Questions

[graham]

1/ SVA book does not mention which side the wipers should rest, but what is best to the left or right when viewed from front.

2/ What is the best screen washer to use that satisfies the SVA pref a twin centre mounted one?

3/ What are the ideal struts to use for boot/ bonnet the tail gate type, length and what production car could I get them from?

Cheers

Graham

[wilf]

Graham - SVA don't care where the wipers rest, they only check for "an adequate area of screen cleared to give the driver an "adequate" view of the road to the front and forward of the nearside of the vehicle". Plus the speed of sweep must be greater than 45 cycles/minute. (one cycle being forward and back sweep). So fit 'em to give you the best view. They must also park automatically out of the drivers normal field of view. To my mind, best parking position is on passenger side - then you get the wiper coming up parallel to the windscreen pillar on the drivers side at its limit of movement. When you buy your wiper arms remember they are different depending which side you will park on.

The windscreen washer jets are also not specified (but must comply with the radii regs). Again they have to "produce enough liquid to clear the windscreen in conjunction with the wipers". And they will operate the electric pump with the jets plugged for 3-5 seconds to check no lines drop off.
You can have a manual pump as well, different checks on those.
Also the reservoir must be 1 litre minimum.

Gas struts - I don't like them personally - very difficult to get the geometry right to stop them from pulling the bonnet/bootlid out of shape/position. I have seen it done properly tho'. Can't say it worries me to have mechanical props. Personal choice again!

WIlf

[graham]

cheers Wilf.

[David]

Re. Wipers resting position.

I suggest that you have your wipers resting to the left. I had an old 'A' series Opel Manta once where the windscreen wipers parked in the right position, and this can cause a blind spot in the top right side of the windscreen when it is raining, paricularly in the dark. I was chasing my Dad (when I was alot younger) in the wet and I was managing to keep up with him, until he went round a right handed bend and stacked his car into the railings. The only reason I did not belt him up the arse is because I was aware of my 'rain-caused' blind spot, and slowed down. Left hand parked wipers will not cause a blind spot within the drivers view.

[graham]

I pressume that is resting to the left then, viewed when sitting in car?

Graham

[wilf]

by golly, I think the boy's got it!!

graham - when ordering this is also known as parking on the passenger side.

Wilf