Safety inspection question

[70 shorty]

I was told that I'd need to patch the holes on my cab corners to pass inspection, that fumes could get into the cab. I've never heard of this one. Anyone know if their state has the same situaiton? I ride with the window open quite often, so it seems like a pointless thing to me. In fact in the warm weather, I'll always ride with the windows down. I know, just find another inspector, which I'll probably do, but I'm just curious if anyone heard of this before?

[Rod]

They got a big a** check list here to fail a vehicle and call it not road worthy till all is fixed. It covers a wide range from loose rear view mirror to brake drum diameters to exhaust leaks, cracked windows, cracked lenses..goes on and on..it can run like crap and have a slipping tranny...cause that's OK, because, Thats not a safety concern. Quite a few provinces have that up here in Canada. It has made new car dealer happier, as was the point I figure,..get rid of all older vehicles and call them not-roadworthy... you have to have new certificates of inspection here to get any dollar value for your used car or truck. We can't register and insure a vehicle without a valid safety inspection before plating it.

[jewels.]

dang - that sounds awful! remind me not to register my vehicle in VA! let us know if you get it passed.
jewels.

[GreyHoundSteve]

Im sure the guy didnt just tell you that because he doesnt want your business but it does sound like he takes his job a little too serous so my advice is find someone of the beaten path with some clunkers out front or in the cage and have then get you a sticker.

In TX i had my 4 year old Accura fail emmisions at one place and the guy was trying to get me to get a bunch of work done there to "correct" the problem but i opted to take it down the road instead and what do you know? I passed with flying colors without a problem.

Most inspectors will tell you that they dont make but $2 or $3 per inspection so why do they do it? To get your repair business when you fail. Do yourself a favor and take it somewhere else. Maybe a board member in VA can recomend a place thats more classic friendly.

[jtminton]

Just throw some duct tape on the holes!

[curbyk]

2 weeks ago I took my 69 to be inspected and they told me he could if I wanted him to, but 25 years and older does not require an inspection of any kind. I said Great! I would check with someone else.

[jtminton]

Originally Posted by curbyk

2 weeks ago I took my 69 to be inspected and they told me he could if I wanted him to, but 25 years and older does not require an inspection of any kind. I said Great! I would check with someone else.

Here in TX we still have to get a "safety inspection" which is only $12.50 if the vehicle is over 25 years old. Honk the horn, check the lights, etc. Otherwise it's the $42.50 for the emissions+safety inspection. Crooks. . . .

[nathank]

I love how state inspection is crying about open air breathers. Inspection has become such a crock of bullhell.

[curbyk]

I have had other vehicles over 25 years old and usually had them inspected by same business and never was told of this. so I think this is kinda new here. I was curious and asked the transmission shop (they do inspections also) about it and he said it was right. Our reg. inspection is like $9.75 for 95 and older, 96 and newer has to have the pricey one like $30 something.

[smokekiki]

Here in pa,if the exhaust can enter the cab it will fail.The guy doing the inspection is putting his name on the sticker.If you are pulled over and the cop dosn't like the way Your truck(or You) looks,he can look at the back of the sticker,get the station number and mechanic,and fine them.

[RicksTrucks]

We use to have state inspections here in Oklahoma until a couple years ago. It was only $5.00 and the only thing that caught me was a cracked windshield. It had been cracked for a couple of years, but finally the law changed as to the size and I got caught and had to do another windshield. I miss the inspection from the aspect that it kept some real bombs off of the road. The excuse I hear about getting rid of it is that there are laws against some of the defects. My response is, yea but I don't want the guy to get a ticket after I get involved in an accident due to his lack of lights or something. Like everyone else said, shop around. When we had inspections, if you failed, they scraped your old sticker off so you had to hurry and get it fixed.

[70c10]

Here in Maryland, you can't have rust holes or it will fail.

[Russell]

Man, if they failed vehicles with rust holes, anything older than 97 would fail...

[blazerparts]

I guess dumping my exhaust at the rear axles wouldn't pass either, eh?

[CPNEJR]

blazerparts i don't know about NV but here in NH if it is past the cab the exhaust is legal

[blazerparts]

Well then, I be legal..........no inspections except smog here and that is just in certain counties.

[purple gas]

In Saskatchewan , Canada. They do random inspections. Your drivin down the street and they have a lane closed off if they wave you in you hope you pass. A freind of mine got told to park his 72 just last week. Holes in the cab. If it had been ball joints or bad brakes, they'd have towed it away to his choice of location till it was fixed. Exhaust fumes is why they stick people on holes in the body. Up here where it gets damn cold for much of the year it is a ligitimate safety issue. My neighbor just got the rust holes fixed in his '78, and he's happy cause he doesn't get headaches on long trips anymore. I don't know about your jurisdiction, but duct tape won't cut it up here.

[70 shorty]

Funny ya'll should say find someone more classic freindly. He has a 55 5 window first series truck, a 68 or 9 F@@d Ranger on the lot, a C4 convertible on the rack that he only takes down about 3 times a year, a late 70's CHERRY Chevy longbed, and a 68 Mustang all at his shop. He did say just bring it in and we'll make it pass. He said he could probably just slap some sheetmetal in and it would pass. He's a very honest person, and I'm sure he's just covering his butt. As an example, I just got my DD 84 Bonneville with the A/C not working converted to R134A for $150 yesterday and it will put icicles on your nose. I know I can find someone to give me a sticker, but I really want what I would consider to be real safety issues checked out.

[EROC]

I've been inspecting cars and trucks in Virginia for about 8 years now. I don't remember ever failing a vehicle for rust holes. The purpose of the safety inspection is to check things like brakes, steering, lights,etc. He should have checked the exhaust and fuel lines for leaks. Assuming no leaks were found and the exhaust exits behind the passenger compartment, which is required by law, I can't see how cab corners could be a serious safety concern. I believe there is a section in the safety manual which would concern floorboards and body, but I think that only has to do with structural parts like where the seat and seat belts are bolted down. Sounds like he was just drumming up some business. If you want to stick with the guy, I would ask him to show you the section in the manual. I think I would just find another inspection station.