OT: Car Inspection

[RULoyal]

Had to go to inspection this morning. There was nobody in line and it only took 10 minutes but what a waste of my time and state money. Saw and article from 2010 that said it was a $12 million program with a less that 6% rejection rate. Two guys in every line - first guy looks at your info and screws around in the car for 5 minutes. Drives the car 50 feet up the line to another guy who I presume checks emissions and you're done. One guy can't do that?

Okay - rant over

 

[mdk02]

Question is, how many people made necessary repairs to get past inspection which accounts for the low failure rate.

 

[RULoyal]

Can't vouch for the veracity of this but:

• A relatively small percentage of vehicles, around 5-6%, fail for mechanical issues alone.
  
  
• However, a much larger portion, over 40%, fail the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) (emissions) inspection because the vehicle's onboard computer isn't ready for testing.
  
  
• This means the computer hasn't completed its self-diagnostic cycles, often due to recent repairs or battery resets.
  
  
• Emissions failures, particularly those related to the check engine light, are a major reason for vehicles failing inspection.

Sorry but it's a waste.

 

[T2Kplus20]

Can't vouch for the veracity of this but:

• A relatively small percentage of vehicles, around 5-6%, fail for mechanical issues alone.
  
  
• However, a much larger portion, over 40%, fail the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) (emissions) inspection because the vehicle's onboard computer isn't ready for testing.
  
  
• This means the computer hasn't completed its self-diagnostic cycles, often due to recent repairs or battery resets.
  
  
• Emissions failures, particularly those related to the check engine light, are a major reason for vehicles failing inspection.

Sorry but it's a waste.

We just have our local mechanic deal with inspections. Doesn't cost too much. And yes, it's total BS.

 

[RU05]

Question is, how many people made necessary repairs to get past inspection which accounts for the low failure rate.

Ya if u have a check engine light on you get that fixed first then go to inspection.

 

[29PAS]

Do they test for headlight adjustment? Seems to me a lot of headlights are aimed too high. Of course, I'm not even sure you can adjust head lights anymore with the way they're integrated into the front of most cars.

 

[RULoyal]

Do they test for headlight adjustment? Seems to me a lot of headlights are aimed too high. Of course, I'm not even sure you can adjust head lights anymore with the way they're integrated into the front of most cars.

Nope. Didn’t check turn signals either. Basically appeared to check emissions and brakes (at <5mpg). I feel much safer.

 

[UMRU]

Do they test for headlight adjustment? Seems to me a lot of headlights are aimed too high. Of course, I'm not even sure you can adjust head lights anymore with the way they're integrated into the front of most cars.

I agree with you on the headlights - especially on pickup trucks - so many are blinding. But, unfortunately, that is no longer checked during inspections.

 

[DJ Spanky]

They check so little nowadays during inspections. I remember when they used to do suspension checks, headlight checks, tire and brake checks, etc. What's the point now?

 

[iReC89]

I guess at a minimum it’s an audit that the car is insured, registered and owned by a licensed driver, but yeah it’s not a lot.

Bulb type might be a bigger annoyance then alignment. LED’s are a lot brighter. I checked my beam height after changing to LED’s on my old car and was still getting people flashing me as if I had my high beams on.

 

[DanRU]

They check so little nowadays during inspections. I remember when they used to do suspension checks, headlight checks, tire and brake checks, etc. What's the point now?

They check that your registration and insurance is valid then plug in to the computer. If your check engine light isn't on, your car passes. It's all about emissions and I thought I read once it's a federal mandate, probably related to funding.

 

[RULoyal]

From wikipedia so take with a grain of salt:

No safety, emissions, or VIN inspections​

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Dakota
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington

 

[29PAS]

I guess at a minimum it’s an audit that the car is insured, registered and owned by a licensed driver, but yeah it’s not a lot.

Bulb type might be a bigger annoyance then alignment. LED’s are a lot brighter. I checked my beam height after changing to LED’s on my old car and was still getting people flashing me as if I had my high beams on.

I agree with you on the bulb type. Some of them are insanely bright and it doesn't matter how they are aimed.

 

[koleszar]

Do they test for headlight adjustment? Seems to me a lot of headlights are aimed too high. Of course, I'm not even sure you can adjust head lights anymore with the way they're integrated into the front of most cars.

It's those new LED lights they can make the lights so bright it's like you're looking into a spotlight. And no, it's not just you, the average cd (candela/brightness) has gone up by almost 10,000 cd from 2015 (approx. 9,000 cd) to 2025 (approx. 19,000 cd).

They get away with this because the regulations were for older Halogen lights which require more power. So an LED light produces 10,000 more cd at the same power as an older Halogen light. I looked all this sh*t up because I had the same annoyance as you.

 

[cioffineverrana43]

I guess at a minimum it’s an audit that the car is insured, registered and owned by a licensed driver, but yeah it’s not a lot.

Bulb type might be a bigger annoyance then alignment. LED’s are a lot brighter. I checked my beam height after changing to LED’s on my old car and was still getting people flashing me as if I had my high beams on.

My CRV has the "feature" of automatically turning on and dimming the high beams. If the sensor doesn't react quick enough to oncoming traffic sometimes the other driver gets a quick bright dosage. Then they flash their high beams at me, and I return in kind. Thanks Honduh.

 

[RUforester72]

From wikipedia so take with a grain of salt:

No safety, emissions, or VIN inspections​

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Dakota
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington

You can add Oregon to that list, except that they do test emissions in Portland.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

I once failed inspection because one of the two tiny bulbs that illuminated my rear license plate was out.

I wasn't happy.

 

[Knight Shift]

You can add Oregon to that list, except that they do test emissions in Portland.

Emissions of bong smoke from the passenger compartment?

 

[Knight Shift]

I once failed inspection because one of the two tiny bulbs that illuminated my rear license plate was out.

I wasn't happy.

Had that happen on my first car, a 1966 AMC Rambler. I grabbed some electrical tape, taped over the rear facing part of the bulb, and they passed me.

 

[yesrutgers01]

When we recently moved to Delaware, I had my first inspection there...it was so strange. They have a line on the floor telling you to stop there - then a guy about 50 feet in front of you waves you up. So, I move up slowly to him and he is doing a motion like he is very impatient, I had no idea why, I wasn't doing anything wrong, driving up to where he wanted me and being careful. I get there and he says something like "Can you drive any slower?" I am completely confused and joked to him asking if he just expected a NJ driver to be bad drivers? And this guy just walks away and the 2nd guy comes up to check the computer and lights and I asked him what was up with the other guy. He told me that drivers are supposed to drive up quick and brake to a hard stop. There were no signs anywhere that tell you to do this and I still thought he was joking, but he wasn't.

 

[newell138]

I guess at a minimum it’s an audit that the car is insured, registered and owned by a licensed driver, but yeah it’s not a lot.

Bulb type might be a bigger annoyance then alignment. LED’s are a lot brighter. I checked my beam height after changing to LED’s on my old car and was still getting people flashing me as if I had my high beams on.

the people without those docs aren't going to get their car inspected. My wife and I were just discussing this topic the other day, as its the same process at the one in Cape May, appts needed but you are out of there in less than 5 minutes. Not sure what they are even looking at. Remember the days of sitting in line for hours? Also lots less older, rusted cars on the roads these days so its probably a way to save money for the state but those words are not something they know about.

 

[iReC89]

the people without those docs aren't going to get their car inspected. My wife and I were just discussing this topic the other day, as its the same process at the one in Cape May, appts needed but you are out of there in less than 5 minutes. Not sure what they are even looking at. Remember the days of sitting in line for hours? Also lots less older, rusted cars on the roads these days so its probably a way to save money for the state but those words are not something they know about.

all I know is the day my inspection sticker expired a Cranbury officer pulled me over lol so I attribute magical law enforcement powers to them. Yeah those lines were the worst. Car environmental control requirements have probably done away with the need to inspect all car emissions. If your check engine light is on, yer done.

 

[RULoyal]

Many moons ago me and a co-worker went to the Somerville inspection station at lunch time to get his Pinto inspected. We made it to the very end and the guy says to pop the hood. He looks in the engine compartment, slams the hood, says "Something's burning under there you better get it checked", slaps a red sticker on the windshield and drops the paperwork in my friend's lap. Some of those guys were real d!cks back in the day.

 

[RUforester72]

Emissions of bong smoke from the passenger compartment?

No its the stink from the local politicians that have made Portland a national joke.

 

[tru2ru1]

No its the stink from the local politicians that have made Portland a national joke.

We flew up to Portland after the USC game, city is a ghost town, with 80% of buildings vacant, only thing decent were the food trucks

 

[Knight Shift]

No its the stink from the local politicians that have made Portland a national joke.

One day the Portland authorities will track down the cretins who shot and killed my cousin and his friend in a bar parking lot 4 years ago. It's the wild west out there. Was such a beautiful city. Would love to visit and see if Powell's book store still exists, but will skip it.

 

[cioffineverrana43]

I once failed inspection because one of the two tiny bulbs that illuminated my rear license plate was out.

I wasn't happy.

Better that inspection caught it than the local PD. Plainsboro's Finest pulled me over at 2:30am for that about 15 years ago.

 

[RUforester72]

One day the Portland authorities will track down the cretins who shot and killed my cousin and his friend in a bar parking lot 4 years ago. It's the wild west out there. Was such a beautiful city. Would love to visit and see if Powell's book store still exists, but will skip it.

Powell‘s is still there, a great book store. it used to be a great city, but it’s been run by fools for so long that it will take decades to fix it. Lived there for four years during its decline.

 

[RULoyal]

It's those new LED lights they can make the lights so bright it's like you're looking into a spotlight. And no, it's not just you, the average cd (candela/brightness) has gone up by almost 10,000 cd from 2015 (approx. 9,000 cd) to 2025 (approx. 19,000 cd).

They get away with this because the regulations were for older Halogen lights which require more power. So an LED light produces 10,000 more cd at the same power as an older Halogen light. I looked all this sh*t up because I had the same annoyance as you.

Bans aftermarket LEDs.

 

[Bagarocks]

My brother went through and failed for check engine light on. his emissions were flawless.
A wire for the heated mirror in the driver side door mirror was broken.
That pretty much sums up this waste of time and tax payer money.

 

[yesrutgers01]

My brother went through and failed for check engine light on. his emissions were flawless.
A wire for the heated mirror in the driver side door mirror was broken.
That pretty much sums up this waste of time and tax payer money.

Didn’t your brother know that a check engine light is an automatic failure.

 

[Bagarocks]

Didn’t your brother know that a check engine light is an automatic failure.

What does that have to do with failing a DMV saftey check that doesnt check emergency brakes, tire pressures, fluid leaks, Suspension, any others?
But you can fail for a broken wire for your heated side view mirrors.
Of course he had his CPU code checked. They didnt care.