TESTING TIMES Roadworthiness Section, Road Safety, VicRoads

May 1998 ♦ Issue 6

Welcome Technical Issues

Hello and welcome to issue No 6. From the Window tinting, change to standards
feedback we have been receiving you are
As of the 1st of April 1998 the standard for side
finding testing times useful, however we don=t
window light transmittance changed. It is now
get many suggestions for items to include. We
permissible for all side windows to have only
would like you to have more involvement if
35% light transmission.
possible. You don=t need to write an article, just
let us know what you would like covered.
A copy of the revised
Vehicle Standards
Conference Series Information (VSI) No2
is enclosed - put it in
The first of our conferences has been conducted your folder for
at Mildura. The new format of providing a meal reference.
at the start of the evening proved popular. The
presenters from VicRoads and the department of
Justice covered a number of legal, as well as CATS on personally imported vehicles
technical matters and as usual answered lots of Personally imported vehicles are exempt from
questions. A survey conducted at the end of the many registration requirements provided that
evening showed that although we can still they met the requirements in the country of
improve our presentation the night was origin. There have been instances were LVT=s
informative and worthwhile. have required catalytic converters to be fitted to
The only real post 1986 personally imported vehicles.
disappointment from our
side was the poor Personally imported vehicles less than 15 years
attendance by LMCTs. old are identified by a yellow personal import
This was a shame as one of plate in place of a compliance plate. These
the points we are trying to vehicles are required to have an unleaded fuel
cover is the relationship filler restrictor fitted but there is no requirement
between LVTs, LMCTs and VicRoads. for a catalytic converter.

The next conference is scheduled for Horsham Refer to VSI No. 3 for more details on
and as we travel around the state you should all personally imported vehicles.
receive an invitation to attend at a reasonably
local venue. If you deal with local car yards feel
free to suggest that it is in their interest to attend
as well.
Falcon door intrusion beams Road testing motorcycles
Door intrusion beams on EA & later Ford Do you have to road test motorcycles?
Falcons are held in place by spot welds. We
The real question should be - if I don=t perform
have found a number of high mileage vehicles
a road test how do I check the braking
where the spot welds are breaking out. The
capability, machine stability, controllability and
problem is easily seen with the door open by
other handling traits.
looking near the door latch mechanism. Advice
should be obtained from Ford on the correct
repair method. An inappropriate repair may
adversely affect the safety of the vehicle.
Commodore seat belts The advice we have had from the trade and our
VT Commodores have seat belt pretensioners own motorcycle instructors is that it is not
with an electrical harness, which runs back possible to judge the above items unless a road
underneath the seat. The harness connectors can test is conducted. Remember the onus of proof
be damaged or disengaged by objects stored is usually on you. Of course all this applies to
beside the seat. (eg street directories) This other vehicles as well.
causes the SRS warning light to come on. As the Bonnet Scoops
connector is not sold separately an entire
pretensioner assembly is required. VicRoads has adopted a slightly more liberal
position on what is a safe bonnet scoop and
Holden have recommended that objects are what is not. VSI 8 has now been reprinted and,
stored in the map pockets at the rear of the front in addition to the previous requirements for
seats. vision of the road and the area of openings to
the front, the shape of the front must now meet
Seat belt repairs the test below:
Seat belt repairs are not approved. Spare parts
for the mechanisms are not available. The
webbing has different characteristics on
different belts. If the webbing is worn or
damaged then the mechanism usually needs
replacing also, ie a complete new belt. Only a
manufacturer can modify a belt for special use
(eg longer webbing for wheelchair occupants in
taxis) because they have the expertise to certify
Trade plates
the finished product meets the standards.
A tester has contacted us about a discussion he
Belts we have seen >rewebbed= by motor
had with a police officer during a road test of a
trimmers have been unsafe due to
vehicle fitted with trade plates.
damage caused to the webbing by
incorrect stitch patterns, Trade plate conditions of use are restricted for
wrong thread and the LVT=s. If you use the trade plate outside the
wrong needle. conditions specified you could be liable for a
charge of driving an unregistered vehicle. Please
Because the backyard repairers don=t identify
read the conditions of use and if you don=t have
their work you could be liable if you fit faulty
them contact VicRoads for a copy.
units.
If a belt has been in an accident and any How do you clear a Canary?
warning device fitted to it has been triggered The way a Defect Notice (canary) is to be
then the whole assembly must be replaced. The cleared is marked on the notice. Victorian
warning devices include tabs which pop up and Acanaries@ usually require the vehicle to be
labels which appear when the belt is stretched. presented at a Registration Office with a
If you are not familiar with them have a look in Roadworthiness Certificate (RWC). For minor
a few owners= handbooks. items the RWC may not be required.
Interstate Defect Notices (DNs) may specify windscreen on late model Commodores as is the
clearance at an Authorised Inspection Station practice with most American cars.
(AIS) - private or government run - or However, as you may know, not all Holdens are
presentation at a Police Station or Registry made in Australia. Some of the new models are
Office. from Europe and have their VINs inside the
By interstate agreement, any DN passenger compartment. VINs in unusual
can now be cleared in any positions also applies to other European
other jurisdiction but in vehicles.
Victoria only VicRoads Here are some examples of
can clear DNs. Where an these locations.
interstate DN required
presentation at an AIS, VicRoads will require a On the Holden Calibra, Vectra and Astra
RWC to clear the notice. If the DN only the VIN is located between the driver seat and
required presentation at a Police Station or the door sill panel (covered by a plastic latch).
Registry Office, a RWC will not be required. This location is also used on some later
Mercedes Benz models.
It should be noted that Licensed Vehicle
Testers (LVTs) are not Authorised Inspection Another unusual location was used on the
Stations and are not authorised to clear earlier model (mid 80s) SAAB 9000 series. The
interstate DNs. Signing an interstate DN as VIN is actually located in the boot on the cross
an AIS could be fraud. member just behind the seat.
Roadworthy Books, Fee Increase Some model Volvos use the AA@ and AB@ pillars
on the drivers side for the VIN location.
Inflation has finally caught up with us and the
cost of books of certificates of roadworthiness Commercial vans such as the Mitsubishi
went up from the 1st of April 1998. This is the Express, Toyota HiAce and Nissan Urvan also
first rise in about six years. usually position the VIN inside the cab. So have
a good look at the floorpan around the seats and
The new cost per book of 100 pillars.
certificates is $105.00
On vehicles with a ladder type chassis,
If you don=t send enough manufacturers usually make use of the chassis
money in future we will rails to stamp in the VIN.
have to return your order
to you. Favourite locations are the front left or right
hand quarters, somewhere in the middle or the
Heavy vehicle training left and right rear quarters.
Batman/Kangan Institute are now providing If you are really stuck and have searched
heavy vehicle LVT accreditation training. This everywhere and can=t find the VIN for a 1986
course is also likely to be of interest to those onwards vehicle with a GVM under 4.5 tonne as
involved in quality assured maintenance a last resort you can contact the Vehicle Safety
programs. Branch.
If you are interested in attending please contact Supervisors phone numbers
admission officer Kay Cayton of student
administration at the Moreland campus on Due to a switch to digital mobile phones we had
ph 9353 1860. to change our numbers so here are the new ones.

Location of VINs Ed Hollyoak 0418 365175

From time to time you will encounter a vehicle Graeme Banes 0419 395025
where it is seemingly impossible to find the Bob Abeysekera 0417 366310
VIN. Andrew Cruddas 0418 365176
In most vehicles the VIN is located under the Craig McDonald 0417 302180
bonnet somewhere on the firewall or near the Nino Menolascina 0418 507580
strut towers. Holden placed it under the Fred Hebb 0417 366305
Customer Surveys If you want to buy a new book of RWC=s over
the counter you will need:
Someone (no names mentioned ) came up with
the idea of producing a customer survey on the * the proforma from your old RWC book,
back of the vehicle testers licence renewal form. correctly completed (signed by the
The first lot went out in April and much to our Director/owner or representative of the
surprise we got a great response. Those testers licence),
who took the trouble to include some additional
comments or queries have been sent a personal * positive identification of yourself, or your
reply. representative (photograph on a drivers
licence or passport would be ideal), and
It is important to us that you tell us what you
really think if we are to identify things we can * cash, cheque or credit card.
improve.
The surveys will continue and we will bring you
Delivery of Books
the results in future editions of testing times.
The Bookshop has used a
courier service and your
Supplies purchases have been
delivered to you at no
Supplies of all stationary needed for LVTs are extra cost. Not only has
available from the VicRoads bookshop. All this given you prompt
requests should be sent to: delivery but it ensured
their security as well.
VicRoads Bookshop
Ground Floor As a trial recently, RWC books have been
60 Denmark Street delivered using Australia Post PostPaks and
Kew Vic 3101 registered mail.

If you need to make urgent On results to date this looks even better than the
arrangements the bookshop courier service and we might adopt it
can be contacted on: permanently.

Phone (03) 9854 2782 Consideration is also being given to using

Fax (03) 9854 2468 yellow Priority Post envelopes by certified mail
but this may require you to pick them up from
between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm Monday to the Post Office.
Friday.

Remember, the bookshop is now using the same

roadworthy database that the supervisors use
and books can only be ordered by:

(a) the licence holder, or

(b) a director of the company which holds a

licence, or
If you have received any books via Australia
(c) a person who has been delegated in writing Post recently and have had any problems please
by one of the above people. let us know. Also, would you have any problems
with picking the books up from the Post Office
A reminder: if they were sent by certified mail?

RWCs are now $105.00 for a book of 100.