When I was informed by the first inspector why he had failed my truck I
immediately asked him for documentation on testing for the loudness of the
exhaust and if it states a particular decibel reading. The guy didn't
answer me and just pointed to his ear. I then asked him if it was just a
matter of his personal opinion and he said yes. If the manager had failed
me again I would have then get on his case about how this should not be a
subjective test based on one's personal interpretation. Since I eventually
passed I let this slide. However I'm not too happy about this test being a
personal interpretation rather than a scientific one in which a decibel
meter is used.
We'll see what happens in another 2 years.
Ken
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Wisotzkey, Rich [mailto:Rich.Wisotzkey@gd-wts.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 12:37 PM
>To: 'dakota-truck@buffnet.net'
>Subject: DML: RE: Gibson exhaust too loud. (long)
>
>
>Ken,
>If this is part of the state inspection, it should not be a
>subjective test.
>If they do not have a dB meter to take an exact measurement,
>they can't have
>a leg to stand on. If you want to check on the "letter of the
>law", contact
>your state police. They should have the law manual for guiding the
>inspection. If you have a grievance against an inspection
>station, this is
>who you would take the issue up with.
>Rich - Ashburn, VA
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Eng, Kenneth [mailto:kenneth.eng@datajump.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 10:40 AM
>To: 'dakota-truck@buffnet.net'
>Subject: DML: Gibson exhaust too loud. (long)
>
>
>Yesterday, I took my 98 V6 CC in for it's first inspection
>since I bought it
>in 1998. I live in New Jersey. After pulling in and getting
>out of the
>car, the inspector started going through his normal inspection routine.
>Standing to the side I noticed that he paid special attention
>to the rear of
>my truck. I have a Gibson split rear exhaust system. He then
>had another
>inspector come by to take a look at the rear. The second
>inspector, a young
>kid, then got down and took a look under the right side of my
>truck. The
>first inspector then proceeded to take my truck through the
>remainder of the
>inspection, emissions test, brake check, suspension check,
>etc. When he got
>to the end the inspection lane he handed me a sheet of paper
>stating that my
>truck failed for having an exhaust system that was too loud.
>When I asked
>him how he came to such a conclusion he told me it was based
>on his personal
>opinion and I could speak to a manager if I wanted to. I stopped
>questioning him as I felt he wouldn't change his decision and
>the fact that
>he didn't seem to have a good grasp of the English language.
>The inspection
>stall is a large steel shell building on a concrete floor
>which pretty much
>act like an echo chamber.
>
>I then pulled by truck out and parked it outside in the
>employees lot to get
>hold of a manager. Stepping in to the employee trailer, I
>asked one of the
>inspectors in there to explain why my truck failed. When he
>read that it
>was for a loud exhaust system he said come on out a let's take
>a listen. On
>the way out he mentioned he would normally fail a car with a
>loud exhaust
>system if that car was parked next to his house and started up
>everyday at
>5:30 in the morning. Next to where I parked was an early
>model Camaro with
>a split rear exhaust system and a rice cake with a coffee can
>sized exhaust
>tip. I assume these cars belong to employees of the
>inspection station. I
>started up my truck with the manager standing 5 feet behind
>it. After 5
>seconds, he said my exhaust system wasn't too loud and told me
>to pull my
>car over to the exit of the inspection lanes and have my new inspection
>sticker put on.
>
>What should have been a fifteen minute inspection ended up
>taking at least a
>half an hour. I wanted to say something to the first
>inspector but decided
>against it and headed on home.
>
>Ken
>
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