DOT pulled my Japanese import over today. Need some help (1 Viewer)

[M John Galt]

"Is there anything that almost always needs changing when brought over from Japan?"

If you go to www.outbackimports.ca and click on their "Outback Service Package" you will see a comprehensive list of all the things that should be done to an imported vehicle from Japan.

Since the DOT Bulletin appears to be inconsistant with Canadian MOT Regs as posted above, don't the Federal regs supercede the Provincial ones?

 

[Stone]

Hi Nick:

There's an HDJ81 down the street from me, and I just took a quick look at his glass and tail lights for you.

His OEM tail lights DO have the DOT stamp on it, but it's very hard to see and you really have to look closely to find it. It's about 1/3 of the way up the light from the bottom.

His glass are all OEM Toyota, and they all have the proper AS1/AS2 markings on them that are accepted here in BC.

His front marker lights and headlights though do NOT have the right DOT or SAE markings on them...and this would be an issue. I would imagine that you would have to either purchase new headlights from the dealer ($$$), or try to find a used set somewhere from a wrecker (probably difficult to do) in order to swap a set of DOT LHD lenses on.

Unless the previous owner of your 80 swapped in a set of aftermarket tail lights in Japan, your OEM should also have the same DOT markings on them.

 

[FJota]

So if my tail lights have DOT stamped on them then I am good? Also will I have to install marker lights on the rear quarters? HJ61

 

[mjohn7]

Wondering how your truck passed the Provincail Inspection if the DOT inpector is correct. (do you now get a refund on any inspection cost) Customs has done this also with unmounted used tires. If no DOT they punch out the side wall, unless you have a letter from the maufacture stating DOT compliance. Wonder how many aftermarket lens covers have a DOT / SAE mark. Hope you get it worked out.

 

[nickw]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the help so far. I was at a wedding yesterday, and I am pretty busy today. Tonight when I have time I will read over all responses. All of your help is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[MTNRAT]

For those who want to know. Nick drove to Fernie today to check out and measure my lights. His rear lights are OK as they do have DOT stamped on them. The headlights were a little wider than mine by about 1/4". Mine is a 97 and Nicks is a 1990. Different grill and headlight assembly. The signal lights are the same, just the headlights are different. I was at the ski hill when he visited so I did not have my camera to take pictures of the difference. Maybe Cdan would be able to tell what years had the different size lights. But damn those japanese lights sure do seem alot better than out NA spec lights.
Cheers,
Sean

 

[mot]

Maybe Cdan would be able to tell what years had the different size lights.

I'm not Cdan (younger and a lot better-looking ), but I think the -'94 had the same headlights/grill with "TOYOTA" and '95-'97 had the newer, Toyota symbol on the grill and slightly different headlight and surrounding pieces (more/less chrome, etc...).

Mot

 

[nickw]

All right everyone.
Here is the update:

First off, the guys were really nice. Two of them liked land cruisers, and one was wanted to get one. They kept saying how impressed they were with its condition.
They did not hassle me at all. I talked with them for about 1/2 after. Real nice guys.

My headlights are not DOT or SAE approved, and I need to swap them. I also need to add daytime running lights. I am going to look for a kit for this, or maybe just wire it myself.

My rear tail lamps are good, as well as having side reflectors built in. No issues there. All my glass is good and up to code as well.

So now I am going to try and find some new headlights. As Mtnrat already said, my headlights are a different size, so I need lights from a 94 or older. if any one wants to trade let me know. Idahodoug, what year is your truck? Maybe we could meet one weekend. I will take pics of my lights soon with a tape measure.

So long story short, I am good, and they have no worries. Just have to wire up daytime running lights and installing the proper headlights. Other than that no issues. They said they have less worries (safety wise) about my truck, then they do about lots of left hand drives.

Thanks for all the help,
Cheers,
Nick

 

[nickw]

Allright everyone,
Here is what my truck needs to conform too:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/vehicle_inspections/PDF/Bulletin_02-06_Imported_Vehicles.pdf

Does anyone one know if domestic cruisers had a rear highmount brake light?

Cheers,
Nick

 

[crushers]

LOL!!
sorry Nick, i know this is probably not funny at all to you right now but that high mount tail light is for passenger cars only till 1997...
dumb buggers you deal with over there eh?
cheers.
Wayne

 

[nickw]

They are nice Wayne, they just want me to conform.
As I understand it, all Canadian Japanese imports have to meet these regs.

Do you happen to have any used headlights that would fit my truck, as well as a high mount stop lamp? How do you wire in the daytime running lights? Do you just run a wire form the power outlet box under the hood to the light relay? Come to think of it, where is the light relay?

Also, what do you do for the high mount stop light?
I looked on my friends 91 4runner and he does not have one. I looked into the regulations and apparently every vehicle after 93 needs to have them. I didn't see anything about not needing them after 97. Here is what I found,
specially section S5.1.1.27
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/mvstm_tsd/tsd/1080rev3_e.htm

Anyone out there have a parts rig where I can get some of this stuff?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[crushers]

i will check into this futher tomorrow, i just got back from the River Shiver and am beat.
my understanding is any passenger car from Nov 89 onwards must have the center brake light and all trucks after 97 had to have them but this is coming from a tired brain...

 

[nickw]

Thanks wayne.
No worries.
Hope you all had fun.
Sleep well eh.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Bloody dipsticks... I used to get hassled by DOT all the time (back when I ran the old 1975 FJ40), seems like they are fishing for poeple running pot more than they are concerned with "safety". I called BS on them all the time, bunch of wannabe mechanics. The first thing they used to do was stick thier head inside, "You can inspect my vehicle from the OUTSIDE, thank you." "Your exhaust is too loud.", "Oh, really? how loud is it? I don't see a decibel meter in your hand. You go and get yourself a decibel meter, and set it to impact noise (that is noise between 20-20,000Hz) and then we'll talk.", "Ok, you're good, move on..." Let me guess, you were on Hwy 3? Lots of pot gets moved from the kootenays to points east on hwy 3, that's why DOT hassles people there.

All the glass and lenses on my '74 has DOT stamps on it, and had the windshield replaced in Castlegar. I think the daytime running lights is BS, since that was only manditory on vehicles made after 1991, I could be wrong, though. Whenever I ran into DOT with the BJ74, I just got waved through, go figure. DOT and the police don't even look twice down here, wierd... Good luck, man.

 

[nickw]

Bloody dipsticks... I used to get hassled by DOT all the time (back when I ran the old 1975 FJ40), seems like they are fishing for poeple running pot more than they are concerned with "safety". I called BS on them all the time, bunch of wannabe mechanics. The first thing they used to do was stick thier head inside, "You can inspect my vehicle from the OUTSIDE, thank you." "Your exhaust is too loud.", "Oh, really? how loud is it? I don't see a decibel meter in your hand. You go and get yourself a decibel meter, and set it to impact noise (that is noise between 20-20,000Hz) and then we'll talk.", "Ok, you're good, move on..." Let me guess, you were on Hwy 3? Lots of pot gets moved from the kootenays to points east on hwy 3, that's why DOT hassles people there.

All the glass and lenses on my '74 has DOT stamps on it, and had the windshield replaced in Castlegar. I think the daytime running lights is BS, since that was only manditory on vehicles made after 1991, I could be wrong, though. Whenever I ran into DOT with the BJ74, I just got waved through, go figure. DOT and the police don't even look twice down here, wierd... Good luck, man.

Actually, they were really nice to me. The Daytime running lights was after December of 1989, so any vehicle 1990 or newer "has to" have them. It's an easy upgrade so I am not worried. I am going to talk with them more about the 3 brake light. We will see what happens there.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[nickw]

Hello,

Here are the pics of my lights. It's 13 3/4 inches wide. DON'T TRUST THE PHOTO, it was taken on a bad angle. I just wanted to show people where I measured from.
So if someone wants to trade let me know. I would prefer someone close who can meet in real life. I would be willing to ship as a second option.

If I can't trade, can I just buy new glass for the light.
It almost looks like there is clips holding it on.
Or do I have to do the whole unit?

I included pics of my lights so people could see what they look like.
Also, the bumper will be for sale soon. My ARB is stuck in customs, and I will get it soon. So keep that in mind (wink wink )

Cheers,
Nick

The pics. Remember the pic is bad, the light is really 13 3/4 wide.

 

[bigbrowndog]

I like the mag wheels. What brand are they? Truck looks good also.cheers

 

[Stone]

Considering that the lenses are RHD and are the issue with your vehicle, I don't think anyone here will trade their LHD lenses with you. Those lenses are mucho dinero from the dealership.

Another thing that I notice in your pic is that you have to cover your foglamps with an opaque cover...but you probably know that already.

Cheers.

 

[brownbear]

call up a wreaking yard somewhere in the USA and ask if they have any FZJ80 in there. Maybe it didn't die from a head on

some musta been T-boned.

 

[crushers]

Another thing that I notice in your pic is that you have to cover your foglamps with an opaque cover...but you probably know that already.

Cheers.

why do you say this?