Early start... Was up at 4:55 am.. Rob aimed to get to me for 5:45 so ready to load up and leave by 6:00 am.
Kettle on and a gallon of tea for Rob to drink!
All ready and all my stuff ready to dump on Robs car.
We managed to get on the road just before 6am.. Sat nav said just over an hour and 30 miles. I could have gone the motorway which is slightly longer but less time just didn't want to drive the car on the motorway on its first longer trip.
We arrived just before 7am so with plenty of time to spare. The drive there went well, first time i'd driven the car in the dark, interesting! The lights are crap.. One of the first corners we went round I nearly took out a deer, that would have been a good start to the day.
The Southampton test centre is on a large industrial estate with lots of busy businesses close by so now outdoor space like most centres have. Was surprised as I thought they required a test area to drive it around.
Started off driving the car on the ramps and the tester had a good look around the car. While under the car he was complimentary about the build quality and hose/cable routing etc. Engine on and off, foot on the brakes at random points, in and out the car.
The car was then weighted and then it was onto the rollers, to test the brakes. He spent alot of time warming them up to bring them up to temperature so to get the best results. Sounds like my brake balance is spot on but my handbrake needs some work.
It was then onto the wheel speed test, due to noise they get you to leave the unit while they ran this test.. It passed fine.
Then it was onto the emissions, you have to hold the car at 2000-3000 RPM while they stick a probe up end of the exhaust. Mine was well over, I had previously been to an MOT to check the emissions but it seems they were working with the pre cat regs so I was well over todays regs. He said I could have a crack at adjusting the values later.
I was then asked to drive the car outside where they tested the noise. Its tested at 45 degrees from the exhaust outlet in the direction which gives the greatest distance between it and the vehicle contour, which basically means closer towards the engine not the back of the car. Mine was recorded at 103db which is over the 98db restriction. Work to do here!
The tester then jumper in the car and tested the steering self correction, which again needs work.
Back inside the unit it was only mirrors, they line you up on some lines on the floor and then use the mirrors to view markers on the wall.. All mine were fine.
Next lights locations, lots of measuring here. Mine were all fine apart from the side indicators. These need repositioning as they cannot be seen from the rear.. Basically they measure 5m back from the car and then 30 cm outwards and look at the height of the indicators to see if they can be seen. The rear arches are right in the way. I will need to relocate these on the aches sides.
Out came the spheres... I thought I had skipped this step but he went round everywhere.. All fine apart from some missed bolt heads in the passenger footwell and a small area around the headlight mounts.
This was it.. Had a brief chat with the tester about the problem areas and how to fix them.. He was going away to work out some calculations for the brakes/handbrake and to have some lunch. He said go away and have a play with the fuelling to make it better for emissions.
After some soup... we crack on with the fuelling and changed most of the values around 2000-3000 rpm by 4-6%
Once the tester reappeared, it was back inside to test the emissions again. It failed again but we were so much closer this time! He wouldn't let me change the values again as we were out of time.
That was it.. The test went through his final results and said he was going to email the report back to me.
All packed up and ready to drive home.. I am a proper faffer, got all my helmet on and then couldn't get my bloody harnesses on as the tester had messed around with all the lengths.. Meanwhile Rob was sat in the car laughing and me tossing about in the car.
By this time I was shattered.. No real food all day.. and I just wanted to get home.. with that the heavens opened! Great a trip home in the wet!
The trip home was eventful.. after the rain stopped it seems like the car decide to piss out some water instead. My electric water pump earth cable had managed to come loose and stopped. This was a side of the road fix but we were on our way soon enough.
Back home.. The car is covered in shit....
I did expect a fail if I'm honest, I thought I would be bloody lucky if I'd had a pass today.
Nothing major but a couple of ball ache ones.. The tester was impressed with the build quality but said it wasn't the best he had seen. I think he was a stickler for the rules so I’d say so think i’d had a bit of a tough going over..
Heres the report from the tester and my comments..
01 - NOISE
RS5: The stationary noise must have a measured sound level not exceeding 99dbA.
Additional Information: OVER 103dBa RECORDED.
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WE’D TESTED WITH A METER A FEW WEEKS BEFORE AND MEASURED 96.. MY METER MUST BE OUT. WE MEASURED IT 45 DEGREES TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE CAR BUT THEY TOOK IT 45 DEGREES TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR SO PICKING UP MORE ENGINE NOICE.
WORK REQUIRED - GUESS try and sound proof the engine bay a little, engine bay floor? Tester said it was more engine noise rather than exhaust.
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02B - METERED EMISSIONS
RS4: The emission limits must be met as prescribed in the flow charts in the IVA M1 Manual Section 02B for CAT1 or CAT 2
Additional Information: EMISSIONS LIMITS NOT MET.(see printout)
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On second test we had a play around with the figures and get it very close, thing a small exhaust blow was causing some problems.. Will seal the blowing exhaust and off to MOT centre have some more time to put right and save the map.
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05 - STEERING EFFORT
RS8: When the vehicle is driven at speeds above 10mph, there must be a degree of steering “self centring” evident.
Additional Information: NO SELF CENTERING WHEN DRIVEN.
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I put in 1 degree as recommended but it wouldn’t self center. The column is a little stuff and he thought this might have something to do with it.
Think I am going to move to 2 degrees and test out.
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09B - SERVICE BRAKE CONTROL / MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
RS26: It must not be possible to manually adjust braking rates between axles
Additional Information: BIAS BAR ADJUSTMENT MUST BE LOCKED WITH EITHER LOCKWIRE OR ROLL PINS.
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Easy fix.. Had planned on doing on the day but no point due to the other fails.
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09D - HYDRAULIC AND VACUUM SYSTEMS
RS10: A brake pipe or hose must have suitable joint fittings
Additional Information: NO PTFE TAPE TO BE USED ON HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE TO CALIPER FITTINGS.
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Couldn't stop the adapters from weeping so used PTFE tape, a bad decision it turns out.. Might have to order up some new adapters to see if I can resolve the leak.
Blood hate brakes, a real ball bag that I will have to bleed them again.
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09E - BRAKE PERFORMANCE
RS16: The parking brake performance must be a minimum of 18%
Additional Information: ONLY 10% ACHIEVED.
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I knew it was going to be close at the MOT they said it was close. Will have apart and try and adjust it. Finding another 8% is going to be fun!
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12 - INTERIOR FITTINGS
RS1: Interior design features and fittings in the “specified zone” which are contactable with a 165mm sphere in a forward direction must have a radius of curvature of 2.5mm or greater, except where a projection from a panel is less than 3.2mm where the edges must be at least blunted
Additional Information: -BOLT HEADS ON NEARSIDE TUNNEL AND ABOVE BATTERY.
-TOP EDGE OF GEARSHIFT MECHANISM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL.
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Easy fix.. Again could have done on the day but no point because of the other fails
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14 - PROTECTIVE STEERING
RS3: The steering control and column assembly must provide adequate protection to the driver by absorbing energy from a driver-steering wheel impact. This is the case if the steering control has an approval (evidence may be markings or documents), or is similar to an approved steering control.
Additional Information: NO DRIVER/ WHEEL ENERGY ABSORBING DEVICE FITTED.
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He really didn't like his.. explained it was a column from a Sierra but he wasn't having any of it. Simple fix again by fitted a collapsible boss on the steering wheel.
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16 - EXTERIOR PROJECTIONS
RS2: All ‘hard’ parts contactable with a 100mm sphere, which form an external surface or protrude 5mm or more from the external surface must have a radius of curvature of at least 2.5mm
Additional Information: HEADLAMP BRACKET EDGES.
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Simples..
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RS29: An exhaust tailpipe must not project beyond the floor line lying directly above it by more than 10mm, unless it terminates in a radius of curvature of at least 2.5mm and in all cases project no more than 150mm. In the case of side mounted exhausts the tailpipe must terminate no more than 50mm from the extreme outer edge of the vehicle.
Additional Information: EXHAUST TAILPIPE CANNOT PROJECT MORE THAN 50MM PAST REAR WHEEL ARCH WIDEST POINT.
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This one is going to be a tricky fix.. Will have to investigate. My CAT needs the exhaust to be straight to seal so a bend is going to be interesting.
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18 - STATUTORY PLATES
RS1: The vehicle must be fitted with a manufacturer’s plate, in a conspicuous and readily accessible position.
Additional Information: MANUFACTURERS PLATE MISSING.
AS A MINIMUM IT MUST HAVE,
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Didn't think it was required as others had said it wasn't needed. Had it with me on the day but again no point fitting due to the other fails..
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Finishing on a positive the car only weights 475kgs!!!
Time for bed... Shattered.. Its been a long day!
Sorry if some of this doesn't make sense or has loads of spelling mistakes..
