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Thread ID: 95924	2008-12-21 21:46:00	W arrant of Fitness	Roscoe (6288)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
731559	2008-12-21 21:46:00	On my last trip to the testing station, I was failed. The garage where I had it repaired was very dismissive of the testing station and recommended that I obtain a warrant elsewhere. His opinion was that the repair was not really necessary. Speaking to another mechanic from another garage I heard the same comments. They apparently apply the same standards (from their book of words) to a 20th century car as they do a 21st century car. Comparing his 1959 Roller with today's vehicles is ludicrous, he said. When built, they had tolerances in the steering etc that you would not find today. He told me that that does not make them unsafe - just different - but the testing station people will fail an old car because they do not match today's standards. But the most revealing statement was that most of the "operators" in a testing station are not mechanics. I would have thought that would have been a pre-requisite. Apparently not. As long as they know one end of the car from the other and can pass a test they can work in a testing station. It is because they are not mechanics that they do not have the same level of knowledge as a mechanic and so do not have the experience required to understand the differences between old and new cars. It was a very revealing conversation.	Roscoe (6288)
731560	2008-12-21 21:52:00	What did it fail on? And what is the car?	pctek (84)
731561	2008-12-21 22:02:00	Nissan Sunny. It scrapes underneath a wee bit as it leaves the garage and had split a small part of one of the rails underneath. The testing station said it was unsafe, the mechanics said it was not, but they had to repair it otherwise I would not get a warrant. Like you, I am not a mechanic which is why I leave to those who know more than I. It is a matter of whom do you believe, an "operator" or a mechanic? No contest as far as I am concerned.	Roscoe (6288)
731562	2008-12-21 22:02:00	You won't be able to try and get a warrant at another place as your car has now been logged in the LTSA computer system as failed. That used to be common thing once, going to different places if it failed at one. You can't do that now.	Safari (3993)
731563	2008-12-21 22:19:00	You won't be able to try and get a warrant at another place as your car has now been logged in the LTSA computer system as failed. That used to be common thing once, going to different places if it failed at one. You can't do that now. Not true. You can still do it. I failed at one place, got 2 out of 3 of the failed things fixed, took it elsewhere and they passed it on everything and gave me a new warrant.	--Wolf-- (128)
731564	2008-12-21 22:32:00	Nissan Sunny. It scrapes underneath a wee bit as it leaves the garage and had split a small part of one of the rails underneath. which rail? if its the chassis rail then yes you will need it repaired. WOF tests are werid, some of the testing stations are dodgy sods at the best of times while others super fussy. but then again if you look at the rules they are very open to interpration. if you want a safe car go to a tester who also attends accidents. they get to see where things break.	tweak'e (69)
731565	2008-12-21 22:49:00	The testing station I have always taken my vehicles to, is now an "On Road" testing station (used to be just "The Testing Station") . Back in the day it was staffed by mechanics, most of whom were in the 'autumn' of their careers and when they said there was a problem you could be confident there was . Although the staff have changed, I still have more confidence taking the car there than a dealership or mechanic . I recently had my wife's car (1995 Mazda 121) serviced by the Mazda dealership (Wairau Park) . When we picked it up there was a note on the papers that the brakes would have to be looked at in the next 12 months . We then took it to the On Road place to get a WOF and rego . It failed on the brakes (uneven pressures), so we had to take it back again to Mazda, who said they had done a road test and it seemed OK - apart from their warning . The On Road testing station also picked up on some rust on an engine cross-member that Mazda didn't notice . . . - that had to be fixed too! The problem is, Mazda have the ability/authority to issue a WOF - but I now have no confidence in their ability to do so . If we had had an accident in the 121 with a Mazda-issued WOF, and the insurance company had done some investigation, they may have chosen to refuse to pay out . Let alone the safety aspect . On Road have the brake testers (rollers) whereby they measure the amount of pressure on each wheel . Much more scientific than a "road test" .	johcar (6283)
731566	2008-12-21 23:40:00	I find testing stations on the whole to be a bit on the strict side. AA are fine, but the VTNZ ones are pedantic. My bluebird failed both times that it went to the VTNZ station, cause the rear brake pressure was out of balance (one point more or less than was acceptable). (Just like you johcar - we seem to have a differrent prespective on this) :) I pulled the shoes off, sprayed brake cleaner on the disks and reassembled. It passed. Same twice. Took it to a garage after that, passed fine both times, 2 different garages, both times I asked the mechanics about the VTNZ brake thing, they both said not necessary to be that strict with it, no safety advantage. The car stopped very well and in a straight line - I'd even put new pads on it 6 months earlier. That kind of thing to me seems to be unnecessary and annoying. If theres a real problem, yes get it sorted. And any garage can pick issues that are hazardous, but getting down to the nitty and gritty brake balance .1 of a % is not needed.	wratterus (105)
731567	2008-12-21 23:50:00	I find testing stations on the whole to be a bit on the strict side. AA are fine, but the VTNZ ones are pedantic. My bluebird failed both times that it went to the VTNZ station, cause the rear brake pressure was out of balance (one point more than was acceptable). (Just like you johcar - we seem to have a differrent prespective on this) :) I pulled the shoes off, sprayed brake cleaner on the disks and reassembled. It passed. Same twice. Took it to a garage after that, passed fine both times, 2 different garages, both times I asked the mechanics about the VTNZ brake thing, they both said not necessary to be that strict with it, no safety advantage. It's going to depend on your point of view. I would rather go somewhere that is strict and be relatively sure my vehicle is safe (at least until the next WOF) to the letter of the law (which may or may not be technically correct - but at least it's the same standard being applied across the board), rather than a mechanic's opinion, whose qualifications I cannot check. :) The other POV is that a WOF is just something you have to have so you don't get an infringement notice (or something you can try to get away with not having, because your car isn't insured anyway). :(	johcar (6283)
731568	2008-12-21 23:59:00	The other POV is that a WOF is just something you have to have so you don't get an infringement notice (or something you can try to get away with not having, because your car isn't insured anyway). :( I definitley don't think like that. :( I probably have a bit more trust in the garage where I take my car, cause I know the guys there and have known them for years. I and I know people in a 2nd garage, so If i'm ever concerned about something - they are only too happy to prove each other wrong. :D	wratterus (105)
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