FTO AUSTRALIA

I have just been told I have to take my FTO for a FULL roadworthy at the main VicRoads office in Kew, because of "registration irregularities". Has anyone else been for one or know what it is all about?
They have only given me until the 26th August to comply or I get hit with a $307.50 fine.
Part of the letter states, "until the vehicle is presented for inspection, any application for transfer of registration will be refused and registritration renewal will be refused".

HELP what can I expect?

The old Fart is getting worried.

CYA Tarkus (robert)

tarkus,

It would depend on a number of things.

If you brought the car in Australia, who ever sold you the car is obliged to supply you with the correct documentation if you are unable to supply this then you could run in to problems.

Having personaly inported a number of Japanese cars I have learned which documents that need to be passed on the the new owner and without these there will be problems.

You will need the original engineers Inspection certificate and the Dotars vechicle approval certificate.

I hope that this helps and that you have these.

regards
Airborne

Put this in context, what happened to make this occur? Did you get pulled over or did this letter arrive in the mail out of the blue?

the letter just came out of the blue. I have not been pulled by the fuzz for about 6 months now. from what I have been told, because they had some one fiddling the regos a couple of years ago they are now doing random checks. not specifically aimed at imports. so anyone in VIC can get one, even your nan in her old banger. Now I know this I am not so worried, as I have only fitted braces and LED brake lights. hopefully they do not find any serious problems.
I will try and post the letter to my web site at "www.larson.150m.com/letter"

Cya Tarkus (robert)

I don't think they are looking for mods done to your car but to check if you have the approval plate and to see if it's not a rebirth from a stolen FTO or someone has taken the approval plate from a wrecked FTO and put in on a car that was imported as for parts only.

BobZ

Went to Vic Roads yesterday. they are just checking that all the data they have is OK. Tarkus is not worried anymore.

Tarkus

its me again.

Just got a letter from VIC roads and its not good!

My car fails on 3 items, quote
1/ "provide access to left hand child restraint anchorage point (ADR34)"
2/ "Front indicators to be relocated / replace so as to be visible 45degrees inwards"
3/ VIN number to be stamped in 7m/m size letters as close as possible to the location of the original VIN.

I have also got to get another wheel, apparently my front nearside has a slight buckle and therefore UN roadworthy

I have been told I need to put a new indicator light into the front, so it more visible. some aftermarket thing (maybe one of those BIG truck LED lights) what do you think?

I have then got to go back to KEW for a retest. when I went in for the first one I got there at 9:10am and they checked my car at 12:30 pm. just stood around for all that time.

Tarkus is a little p * * * * ed off

what f**king tossers!! their critising indicator positions now!?!?!? what sort of sh*t is that?!?!?

VIC roads has got nothing better to do than hand out rubbish like that

What a load of crap, those indicators are fine when compliance was done so why aren't they now. And is that mean all FTO owner should get an extra piece of ugly indicators too???

& whats the deal with the VIN number?? R they blind?? if they can read it for the rego, which usually done once until you selling or buying the car, whats the point??

Man I would take them to court for wasting my bloody time.

I am part way there!

The child restraint bit is easy, all I need to do is buy the clip from Repco (or any auto spares) and fit this. Apparently just having the exposed thread is not enough. You need the clip so a childs seat can be fitted quickly. I am 55 and have had my B * * * * s cut, so I am not going to be having any more kids. So the chances of a child sitting in the back in vertually non existance.

Re the indicators. I have spoken to 2 importers and they both say that the indicators should comply. I am not sure how far I can go with this, maybe I just fit some after market lights. I have been promissed a copy of the regs, so I will see what they say.

Re the VIN number: My VIN number is stamped onto a plate which is then pop rivited to the bulkhead next to the original VIN. It needs to be stamped onto the bulkhead or top of the suspension , so it cannot be removed.

Tarkus

Hey Tarkus

I'm a newbie, bought my FTO about 8 months ago, but only stumbled onto this site recently, and only signed up today after reading your post.....(but I aim to be very involved from now, cause this site rocks!!!) - I'll pop my two cents on teh "Newbies' show yourselves" forum this weekend and make a formal introduction to all

er this might be a long thread.....sorry to all, but it'll prob help Tarkus out a bit

Don;t fear dude, you're not alone.....I've been hit by the same deal.
Had my babe inspected about a month ago, and got a similar BS report. I unfortunately got busted doing 5 kph about 3 weeks before I got the VICROADS inspection (can u beleive it??? 5 bloody kph in a freakin 50 zone) Dunno whether this was just a coincidence.

I'm sorta working through the probs though...

Ive been hit with
Australian Design Rules (ADR's)
- VIN number to be permanently stamped on "permanent" strut
- Emission label
- and yes, child restraints (I however am still connected down there LOL)

And roadworthy:
- Blue washer lights to be removed (even though they're disconected)
- Rear windscreen tint too dark
- Ignition lock "unservicable" - which is crap, and I've had it checked since
- and replace my "steering wheel to original"

Initially I was really pissed off, especially cause they've written that my rego will be suspended if I don't get these fixed, but I decided to go the "I'm dumb, I'm not a hoon, you guys are superior, I need your help" attitude, and it's kinda paid off....

There's a guy at VICROADS byt he name of Con ??Diakos at KEW (don't go to teh carlton branch, they're a load of tossers - sorry if any members work there, but they were completely unhelpful and complete arses to me). Con;s put me onto an engineer in Heidelberg (company APS) who's fixing up my ride, and here's the (hopefully) beautiful part - VICROADS get billed for the ADR's as I've only recently bought my car, and whoever imported it in the first place DID get it authorised by an engineer prior to import, and so VICROADS are technically responsible. I have to foot the Roadworthy changes, so it'll be around $70 for the tint correction, and I'll obviosuly fix the washer issue myself, but at least it takes some heat off the issue

Why isn't this all written on the threatening letter that they sent us???? No freaking idea, but I plan to bring it up with VICROADS WELL after I've had it all sorted.....no point throwing oil in the fire......now, VICROADS are still jerking me around a bit, but just keep patient...it's working for me so far, and as long as a VICROAD assigned engineer is working on your car, the suspension will be deferred in the interim....make sure you pu teverthin gin writting just in case shite hits the fan later..
I've got a feeling if you try to take VICROADS on head-on, they'll screw you bigtime and de-reg your ride

The dude in Heidelberg's pretty cool and understanding - hasn't been fully worked out but getting there, so give this a go as well.....

I'd better place anothe post, regarding the issue with steering wheel below since this is getting kinda long, and i need help with that too.

Lemme know how you get along I'll keep you posted on how I do too

Anyone else sharing our torment????

Hi, me again

I need help with my steering wheel issue...as far as I know my FTO (96 GR SP) came to Oz with a racing MOMO wheel, so I got no original ....I've tried to tell VICROADS that, but they haven;'t gotton back to me.

the engineer who's working on my car said that it's unlikely that they'll pass another generic/racing SW and that they might be really difficult with this....

I've tried Mitsubishi proper (no help, not surprising), and multiple wreckers that list FTO's on their websites but when I call up, have NFI when I enquire.

So I'm trying to source a soft cover FTO SW - now WARNING TO ALL FTO OWNERS - if you've installed a racing wheel, make sure you keep your original, in case you end up like tarkus and me, and need to get it changed before a VICROADS inspection....hmmm, don;'t suppose I can do a dodgeball and borrow someone's just for the inspection - LOL

But if anyone know where I can source a SW that's not needed, I'd reeally appreciate it.....

Tarkus - may the force be with us

Hey know1here,

Welcome to the club!

Be aware - not all FTO's came with the Momo wheel. And the ones that did have an air bag in 'em. So if you're gonna go find one & put it on - its gonna cost you a bomb - especially if you have to have an air bag stuffed back into it. I recommend just getting a stock FTO wheel like this one if they give you greif about it...

There's a number of people on this forum with spares ones - just post in the parts wanted section.



Cheers,
Ben

wow, talk about service

Thanx a mil Bennoz, i'll do just that

I'm loving this club

Hya I have started a new thread on the “helpâ€