PA Enhanced Vehicle Inspection

[Steve in Lititz PA]

Hello all,

 

I am a newbie, I recently purchased a 1985 Caterham and because it has a  "rebuilt" Tennessee title as a kit car, it is subject to PA's Enhanced Vehicle Inspection to receive a specially constructed title.  I have no issue with that.

 

The car does not have windshield wipers...no motor, no wiper arms or blades, but it does have rubber plugs for the wheelboxes, and it does have a dash rocker switch for it (that's what tipped off the inspector).  He says to pass inspection it must have windshield wipers.

 

Does anyone have advice with regard to whether wipers are required or an option, and also if they are required, where to get the motor, actuating arms, wheelboxes, arms and blades.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Steve Rineer

Lititz, PA

[MPG]

I don't know about the law in PA, but if you do need them, then a lot of 7's use the setup from the old Mini. It was used in a lot of British sports cars and is still easy to get from folks like Moss.

[kayentaskier]

Welcome to usa7s Steve.

I am assuming you have a windshield, since you didn't say you have aero screen. The inspector is making an incorrect assumption about the rocker switch; my 2020 420R came from the factory with an aero screen, a rocker switch and no wiper motors. The rocker switch is there because Caterham wants to simplify their manufacturing process, they delete the wiper motor and related assembly as a cost savings (that isn't passed on). In fact, it has rocker switches for heater, heated windshield etc.; using the inspector's logic you would need to add all those options because the switches are there.

 

Installing the standard wiper motors, is going to be a lot of work because it is very tight quarters under the dash. Some hot rodders install a small, clip on manual wiper just for inspection purposes, perhaps that might work. Of course, if you want the wipers, that's a different story.

Good luck,

Jim

[mrmustang]

Steve,

 

     Having taking 1 Caterham and multiple track prepped Cobra replicas through the Enhanced Inspection process, I can simplify this for you:

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Hand-Crank-Manual-Windshield-Wiper,2301.html

You will need the additional clip on bracket

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Manual-Hand-Windshield-Wiper-Mount-Bracket,3416.html

 

Simple, inexpensive, and removable, and checks off the "must have windshield wiper" for your finicky inspector.

 

Bill S.

 

 

Edited October 15, 2021 by mrmustang
additional words

[Steve in Lititz PA]

Thanks to those who have pointed me to a solution.  I am the third owner, and owner #1 told me he removed the windshield wiper stuff (actually he removed the windshield too) since he only used the car for autocross.  He further told me he gave all the removed stuff to owner #2, so perhaps #2 still has it.  If so, I could solve this with paying the shipping cost, and a to-be-determined time spent upside down in the footwell.  At least the mounting hardware should match up.

My plan B is to go the Speedway Motors route, thanks again for pointing me in that direction.

[w650gb500]

I’ve titled 2 different “special construction” 7’s here in PA. From memory(many years ago), the wording was something like, “if equipped, the must cycle x-number of times per minute”. My cars were not equipped with a wiper motor therefore exempt from that part of the inspection. I would look into the actual wording in their inspection guidelines.

[Steve in Lititz PA]

Thanks, Dan

 

Your memory is correct...45 cycles per minute, and since the Caterham was originally equipped with two, I'm getting two from Speedway Motors, as others have suggested.  I don't want to give the inspector the opportunity to fail me a second time, although it's not strictly a fail, he said he'd charge me 1/2 the regular fee, and when I return with working wipers he'll sign off, and I pay him the 2/2.

 

After it passes (and the inspector said the wipers are the only issue), then the wipers will be removed and I'll toss them in a box.

 

Having said that, if any owner has unneeded LHD Caterham (and probably original Lotus) windshield wipers, ie, motor, drive cable, tubes, arms & blades, contact me off list, I'd rather have original as a spare than the "universal" variety cobbled together.

[Yeti]

I am impressed with only needing wipers.   I got a list of 10 items that the state special vehicle inspectors wanted.   I had wipers but they wanted the washer nozzles operational.  The most challenging and expensive was having bumpers fabricated.  Good luck with getting things sorted.  

Edited October 22, 2021 by Yeti