VTNZ & modified suspension

[Soulhaven]

This morning I took my car in to VTNZ to get it's warrant of fitness (I had one of those $5 off vouchers).

It failed.

On what, you might ask? Suspension. Apparently my modified suspension didn't travel far enough.

How do they test this at VTNZ? They push on the back of the car with their feet, or knee.... they bounce it. If it doesn't go as far as they feel it ought, they fail it.

Apparently this checks if people that have modified their suspesion have have done springs AND shocks. Well, mine had both done at the same time, so yes, it does have good shocks.

Anyway, back to Pit Stop (who supplied my modified suspension). They checked everything. Checked out fine to them.

They took it over to Dunedin Vehicle Testing for me (I was at work, and DVT is right next door to them). Well, they took it for a road test. It checked out fine. For a slight extra fee, they gave me a warrant.

Also worth noting, DVT will accept VTNZ $5 vouchers.


Something else very odd happened. Despite the guy at VTNZ not talking to me about my tyres at all (except when I asked how borderline they were, since they were 2nd hand to me) he handed me his summary sheet... with tyres priced up at the bottom. I thought VTNZ were independent!?

[DJ]

Solution : Never get your WOF at a VTNZ station.

[iforgothowtodrive]

vtnz hahahahahahahahahahaha ..... do they ever give wofs to anyone............. try green acres

[EVL20V]

they dont like modified cars

don't go there. simple as that

[Timmy]

although the problem is that if you get green stickered or the cops take a dislike to your car and its mods, they'll make you get a warrant done at a vtnz testing station, and if it passes your sweet but if it doesnt you've got some serious problems
you can check the warant criteria on the ltsa website:
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/publications/vir-manual/index.html

because if its not in the warrant code they cant fail you for it!!!

[Soulhaven]

Thanks Timmy,

I am most pleased that this thread has brought about some useful information. Knowledge is power, as they say.

[fangsport]

i think in cases like this, you need to get the examiner to produce the article from the manual stating why the vehicle/component has failed.
if it is a purely 'judgement' call, the book will show them up.

BTW, you don't get all snarky when you request to see the book, you merely imply that you weren't aware of (said component) being an issue, and would like to see the book to see what is allowable under the code, and how best to rectify it.

as stated above"knowledge is power"

[SkylineObsession]

When i took my car to VTNZ they failed it on two things it rightly should have failed on. The back stoplight bulb being blown (even though a day or so earlier it was working fine...) and one of the tyres needing repalcing (which was true).

They don't seem to pick on me even though i have a modified exhaust and a big sticker on the back window.

[stefan]

if you live out mosgiel way or green island go to bp alco on gorden road. they are sweet about everything i've got modified suspension exaust (which acording to a cop is to loud) and nitrous oxide and they didn't ask any questions even tho it hasn't been certified (one of those things i havn't gotten round to) for the nitrous. i'm not saying theyl pass anything bt there jst abit more leanenant on sertain things.

[barryogen]

if you live out mosgiel way or green island go to bp alco on gorden road. they are sweet about everything i've got modified suspension exaust (which acording to a cop is to loud) and nitrous oxide and they didn't ask any questions even tho it hasn't been certified (one of those things i havn't gotten round to) for the nitrous. i'm not saying theyl pass anything bt there jst abit more leanenant on sertain things.

leanient WOFs are like buying cheap brakes or skipping oil changes to save money... it's a false economy and will end up costing more in the long run, beit engine costs or life.

Cert'ing is there for a reason, to show that work done is safe, no more, no less.

[EVL GSXR]

if you live out mosgiel way or green island go to bp alco on gorden road. they are sweet about everything i've got modified suspension exaust (which acording to a cop is to loud) and nitrous oxide and they didn't ask any questions even tho it hasn't been certified (one of those things i havn't gotten round to) for the nitrous. i'm not saying theyl pass anything bt there jst abit more leanenant on sertain things.

leanient WOFs are like buying cheap brakes or skipping oil changes to save money... it's a false economy and will end up costing more in the long run, beit engine costs or life.

Cert'ing is there for a reason, to show that work done is safe, no more, no less.

That would be true but not in ALL cases.. I mean Adjusty's need to be certed to get a warrant by law (supposedly ) which isn't going the cheap way but some garage's might take a blind eye to that (more leanient then others).. Also with an Exhaust you might get some old guy that hate's loud car's and is anal to what he think's is too loud but some garage's might let it go (again leanient).. So I wouldn't say leanient warrant's are dangerous in all case's

[barryogen]

if you live out mosgiel way or green island go to bp alco on gorden road. they are sweet about everything i've got modified suspension exaust (which acording to a cop is to loud) and nitrous oxide and they didn't ask any questions even tho it hasn't been certified (one of those things i havn't gotten round to) for the nitrous. i'm not saying theyl pass anything bt there jst abit more leanenant on sertain things.

leanient WOFs are like buying cheap brakes or skipping oil changes to save money... it's a false economy and will end up costing more in the long run, beit engine costs or life.

Cert'ing is there for a reason, to show that work done is safe, no more, no less.

That would be true but not in ALL cases.. I mean Adjusty's need to be certed to get a warrant by law (supposedly ) which isn't going the cheap way but some garage's might take a blind eye to that (more leanient then others).. Also with an Exhaust you might get some old guy that hate's loud car's and is anal to what he think's is too loud but some garage's might let it go (again leanient).. So I wouldn't say leanient warrant's are dangerous in all case's

true, but personally, myself, I know nothing about setting up adjustable suspension, so I'd rather get it certed as being safe than just driving up to a "leanient WOF" place and getting one.

it's "one of those things", if it's done right, it'll be fine, if it's not, then it'll cost... the funny side of it is that if it is done right it is probably more likely to get certed than a "done on a budget" job that is more likely to be unsafe.

thankfully darwinism takes care of that, killing the weak... unfortunately the welfare state does the opposite.