Ct dmv

[Black Hole]

I thought I would post a separate thread from my new owner thread to document my CT DMV experience of registering a 2009 Caterham SV.

 

First the bad news. I failed the test. :cuss:

 

But the good news it is I don't have a lot to do.

 

First the background -

 

I bought a car from Mid-Atlantic Caterham (George Alderman has been great). The car came with a Delaware title as a 2009 ASVE (it actually had a 2009 Caterham title and I though that may be an issue with CT as it did not highlight it as a composite vehicle. George went back to DE DMV and they corrected the title as they agreed it was wrong). Because Mid-Atlantic is a registered car dealer he was able to provide a temporary DE plate and registration.

 

Per CT rules if the car is legally titled and registered in another state it only requires a "courtesy inspection" (nice oxymoron). I went to inspection yesterday in Wethersfield (only CT location for a composite inspection - fortunately only 20 min from my home). After waiting for four cars in front of me, my turn came up after only about 20 min. They did agree that the car could go through the courtesy inspection and not a full composite vehicle inspection after verifying the car has a VIN. The VIN on the title is the Caterham VIN etched into the frame rail. (Note: you do not fill out the form R-95 for a courtesy inspection, only for a full inspection. They had me fill out a simple form of name address and car make, model and VIN). The other good news is you don't have to pay the $88 composite inspection or the $50 VIN assignment fee, all free.

 

The inspection involved a walk around the car, validation that all lights were working and then he checked under the bonnet and checked under the car on a lift. The test ends with a brake test on a plate that measures deceleration. He commented on the windshield washing nozzle and I said yes, but no fluid in the reservoir. I do not know if having a washer is a requirement!

 

So what did I fail

 

- No red reflectors on side of vehicle at rear. Will add stick on reflectors

- No reverse light - not stated in regs that I can find but they said it is required for a 2009 composite vehicle. George is sending me the light, not sure if the switch is on the transmission which means I may wire it into the rear fog light switch on the dashboard

- I need to heat wrap the exhaust under the shields!!!

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=11898&stc=1

 

As you can see from the picture I had already added a heat shield on the headers as I knew CT was a stickler for heat protection on side exhausts. They stated this was not adequate and I must wrap the headers and the cat under the shields! I ordered fiberglass heat shield and will add it. They also noted no heat shielding is required after the catalyst.

- Oil leaks noted under engine. The leak appears to be from the oil pressure take off. There is a brass T attached to the engine block and two transducers, one should be the pressure sender that is directly connected to the brass fitting and the other port has an adapter and then another sensor that should be the low oil pressure switch. I was able to move one fitting about 10 deg. We will see if that stops the leak. What is the best way to seal up these fittings????

 

Bottom line is this went better than expected and is not hard to resolve. I went in with a car that met as many of the requirements as possible. Examples include having 3-pt belts as I was advised by an inspector ahead of time you MUST have FMVSS approved belts so 4/5/6 pt with a cam release will not pass. You can have both. The car originally did not have the turn signals on the front wings and I had them added before the inspection. I added the heat shield that I thought would resolve that (but apparently not!). My goal was to "lubricate the system" by having as few concerns as possible. I figure if you have a long list of issues they will just keep inspecting to find more. Working with the FAA and foreign regulatory agencies, you learn that the more the look the more they find and the more they continue to look!

 

The inspector did not know what the car was, but he was very nice and all in all it certainly exceeded expectations. Now to complete the punch list and I need to get back before my temp expires on Dec 11th.

[Black Hole]

I went back to the CT inspection today and breezed through reinspect process. I arrived at 7:55 and they open at 8:00 (in the 30's this AM but the car is remarkably toasty. Only above 60 MPH did I have any chill). The waved me in at 8:00 and I was lucky to have the same as my first visit. Literally 5 minutes later he had verified the four items he failed me for were fixed: oil leak (at the oil pressure sender or LOP switch), reflectors on the side, a back up light and the exhaust headers and catalyst were wrapped with fiberglass insulation under the guards.

 

I was at work by 8:20. Now I just need to strategically return to DMV when the lines aren't too long to get it registered. This process went much better than expected :hurray: and now I anticipate no issues other than long lines at the DMV to get the car registered before my temp plate expires in a month.

[scannon]

Congrats on getting through the inspection.

 

Some states allow you to make a reservation to get your plates, is CT one of those?

[wemtd]

Congrats BlackHole!

Even if you don't make it back to the dmv don't worry. The weather probably won't be conducive to driving for much longer.

[Croc]

Congratulations Jay! :seeya:

[Black Hole]

You are not an East Coaster:). Painand rudeness will likely ensue :banghead:. I will just have to go and get in the line.

Congrats on getting through the inspection.

 

Some states allow you to make a reservation to get your plates, is CT one of those?

[Black Hole]

You need side screens! And heat! I found the car quite comfortable in the 30s. Last night coming home after dark in the 40s I had to turn the heat down as I was getting to0 hot. Of course my CR500 tires probably have limited traction at those temps.

 

Congrats BlackHole!

Even if you don't make it back to the dmv don't worry. The weather probably won't be conducive to driving for much longer.

[Black Hole]

Thank you, you were a tremendous asset in the process in determining what to buy and finding a 7 that I love. I owe you a beer :cheers: (or some Tim Tams)

 

Congratulations Jay! :seeya:

[rcollum]

Glad it went well for you. Your work will pay off!

[SK400]

Congrats Jay - glad it went very well for you. Lucky they did not ask you to mount bumpers, install SAE approved lights and turn signals of a minimum diameter (eg way bigger than what we have on our cars), or add a 3/16" steel plate between the fuel tank and the passenger compartment... yes. Perhaps the courtesy inspection was the key. I admit, I chickened out when I tried to register, especially living in the southern tip of Connecticut, 1.5 hrs from Wethersfield, dreading all those back and forths with a trailer... and went a different registration way (the FedEx / UPS way, plates delivered at home).

 

Look forward to getting our cars together soon.. probably this spring.

[Black Hole]

Thanks, I look forward to a meet up. We will get wemtd along and create a stir. I agree I think the "courtesy inspection" may have been key. Maybe they are getting more lenient on the bumpers. I talked to a person with an Exocet and he had no issues registering his car without bumpers and he built it. I also had the luxury of a DE temp tag so I had no worries about getting back and forth. And I only live 10 miles from Wethersfield.

 

Congrats Jay - glad it went very well for you. Lucky they did not ask you to mount bumpers, install SAE approved lights and turn signals of a minimum diameter (eg way bigger than what we have on our cars), or add a 3/16" steel plate between the fuel tank and the passenger compartment... yes. Perhaps the courtesy inspection was the key. I admit, I chickened out when I tried to register, especially living in the southern tip of Connecticut, 1.5 hrs from Wethersfield, dreading all those back and forths with a trailer... and went a different registration way (the FedEx / UPS way, plates delivered at home).

 

Look forward to getting our cars together soon.. probably this spring.

[Black Hole]

Success, registration complete!

 

I am now the proud owner of a 1967 Lotus Seven Replica per the state of CT. The CT composite vehicle rules state the car can be registered as either the year of assembly or the year of the vehicle that it most closely resembles. Interestingly, now that it is an "old" car they do not issue a title. They allowed me to keep the Delaware title I received when I bought the car.

[NVP66S]

Congratulations!! Glad you're through the process. I chose 1962 as the year of my replica, and it turned out to be fortuitous. TX requires a safety inspection and my taillights do not have DOT molded into the lenses. It turns out that this was required in 1968 so I didn't need to change my tail light lenses for US DOT approved ones.

Dan