (whose name I can't remember) who is the IVA quality inspector and was checking that the tests were being carried out to the correct level- this worried me a bit. They had a look around the car, poking things and talking amongst themselves.

Passed the speedo test perfectly, then it was onto the emissions test- a big fat fail. Hydrocarbons and CO way too high-hopefully will be cured by changing valve stem oil seals and setting carbs up on a rolling road, or swapping for a single carb for the retest.

Passed the underbody inspection, brake check, light aim, light combination check, noise test and radius checks with ease. Then Paul took it for a spin around the centre, checking handling performance and self centering; again passed both. Mirror checks were passed with ease.

In short, the only major fail I have is on emissions, which on a monocoque Robin Hood I think is a pretty decent result for a first time result and just over a year of build time, especially as the quality assurance bloke was there. Got a couple of other things on the fail sheet, which Paul mention discreetly after the test shouldn't really have been there but the QA man didn't want me going away with such a short list.. These are just small things like the indicators on the cycle wings apparently facing the front and acting as front indicators, even though they are behing the centre long of the wheel and actually facing sideways and backwards... Best not to complain as they're easy fixes and it gives me something to do over the next couple of weeks!

Had a wicked drive home, confident in the fact that everything was safe and wouldn't kill me! Had a slight worry when the brake light came on so pulled over and checked the handbrake switch and reservoir- the reservoir test button simply hadn't popped back up when they had depressed it. Fixed it, and ended up chatting to a bloke in the lay by who had a super light with a crossflow... Anyway, back through Bromsgrove, Alcester and Stratford in 25 degree weather through all the tourist/work traffic, not a single problem. From Stratford back to home it was small country roads all the way- I absolutely loved it, and it was the best drive of my life so far. Had a brilliant day and happy to have such a short fix list.

[Bob Tucker]

Well done!!

The emissions should be a relatively easy fix.

What standard were they measuring against?

Its my understanding that an age related kit should only have visible smoke test,

or else the 1200 PPM & 3.5% test

[Guest alexpink]

I'm going for a Q plate, so 4.5% and 1200ppm. Should be pretty achievable even with twin Webers (maybe leaned down for the test) and hopefully won't take too long to get sorted. Would be nice to be on the road this autumn and enjoy some of the nice weather while we have it!

[Guest 2b cruising]

When you think you have cured your emissions problem, it might be worth your while to get a pre test report from your local mot garage.

This could save you lots of waisted time and money.

I would go for the original carb set up to make absolutely sure.

If you get there early again, keep driving around the area to keep it warm until the last possible minute.

A good full throttle blast before you go in to Lear any soot from the exhaust also helps.

[David S]

That is a great result Alex, you must be well cuffed

[Peter Bell]

Fantastic result Alex well done.

[Guest 2b cruising]

If that was me, I would be over the moon about it.

Three members gave a builder an assist with his IVA prep.

I was one of them.

It failed. Not on many points but more than yours.

Having said that, the station has the highest fail rates of IVA and HGV tests in the country.

Also the examiner was grinning when he told the builder he had only ever passed one car, on its first attempt.

[Guest alexpink]

Have now tweaked a couple of things for the retest, and changed the valve stem oil seals (well... Replaced what was left of them) for new ones (thanks for lending the tool Dave Castle!)

Need to set the valve clearances tonight and start it up, hopefully won't leak now I've helicoiled a new thread for one of the rocker cover bolts.

Going to have a play with the carbs and see how far I can lean them down without it running badly, then take it over to the local MOT station to get it checked on their machine. Hopefully I'll be able to get away with tweaking it down for the test, otherwise its going to be expensive (full rolling road setup or switch to bike carbs and RR)

I'm also hoping that I'm actually going to be able to get a test date sometime soon. Spoke to a very rude bloke at DVSA on Tuesday and yesterday afternoon who told me to ring back today as Kidderminster don't have any more appointment slots for ages, but they would know more today (I could tell he just wanted to get me off the phone and go home)

They are apparently running a trial where the DVSA now books all the tests, rather than transferring you through to the test station itself, which seems to be an awful idea as the test station seemed pretty competent whereas everyone I have spoken to at the DVSA doesn't seem to have a clue what is going on. Annoying as I'm aiming to be on the road within 2 months but hopefully will get a test date soon and I only need to be there for about half an hour...

Thank everyone for the positive and constructive comments, it helps a lot. Just can't wait to get out on the road now (with a windscreen fitted!) to enjoy the car properly and start racking up some miles!

[Guest alexpink]

Spent the past four days trying to get hold of someone at the DVSA who actually knows what they're talking about, and they won't have any information about any available appointments until later next week. This is really starting to get on my nerves as I've paid a lot of money for the test, and for it to take four days to talk to someone who actually knows how to do their job is frankly ridiculous. The only information they have given is that there may not be any appointments available until November, which I think is unbelievably bad service considering i need to be there for about half an hour for the retest..

I suppose I should be thankful that I haven't had any real issues up until this point, but it's still very annoying as I'm so close to getting on the road...

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Alex I appreciate they are slightly more expensive, but it might be quicker to try and book a Saturday retest.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Ian & Carole

[Guest alexpink]

Cheers for that, but they won't let me even book anything until at least next week. The two usual testers are both off with long term illness, and they only have cover until the end of august. Still think it's very poor service to not have anyone to cover tests which are required by law... The amount of hassle it's been to just get information out of them is ridiculous... could have bought an old dutton for a couple of hundred quid and been on the road by now...

All jokes aside, it's incredibly frustrating talking to the central DVSA office, as they have no clue what they are doing. The actual test stations know what they are doing, but the central office is awful. Going to tweak a couple of things this weekend on the car, and get the windscreen surround painted and ready for fitting. Hopefully this will take my mind off it all..

[Guest alexpink]

Really hacked off with DVSA/VOSA now.. They won't even take bookings for a retest until September 1st, meaning by then I'll have had to wait a month just to book the test, then probably at least another month before I can actually go to the retest. Really getting on my nerves that they can't book tests due to tester's "long term sickness"; I have no problem with the bloke not being there, but surely they need to have someone in his place to run the tests when he isn't there...

[Guest 2b cruising]

John Heatherington had to wait 6 weeks for his retest.

He now has to wait about another 6 weeks for his registration to come through.

That's 3 months waiting for officialdom to work things through their system.

This is on top of waiting for his first IVA test to be booked for him.

[Mohammed Ali]

Hello guys, I’ve got an IVA test coming up for my S3 Saloon 2019 and I’ve checked the list of things they’ll be checking for and I think i have passed pretty much everything hopefully anyways just wanted some advice or anything really. And also does the car have to be full tank when im there??? It says so on the letter, but i dont know. Few questions sorry,

is it possible to get insurance without the car being registered and if so how much are we looking?

the test is on my mom’s name, but she doesn’t know much about the car does she have to be there still or can she stay at home and il be there?

 

Thanks guys

Edited December 15, 2023 by Mohammed Ali

[phaeton]

The tank 'should' be full so that they can get correct weights, however I usually take them 1/2-3/4 full & never had an issue, as far as insurance, yes they can insure on the VIN number, go to one of the specialists, Adrian Flux, A-Plan, Graham Sykes they will understand your needs, if you get a chicken that doesn't understand ask to speak to a more senior one.

It is quite fun driving down the motorway without number plates overtaking Police cars, it's the child in me. However a word of caution on doing it, you need to be 100% confident (or even more if it were mathematically possible) that your car is going to make it there without issue, I've only ever once took the risk & that was a re-test, all the other times I trailered down, remember if you have some unforeseen issue you're throwing away £450.

With regards to the test being in your mum's name & you attending, I 'think' it depends on how you have filled in the forms, I once SVA'd a car for a friend, but on the forms I'm sure he was put down as the builder & owner, I was put down as the presenter, there was no issue, but TBH I would ring the kit car team at Swansea to ask, again you don't want to turn up there on the day, they refuse to test & you lose £450.