The fury, I has it

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux)
03/24/2015 at 14:15 • Filed to: None

Inspection time for my girls Jeep. She drops it off and the mechanic gives her a ride home in her own Jeep BEFORE inspecting it. I was somewhat livid about this. Maine inspections do not require a drive. I did the work on it, wheel bearing, fixing the horn, fixing the EVAP, but now it is failing for stuff that would never be checked had he not driven it. Not to mention we got stuck with a bum Advance Auto starter he installed hundreds of miles away that I replaced and he wont warranty (it was 3 months old when it stranded us, I replaced it). So she is in for brake pads and rotors though I checked them when I did the bearings 400 miles ago, rear shocks even though a bounce test is not required (and I would have noticed if they were shot or leaking) among other things. I can do all the work, but it is in the mind of the great state of maine to hold a tiny piece of paper over a customers head with the threat of a ticket. Fuck this shit

DISCUSSION (38)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:16

Thanks, Obama.

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/24/2015 at 14:17

in this case, Thanks, LePage

Kinja'd!!!

Jcarr > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:18

I'm so glad I live in a state that doesn't require inspections. Sounds like a massive PITA.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:18

I mean, brakes are important. Shocks are meh .

505Turbeaux > Jcarr
03/24/2015 at 14:18

totally in the shops favor too

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/24/2015 at 14:19

3/4 pads and no wobble or wear in the rotors 400 miles ago doe

deekster_caddy > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:21

That sounds like BS. You should be able to refuse. Ask him for the documentation on state inspections so you can see where minimum pad thickness is mentioned.

Call them in to the state inspection agency.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:21

For him to fail them, wouldn't he need to put a caliper on them an measure them?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:23

When I was in NJ and had inspections, my dad was a private inspector for years until the state said he had to have a $25k + dyno to do inspections for 100 bucks a pop. That's a lot of inspections to recoup your cost.

Also, if you failed inspection you were required to repair it yourself or go to a special list of mechanics, not just a list of licensed ones. But specific state approved Emissions Repair Facilities. Even if you failed for a bad wiper blade. I mean, sure you could always say you did the repair yourself, but that could get messy if they ask too many questions.

Thankfully my dad was on that list still. You could also get free inspections at the state facility, if you were prepared to wait.

I don't miss inspections. Though some of the shit cars on the road over here in Michigan...we might need it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:27

That is some BS.

I just got my car titled in Virginia back in January, and we have inspections here as well, but it seems rather arbitrary. I had a stone chip in my windshield that should have failed me. It's very obvious and literally 1" above where the inspector put the "Pass" sticker.

Based on some of the heaps I see on the road, that must happen a lot. But then again I hear stories from people that live in other parts of the state that sound just like yours.

area man > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:28

Is this the WK? Jesus that thing is such a pig. Can't you get her into something sensible, like a Wagoneer with half the frame rusted away?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:29

Given how casual inspections are down here in NC, I can only be horrified. I can only wonder if you can find a less dickbaggy mechanic.

505Turbeaux > deekster_caddy
03/24/2015 at 14:31

Oh I have the inspection manual on hand. I dont even have to measure to tell they are a pass

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/24/2015 at 14:31

yup, he would. And I can guarantee he did not

505Turbeaux > area man
03/24/2015 at 14:32

haha yeah a WK POS. Waggy sounds much better

cornerslide > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:32

If allowed, get a second opinion. I've done this before and had favorable results. I don't live in Maine however.

jariten1781 > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:33

Huh? That sucks.

I've had inspectors down here in VA fail me for stuff that wasn't on the inspection instructions (worst was for TPMS which ISN'T REQUIRED ON ANY CAR IN THE STATE...fucker). They never backed down even when I showed them what they were allowed to check, but I called in to the state police superintendent's office (who oversees safety inspections) and after being transferred a couple times talked to an older guy who called the shop and told them to pass me and refund the rejection fee.

505Turbeaux > jariten1781
03/24/2015 at 14:34

something similar might just happen in this case

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:42

It should be noted on your inspection report. The guy can't just pull it out of his ass.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/24/2015 at 14:43

I have seen it too many times. I pulled the 3/4 number out of my ass but it is close enough for a pass

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:44

Can you take it to another inspector?

jariten1781 > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:45

One of the best things to happen in the last couple years was one of my wife's friends dating a guy that does inspections. He just gives me a sticker each year for all my cars since he's been to my house and seen how I take care of my stuff...which is double great since I don't have to go to the hassle of zip tying the supercharger bypass open and detuning the Miata right in front of the inspectors in the station's parking lot to pass emissions (so dumb). Gotta find yourself one of those guys.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/24/2015 at 14:46

yeah, I am waiting for the quote to see how obscene it is and then it will be worked on, and brought to a friend. This was her "trusted mechanic" - now I am wondering why she has had a 1500$+ bill every year to be inspected

Inspection costs 18$

505Turbeaux > jariten1781
03/24/2015 at 14:46

haha I have a few - this was her "trusted mechanic"

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:58

In MD we're at $78.50 last time I checked, and they go through every single thing imaginable.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 14:59

I have never let a mechanic touch my car and the family truck. Another man touching her all over? Playing with her intake manifolds? And then making me pay for it?

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/24/2015 at 14:59

dayum

505Turbeaux > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
03/24/2015 at 15:01

haha I wish I could be out of it. I just like to do the work and let someone else give her a thumbs up. Currently it is more like Indecent Proposal

Rev Hang Slows My Roll > Jcarr
03/24/2015 at 15:34

Counterpoint: I live in SC, which does not require inspections. I have seen some of the least road worthy heaps of shit driving down our highways and its 100% legal as long as they have lights and a registration.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 15:35

Lame, sorry man. I sometimes wish we had mandatory vehicle inspections because we have so many unsafe or badly modified shitheaps on the road, but there are too many bad shops for it to work with any integrity.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench
03/24/2015 at 15:36

that is the issue. They were going to go with mandatory when you buy the car, then every 2 years, but the mechanics lobby pushed back hard, of course

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 15:43

Fuckers. I hate this industry so much sometimes all the time with every fiber of my being.

Tohru > 505Turbeaux
03/24/2015 at 18:48

Here in Wisconsin, we have no safety inspections and only a few counties do emissions testing.

pip bip - choose Corrour > 505Turbeaux
03/25/2015 at 04:17

inspections?

not where i am in Oz. 8)

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > 505Turbeaux
03/25/2015 at 11:53

reminder: Sure, sometimes you fail inspection for something stupid, or that you can fix easily, but these rules keep shit like this OFF the road:

Kinja'd!!!

Aren't you glad you don't have to share the road with these?

505Turbeaux > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/25/2015 at 11:55

oh yes, but the perfect balance has not been found between keeping this off the road, and greedy mechanics taking advantage of customers.

Also inspection mechanics beer drinking buddies who get a pass in terrible cars

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > 505Turbeaux
03/25/2015 at 12:01

Greedy mechanics are NOT the fault of the inspection system, they are jerks and should be shunned as such. I may be drinking buddies with my inspection mechanic, and he's never failed me (taken my fee money and run), but he HAS refused to put a sticker on my car until X,Y, and Z got fixed.

505Turbeaux > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/25/2015 at 12:09

I do agree with you on this, it isnt the fault of the system, just an effect