I have attempted to discuss this directly with State Roads however have not had a response therefore providing this information for others to note when considering State Roads.

We bought a car soon after a platinum inspection from State Roads which indicated nothing more than normal wear and tear for a car of 6 years old. Two weeks later we had the car serviced. During the service it became apparent that the alternator had previously caught fire and damaged the cooling system hoses directly above the alternator. There had been a fuel leak from the low pressure electric diesel pump which ran down the coolant hoses and dripped onto the alternator, catching alight when the alternator warmed up.

The mechanic confirmed this had been occurring over sometime (ie pre-inspection). There was clear bubbling in the coolant hose and if this had ruptured would have caused significant damage to the engine.

Within our inspection report the radiator hoses had been ticked off as satisfactory with no issues. I understand that oil/diesel leaks can be wiped away prior to inspection however the radiator/coolant hose bubbling (damage) would have been clearly visible with any considered inspection of the engine bay, given the hoses are the front of the bay visible without removing any casing.

The outcome was a repair bill of $900+ which (thankfully) was covered under the dealers statutory warranty.

I have contacted State Roads directly with this information and received no formal response to this issue.

The punctuality and professionalism pre and during inspection couldn't be faulted however the worth of their inspections and their response to issues i considered poor.

Did i get a "platinum" level of inspection? I don't think so.

BOOKING REFERENCE: 266907