Historic Vehicle Plates: Pros/Cons in Ontario, Canada

[david moore]

Yes, but you need to pass the safety anyway even to get historic plates - I was talking about getting regular plates.

[Jack Innes]

David,

I was talking about any plates as well.

Here is a quote from the MOT site regarding seat belts;

"No seatbelts needed

Seatbelts are not required in the following vehicles:
•buses (including school buses)
•other large commercial vehicles (over 4,536 kg) that don't require seatbelts to be installed in rear seating positions at the time of manufacture
•vehicles that were manufactured in or imported into Canada before January 1, 1974
•vehicles manufactured without seatbelt assemblies for each seating position"

Turn signals, air bags, 5 mph bumpers, etc. are treated similarly with regard to plating a vehicle in general.

The Ontario Safety Standards Certificate - (form 5) makes no mention of what class of plate that can be issued for the vehicle.

[Robin Craig]

David,

the words "not fitted at time of manufacture" is all that needs to be satisfied.

I agree with Jack's post and infact have gone through the circus when a testing mechanic does not know the rules.

There are times when I have been wrong, once was when I had to fit a windshield and wipers and wash bottle to pass a safety. Remember there is no requirement to operate with that windshield only to have it at the time of the safety.

It is a bit of a jungle out there.

A number of the Land Rovers I register have no reversing light fitted at time of manufacture.

[Barry Churcher]

Just as a warning, anyone needing a safety in Ontario should get it done at the earliest opportunity. There are new, much more stringent regulations coming in to effect in July.
Barry

[Grant Bowker]

Thank you for the warning Barry.
Without going into nauseating detail, can you give an idea of the types of changes we can anticipate? And, do you know of a web link we can go to in order to educate ourselves?

[Barry Churcher]

Grant, Janet says I go into nauseating detail every time I tell a story. If you go to the link below and scroll half way down the page you will see "Summary of Changes Effective July 1, 2016". That will give you a quickie on some of the changes. Dirty battery cables is one where we will get grief from customers. We have people who argue about a tire that is so thin we can see the air in it. A mandatory road test will be difficult in an uninsured, unplated vehicle. Previous we could do it in our driveway. We must record and provide the customer with tread depth measurements and brake component measurements, including the emergency brake. Extra costs with drum emergency brakes. There will be problems with the vehicles with the emergency shoes that are inside the rotor. By the time I get the rusty old rotor hammered off the emergency brake falls out on the floor. I encourage my customers to bring in any potential purchase BEFORE buying,
for a free look over. It is amazing the number of vehicles we condemn without even getting up on a hoist. I think our biggest issue will be rusty brake lines. A judgement call at best but a mechanic was recently criminally charged after a vehicle was in an accident 30 days after the inspection. We are not allowed to hammer the brake pedal down. See Grant I am doing it again.
Cheers,
Barry

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/tru...ons.shtml#form


View the draft proposed changes here. This will likely be the new standaeds.
http://www.ontariocanada.com/registr...chmentId=27411

[rob love]

I have heard complaint from a mechanic here in Manitoba that the inspections do miss some safety related items. For instance, an automatic transmission line that is badly leaking is not a safety issue by Manitoba inspection standards. I can assure you that it is when the fluid catches fire on the hot exhaust. He queried the inspection section of Manitoba and they told him it was not an issue for the inspection form, and there was nothing he could do.

We do not have the corrosion problems here in Manitoba that you guys out East have, so brake lines rusting through are not really an issue. But I can certainly understand why it would be in Southern Ontario.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

Grant, Janet says I go into nauseating detail every time I tell a story. If you go to the link below and scroll half way down the page you will see "Summary of Changes Effective July 1, 2016".

....

It is amazing the number of vehicles we condemn without even getting up on a hoist.

....
Barry

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/tru...ons.shtml#form

View the draft proposed changes here. This will likely be the new standaeds.
http://www.ontariocanada.com/registr...chmentId=27411

That is depressing! Got to love the thoughtful bureaucrats in this Nanny-State province. Anyone want to chime in on emissions testing?

[Stuart Fedak]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

From Barry

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/tru...ons.shtml#form


View the draft proposed changes here. This will likely be the new standards.

http://www.ontariocanada.com/registr...chmentId=27411

I had a read through the new regulations The one thing I found most interesting to me, was the Inspections Types. The Safety Standard Inspection will be the first hurdle when getting a restoration project ready to go on the road in Ontario. It also applies when purchasing a new to you project, so keep this in mind when buying someone else's project in Ontario....

Safety Standard Inspection - required when registering a ‘rebuilt’ motor vehicle, transferring a used motor vehicle to a new owner, registering a motor vehicle in Ontario that was previously registered in another province, territory or country, and changing the status of a vehicle from ‘unfit’ to ‘fit’. A Safety Standard Certificate (SSC) is issued to a vehicle that passes this inspection. It is valid for 36 days. A SSC is required to register and plate a used vehicle. The SSC certifies that the vehicle met the minimum safety standards on the date it was issued. It is not a warranty or guarantee.

The following applies to a Passenger / Light Duty Vehicle Inspection Standard

Summary of Changes Effective July 1, 2016


This is a summary of major changes that come into effect on July 1, 2016 - please refer to the Passenger / Light Duty Vehicle Inspection Standard for the full description of inspection criteria.
Technicians must complete the vehicle inspection in accordance with the full Passenger / Light Duty Vehicle Inspection Standard referenced in Ontario Regulation 611.
Section 1 – Powertrain

• New requirements have been added to the powertrain system, including: accelerator pedal, throttle actuator, exhaust system, drive shaft, differential, clutch, clutch pedal, engine and transmission mounts, gear shifter/ selector and position indicator, drive belt pulley, electric and hybrid electric powertrain, gasoline and diesel fuel systems, and compressed natural gas and propane fuel systems.

Section 2 – Suspension

• There are new ride height, bushing, and shock / strut requirements. There are also new requirements for air suspension components and suspension system travel.

Section 3 – Brakes

• There are new requirements to measure and record the dimensions of brake components including drum, rotor and brake lining.
• There is a better distinction between various types of brake systems -- the criteria are now more closely aligned with the specific requirements for each of the various system types. (e.g. vacuum assist, hydraulic assist, air assist).
• There are new requirements for Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems are now required for light duty vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2011. The system must function as intended for those vehicles that require the system.

Section 4 – Steering

• Rack and pinion steering system requirements, including associated parts (boot, bellows, clamps) have been added in addition to those for recirculating ball type.
• New requirements for upper strut bearings, steering dampener, tilt/telescopic hardware, remote steering systems, hydraulic power steering system pump and associated components and minimum parts quality and maximum leakage requirements have been introduced.
• Steering lash requirements have been simplified.

Section 5 – Instruments and Auxiliary Equipment

• New requirements have been added for horn switch, speedometer, odometer, windshield wiper.
• Limits on coolant leakage from all heaters and fuel leakage from auxiliary heaters were added.

Section 6 – Lamps

• Lighting requirements have been changed to incorporate the lighting equipment required by the federal safety standard at the time the vehicle was new.

Section 7 – Electrical

• The revised section provides requirements for vehicle wiring.
• Requirements for the vehicle’s battery are provided. Battery, posts, connections, mounts, and covers must be tight and free from corrosion, deterioration, or evidence of burning. All equipment must be secure, comprised of OEM-quality components, and in good condition.

Section 8 – Body

• Specific requirements have been introduced to deal with a loss of structural integrity of cab, cargo or passenger body, frame or sub-frame, tailgate, bumper, seats and seat belts due to specified weaknesses, deficiencies, damage, seizure, wear, loss of components or material or improper repair procedures.
• New requirement to inspect equipment, latches, handles, door openers, hinges and other devices attached to the vehicle. All equipment must be in good working condition, not be missing, nor present an unsafe or hazardous condition to individuals who may be exposed to the vehicle.
• New requirement to inspect the entire area of the windshield swept by either the driver’s or passenger’s side wiper, with limits specified.
• Window tint requirements are part of the new standard.
• Occupant protection systems required by federal law must now be tested for functionality via the vehicle telltale diagnostic lamp. The system check includes, when originally equipped, air bags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, and side air bag curtains.

Section 9 – Tire and Wheel

• The new requirement fails a tire if any single point on a tire’s tread is below the minimum.
• The minimum required tread depth has increased.
• No mixing of radial with other tire construction types (such as bias ply) is permitted.
• The use of wheel spacers is now prohibited, although adaptors are permitted if they are in good mechanical condition.

Section 10 – Coupling Devices

• Clearer distinctions between various types of hitch systems with more complete criteria aligned with specific requirements for each hitch type.

Section 11 – Road Test

• A section has been added to the Standard to capture the elements that should be inspected and recorded during a road test of the vehicle including: tell-tales, shock absorber functionality, odometer, steering, etc.

General

• An inspection report must be provided to the consumer, noting important information about the results of the inspection, including measurements for specified components (e.g. tire tread depth); and, any warning lamps that are illuminated. Licensees or Technicians can create their own report provided it meets all the requirements set out in section 9.1 of Regulation 601.

The detailed Reference document is 97 pages in length and should be reviewed before, during and after you have completed your restoration project in preparation to having the inspection performed. It looks like the original technical manuals should be available to the mechanic to review at the time the vehicle is inspected.

When I first had my Canadian Bombardier Iltis inspected and put on the road, I had used a local dealership in Ottawa that had a service contract with DND for the Bombardier Iltis, so they were already familiar with the vehicle. I can see this may be more complicated with an older vehicle.

A quick read of the new standards suggests that this new process would certainly fail many historic military vehicles that were approved under the current regulations.

4, Frame, Rails and Mounts.
Repair of holes in the floor of the vehicle due to corrosion perforation is permitted, provided that the hole does not extend into a structural area of the floor, such as seat-belt anchors, seat supports or rocker panels. Edges of the hole prepared for repair must not exceed 200 mm in length or extend within 50 mm of tunnel, rocker, seat-support structure or firewall / bulkhead (see illustration xx). No "pop" rivets, arc welding or flame repair. TIG or MIG stitch welding is acceptable.

This gives some guidance on some restoration techniques that should be used. There is a DND manual that is specific to the Canadian Bombardier Iltis that gives additional guidance on techniques to conduct body repairs. I assume that this O.E.M. direction would be valuable in meeting any concerns.

Your thoughts?

Stuart