Re: Re: Time to get the truck inspected..... (bit long, rant)

From: Jon (jonsdak@midmaine.com)
Date: Thu Aug 21 2003 - 19:56:31 EDT


All I can say after reading this thread is, I'm proud to live in Maine! :-)
After driving my truck from the lot into the garage, then having me get in
and operate the lights, horn, wipers, etc, the technician scrapes the old
sticker off, puts a new one on. $12.50 later, I'm inspected for a year.
(And to think I was actually irritated when our inspection fee went up two
years ago - from $6 to $12.50) :-)

-- 
-Jon
jonsdak@midmaine.com
http://jonsdakota.tripod.com
1996 Dodge Dakota Sport 4X4, 3.9L V6, 42RE, 3.92:1 8.25 axle, "BackRack"
Headache Rack,  Dodge Motorsports decals, steering wheel cover, and front
license plate, diamond-plate bedrail covers, Lund VentVisors, Lund
BugShield, Jensen MP-3310 CD/MP3 Receiver, Pioneer TS-G1347's in front,
TS-A5713's in rear, Bulldog RS-82 Remote Starter
""Dave Downing"" <ded74@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bi35lo$8sl$1@bent.twistedbits.net...
>
> Ouch, remind me to add DE to the list of places to not move to :P  My
safety
> inspection consisted of lights, horn and blinkers, checked for codes, ran
it
> on the dyno for emissions (passed with a high flow cat), cost me $75 tho
and
> I have to do it every year :(  Next year's emissions should be
interesting,
> especially if I get the heads/cam over the winter ;)
>
> -Dave
> '02 FR RC R/T
>
> <raymond.irons@gm.com> wrote in message
> news:OF99D4411E.EE4B880F-ON85256D89.0059C4B2@mail.gm.com...
> >
> > The inspection runs out the end of August and I don't want to wait till
> the
> > last minute, I hate waiting in line there. So last night after I got off
> > work I drove to the vehicle inspection lanes. I figure I got no
problems,
> > my check engine light is lit, the truck runs good, I should be able to
> sail
> > right thru. I pull i n and there is only 2 cars ahead of me, great, I
can
> > get done and outta here and get home and have supper like a regular
> person.
> > The inspector waves me in to the lane, and asks me for the registration.
I
> > was ready for him, already in my hand. He tells me to shut off the truck
> > and step out. I stand off to the side while he goes in my truck and
starts
> > it, hooking up the computer to check for stored codes in the OBD-II. No
> > problems we're good to go. He directs me to get back in, put on my seat
> > belt and we start the other safety checks: horn, wipers on high,
> > headlights-low beam, high beam, left turn, right turn, brakes. The
> > inspector then informs me that I've failed the safety check. WHAT?????
> > What's wrong, I ask? I was told that the license plate light bulb wasn't
> > working and that failed me for safety reasons. OK, no biggie, I can get
> > some replacement bulbs and run it back thru the reinspect line outside
the
> > regular inspection lane. Then he tells me that he isn't going to fail me
> > for it, BUT, my DML decal on the rear sliding is not legal. I'm only
> > allowed a single 3x5 inch decal on the rear window and it must be in the
> > corner. Geez, that's a bit out in left field. What if I had a large
cargo
> > box or something back there that completely blocked the rear window? I
> > still have my 2 outside   I pull forward to the brake test pad and wait
> for
> > the technician to tell me to drive up. He comes backs and instructs me
how
> > to do the brake test. Since I have a stick he tell me to pull up to
about
> 5
> > mph and push in the clutch and coast on the pad till he tells me to hit
> the
> > brakes. I do it and he tells me to back up and try it again. Uh-oh, this
> > ain't good. I do the test the second time and he tells me I fail because
> > the rear brakes aren't applying power evenly to the rear wheels. He then
> > tells me I can't drive the vehicle other then to a repair shop or home.
OK
> > OK, I get it, I'll fix 'em and bring it back, what time do you close the
> > lanes? 8PM. OK, I can stop at a parts store on the way home and get new
> > brake shoes, plate light bulbs, get home, make the repairs and get back
> > before they close. I run to Advanced Auto, tell the clerk I need new
brake
> > shoes for my truck. Which rear drums, 9 or 10 inch? I got no clue so I
end
> > up buying both, paying the core on both, I remembered to get the plate
> > bulbs and run home. Quick change in to grub work clothes and head out to
> > the driveway and get to work. Get the truck up on jack stands, get the
> rear
> > wheels off, drums don't wanna come off. After turning the air slightly
> blue
> > for about 20 minutes, I get the passengers side drum off. The brake
shoes
> > don't look all that bad, but I've got new shoes so go ahead and put them
> > on. I look at the new shoes and one shoe has a longer strip of brake
> > material then the other. WTF? I look at the installed shoes and they
have
> > the same amount of material on both the shoes. I go inside and check my
> > trusty FSM. Nothing is said about the length of the brake material. I
call
> > the parts store and ask them if they know. They put me on ignore for
about
> > 20 minutes and finally come back with the answer. The forward shoe, the
> > primary shoe is the one that gets the longer strip of material. I'm
> > suddenly starting to remember why I really hate drum brakes. I go back
to
> > work and get the self adjuster ratchet arm pin installed on the one shoe
> > and start installing the new shoes. The dang retaining pins don't want
to
> > cooperate and line up. Grrrrrrr, now I know why I really, really do hate
> > drum brakes. Finally the passengers side is back together and I can turn
> my
> > attention to the drivers side. The drum comes off a bit easier, but
what's
> > this? Why is all this brake dust caked on the entire backing plate and
on
> > everything inside the drum. Nuts, the wheel cylinder is seeping a tiny
bit
> > of brake fluid at the aft piston boot. No time to change it now,
besides,
> I
> > don't have the part and no way to get to the parts store till I get the
> > truck back together. Just remove the old shoes and clean up everything
as
> > best as I can. I'll get the wheel cylinder changed out this weekend
> > sometime. I get the new shoes ready for install by installing the self
> > adjuster ratchet arm pin and go to install the new shoes. DOH! I put the
> > pin in on the wrong side of the shoe. Drive the pin out and re-install
it
> > in the correct side. Re-assemble the brakes, start checking the plate
> > lights. Neither bulb is working so I wonder if I have another problem
then
> > just burned out bulbs. Seems my truck likes me a little bit after all,
> just
> > both bulbs were burned out. Put in new bulbs and all is good. Drop the
> jack
> > and go get washed up so I can get back to the DMV. Side note here, if
you
> > haven't got them yet, I highly recommend a set of Mechanix Wear gloves.
I
> > bought a set of the M-Pact gloves when I bought my new brakes for under
> > $20. I gave up a little bit of dexterity for not having to worry about
> > tearing up my hands and keeping my hands a lot cleaner. The only thing I
> > couldn't do was pop open a soda can. Anyway, I drive forward, stop,
> > reverse, stop about 5 or 6 times on the street in front of my house to
set
> > the self adjusters. I gotta admit, the brakes do feel much better now.
Ok
> > off to DMV. I get down there, and the line is about 15-20 cars long. Oh
> > well, I check my watch and I was only gone about 2 hours or so, I got
> time.
> > I think I'll open the slider so the DML decal isn't so apparent. The
line
> > inches along and 45 minutes later I pull in the inspection lane. I hand
> the
> > inspector the paperwork I was given at the first inspection and he tells
> me
> > to turn on my lights. He checks the now working plate lights and comes
> back
> > up and stick the brake paperwork under the wiper. Then he tells me that
> the
> > other inspector didn't say anything about it, and he is not going to
fail
> > me for it,  but the NASCAR frame I have around my rear license plate is
> not
> > legal. You gotta be kidding me. OK, lets get on to the brake test. I
pull
> > up and wait for the signal to do the test. The tech waves me forward,
then
> > says brake. I wait for the computer read out......... DONE! Everything
on
> > the brakes show they are working perfectly. The tech hands me the
> paperwork
> > and I head over to the Headquarters building. I was so happy everything
> > passed I go in and stand in line for about 10 more minutes. I get up to
> the
> > window and hand the clerk my paperwork. Then she asked me for my
insurance
> > card, I forgot it in the truck. She hands me the paperwork back and I
run
> > out. get the insurance card and back in line.... AGAIN. Thank God I
> > remembered to bring in my wallet and cash. $40 later I Leave DMV with
new
> > tags good for 2 years. I get out to the parking lot, put the new
stickers
> > on my plates and go to get in the truck and I notice something on the
left
> > front tire. I go and look at it a little closer and on the outside edge
of
> > the tread and I see the belt starting to show just a little tiny bit. I
> got
> > two 2 things going for me on this, 1) neither inspector noticed the tire
> > wear (even though they did fail me for no plate lights) and 2) I got a
> pair
> > of Badyears in the shed I can put on till I can get some better tires
all
> > around. On top of all that, in 2 weeks, I have to stop driving my truck
> for
> > a bit. I have to trade it to my Dad for his Crown Vic when I get my knee
> > surgery done. Kinda hard to push in the clutch with a messed up left
knee.
> > And I still ain't taking my DML decal off.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ray (I can stop on a dime now) Irons
> > Dover, DE
> >
> >
>
>



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