Do You Think This (Crack in Tail Light) Is a Genuine Roadworthy Fail?

tik tok on 28/04/2020 - 20:19
Last edited 30/04/2020 - 19:29

In the territory of ACT, my beloved car failed a roadworthy test. Reason being, the left tail light had a crack in it!
The report says its broken for some reason. When I asked the guy what his reason was, he said "water could go in and create moisture, hence its a fail". The light works as expected and there is no issue with it. The same car with the exact same crack passed a road worthy in another state a while ago.

So, two sets of questions :
Do you think he's being too picky or does It seems alright ? Do I just suck it up and get a new tail light ?

What options do I have if I disagree with this inspection ? He has my 70 bucks now and wanted me to sell a new tail light.

Photo of the relevant section of report and Tail light : https://imgur.com/a/K5lIRxh

Update : I reported this to the audit department, who did another inspection and passed the vehicle.

Automotive

Comments

  • Hybroid on 28/04/2020 - 20:25
    +5

    While cracks in taillights are only unroadworthy if they show white light, he could also reject on the basis that the red reflectors are damaged. Either case, it's safer to get it replaced and done with.

    Rule 146 here: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/ci/fattach/get/63242/1…

    • tik tok on 28/04/2020 - 21:46

      Agree. Only the replacement is upwards of $200 and money is hard to come by atm

      • bazingaa on 29/04/2020 - 00:41
        +1

        did you check at wreckers ?

  • Blue Cat on 28/04/2020 - 20:42
    +1

    Any chance a friend has the same car? Just replace it for the inspection and then exchange back after that.
    IMO the crack goes all the way down, so if the moisture were to appear there, it would drip out. I had similar issue with my tail lights - moisture would appear every morning in the tail light when there were no cracks at all and some water would stay at the bottom.
    The mechanic just drilled a small hole at the bottom on tail light and it seemed to fix it.

    • Donaldhump on 28/04/2020 - 20:53

      I did this in my twenties , oh gee not my proudest moment,

      • Blue Cat on 28/04/2020 - 20:54

        Mind telling the full story?

        • Donaldhump on 28/04/2020 - 21:15
          +5

          Had a small hole in a tail light, swapped it with a mates cars light, got roadworthy, registered car, swapped it back. Drove around for years.

    • tik tok on 28/04/2020 - 21:47

      No :-(

  • pegaxs on 28/04/2020 - 21:04
    +1

    Unless you can see white light through it, it should have passed… that being said, I had a RWC knock back years ago based on the indicator was “scratched”… not broken or cracked, just scratched.

    There’s no point arguing, they are not going to go back into the system and edit it, you either wait out the time where the recheck expires and get it done somewhere else or you just get the lens changed out.

    If you have a dispute with how the RWC was done and subsequently failed for, you could always ring the government body responsible for overseeing these people and complain to them.

    • tik tok on 28/04/2020 - 21:45

      I want to make sure am doing the right thing. Or at least a reasonable thing. Dont want to be in a position where getting it done somewhere else also creates the same problem and I end up losing another $70 bucks. However, I have shown this light to another mechanic and he said 'she'll be right' so am defo planning to report the mob who failed the car initially.

  • Ugly on 28/04/2020 - 21:32
    +3

    Could you fill the crack with clear silicone or superglue?
    If his concern is waterproofing, how could he not pass it after you seal the crack?

    • tik tok on 28/04/2020 - 21:46

      I am planning on seeing him tomorrow again and take my super glue with me.

      • Bargainaholic on 28/04/2020 - 22:23
        +1

        Super glue may be water resistant at best, but certainly not waterproof.
        Best to use silicone for roofing or bathroom to make it completely water tight.

    • Cave Fire on 28/04/2020 - 22:36

      clear resin to fill and a high number sand 800 or so. Video: Youtube

  • brad1-8tsi on 29/04/2020 - 00:18
    +1

    If it NSW I'd say he's being a bit picky. I'm not sure how much harsher the ACT inspection process is.

    I would suggest that if water ingress is the issue then some silicone sealant would be the cure and be legal.

    You aren't obliged to have it repaired by the inspection station and I strongly suggest that you take it elsewhere for repairs as this reduces their desire to find more faults which = more business.

    I've had 2 instances with my current car where they've tried to knock me back and in both cases I've asked to see the actual part of the code that they are referring to. In the first case the guy passed the car because he was trying to fail it on something that might be an issue in 6 months time.

    In the 2nd case the guy was just didn't have a clue and I told him that if he failed the car I would report him, to the RMS. We agreed to part company without payment. The workshop 200 metres up the road passed the car without issue.

  • EightImmortals on 29/04/2020 - 08:36

    If the mechanic is being a twat about it and you have no other choice, get the replacement fixed somewhere else and then get him to sign off on the roadworthy. I know mechanics are doing it pretty hard ATM though so I guess I don;t blame him from trying.

    • Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 11:26
      +1

      Agree. It has to be fixed for roadworthy now, but don’t let the mechanic do it for you. Tell I’m you’ll fix it yourself even if you take it to another mechanic. Typically a tail light can be removed and replaced in a few minute with as little as a screwdriver.

      • pegaxs on 29/04/2020 - 13:14
        +1

        I agree with the mechanic trying to drum up work in the hope that OP would just say "go ahead and get it done".

        Years ago, when I was living in Victoria, the local RWC guy was known to reject everyone for windscreens, say he knew a guy who would replace it and then get his brother out to replace the windscreen.

        Thought I would one up him and get my windscreen replaced prior to taking it there. Low and behold, I failed my RWC because of "sand blasted/pitted windscreen" and he said he could get it replaced that day before I pick it up.

        Told him I had a receipt for the windscreen change from a few days prior and he refused to remove the fail on the RWC. Took it to VicRoads and told them, showed them the proof. He was investigated and suspended from doing RWC for a period of time.

  • wolffram on 29/04/2020 - 12:46
    +1

    IMO it's not a RW fail, but having said that, it's a moot point. As others have pointed out, you've already invested money with this tester. If you bail and go somewhere else, you've already wasted whatever you paid for the initial inspection. The best bet is to find a replacement yourself, preferably at the wreckers, and get it over with.

    • Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 13:38

      Borrowing a tail light from family friends or even a rental car then switching it back after the inspection would be the cheapest option. The police would be unlikely to find any issue with it in that condition - except maybe if you failed the attitude test.

      Following that, definitely find another inspector for next time.

  • brendanm on 29/04/2020 - 13:31

    I did rwc inspections in qld and would have failed that as well.

    See - https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/268582/79164/screensho…

    • tik tok on 29/04/2020 - 13:48

      Is that document from a QLD handbook ? Didn't find any such information in the ACT handbook (which is where I am) : https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/ci/fattach/get/63242/1…
      Incidentally, the same crack passed a RWC in NT.

      • brendanm on 29/04/2020 - 14:59

        Yes it is from Qld.

      • brendanm on 29/04/2020 - 15:03

        Could technically be "red reflector damaged" from that ACT book.

      • Euphemistic on 30/04/2020 - 06:13

        The crack is fairly minor in terms of safety, but just because someone else passed the vehicle doesn’t mean the crack is ok. The other inspector may have been slack or generous or something else.

        I’ve been going to the same guy for years. Does some servicing for me, inspected several vehicles and he has let slide a couple of very minor things.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 22:56

    Lighting Rule 106
    Light Vehicles
    106.01 Visually inspect the compulsory reflectors fitted to the rear of the vehicle.
    Reason for rejection
    a) Red reflector(s) are damaged, discoloured or missing (Note: reflectors may be incorporated in the lamp assembly).

    Probably got you on the technicality of a damaged reflector, which you can not argue with.

    ACT Inspection Rules

  • tik tok on 30/04/2020 - 19:29
    +3

    Update : I reported this to the audit department, who did another inspection and passed the vehicle.

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