The lazy mechanic game.  

If it's broken write it up. Not writing it up was the way the industry has gone and is not right. Set a standard and let your crew know that x is broken and you are left with no option but to write it up. When everything works, and you accept all the flight you should you will get respect.

Now if you write things up on the last day of your hitch so the aircraft is grounded and you go home early it will not go un-noticed. Do the right thing. If the mechanics know that you are going to write everything up the will be more proactive so they don't get called in during the time they wish to be at home.