Failing the SVA

[Timscob]

Took my car to SVA at Chadderton on the 31st July and failed, but passed two days later!
Only two failure points. rear reflectors were mounted too far in from edge of body by 30 mm. My fault, as I had meaured them before the test! Second failure point, the steering wouldn't self centre from full lock. A common problem apparently, from what I have read. Pilgrim weren't much help here. The best advice they could give was to keep trying! Not much help at all when you've got 48 hours to get the problem sorted. Eventually decided to get the tracking set again professionally. I took the car to the local ATS centre who set the car up again. The steering would self centre but not from full lock.

I decided to take the car for retest anyway and see what happened. Got the car back to Chadderton on the 2nd August. Had a different examiner, and I explained what I had done, and about the lack of centring at full lock. He said that it wasn't necessary! He took it for a drive and said it was fine.

Overall, the SVA experience wasn't as bad as I expected. The guy's at Chad were very helpful. In fact, a lot of things weren't even looked at! I guess it depends on the examiner!

Thanks to all who offered advice and help during the build. This forum is without doubt the best place to get it!!

[darren]

One recommendation that I would make :-

Handbrake cable, mine slipped but only after my SVA pass thankfully. The nylon adjuster nut thread wasn't man enough for the job and allowed the cable to slip through when the handbrake was fully applied. Extra fuel line sized jubilee clips that I had lying around worked perfectly, adjusted the cable then tightened up the jubilee clip. Job done. Handbrake can now be fully applied.