IVA Test

I took the car for it's IVA test, it failed! The examiner said the car was well put together but a few things he couldn't pass.

The failure points

  • Hinge nuts not 2.5mm radius
  • Hinge tops not 2.5mm radius
  • Battery terminals not insulated
  • Starter motor terminals not insulated
  • Relay no insulation on earth terminals!
  • Front o/s Brake hose rubbing on full right lock
  • Rear brakes efficiency 57% (MOT pass is 50%, IVA pass is 60% apparently)
  • Handbrake efficiency
  • Glove box knob 
  • Roof sticks too sharp
  • Rear door window struts top not 2.5mm radius
  • Front badge bar bracing not 2.5mm radius
  • Door handles not 2.5mm radius and front opening not close enough to door
  • Bump stops on roof stays not 2.5mm radius
  • Fuel cap can remove the key when unlocked
  • Rear Seat belt anchorage not triangulated
  • Luggage rack
  • Storage space behind seats - apparently if there is space for luggage (this also applies to the luggage rack) it has to be calculated for four adult's at so much weight and it will take the weight loading over the maximum for the rear axle. Even though you patently can't put four passengers luggage in the car! One small roll bag tops. The back of the Beauford is very heavy, there is some metal in the chassis. 

What I have done to get it past the IVA test?

 

  • Hinge nuts not 2.5mm radius - the acorn nuts were not rounded enough so put on plastic caps
  • Hinge tops not 2.5mm radius - used body sealer round them off.
  • Battery terminals not insulated - fitted rubber covers
  • Starter motor terminals not insulated - fitted rubber covers
  • Relay no insulation on earth terminals! - fitted plastic terminal covers
  • Front o/s Brake hose rubbing on full right lock - adjusted the hose quarter turn so it prevents contact
  • Rear brakes efficiency - replaced the disks
  • Handbrake efficiency - replaced the disks
  • Glove box knob - replaced with webbing strap
  • Roof sticks too sharp - fitted rubbers
  • Rear door window struts top not 2.5mm radius - used auto sealer to increase the radius
  • Front badge bar bracing not 2.5mm radius - removed the bracing
  • Door handles not 2.5mm radius and front opening not close enough to door - replaced the handles and fitted them vertically
  • Bump stops on roof stays not 2.5mm radius - removed
  • Fuel cap can remove the key when unlocked - replaced fuel filler and cap
  • Rear Seat belt anchorage not triangulated - fitted braces from the rear cross bar to the shock absorber mounts
  • Removed the luggage rack
  • Enclosed the storage space behind seats

IVA Re-test

I had everything ready by the end of the week and booked a re-test, the earliest slot available was for 8th November! I took the car for the test, he checked the failure items, was happy I had actioned them and told me to wait in the office while he wrote the paperwork because it had passed

 

The next challenge is getting it licenced for the road.

 

I had heard stories about the DVLA being difficult, but my experience was just the opposite. I found that you can't download all the forms you need from the web so the day after the IVA re-test I rang the DVLA and they said they would post them out to me. It was Friday, I figured it would take a few days so I drove to the Birmingham office. I may have been just lucky, but the first person I spoke to happened to be the guy who inspected the cars. He was really helpful, he gave me the forms I needed, advised me how to complete them and what to include. I returned the forms the following Monday, they were checked and I was gived a receipt. I received the letter advising of the inspection appointment on the Thursday after for the following week 22nd November. Then on the Saturday I received the forms from my phone call to the DVLA in Swansea, I'm glad I went down to Birmingham!

 

I took Twiggy down and put it in the allotted parking space and advised them I was there. They told me to wait with the car and someone would be out shortly. He came out, checked the VIN number, the engine, had a look round said it was a nice car and said he would send it out in a couple of days. All done! The reg number and tax disk came two days later. Twiggy has been reborn a POK!