Thread: 91 Hi lux wof issue

So, a mate has a 91 Hilux, owned by him from new and covered 880 000 (not a typo).
The old girl has nothing but original parts that were added as part of original purchase by main dealer, and has flown through every wof.....until last week.
Garage that did the latest wof inspection have told my mate that the running boards are not legal as they are welded on, and that he will have to cut them off and re-fit using bolts.
Remember, these are factory fitted from new and have not been an issue since 1991.

This seems rather strange to say the least. Any thoughts ??

Take it somewhere else for its WOF check

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Take it somewhere else for its WOF check

That is plan B

Turn the tables, and state you'll report him to the certifying agency (NZTA??) for improper interpretation of the regs.

Remember that all the details of the failed wof are now on line and available for the next garage to see, so first quizz the next garage you intend to take it to, what their interpretation is. Preferably a Toyota franchise outfit.

Originally Posted by XR500

Turn the tables, and state you'll report him to the certifying agency (NZTA??) for improper interpretation of the regs.

The regs are often poorly written, can be as clear as mud and quite often contradictory. In area's where there is lack of info or clarity (are welded running boards "standard" on this vehicle? is the the structural integrity of part X altered by this repair/corrosion/damage/mod etc) the inspector must fail the vehicle and it is up to the owner to provide proof that it complies. Reporting an inspector to the NZTA about failing this is no threat - after all it's NZTA's methodology that prescribes they have to fail in the first place.
From the VIRM - "5. Where the vehicle inspector requires further information in order to determine compliance with the requirements, the inspector must reject the vehicle until the information has been obtained."
A letter from a Toyota dealer saying this was a std factory mod or a letter from a repairer/vehicle engineer confirming that the mod has not negatively impacted the vehicle structural integrity will suffice.

Originally Posted by XR500

Remember that all the details of the failed wof are now on line and available for the next garage to see

WOFOnline will only give you category fails at best, nothing specific. Garage will only know you've recently been for another w.o.f. if you tell them or if they actually poll the plate. We don't do that unless there's a reason to. AA/VINZ/VTNZ use a different system and can have access to specific fail data.

Originally Posted by XR500

so first quizz the next garage you intend to take it to, what their interpretation is. Preferably a Toyota franchise outfit.

Leading with this is guaranteed to attract attention to the issue you are trying to downplay. If the inspector doesn't have an issue, don't poke the bear and bring it to his attention.

LN106 Hilux and earlier models factory running boards are bolted to the body.
I am guessing he has perhaps gone to a different WOF shop than usual or the shop he is using has had to not 'miss' anything.
Anything welded to the chassis, bull bar, running boards, sidesteps etc needs to be certified. If bolted on then no issues.
If he can get a letter from dealer stating the running boards were mounted that way from new he may get around it.
Has he asked why they were failed when passed previously?
WOF officers have been getting tougher on 4wds recently. Ask how I know.. LOL

I'd take it to a Toyota dealership and get them to verify in writing that it is factory fitted and see if they still argue the fact.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

I'd take it to a Toyota dealership and get them to verify in writing that it is factory fitted and see if they still argue the fact.

Believe me, the inspector will be quite happy to pass the vehicle once some one has provided a statement that it complies. They really don't care either way, they just have a job to do and a boxes to tick before they can give you your sticker.

Originally Posted by threefootsix

Believe me, the inspector will be quite happy to pass the vehicle once some one has provided a statement that it complies. They really don't care either way, they just have a job to do and a boxes to tick before they can give you your sticker.

Still, wouldn't cost but five minutes to bang the VIN past the local dealer by phone call and confirm with them on standard fitment or not which would save a pissed off client. I have a possible similar issue, dealer fitted aftermarket load carrying springs which unloaded raise the rear of the vehicle up past the 50mm lift limit. That one is a grey area - in as, if the canopy, drawer, bar etc have to come off the back for whatever reason it could get interesting. Not my problem to sort though...

Originally Posted by threefootsix

Believe me, the inspector will be quite happy to pass the vehicle once some one has provided a statement that it complies. They really don't care either way, they just have a job to do and a boxes to tick before they can give you your sticker.

Not always the case, I used to have an S15 silvia which had some bucket seats I put in it. Laws are that if the seat is designed for the model of car and bolt in without modification they don't require certification but say for example you take a standard bucket seat and weld it onto the factory mount it would then require certification. The pricks at North city motors failed the WOF saying it required a certification, I printed out the laws regarding it along with the receipts that showed the seat was made for the model of car, I even got a signed message from VTNZ backing up that it was indeed legal but they refused to even look at it. Took it to VTNZ and got the WOF straight away. Never went back to the useless pricks, its one thing to get it wrong......its entirely another to be ignorant to the point where you won't even consider evidence that would suggest you're talking out your ass.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

I'd take it to a Toyota dealership and get them to verify in writing that it is factory fitted and see if they still argue the fact.

1991 was a long time ago. Not sure they would hold records on such things, but the car was purchased locally so its worth a try

A modification affects the vehicle structure – including an object or fitting affixed after manufacture that is welded to the chassis, sub-frame, cross-member or body of a monocoque structure (Note 7), and

a) is not excluded from the requirements for LVV specialist certification (Table 3-1-1), and

b) is missing proof of LVV specialist or accepted overseas certification, ie:

i. the vehicle is not fitted with a valid LVV vehicle certification plate, or

ii. the operator is not able to produce a valid modification declaration or authority card

iii. the vehicle has not been certified to an accepted overseas system as described in Technical bulletin 13 .

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt....frontal-impact

Unfortunately they are correct

Originally Posted by Tommy

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt....frontal-impact

Unfortunately they are correct

Body on a Toyota Hilux is not monocoque it's body on ladder chassis. The question then is, what are the steps welded too, body or chassis?

Originally Posted by No.3

Body on a Toyota Hilux is not monocoque it's body on ladder chassis. The question then is, what are the steps welded too, body or chassis?

Includes, but not limited to, is my reading of that. Eg: Weld a towbar to something and see how you get on

Heating, drilling, welding or cutting the vehicle structure, modifying a roof bow, or modifying any part of the structure would be considered to weaken it

Originally Posted by Tommy

Includes, but not limited to, is my reading of that. Eg: Weld a towbar to something and see how you get on

Yep correct, but if you welded the steps to the tub or deck on a ute WOF man won't bat an eyelid. I don't think the original post specifies what/where they are welded (if they did I missed it). If the WOF guy is concerned that they are welded to the underside of the body - he might run into an issue over interpretation of the 'structural modification' bit, but if they are welded to the chassis or even a factory production bracket then under the new rules it needs to be approved. There are probably a few ways to attack that, but as people have said probably the easiest is avoid it by cutting the steps off and welding a bracket to the step. Then boost some new holes through the chassis and bracket and out with the black paint and the 'mud and cowcrap on a brush' trick... After the chassis has been welded to arguably the problem can't be just removed but the rules don't really reflect reality.

I had a discussion recently with a WOF man over a bracket welded onto the lower radiator support bracket of a 4x4 - he was going down the track of requiring a cert on it as a structural mod. Lower radiator support bracket isn't a structural member on that vehicle (might be on some). He reluctantly conceded the point as two 25mm long brackets to mount an electric cooling fan shroud probably won't affect the crash performance one would think. My read on it is that the WOF men are running quite scared as it would seem that any decision they make that results in an identifiable result from a prang or the like can result in them carrying the lot now.