TX has safety inspection but no where near that bad unless you pick the
wrong shop.
Oh BTW Mechanix makes another glove that doesn't have the padding like the
M-Pact it is much easier to work in. The M-Pact are for when you're
working with the tools all day long.
>
> OMG!! I couldn't deal with that BS. I'm SO glad I live in a state that
> doesn't inspect anything. We go for emissions testing every 5 years or so
> and that's it. No safety check or anything. As for those stickers,
> that's
> a crock. Here in IL, you can spraypaint your rear windows black, just as
> long as you don't touch the front door windows they don't care. Now, with
> the advent of OBDII, they just plug your vehicle into a scantool and call
> it
> a day. Oh, and wait for it.....it's FREE.
>
> I'm glad you passed though Ray and good luck on your knee surgery!
>
> --
> - Josh
> Lowered 2000 Dakota CC 3.9L
> www.geocities.com\lenny187\dakota.html
>
>
>
> <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
>>
>>
>
>
>
-- Solid IT Services Kenneth BerntseneMail - kenneth.berntsen@soliditservices.com Phone - 281/802.0711 Fax - 503/214.6729
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:46:53 EST