Most common reasons for a pink slip failure and how to avoid them

No matter where you live in Australia, vehicles need to be registered to be used on public roads. Each state and territory have their own regulations for what is needed when it comes time to renew vehicle registration, but in NSW a successful roadworthy inspection is required when it comes time to renew your registration.

You can have your vehicle inspected at Kogarah Tyrepower, located at 7 Lindsay Street, Rockdale. Call up to book your vehicle in, the next time you require an eSafety inspection.

Why Do I Need an eSafety Inspection?

If you’ve moved from another state, or are new to vehicle ownership, it might seem strange that such detailed inspections are performed before renewing your registration, but the goals are simple. Roadworthy inspections are designed to:

• Prevent poorly maintained and dangerous vehicles from being allowed back onto the roads
• Reduce the number of accidents that are directly caused by vehicles in poor condition
• Minimise the number of heavily polluting vehicles on NSW roads

An upside to this scheme is that, when purchasing a secondhand vehicle with registration, you know that it has recently passed a roadworthy test and the safety features of the vehicle are in good working order.

While the goals of roadworthy inspections are noble, occasionally they can cause issues for vehicle enthusiasts or owners of older cars whose parts may be less easily available.

Top Reasons for Pink Slip Failures

At Kogarah Tyrepower, we aren’t interested in failing vehicles for the fun of it. We’ll often try and help you out in regards to resolving a pink slip issue on the spot, unless it’s a big job that requires some more in-depth analysis and repair work.

These are the most common reasons we fail vehicles for roadworthy inspections, so you can check ahead of time and give your vehicle the best chance at passing first time!

Tyre and Wheel Problems

Issues such as worn out or damaged tyres, improperly fitted wheels and tyres that poke outside of the bodywork are common causes for pink slip failures.

Faulty Brake System

Brake fluid leaks, glazed or warped brake rotors, worn out brake pads and even blown brake lights will result in a failed eSafety check.

Lighting and Electrical Issues

Lighting on your vehicle is a critical safety feature. Not only does it let you see better during rain, fog or at night, but it also allows over drivers to see and understand your driving intentions. As such, blown globes are a reason for an inspection failure that is usually a really simple DIY fix.

Aside from lights, making sure that your horn works is another test performed during a roadworthy safety check.

Suspension and Steering Systems

Maintaining control of your car is obviously a huge safety issue, and your suspension system will be inspected to ensure it is working properly.

Worn-out suspension bushings, bent or damaged arms, tie rods and ball joints, wheel bearings and more will be inspected to ensure that your vehicle is going to handle predictably in the event of an incident or emergency.

Seatbelt and Airbags

Obviously, a safety inspection wouldn’t be complete without checking seats, seatbelts, steering wheel, airbags and other interior items.

Common reasons for failure might include airbag warning lights, unsecured seats, aftermarket steering wheels as well as torn, frayed or ripped seatbelts.

Body and Chassis

Nobody is going to bat an eye at scrapes and rock chips, but if your vehicle has significant body damage or underbody corrosion, these are issues that will prevent you from receiving paperwork certifying that your vehicle is safe for use on the road.

We’ll be on the lookout for huge dents, missing parts, sharp edges, broken lights

Note that some surface rust on some components is normal, but heavy structural rust is always a sign that your vehicle is unsafe to be driven on the road, and can be a safety risk for yourself and other road users.

Windows and Mirrors

Modern vehicle windscreens make up a significant portion of the stiffness and safety of the passenger compartment and so must be replaced if they’re chipped or cracked. Windscreen also can’t have any scouring or ‘sandblasting’ and must be free of scratches.

Side mirrors glass mustn’t be cracked and mirrors must be securely mounted to the vehicle, broken mirrors will result in a failed inspection.

Fluid Leaks

A minor weep or smear under the engine isn’t a problem, but oil dripping on the road can cause issues with degraded road surfaces and cause slippery conditions for other road users.

It’s not just engine oil either, coolant, transmission fluid and brake fluid leaks are all causes of a failed inspection. If you suspect your vehicle is leaking, book your vehicle into a local mechanic and have the issue inspected or rectified before your vehicle is assessed for roadworthiness.

Passing your Roadworthy Inspection

It’s impossible to cover every possible reason for failing a roadworthy inspection, but by giving your vehicle a once-over at home, you can usually spot most of the problems an Authorised Inspection Station will see ahead of time, and even possibly take steps to resolve any issues before you book your vehicle in.

At Kogarah Tyrepower we specialise in tyres, wheels and roadworthy inspections, and we’ll work with you to help ensure your vehicle passes your eSafety roadworthy inspection first time!

Visit our workshop today at 7 Lindsay Street, Rockdale or call us on (02) 9587 3366 to enquire about booking your vehicle in today!