vehicle inspection rant

[20 20]

Just wondering how many folks actually check their vehicles before {state}inspection is do. I keep up with maintanence and consider myself fair minded on mechanics.

Here is the story; Took my medium duty truck to be inspected, was told it could not pass inspection because of kingpins being to tight. Came home and checked over the vehicle again could not see any issues's especially kingpins. I then took the truck to a garage and had two certified mechanics check it over, they could not find a problem. I then finally took the truck to another inspection station and it passed with no issue's. If I had listened to the 1st inspection place I would have been out atleast $1500.00 or more for thier PS repair. Just a rant and hopefully a helpfull hint for some of you out there that put total trust in some "mechanical shops". Take a couple of minutes and make sure your not paying for uneeded repairs. I relize times are tough and everyone needs money, BUT they should atleast earn it honestly.

 

[SimS]

20 20;

How in the heck could they come up with the king pins being too tight? That diagnosis could only be had by a significant amount of work. They would have to dismantle a lot of gear to isolate a king pin for rotational testing. Sorry you had to deal with those folks. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. Good luck.

SimS

 

[fenix]

That is the kind of stuff some like to pull on the ladies and teenagers.
I think they get so used to pulling those kind of things they get
careless on who they try it on. Good for you for seeing the trash
for what they are. Getting the word out about such things helps
people be aware. I hate people who pull this kind of stuff.

 

[20 20]

SimS, when they told me they were too tight I must have looked like a deer being punched in the head while getting caught in the shine of a head light.That's why I imediatly thought....... what

Fenix: a few years back there was a garage that got their inspection lic. pulled because of bogus strut sales. they were telling folks that they needed struts when there was nothing wrong with the original. Turns out they were getting a free florida vacation with X amount of strut sales

I did call the 1st place back and told them exactly what I did and that I was very upset that they were planing on charging me for bogus repairs. The gentleman I talked with was very apologetic and was trying to get ahold of the top dog. If I had a dollar for every sorry he said to me over the phone, I'd be rich. I just hope this put enough scare into them that the next guy won't be paying for stuff he doesn't need.

 

[Chuck52]

I made a similar post 3-4 years ago. I took my Impala back to the dealer for an oil change and inspection. I park in a garage and notice things like spots on the floor, so I was surprised when they came out and told me my power steering was leaking and it would cost over $800 to replace the rack. They took me back and showed me a damp spot on the rack and said they couldn't pass it until the rack was replaced. I told them to do the oil change and get it off the lift. Went to another inspection garage and it passed with no issues. Now, I didn't point out the "problem" to the second inspection folks, but I then started watching for fluid loss. I put newspaper under the car and checked the fluid level daily for a while. No leak. That was 3-4 years ago, and I have never had to add fluid.

At the time I posted, one of the mechanics on the board gave me a hard time because "they should fail the car if there was a leak". There wasn't. In Missouri, if you suspect something like that, you can ask for an inspection by the State Police. If they determine attempted fraud I bet it can get interesting for the garage.

My wife would have had the work done.

Chuck

 

[MarkV]

Why not report them to the agency responsible for licensing the inspection places? I am so glad we don't have to do inspections in my area.

MarkV

 

[radioman]

I feel for you. getting inspections is just a pita. you never know what to expect and everytime I think car is fine, they always find one little thing and charge me for a "failed" inspection. the words "failed" hurts. I really wish they would just us a grace period to fix things ourselves without paying for inspection fee again. Heck even 24 hrs is enough for me to get things fixed and reinspect.

 

[Egon]

They took me back and showed me a damp spot on the rack and said they couldn't pass it until the rack was replaced

Reminds me of a time many years ago when I was still employable. One of the coworkers had a longer trip planned starting when the shift ended. Some miscreant squirted some oil on Differential seal so it dripped on the ground. Later this was mentioned to the owner who got quite exited for the next few hours till someone owned up to the nefarious deed.:laughing:

 

[Mace Canute]

Reminds me of a time many years ago when I was still employable. One of the coworkers had a longer trip planned starting when the shift ended. Some miscreant squirted some oil on Differential seal so it dripped on the ground. Later this was mentioned to the owner who got quite exited for the next few hours till someone owned up to the nefarious deed.:laughing:

Years ago the guys at "Apparatus Repair" (division of the provincial power utility that repaired and salvaged equipment, including transformers) started to pour a little bit of used transformer oil under a guy's brand new car (the guy wasn't like by anyone...big mouth, small brain, eh?) He was thoroughly convinced that his tranny was leaking and he took it in several times for warranty...and he would never believe the shop when they told him there was nothing wrong with it. I'm sure after the first couple of times they just parked it and told him they checked it out. He never did twig to the fact that it wasn't RED oil and that his tranny dip stick didn't show the oil level ever went down. Like I said...small brain!

 

[RobertN]

This one thing I find interesting. We don't have inspections out here in Kalifornia. For all the smog regs and testing, and other over regulation, we don't have general inspection.

We used to have random inspection. As a kid in the early '70's, I remember my parents car being inspected; the state would just set up at an intersection and randomly pull people over.