VW friendly garage needed for roadworthy certificate in Sydney

[koolerking]

Hi,

Sorry if this has been covered, i did a search and couldnt find the exact details so i thought i'd ask:

Is there a freindly VW garage near Crows Nest, on the north shore for a roadworthy certificate? The reason i say friendly is its only been a few months since purchasing my 2007 golf TDI which has 133,000k on the clock. Im not sure what will need doing. Tired suspension gas struts and bushes might come up so i'll need some leway to find these items if they come up. Being a pommie newbie (last car was a yaris which didn't need a RWC) do you get any time to fix issues, or does ithave to be done there and then. Im wary that getting a garage to source parts and fix could be $$$$ so wanted time to findthings.

Any info would be helpful.

thanks

[wai]

Getting a RWC should not be an issue if the vehicle is properly maintained.

As for having to get the work done there and then, NO. If the vehicle is in need of repair, then you will get a failure on the inspection and this is entered into the online system these days. This means you cannot shop around for an inspection station to get it through. Once you ask a station to give you a "pink" slip, they have to either pass you or fail you. As long as it is not dangerous, you can get it fixed anywhere.

As for how much time you get. Normally your renewal notice is sent out one month before your registration has to be renewed, so basically if you try to get the RWC immediately on getting it, you will have 4 weeks to rectify things, however you will have to go back to the original inspection station to get it cleared. Of course, if there is something that is really dangerous, the inspection station can give you a "not to use" sticker. If it is not severe, then they may give you the RWC, but advise you to get it fixed.

The best advice would be to get the vehicle fixed BEFORE you ask for a RWC. I mean, for your own peace of mind you should get it fixed. It's your life and that of other road users involved.

Above all, a RWC is not that the vehicle was acceptable when presented, but that the vehicle is acceptable for another 12 months of normal use. It is being inspected so that another 12 months of registration can be obtained.

[koolerking]

Im not saying the car is dangerous and that i want to keep a dodgy car on the road, only that some things were point out by a inspection pre purchase and i wanted to make sure i don't get a inspection that tries to get as much money out of me as possible. I will just get it booked in asap to see.

[wai]

Sorry if it came across that way. I was not implying that.

Don't worry, there are shonky dealers and garages out there, and you have to be on your toes.

Your best bet to get an idea would be to just go to some garages and ask if they can give you an idea as to whether the car would get a clear inspection for registration. For things like suspension, try a Pedders outlet as they can do a check of your suspension on a shaker table. I had an odd "vibration" on my van and thought it was a bad shock absorber. Pedders (Blacktown) had a look at it, tested the van on their shaker table and told me that the shocks were OK and that it might be something else. The cost $10. It turned out to be a bubble in the tread and it just so happened that the bubble was at the bottom of the wheel on the table. They could easily have told me that the shocks were bad and sold me a full set.

Just don't start the RWC inspection until you are reasonably sure it will pass as then you can't go elsewhere to clear it, even if you get the work done elsewhere.

[koolerking]

Cheers,

Thanks for the info!

[koolerking]

As a matter of interest, if the car needed new gas struts (suspension) whats a good ballpark price?

[wai]

As a matter of interest, if the car needed new gas struts (suspension) whats a good ballpark price?

Best to do a ring around of the various suspension outfits and take it from there. Until now all my cars have had double wishbone suspension. The Caddy Maxi Life will be the first with struts.

Give places like Midas and Pedders a ring just to get a handle.

[brad]

Unless the struts are leaking oil, they are fine. They don't check the damping ability. Also, they aren't supposed to look at brake pad thickness or remove drums off the brakes to inspect hydraulics - the vehicle simply has to pass the braking test.

Tyres? Always an odd one IMO. The inspector hasn't a clue if you do 500km or 50,000km per year, nor does he know your driving style, therefore how would he have a clue if you will need tyres in the next 12 months?

The whole Safety Check thing is a bit odd these days - my first check will be 6 years after purchase with ~150,000km on the odo.

I disagree with Wai, a safety check is a spot check. Within a week of getting the check done, you could have blown a few bulbs, worn out your brakes & trashed the tyres - the inspector won't know this.

Sorry but i'm not from the northside & don't know any workshops up that way

[koolerking]

Thanks for the replies. I believe the pr sale inspection i got said the bushings and suspension was worn. Not having driving a model vw before i guess it possibly makes some squeaking noises over speed bumps, so these things put together made me think about needing to replace shocks.

[The_Hawk]

The pink slip process in NSW is very hit and miss. Some places are very pedantic, others are far less thorough, especially if you rock up in a late model vehicle with no mods that looks clean and tidy. In many cases it's a simple brake test, make sure the lights and horn work and you're on your way