Its that time of the year again... State Inspection

[FlaakCM]

Hey guys/gals,

It is around that time of the year again for me and I need to get the truck safety inspected. Normally, I take it to the Cheveron at the fairfax circle, but when I drove there yesterday for an inspection, I found out that they have permanently closed doors.

Does anyone know of a shop that generally passes anything that comes through the doors?

note: the only thing that wouldnt pass on the truck is the fact that it has 20% tint on the front side windows.

Thanks!

[ispoonwithmugen]

Hey guys/gals,

It is around that time of the year again for me and I need to get the truck safety inspected. Normally, I take it to the Cheveron at the fairfax circle, but when I drove there yesterday for an inspection, I found out that they have permanently closed doors.

Does anyone know of a shop that generally passes anything that comes through the doors?

note: the only thing that wouldnt pass on the truck is the fact that it has 20% tint on the front side windows.

Thanks!

I didn't think they checked tint during inspection?

Edit: It doesn't appear to be on the checklist only thing is the windshield for sun shading material nothing else I saw.
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[FlaakCM]

I believe they check tint. I've been told I wouldnt pass prior at a normal location because of tint. So anytime I went the the Cheveron, I would show up at the shop with the windows already rolled down. They (that Cheveron) never seem to mess with rolling up the windows during an inspection.

12. – INSPECT WINDSHIELD AND OTHER GLASS FOR:

•Cloudiness, distortion or other obstruction to vision.

[Jeff]

No, we don't inspect for tint. I will sticker it for you if you want to drive to Woodstock and everything else is legit.

[davej]

In highschool we always took our beaters into jiffy lube or similar. Pay for an oil change and as long as your tires weren't showing threads and you had pads on the one wheel they took off it was usually rubber stamped.

Would go there because all they did was fluid changes, anywhere else would say you needed some part/work that they just happened to do there.

That was before I cared about having a safe, reliable vehicle.


Edit: scratch reliable, forgot I drive and Audi for a second.

[NTIman]

No, we don't inspect for tint. I will sticker it for you if you want to drive to Woodstock and everything else is legit.

This. We don't inspect for tint except for on the windshield.

[FlaakCM]

interesting. I guess it is all about who you take the car to.

[Jeff]

If someone is failing you for window tint on the side windows they are breaking the law.

[NTIman]

If someone is failing you for window tint on the side windows they are breaking the law.

I even double-checked myself. According to the inspection manual, as long as it isn't bubbled, scratched, or distorted, it's legal from a safety standpoint.

I'm not saying there aren't guys out there jacking you around, I'm just saying from what I've experienced, the State Trooper that runs the inspection program probably ain't gonna agree with them rejecting window tint on a side window.

[Jeff]

Yes, correct. If the tint is damaged and obstructing the view that is one thing, but it just being there...nah.

[WRXtranceformed]

Why do they still give out tint tickets up that way then?

[Evan]

Once I had a guy say that the factory steering wheel on my exige was too small and that he wouldnt pass me. One of the other guys in the shop came over and laughed at him, so he changed his mind.

Why do they still give out tint tickets up that way then?

saftey inspection is not (strictly) a legality inspection.

[Jeff]

Another example would be mufflers. You do not need a muffler for state inspection but you will get a ticket on the road. To Evan's issue, it is interesting. Oem's can break inspection law. Srt-4's have no mufflers. Jeeps with a certain package have tail lamp guards that would fail if aftermarket.

[fiveoh2go]

Another example would be mufflers. You do not need a muffler for state inspection but you will get a ticket on the road. To Evan's issue, it is interesting. Oem's can break inspection law. Srt-4's have no mufflers. Jeeps with a certain package have tail lamp guards that would fail if aftermarket.

Do catalytic converters fall under the same category (can pass safety inspection without them but can be ticketed for not having them)?

[Jeff]

No, they are a federal requirement so VA requires them present if equipped.

[Maengelito]

Once I had a guy say that the factory steering wheel on my exige was too small and that he wouldnt pass me. One of the other guys in the shop came over and laughed at him, so he changed his mind.

I remember back in the day when the STi first came out that people were getting hassled about the OEM hood scoop and rear wing being too big and obstructing the view. I always carried the factory brochure in my glove box because of that. I think it all depends on who you go to for the inspection.

[WRXtranceformed]

I always kept my STi "garaged" down in Harrisonburg...easiest inspections ever down there :lol: Also didn't have to pay the exorbitant city sticker prices of NoVA

[SlimKlim]

I took the E36 to the Mr. Tire down the street on Saturday to try and get a sticker on it now that I've resolved the airbag issue. It's still garaged at my parents house so I don't have to put it through emissions.

They failed me because the connection from the headers to the midpipe is leaking, and because the brake wear sensor wasn't clipped into the caliper. I fixed the wear sensor in approximately 11 seconds, but they wouldn't budge on the exhaust leak.

Is that typical? Its a leak, which to me is an emissions issue not safety. :dunno:

[CaptainHenreh]

Is that typical? Its a leak, which to me is an emissions issue not safety. :dunno:

Until the exhaust leaks into your cabin, makes you pass out, and you wreck your car into a gaggle of schoolchildren.

[SlimKlim]

It does get a bit stinky when you got WOT...