Posted: 2/13/2009 3:02:33 PM EDT
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OK someone school me on the VA state inspection for vehicles.
I went in yesterday to get an inspection done and I get a call from the place(Goodyear Tire Joint) telling me that I should have an alignment and that I need new break drums on the rear. I say OK do the alignment but don't do the drums I can do that myself and bring it back for reinspection. I them get a call back shortly after that they can't do the alignment and I need to have to 2 new lower ball joints installed so that it can be aligned and pass the inspection. Cost close to a grand! I said put it back together I'll be into pick it an discuss it. I go to tire joint and ask why they didn't tell me the first time I needed the ball joints but dind't find that out til later and he tells me well a tech looked at it first for the inspection and the certified mechanic looked at it for the alignment up on the alignment rack. I asked how would they know it wouldn't pass if they hadn't put it up on the alignment rack and then they guys goes off on how we're heavily regulated by the VSP, blah, blah, blah! I said if I didn't have the alignemtn would it pass inspection. He said no. I was pissed by this time. I took the paperwork and the recept for the $60 I had to pay and left. I went out an lo and behold no rejection sticker. Went back in and he tells me my receipt and the failure sheet print out they gave me is all I need. Now am I wrong? Were they trying to BOHICA me and shouldn't a Fing rejection sticker have been put on? Are there any official specs for how far out of spec a ball joint has to be to fail inspection? I am taking the truck to another garage on Monday to get a buddy to look at the joints after I do the brakes tommorow. Called the dealer and they told me that the ball joint rarely if ever goes bad before the lower control arms goes out. What a crock of crap! 
Sorry had to Rant! |
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Yea you've be given the runaround. Some places don't even have an alignment machine and still do inspections. Unless there is something majorly wrong with the suspension and alignment, it should pass. Any older vehicle might have looser ball joints, tie rods etc. How do the tires look, are there any major wear patterns?
If you get it home, pull the rear drums and see how much pad is left, there is a minimum level to pass. I had one shop tell me that I had bad rear pads on the kids car and it won't pass inspection next time, got the pads and was going to install them, then noticed that the new pad wasn't that much bigger. Left the old one on and went to another inspection station and haven't had a problem in two subsequent inspections. |
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Heavily regulated by the VSP eh? Don't they know , per the regs you supposed to take off the old inspection sticker BEFORE starting the inspection? Yeah the sticker comes off first thing.If for some reason it doesnt pass, a rejection goes on. No vehicle is to leave with no sticker. |
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If you're anywhere near Herndon, give Danny at Absolut Autoworks a call and have him do the inspection. He's fair, honest and one hell of a great mechanic. Sorry, I don't remember the number off the top of my head. I haven't been in that area for a while. Mike I wish I was closer since I have heard him plugged before. Two hours though is a long way! |
| I'd call the State police. They aren't really fond of the shops that try to screw people. They will actually send a trooper to watch the inspection. My wife had it done once when a shop tried this shit on her. She's a car Chick. There was no pulling shit over on her. |
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I think I would call the State Police and ask them. It coming out of the shop with no rejection sticker on the windsheild I suspect the State Police will want to talk to that shop. I work at a new car dealership and have a state inspection license. I must say if the trooper that covers that area is anything like the one where I work, then he will not take this lightly.
Dan |
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Quoted: I'd call the State police. They aren't really fond of the shops that try to screw people. They will actually send a trooper to watch the inspection. My wife had it done once when a shop tried this shit on her. She's a car Chick. There was no pulling shit over on her. Absolutely call the VSP and complain. Get the shop name, address and inspection manager's name. From VSP's homepage: If I feel that the inspection performed on my vehicle was not a proper inspection, what can I do? If you question the integrity of a safety inspection performed on your vehicle, you should contact the nearest State Police Safety Division Office. An investigation will be conducted per your request to determine if proper inspection procedures were followed. State Police Safety Division Area Office Numbers are listed at the top of this page. 804-674-6774-VSP admin office
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I think I would call the State Police and ask them. It coming out of the shop with no rejection sticker on the windsheild I suspect the State Police will want to talk to that shop. I work at a new car dealership and have a state inspection license. I must say if the trooper that covers that area is anything like the one where I work, then he will not take this lightly. Dan Yeah on tuesday when I get back to work I am gonna get the info on the shop and call up the VSP. I hate places that try and screw people. |
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hold on... you paid $60 for a state inspection that should cost $16? i had a coupon for a free inspection at the dealer and they told me i needed an alignment (its WAY off) but passed my car. It was $16 for the inspection, $4 for some misc shop fee and another $40 for the "courtesy" alignment check since they couldn't do the alignment. They told me that if I had had the work done and they then aligned it they would have waived the fee! |
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Yea once you get results from the VSP, and they bust the shop, need to let the regional manager and corporate HQ also know the crap they are pulling. Courtesy fee was because they couldn't upsell you on services you didn't need in the first place.
If you do find someone who does a reasonable inspection in Richmond, especially the West End, let me know. Kid is there normally comes home to let dad to it because we don't know of a shop near Short Pump. Quoted:
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hold on... you paid $60 for a state inspection that should cost $16? i had a coupon for a free inspection at the dealer and they told me i needed an alignment (its WAY off) but passed my car. It was $16 for the inspection, $4 for some misc shop fee and another $40 for the "courtesy" alignment check since they couldn't do the alignment. They told me that if I had had the work done and they then aligned it they would have waived the fee! |
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Alignments are not part of the inspection.
Worn ball joints are however. If there is play in a ball joint or king pin you get a fail. Worn tires can get a fail also, and brakes are right up there on the list (though the drums must be pretty bad if they caused the fail, usually it is pads/shoes). There is also the 'not safe on the road' fallback, but it sounds like they are jerking you around. |
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I had a disreputable shop* BS me, telling me my tires tread was too low to pass, but that they had my size tires in stock... I had the state regs printed out (as I had used them to make sure the tires were okay) but they wouldn't even look at them. "Sir we've been doing inspections for 20 years..." Pursuing the issue with the VSP would have been satisfying, but with all of my travel for work at the time, I simply didn't have time. There are many dishonest people out there. Be careful. I'm convinced that VA's state inspection process causes more harm than help. *.Ragans Western Auto ...5813 George Washington Mem Hwy ...Grafton, VA 23692 |
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OK someone school me on the VA state inspection for vehicles. I went in yesterday to get an inspection done and I get a call from the place(Goodyear Tire Joint) telling me that I should have an alignment and that I need new break drums on the rear. I say OK do the alignment but don't do the drums I can do that myself and bring it back for reinspection. I them get a call back shortly after that they can't do the alignment and I need to have to 2 new lower ball joints installed so that it can be aligned and pass the inspection. Cost close to a grand! I said put it back together I'll be into pick it an discuss it. I go to tire joint and ask why they didn't tell me the first time I needed the ball joints but dind't find that out til later and he tells me well a tech looked at it first for the inspection and the certified mechanic looked at it for the alignment up on the alignment rack. I asked how would they know it wouldn't pass if they hadn't put it up on the alignment rack and then they guys goes off on how we're heavily regulated by the VSP, blah, blah, blah! I said if I didn't have the alignemtn would it pass inspection. He said no. I was pissed by this time. I took the paperwork and the recept for the $60 I had to pay and left. I went out an lo and behold no rejection sticker. Went back in and he tells me my receipt and the failure sheet print out they gave me is all I need. Now am I wrong? Were they trying to BOHICA me and shouldn't a Fing rejection sticker have been put on? Are there any official specs for how far out of spec a ball joint has to be to fail inspection? I am taking the truck to another garage on Monday to get a buddy to look at the joints after I do the brakes tommorow. Called the dealer and they told me that the ball joint rarely if ever goes bad before the lower control arms goes out. What a crock of crap!
Sorry had to Rant! sorry to say it but you got the run around bro. a VA inspection doesnt hardly pay shit and its the shops chance to sell repairs, alot of times which arent even needed. especially during this time when business's are hurting. every shop i worked in they had the $1000 rule. pretty much every car that came in you can and do try to sell them $1000 worth of work. and on cars that are coming into shops and not dealerships are ussually older and its not hard to find alot of crap wrong on them. once cars are out of warranty thoguh people take them to smaller shops that work for cheaper instead of dealerships but in the long run 75% of the smaller cheaper shops shaft their customers. one of the most dishonest business's ive seen. im not sure whats more dishonest the lieing ass car salesmen, or the thieving service writers. but the state inspection is just a shops inventation to give the car a look over and alot of times sell shit that it doesnt need, but hey most people arent even going to know. sometimes shops wont even do the work they sell. jiffy lube for example tells pretty much everybody who comes through there they need a coolant and tranny flush... notice how their coolant flush and tranny flush machines sit in the corner looking nice and new. alot of times they dont even change the fucking oil, and when they do they typically dont change the filter as long as its one of their "mile guard" filters. wipe it off with a rag and it looks brand new. another $5 they make. if your in NOVA and want a good honest shop go to HRM automotive on alban road. VERY nice people and they absolutely WILL NOT sell you anything you dont 100% need. they are honest and do good work and stand by it. i use to work there and i left because of how anal they are about stuff. im one that is not satisfied unless the car is 100% done right and i treat every car as if it was my own but their procedures are just very anal. |
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Well I pulled the rear drums today and they full of shit. My buddy that does inspections looked at em and he said they are fine with no issues. We also looked at the front ball joints and he didn't see enough play for it to fail an inspection and really didn't think it was even enough to reject it for an alignment.
I am going to drive out to his shop in far western Hanover on Monday and he is going to do an inspection. Good thing I have a day off! |
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Over the years I have run into a few shops that use the inspections as a racket to push unnecessary repairs. It really burns me up.
Frankly, the only thing they should be offering to fix is a bulb. Anymore then that, go somewhere else. If it is a problem you don't already know about go somewhere else. Ideally they are not popping the hood. It should not go in the air and hopefully the tires stay on. If more than one tire comes off, go somewhere else next time. Inspections should be less than 15 minutes. Under 10 is ideal and under 5 you better be tipping! My favorite place in the 90's was the Mobile station in Annandale. I'd roll in there, rarely a line since this was a < 5 minute place, as I'm bring it into the bay the guy says, "lights, highs, left turn, right turn, horn, ok... let's shut her down while you're ahead" Inspection done. All that was left was swapping stickers, cash and BS. In later years the State Police were getting on them so they would close the door and put it in the air, but that was about it. Once I came in an didn't realize a trooper was there. They did everything that time, tires, hood, in the air, but as always it passed. The guy I use now knows to pull it into the bay and close the door. Since he knows I'll tip anything he does find he'll tell me about and pass anyway. He knows I'll get it fixed. |
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It should not go in the air and hopefully the tires stay on. If more than one tire comes off, go somewhere else next time. "A minimum of two wheels and drums must be removed from each vehicle at the time of inspection." http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Safety.shtm#InspectionProgram Quoted:
Ideally they are not popping the hood. "INSPECT HOOD AND AREA UNDER THE HOOD FOR: * Operating condition of hood latch. * Presence of emissions system -Evidence that any essential parts have been removed, rendered inoperative or disconnected. * Fluid levels that are below the proper level 1. Brake fluid. 2. Power steering fluid. * Power steering belt - proper tension, wear, or absence." |
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Frankly, the only thing they should be offering to fix is a bulb. Anymore then that, go somewhere else. If it is a problem you don't already know about go somewhere else. Ideally they are not popping the hood. It should not go in the air and hopefully the tires stay on. If more than one tire comes off, go somewhere else next time. Inspections should be less than 15 minutes. Under 10 is ideal and under 5 you better be tipping! Being a state inspector that has integrity and goes by the laws, I feel a shop like this is just as shady and as bad as a shop that sells unneccesary repairs. It is a safety inspection. I once saw a car come in that had just passed at another shop. Came in because brake lights did not work and it had a new inspection sticker. When I pulled it in the wiper blades were torn, there was a hole in the floor board with coat hangers holding the inside padding up, defrost inop, and a taillight was busted, and of course had no brake lights. I had to turn them into the VSP. It is one thing maybe missing one thing but this was to much. VSI is for the owner of the car and the innocents that could be hurt by the lack of maintenance to that car. No car is worth the chance of me loosing my inspection license, have criminal charges brought up(yes they can), and loosing my job. I failed my own car one time because I did not have time to repair it that evening. my .02 Dan |
Did you guys know, that...... yu can fail inspection if you do not have a current county sticker displayed  , I found this out the hard way, my old county sticker was up, the new one was in the glove box, I had to pay $1 for a reinspect because of the county sticker not being displayed 
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Did you guys know, that...... yu can fail inspection if you do not have a current county sticker displayed , I found this out the hard way, my old county sticker was up, the new one was in the glove box, I had to pay $1 for a reinspect because of the county sticker not being displayed I think that inspector was FOS since some counties and towns now are not even issuing a sticker anymore. As long as you pay the county or town they are happy. Not issung a sticker had also cut down of costs for the municipality. |
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Did you guys know, that...... yu can fail inspection if you do not have a current county sticker displayed , I found this out the hard way, my old county sticker was up, the new one was in the glove box, I had to pay $1 for a reinspect because of the county sticker not being displayed I think that inspector was FOS since some counties and towns now are not even issuing a sticker anymore. As long as you pay the county or town they are happy. Not issung a sticker had also cut down of costs for the municipality. They can fail for an expired government sticker on the windshield since no stickers are allowed except current govt stickers. I would of asked if I could just scrape it for you so you can pass and been done with it. Dan |
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Did you guys know, that...... yu can fail inspection if you do not have a current county sticker displayed , I found this out the hard way, my old county sticker was up, the new one was in the glove box, I had to pay $1 for a reinspect because of the county sticker not being displayed County stickers are solely about tax dollars (vehicle-use tax, and won't be issued if you're not paid up on personal property tax). No impact on state inspection. You got hosed. The only thing I've heard connecting county stickers to inspection was that hideous huge green sticker that Henrico had, I was told the reason they scrapped it was b/c it was deemed too big and covered too much windshield. Could be wrong, though. The entire state inspection process and pass/fail criteria is on the web. I can't believe where some shops come up with this crap. I only deal with repeatedly-reputable shops, where I know the mechanic in person. I also know the local VSP trooper who is the inspection guy, so I can find out where to stay away from. He covers a lot of Division 3 (central VA), I think he told me he has 7 or 8 counties. |
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Of all the very few things that Fairfax has done correctly, they no longer issue county stickers!! Normally the inspector is suppose to scrape the old state sticker off, sometimes they leave the old county on, sometime they ask me if I want the old county sticker scraped off.
Not passing because of an expired sticker, especially since it was in the glovebox is BS. It cost you a whole dollar and the inspector lost business/time because he had to reinspected the car and made dollar???, makes no sense at all a lose-lose situation. Quoted:
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Did you guys know, that...... yu can fail inspection if you do not have a current county sticker displayed , I found this out the hard way, my old county sticker was up, the new one was in the glove box, I had to pay $1 for a reinspect because of the county sticker not being displayed I think that inspector was FOS since some counties and towns now are not even issuing a sticker anymore. As long as you pay the county or town they are happy. Not issung a sticker had also cut down of costs for the municipality. They can fail for an expired government sticker on the windshield since no stickers are allowed except current govt stickers. I would of asked if I could just scrape it for you so you can pass and been done with it. Dan |
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I take my cars to the Sunoco in Herndon now, no BS there. I lived in that area for 22 years and only dealt with them once I was old enough to drive. The guy who owns the shop, Mark, only employees great guys. I sometimes regret leaving the area since my car does not get as good a service now that I am not taking it to them. Not only do they not ripe you off, they used to take me in the shop and show me the problem and call with updates as requested. There were a few fixes I needed once but were a bit pricey due to how long it takes. The head mechanic, not sure if he is still there since it has been a few years and his drive was hell, told me I could fix it myself if I took the time. Once again, great guys to deal with. |
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Man, I'm lucky. "My" mechanic has me pull in to the shop, checks lights, checks windshield wipers, and pass!
The best advice I could offer up is to get your inspections at a place where the people doing the inspection can't really benefit by pointing out failures. The best ones I've been to have been body shops. Since most of their revenue is tied up in fixing a barely dinged bumper for $500, they don't really BS you as much on all the little inspection details. *In my experience. |
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Man, I'm lucky. "My" mechanic has me pull in to the shop, checks lights, checks windshield wipers, and pass! The best advice I could offer up is to get your inspections at a place where the people doing the inspection can't really benefit by pointing out failures. The best ones I've been to have been body shops. Since most of their revenue is tied up in fixing a barely dinged bumper for $500, they don't really BS you as much on all the little inspection details. *In my experience. If he is not removing two wheels to inspect the brakes he is doing it wrong and WILL eventually get gigged by the VSP. |