This page describes the SVA modifications required in order to register my 1999 Mustang GT Convertible
As the vehicle was under 10 years old upon import it
needed to take an "Single Vehicle Approval" SVA test, in order to test vehicle
conformity to UK standards. A copy of the SVA manual can be found
here (Warning 19MB).
NOTE - In 2009 the SVA test was replaced by the "Individual Vehicle Approval" IVA test, a copy of the
IVA manual can be found here (Warning 8MB).
The following modifications were necessary:
- Amber rear turn signals
- Amber side repeaters
- Required the fender to be drilled and aftermarket lights fitted
- Clear side lights separate from turn signals
- Required the Headlamp to be drilled and 5W sidelight fitted
- Fog light mounted at rear (250mm off ground when tank full and must be separately wired from front fogs
- Required fitting an aftermarket fog lamp under the bumber and temporarily removing the front fogs to resolve the switch issue
The following pictures show the modifications:
Firstly all the trunk interior panels were removed to gain access to the tail lamps, the looms disconnected and the original tail lamps removed.
Firstly the original bulbs were put into the COBRA tail light unit, the turn signal wires were cut and connected to the new turn signal bulb, grounds connected and a new brake feed run to the brake lights. Finally the same was done to the passenger side..
The new brake feed is run into the 3rd brake light feed, a new fog light mounted under the bumper and the red wire fed to the front of the vehicle..
The fender was carefully drilled and repeater fitted.
The other fender was carefully drilled and again a repeater fitted, the repeaters were wired into the existing turn signal loom under the fender.
The headlights were carefully drilled to allow a small 5W sidelight to be fitted, the current "parking" light wire to the amber front turn signals was cut and fed to this new 5W sidelight. The wire to the fog light was routed through to the dash and down to the centre console where it was wired into the existing fog light switch (front fogs were removed to get around the separate switch for front/back fogs as there was no space for another switch and didn't want to cut the dash anywhere!).
The car passed SVA (after re-drilling the FOG light bracket to ensure the lighted surface was above 250mm from the ground).
After the SVA the front FOG lights were re-connected so the one switch operates both front and back FOG lamps. However I felt the rear FOG light under the bumper looked ugly so decided to integrate it into the rear tail light (some cars have passed SVA with the following configuration however its safer to go the under-bumper route for SVA!)
Firstly I swapped the middle and inner bulbs (as the inner only has a single wire) and cut the side/brake connections to the ex middle bulb, and connected all the bulbs ground connections.
The middle (now single connected) bulb holder is wired into the brown side light wire and the fog light wire to the under bumper fog cut and re-routed out to the tail light unit and connected to both connections of the new inner bulb (both connections used for intensity).
The middle (now single connected) bulb holder is wired into the brown side light wire and the fog light wire to the under bumper fog cut and re-routed out to the tail light unit and connected to both connections of the new inner bulb (both connections used for intensity).
All connections were insulated and changes replicated to the other lamp unit.
Now I have:
BRAKE/SIDE...SIDE...FOG............FOG...SIDE...BRAKE/SIDE
The following wiring diagram shows all the modifications made (including a dioded connection from the alarm to the turn signal wires - as otherwise I found the side lights lit when arming/disarming the alarm)
More recently I have fitted dual halo projector headlamps which provide the sidelight via the halo: