rego check failure and possible compensation, reprisal?

[Pis-ton broke]

hey,
the story is, my lady friends hi lux,s ball joint ripped/fell out in Sydney centre. The car L.H. lower ball joint totally separated from the lower control arm. The car was immobilized.

Lucky the ute was travelling at 5km/h, . But getting a tow on christmas eve was expensive, and finally a tow about 100kms to my place for repair.

The problem imo is the the car was rego checked in October (2019), and that a totally rooted ball joint should have been picked up and replaced. The owner is a mature aged lady that,s unaware of car stuff. So 10 weeks after a rego check the death trap of a car collapses. in town.

Im going to see this machinic, and i think some compensation is in order. I,m mainly ****ed that this has happened and that someone could have been killed or worse, really could have happened. Not happy!

i,m just seeking options of is there a case for compensation and or reporting to the authorizes, thanks.
Mick

[.:4:.]

Thats a professional indemnity thing. The car got passed because it was deemed safe at the time of inspection. Maybe something got missed, maybe it didnt and something happened in the time between inspection and failure. Who knows? The company i work for have insurance for proffesional indemnity, so a bum call that stuffs thing up. But all that stuff goes legal. Ive had times when companies call me back as in the time since i put an appliance tag on a sandwich press, someone sandwiched the cord in the press however the tag was in date. It passed at the time of inspection. Just someone decided to cook the cord beside their sandwich. There is a lot of speculation. Had it been a case of failure driving out of the driveway, yeah, a bum inspection. But time has passed and there are way to many things to void any workmanship if there is time and use involved.

[XR Martin]

You pay $30 for a pink slip and you expect a full mechanical inspection?
When was the vehicle last serviced at a mechanical workshop? Let me guess, being I assume an old hilux it probably hasn't been to one for a long while.

It's nothing more than a basic safety inspection, making sure things like lights, tyres, brakes are roadworthy.
If you expect more you are kidding yourself.

I bet every year she takes it in for the inspection she's glad nothing is ever picked up on the **** box hilux, yet the time something goes wrong it's suddenly the mechanic's fault because he didn't point out that something might go wrong in 3 months time.

[happy1]

I have the same view as XR, you hope the regular inspection don't pick up unnecessary things that cost you more to keep the vehicle on the road.
10 weeks ago when the vehicle was hoisted up, that joint may have been in a state of no noticeable wear. Problem is when you hoist it up the ball joints go to a different spot than where they are at in the lowered position, so they will appear 'tighter' than they are.

It would have been a whole different case if the part had been replaced by the mechanic and it fell apart after 10 weeks or even 10 months. If the part was incorrectly fitted then the workshop would clearly be responsible, but depending on their small print perhaps only for the part, not for your breakdown, towing cost etc.

[deesun]

Fix it, move on.

[whitelion65]

Old Hilux?
It’s a write-off!
Head to the Toyota plate clearance sale and get a new one ;-)

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

You pay $30 for a pink slip and you expect a full mechanical inspection?
When was the vehicle last serviced at a mechanical workshop? Let me guess, being I assume an old hilux it probably hasn't been to one for a long while.

It's nothing more than a basic safety inspection, making sure things like lights, tyres, brakes are roadworthy.
If you expect more you are kidding yourself.

I bet every year she takes it in for the inspection she's glad nothing is ever picked up on the **** box hilux, yet the time something goes wrong it's suddenly the mechanic's fault because he didn't point out that something might go wrong in 3 months time.

Seems to make a joke of the annual inspection thing.The inspection is suposed to find worn and unservicable items,but some testing places check the lights and tyre tread then sign off. A worn out ball joint didn,t just happen,it would have been picked up by a proper check up,maybe even 1 year earlier if the “mechanic” had had a real look.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Seems to make a joke of the annual inspection thing.The inspection is suposed to find worn and unservicable items,but some testing places check the lights and tyre tread then sign off. A worn out ball joint didn,t just happen,it would have been picked up by a proper check up,maybe even 1 year earlier if the “mechanic” had had a real look.

The inspection was 3months earlier, any number of things could have happened

For all we know the wheel was in just the right spot so when the inspector tested it it was serviceable.

[11ford11]

Did she hit a pot hole any time after inspection etc.etc.
The person inspecting the vehicle is limited in what he is allowed to do when inspecting
Are you also looking at involving the manufacturer of the ball joint for not designing the joint so it couldn’t fall apart when worn or damaged

[lra]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

Im going to see this machinic, and i think some compensation is in order.
i,m just seeking options of is there a case for compensation and or reporting to the authorizes, thanks.
Mick

Why is it now, that when ever something does not follow a script to the letter, people point fingers and look for $$$.

[Jack91]

No chance mate. Maybe if it was the next day, but 3 months, absolutely no way.
Fix it and move on. Everything isnt always someones fault.

[El Venom]

I had a shop do tyres and wheel alignment on my car and pointed out some things they thought were an issue but we're not and we're unrelated to what they were doing. Fast forward a few how's and car is getting a rego check and failed because of stuff done during the wheel alignment.

The inspector said it happens all the time and the first shop denied doing anything wrong claiming I messed it up driving even though the drive was 30m

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

The inspection was 3months earlier, any number of things could have happened

For all we know the wheel was in just the right spot so when the inspector tested it it was serviceable.

Ball joints show signs of wear a long time before they got worn enough to separate.As I said earlier,if the inspection had been done the faulty ball joint would have been found.From 40 years on the tools I know balljoints do not just fail from hitting a couple of pot holes.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by 11ford11

Did she hit a pot hole any time after inspection etc.etc.
The person inspecting the vehicle is limited in what he is allowed to do when inspecting
Are you also looking at involving the manufacturer of the ball joint for not designing the joint so it couldn’t fall apart when worn or damaged

The person inspecting is SUPPOSED to find unroadworthy parts,that is what he/she is paid to do!!

[Tickford.]

Welcome to the United States of Australia, where the first reaction is... compensation.

[fiestaz]

The last pink slip I got the car was driven from the parking spot into the workshop and back. That was it.

It’s only a basic inspection, $30 doesn’t get you far. Some states don’t even have these rego inspections at all.

3 months is a long time, it’s a quarter of the way until next inspection, in which time a lot can happen.

[JC]

Lucky no one was injured but at he same time good to know it’s not just SX Territories that have lower ball joint issues.

[Blue Dog]

What do you expect for a $30 rego inspection?
The vehicle was driven for weeks before the ball joint failed.

How are you going to prove the ball joint was defective at the time the inspection was completed?
How are you going to prove the mechanic was negligent & didn't complete a proper inspection?

Nobody would consider having an annual inspection done if wasn't a requirement for registration.

Going to be pretty funny to the casual observer when you confront the mechanic seeking compensation.

[Nu66et]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

The person inspecting is SUPPOSED to find unroadworthy parts,that is what he/she is paid to do!!

NSW inspections haven't been $30 for a long time, they're over $40 now for a standard fee. In any case, for the workshop to make money from that they can only afford to spend 20-30 minutes on the car.

[lra]

NSW, $42 a couple of weeks ago for my ute. I don't think that is all profit for the workshop, some of it (?) goes to the NSW Govt which sets the fee.
The workshop inspection was tyres, lights, exhaust, brake test, jack up front and give it all a good tug and shake. No more than 10 minutes.

If you think it needs more than that, go to Pedders, and pay for a full inspection.

[Lugh]

There was a thread somewhere in B-series technical I think about dropping ball joints. One bloke ran taxis and replaced ball joints regularly because he'd had them fail without signs of wear.
So even if the inspection was thorough, and there had been no incident since (I've wrecked a ball joint on a single pothole), the worn component may not have been detectable without disassembly anyway.

[ozrunner]

Originally Posted by lra

….. go to Pedders, and pay for a full inspection.

But rob a bank first as everything will require replacement

[Crazy Dazz]

Had you engaged somebody for a fully safety inspection and report, and they failed to mention a worn bj, I'd be angry.

Problem is that people want and expect exactly the opposite for a pink slip. They don't want the car to be nit-picked, they want it to be passed, and mechanics soon get a reputation one way or another.

Plus of course, the most obvious question is did Old Mrs notice any shaking or rattling in the steering, or ought she have done.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Ball joints show signs of wear a long time before they got worn enough to separate.As I said earlier,if the inspection had been done the faulty ball joint would have been found.From 40 years on the tools I know balljoints do not just fail from hitting a couple of pot holes.

See I only have 32 years on the tools so obviously your WAY better than I am, but some wear in a ball joint is one thing and will pass a rego but pot holes and 3 months of use and abuse is another thing

As for ball joints don’t just fail, if you’ve been on the tools for 40years you should remember the TRW ball joint issue where holdens ended up face down in the dirt sometimes within 3 months of being installed

[Tickford.]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

From 40 years on the tools I know balljoints do not just fail from hitting a couple of pot holes.

I think I know which tool you're talking about.

[Pis-ton broke]

i,m supersized about the comments "what do you expect of thirty dollars?" Answer; I expect a safety inspection. cause that is what the inspection is about. and if its not, then it false advertising. "hey lady, this isn,t really a proper safety inspection, wink wink"

there are many people that expect and believe that its a proper safety inspection, non car people. charge $50, but do the job properly.

to me it deosn,t make sense, i got pick up on one of my number plate lights not working, and the oil catch tray (just under oil filter on landcrusier 6cyl ) had spilled oil down the block, "oh its leaking oil he says", wtf (the 1hd fte engine is bullet proof, how dare you say that). then my friends machanic passes a dangerous ball joint, go figger. they just pick the easy, stupid faults.

as for the compensation remarks, its a work ute and has caused a big problem because its not going, all because a lazy machinic didn,t do his job, if i don,t do my job, i can get the sack. how about the machinic taking responsibility for his workmanship. oh, it,ll be alright. i fcukne hate that.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

i,m supersized about the comments "what do you expect of thirty dollars?" Answer; I expect a safety inspection. cause that is what the inspection is about. and if its not, then it false advertising. "hey lady, this isn,t really a proper safety inspection, wink wink"

there are many people that expect and believe that its a proper safety inspection, non car people. charge $50, but do the job properly.

to me it deosn,t make sense, i got pick up on one of my number plate lights not working, and the oil catch tray (just under oil filter on landcrusier 6cyl ) had spilled oil down the block, "oh its leaking oil he says", wtf (the 1hd fte engine is bullet proof, how dare you say that). then my friends machanic passes a dangerous ball joint, go figger. they just pick the easy, stupid faults.

as for the compensation remarks, its a work ute and has caused a big problem because its not going, all because a lazy machinic didn,t do his job, if i don,t do my job, i can get the sack. how about the machinic taking responsibility for his workmanship. oh, it,ll be alright. i fcukne hate that.

It’s a safety inspection that says on the day it met the criteria to be deemed roadworthy, it doesn’t warrant the car for any period it doesn’t do any repairs.

I don’t know the car, and perhaps the inspector overlooked somthing, I really don’t know, but in 3months you would think if it was ready to jump out at any moment due to ware they usually make a bit of a racket and flop about, so you would wonder why the driver didn’t get that checked out?

Even if you you know nothing about cars if it starts making a noise you get it checked out, I know my wife and son always do. Because I’m the one who gets asked to do the checking ou

[ratter]

10 weeks in a work Ute, how many klms has it done in that time?
My dads Hilux when he was working would do 2000 klms a week.
In Vic, the rwc inspection is very comprehensive, can cost between $160-$200 but has to ensure the car is safe for 30 days

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

i,m supersized about the comments "what do you expect of thirty dollars?" Answer; I expect a safety inspection. cause that is what the inspection is about. and if its not, then it false advertising. "hey lady, this isn,t really a proper safety inspection, wink wink"

there are many people that expect and believe that its a proper safety inspection, non car people. charge $50, but do the job properly.

to me it deosn,t make sense, i got pick up on one of my number plate lights not working, and the oil catch tray (just under oil filter on landcrusier 6cyl ) had spilled oil down the block, "oh its leaking oil he says", wtf (the 1hd fte engine is bullet proof, how dare you say that). then my friends machanic passes a dangerous ball joint, go figger. they just pick the easy, stupid faults.

as for the compensation remarks, its a work ute and has caused a big problem because its not going, all because a lazy machinic didn,t do his job, if i don,t do my job, i can get the sack. how about the machinic taking responsibility for his workmanship. oh, it,ll be alright. i fcukne hate that.

You said it is a work ute; how many k's did it travel since the inspection?
If it was a few weeks fair enough but 3 months later! sorry to say your lady friend has no leg to stand on with compensation claim.
It sux but that's the way the cooky crumbles.

[Pis-ton broke]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

It’s a safety inspection that says on the day it met the criteria to be deemed roadworthy, it doesn’t warrant the car for any period it doesn’t do any repairs.

I don’t know the car, and perhaps the inspector overlooked somthing, I really don’t know, but in 3months you would think if it was ready to jump out at any moment due to ware they usually make a bit of a racket and flop about, so you would wonder why the driver didn’t get that checked out?

Even if you you know nothing about cars if it starts making a noise you get it checked out, I know my wife and son always do. Because I’m the one who gets asked to do the checking ou

"It’s a safety inspection that says on the day it met the criteria to be deemed roadworthy" on that day it was rooted. a flogged out ball joint will show.

the ute is basicly an a to b daliy, @about 185km round trip per day, high way travel, mature woman driver.

i cant argue that the worn ball joint didn,t show signs of bad road manners, i will be telling my friend to be aware of poor road travel/handling. and waving my finger at her.
i,m point the finger at the "road worthy inspection" as she did rely on this to have her car checked for road safety.

i think i will tell her about this post and she will see that a rego check is not worth the paper its written on.