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The State inspection wait is on..............
I'm not sure about the rest of you guys, but in Virginia we have the annual "bend over and call me Daddy" event, otherwise known as the State Safety Inspection. I just dropped the car off this morning and now I sit and wait for "the call". I hate this feeling. I have yet to come out of one of these without at least a couple hundred bucks flying out of my pocket. In all fairness a couple of times they were right and resolved potential safety issues. Still, I feel like the Wile. E. Coyote waiting for the anvil to drop on my head. Just had to vent.
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Up here in CT they don't require inspections with older cars...not sure why because I would think those would be the most potentially dangerous! I literally walked into the DOT with the title, bill of sale, and insurance card, walked out with license plates and drove it home.
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In NC they don't check much on diesels except basic "Does the horn blow? Do all the lights shine? Great." Certainly never heard of dropping one off; even on gasoline vehicles where they check emissions, I've never had an inspection take more than 20-30 minutes. There's a cut-off of some kind for older stuff, but I think it's something pre-1980. Not sure, though.
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Move over to WV, no emissions tests even on gassers, Inspection is at a locak gas station and goes like this...
Got Tieyars? Yep Got glass in the winders? Yep She start? Yep Y'all go to go! :D They did even put the car on a lift or check the brakes, horn, wipers, etc... In NY a Diesel goes through a similar thing, but with the horn check. A gasser has to either get dynoed -- bad news for an AWD car, or if it is OBD II they read the codes -- easy to fix that - just erase them before going to get the car inspected. Not that I ever did that:rolleyes: |
In PA they check everything once a year. I know older diesels get a pass on the emissions test. Guess in your states the cars never have any wear on them.
--------------------- 1984 MB 300SD Turbo |
The Mighty Old Dominion checks it up one side and down the other. They pull all your wheels, check you brakes, shocks, front end components, lights (all) they will fail you if you have a marker light burned out and offer to replace it for $20.00. windshield wipers, horn, check your headlights' and charge you $15.00 to adjust them if needed..............I could go on. I do think safety is important, and I do see many cars on the road that have NO business being driven on public highways. Where they get you is, once a shop inspects your car and it fails you have to get the item on your car fixed, and if you think they are full of crap and take it somewhere else you have to pay another $15.00 for another inspection and have them tell you the same thing and possibly even worse. It can make a reasonable person think about irrational things:rolleyes:
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In VT we do it every year. This is the first year in a while that I did not pass. I've got floorpan rot - pretty bad on the passenger side, not so bad on the driver's side and the rockers are pretty bad at the jackpoints. They looked great when I bought the car, but I guess bondo and paint fooled me. I'm trying to figure out if I want to fix it or not. I've got a guy up here that can get me fixed up for $1500 - $2000 (new rockers, floorpan fix, new wheel well arches and rear quarter panels).:grim:
Anyone have a decent 123 with a shot engine? |
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Happy Motoring, Mark |
You're right Mark. But if you want to have it inspected by someone else you have to pay for another inspection and open yourself up to more potential bad news. Kinda like playing Let's Make a Deal.
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Those inspectors can get in real trouble if they're caught overlooking even seemingly minor issues like marker lights. OTOH, maybe you need to find a better inspector.
Just had 'Ol'Blue', my 'new' 82 240D inspected without any problems. But I try to go over my cars beforehand. I'm sure my inspector gets to see some real clunkers come through his bay. Happy Motoring, Mark |
I remember, many moons ago when an inspection was something that was done while you waited. In high school I dated a girl who's dad owned a service station, best inspections ever!! Pull up, grab a soda from the cooler and tell "dad" how great his daughter was. Ten minutes later, new sticker and a legal car to "entertain" his daughter in. He didn't even charge me for the soda. Those were the days!
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Safety inspection?
Emissions inspection? What are those? |
The current New York inspection does not require a wheel to be removed, if the rotor surface is visible. Years ago, pulling a wheel was required.
So, I took my Audi 100 to an 'official inspection station'. The mechanic puts the car on a lift, and removes the left front wheel. Then he puts it back on and removes the right front wheel. Then, looking extremely puzzled, he walks over to where I was waiting and asks "OK, where are the brakes?" |
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The Verdict is in!!!
Ironically enough, NOTHING was wrong. I feel like I won the lottery:D.
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We can drive whatever hunk of metal + engine + wheels we can glue a license plate to here in MI! :D :D |
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-J |
Wow, in Oklahoma, there is no such thing as "inspection".
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Spend some time beforehand to make sure the stupid, obvious stuff is fixed. The other trick for Virginia is to find a good shop that isn't looking for you to make their next boat payment. Tire stores are known to be the worst inspection places.... Over the last twenty years in VA., I've made an effort to seek out a fair (or better) inspector, and then make sure I return to them each time. I also make a point to tip the guy $5.00 each time he does the car. Since I'm currently doing 8 cars each year, I get in pretty often, and everyone knows me by name.... I'm the old Mercedes guy....:) I walk in and tell the inspector, "Wow, I only put 900 miles on her this year....". It also makes a difference how the car looks when you bring it in. I make sure the car is detailed as best I can, and leave the registration on the dash, so the inspector doesn't have to search for the VIN. Little things, but I've had a pretty good experience with inspections in VA. Of course, I'm not trying to slide crap past them, either. If your front end is worn out, it's not safe, accept it... Jim |
No safety inspection in Nevada. No emission inspection either unless you live in Washoe or Clarke counties. Rust isn't much of an issue here, so old clunkers frequently get driven until the motor or tranny quits. Brakes, lights, wipers, tires with tread on them, windows with glass in them, and horns are all kind of optional. There are laws on the books requiring that stuff, but they don't seem to get enforced. I'm not complaining, mind you.
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Remember when the Virginia safety inspection was every six months? What a pain! But at least there was no emmisions test in those days. Happy Motoring, Mark |
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Happy Motoring, Mark |
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All they verified on mine was the VIN as compared to the title I brought in.
No inspection here in Florida, since the 80s... |
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Inspections can be your friend
We have emissions testing , opacity only for older diesels , Obd II hookup only for later model vehicles gas and diesel. This only applies for the metro Vancouver area, the rest of the province has nothing. There are Safety inspections if you import a vehicle into the province or get stopped for some sort of mechanical issue or light out. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I picked up a really nice low miles 93 Jetta TD from a smartass kid who thought it was a good idea to tell the cop who stopped him that he couldn't see how fast he was going because his dash lights didn't work. Cop says ok maybe you should get the vehicle inspected and writes him a ticket. They found lots of stuff including excess smoking. You have to fix everything they find!! So $2800 later he has a nice rebuilt injection pump and new injectors as well as lots of new suspension parts and Working dash lights He had spent another $2000 in the previous 6 months. His parents freaked out and that was the end of the car for him. I picked it up for $1000 running nicely thank you very much.
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The worst place I've been for VA inspection are the places that specialize only in auto repairs. They use the inspection as an opportunity for more business.
Better places are the corner gas station. They set up an inspection booth but don't really get that much money from auto repairs - they get it from selling gasolene and drinks/snacks. There was a proposal in Virginia to match the safety inspection period of validity with the emissions test - good for two years. Unfortunately the idea seemed to go away quietly. Ken300D |
Inspection here is a joke. Last year I took my car to a local oil change joint for an inspection. The guy was looking over the car making sure all the lights work and what not. He got to the windshield and got a confused look on his face. He turns and asks me if I had windshiel wipers. I showed him them, but I think if someone else asks me I am gonna have some fun. Anyway, they are all about to start putting a new sticker on and an old guy comes out and looks at my headlights. He tells the workers my car just failed because of a rock chip in my headlight that was so small it didnt even go all the way through. You could rub your finger across it and it felt as smooth as could be. What angered me was that this very same shop inspected my car the year before with the same headlight and they didnt say anything. They never mentioned the gaping exhaust leaks I had. On to the next place. I was failed due to exhaust leaks, but no mention of headlight chip. Third times a charm. Next shop I went to had it done in 15 minutes no problem said all was good. I said thanks see ya.
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Virginia inspections were $3.00, once every six months. But that was back in the 70's. Inspection stickers were easy to scrape off a wreck and reglue. Not that I ever did that.
When Cadillac came out the heated windshields the inspector had to use a plastic razor blade. I saw an inspector use a normal razor blade.....once. It was not pretty. |
Mark and AMH - you guys remind me of the old days. Yes inspections were cheap but what a PITA every six months.
I follow Jim Freeh's approach (except for the $5 - maybe that's next) For the last couple of years I have had very good luck on my inspections at a station in Springfield. Show up last month in the 500SEC - car fails. When you release the e-brake, the e-brake pedal doesn't travel far enough back to hit the switch to douse the dash light (that tells you the e-brake is on). Never has as long as I have owned the car. No inspector has ever failed it until now. If the dash light ever bothered me, I just reached up with the toe of my left foot and pulled the pedal back - light out. Until this inspection the severity of the potential safety issue involved never occurred to me! One thing we Virginians need to keep in mind, as an earlier poster noted, the state police license the inspectors and pose as civilians with cars to test the inspectors - and do pull licenses. I have a feeling that may have occurred here because I had never seen this particular inspector before. So if the state police gigged this station and its inspector, future inspections will most likely involve serious nit picking. Now - on the hunt for a new inspection station. Oh - I installed a spring to bring the pedal travel back - not exactly OE but got the job done. And I don't blame the inspector - they have been dealt a lousy hand. |
Maryland has an inspection only when the title is transferred. It's pretty rigorous, but as long as you don't buy an old car it's easy to get through. Everything older than 20 years gets a pass, as you can get a "Historic" license plate for that one.
The whole thing is bogus. I see plenty of broken lights, no tail lights, etc. around here that would be fixed with a yearly inspection like VA has. |
I am having my 300D inspected tomorrow. It is a yearly thing here in NC.
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I thank the supreme being(s) above for SC not having any inspections. This is why I will never move to NC, at least while they have that inspection requirement. The thought of leaving my vehicle for any period of time with an unknown entity, probing my vehicle like a colonoscopy makes me very nervous. Im have OCD, and I classify this within that catergory :D
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Unless you live in the Metro Atlanta area
Ain't No:
Emissions Safety Courtesy Inspections of any Kind! Hell, in Rural Georgia a Paper Dealer "Drive Out" License Tag (30 day expiration) May be good for as long as you drive your car[and if not Uncle Hiram will give you another with "Fresher" dates.] |
Like Jim, I bring lots of cars in. They know me. I sort of like having them inspect it. If it fails, I know what really needs to be fixed. Seems to be a good selling point too. Friend got his license pulled for three years for "inspecting". I don't think he'll try that again.
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This end of the world, it's an anal, oops, ANNUAL thing, and they are picky, if it is on the vehicle, it has to work. A non-functional rear wiper can be a cause for rejection, but on the whole, I maintain/repair my own stuff and sometimes a second opinion on the real safety stuff (suspension, brake system) isn't a bad thing if you can trust the mechanic.
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All we have here is a safety inspection for diesels. They just check to make sure all of your light bulbs are working and they check your horn. Boom, you're done.
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well
i'm glad tennessee isnt one of those states maybe it's good to have someone look at every light buzzer and do dadt on a car. But me personally the less the govt. is on my bussiness the better. The inspection and the double tags kill me they look ugly and just another chance for dang illegal red-light/speed trap cam. to get u.
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It really is best to find a place you like and stick with them. If they know you, they also know you aren't the law:cool:. A shop isn't going to get rich on inspections at 16$ when following the official procedure that takes about 45 minutes. :rolleyes: Most shop labor rates around here are $60-100$/hr. I would love to see them go to every two years since I have 7 to do including the trailers.
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The other thing I do on inspections is move away from the area and don't watch. That gives them the freedom to shortcut the process without worrying that you'll report them somehow. I move to the other side of the building, go inside, go to another store, etc.
On the MBs, the wheels don't have to come off due to the disk brakes, so I don't have to worry about them stripping the lug bolts. The worst system I have heard of in the USA is in the District of Columbia. They have only two government-run inspection stations in the whole place. You get in a big line and typically waste at least a half day. I get the impression a treadmill is involved. Maybe someone in DC can explain the process in more detail. Ken300D |
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I usually end up standing right next to it talking to the mechanic while they're working; I know several of them at the place I usually get inspected. I've also had the car fail before because "We couldn't get the horn to blow." Well since I'd used it earlier that day I was pretty sure it was okay so I went back to the shop, turned the ignition on since you have to do that, whacked the horn in just the right spot, it sounded off, and I was able to get the sticker. Ever since then I stick close to it just so I can go ahead and head off trouble if any shows up. And to babysit it and see if they remember to glow it before they start it and move it into the bay... last time they just let me pull it in myself. |
The small Sunoco station where I get inspected doesn't have many choices for the inspector to be out of veiw, unless one wants to hang out by the restrooms or the dumpster. I try not to hover or get in their way.
I took my latest 240D in for inspection this week. When he was done, I advised the inspector before he backed the car out, to push the driver's door-lock down before turning off the key. He let me back it out! Happy Motoring, Mark |
My truck (85 Ford diesel) is up for inspection. I'm thinking about going back to the same station - yes they do know me there - except for the new inspector. I've also discovered at other times that the Ford truck SEEMS to get a pass on questionable issues (one inspector told me that I didn't need brake pads yet but will soon). Before they got to know me, I have gotten this "funny feeling" that when I bring the truck in I must be "an ok guy" but when I brought one of the benzes in I'm "one of those". The truck doesn't even go 1,000 miles a year - its only used for mulch and mercedes parts.
As I said before, I'm not really opposed to the inspections - I actually favor them - I would just like to see reasonableness. It does encourage me to check the lights and make sure everthing is working - but on all my cars, the basic safety stuff, brakes, tires, front end etc are taken care of when needed - not because the inspection is coming up! I work in DC and the inspections used to horrible - you always knew when someone had come back. I haven't heard any complaints in the last four or five years - I'll ask around. |
Well, my 300D passed the North Carolina inspection OK. Because it is a diesel and has no OBD I was only charged $13 rather than the $32 for OBD equipped vehicles. Yea!
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