Car Inspection!!!

[disney junky]

Here in PA (Pronounced Pea, Aye) we have an annual car inspection. Mine was up in April so yesterday I got it inspected. WOW!
$625.00
New muffler.
New ball join, whatever that is.
New rear brakes.
Service.
New gasket. (I guess I blew one).
Good for another year.
BTW it's a 95 Accord so I can't complain too loudly.

 

[mlynn]

In NJ we have inspection stations(you can pay at a garage too). We don't have to pay for any repairs until you fail for something.

 

[tazdev3225]

My DH's truck took 2 months to pass. His check engine light wouldn't go off and no one could figure out why. Turned out he had a hole in one of the rubber tubes. Fortunately it wasn't too costly just a pain. I usally fail every inspection for front brakes. $150 later and a new set of brakes and I'm good to go. It is a pain but I'm glad PA requires it yearly. Imagine how many cars would be on the road that are a danger otherwise. Two years ago my motor mounts were broken, that was a big accident waiting to happen.
OP a ball joint has something to do with keeping your tires stabilized and on your car. I could be wrong but that is what I think DH told me at one time.

 

[PaulaSue]

Didn't you get Emissions Inspection too? Dh shop does that and I thought all cars had to have it (we are in PA)?

 

[disney junky]

Didn't you get Emissions Inspection too? Dh shop does that and I thought all cars had to have it (we are in PA)?

Forgot about that. Yep! That too.

 

[daughtersrus]

In IL, we don't have to do an inspection, just emission testing. We've never had a vehicle fail but then again, DH is an auto tech at a car dealer.

I know that $650 is a lot of money but for the work that was done, it sounds like a pretty good deal.

Ball joints are part of the suspension. They do wear out and if they break, you can loose control of the car.

 

[disney junky]

In IL, we don't have to do an inspection, just emission testing. We've never had a vehicle fail but then again, DH is an auto tech at a car dealer.

I know that $650 is a lot of money but for the work that was done, it sounds like a pretty good deal.

Ball joints are part of the suspension. They do wear out and if they break, you can loose control of the car.

I agree. We have a really good local mechanic and he's totally fair. I have no qualms about the work he does. Thanks for the info about the ball joint.

 

[Metro West]

We don't have inspections here in FL and I wish the state would reinstate it. Some of the junk mobiles running the roads are scary and have to be unsafe.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The first three are major safety issues.

With a defective muffler it is possible for carbon monoxide to get in the car when you are idling or stopped at a traffic light. It can put you to sleep (and permanently also)

A ball joint holds a steerable wheel onto the rest of the car. If one fails you could lose a wheel while driving.

And the rear brakes really help you to stop, especially when it is an emergency. Keeps you from running into things and people.

The gasket could save you money in several ways, depending on which one. But it will improve your milage and power and also keep the oil and coolant from mixing (which could ruin the engine).

 

[disney junky]

With a defective muffler it is possible for carbon monoxide to get in the car when you are idling or stopped at a traffic light. It can put you to sleep (and permanently also)

I did love the sound though....fast and furious, in the school parking lot.....

 

[mjkacmom]

I didn't realize that all states didn't make inspections mandatory. I had my 2003 Hondy Odyssey inspected a few months ago, it passed, and then the transmission totally went a week later (Honda originally wanted me to pay the whole $4000, but we negotiated and "only" paid $1300). 45,000 miles on it!

 

[Justanopinion]

We have inspections here in TX but very thorough if you ask me.

I know they drive the car a short distance and then check blinkers and lights and stuff but not much.

A few years back, I went and got my inspection, pulled out of their lot and my car started making a noise. I didn't even make it a mile down the road. Had to pull over and have the car towed, a CV (or is it CB) joint went out on me. And like I said, I had just gotten the inspection.

Also in TX, emission checks are only done in certain counties. I'm in a non emission county.

Basic inspection, $12.50

 

[Cindy B]

NJ has them for free and they are either good for two or three years -- I can't remember.

 

[LindaG4458]

NH has annual inspections including emissions. It has to be done in the same month as the registration renewal. We maintain our residence and our car registrations in NH. Luckily everything expires during the summer.

In MA it used to be twice per year, then that became too burdensome. Now it is only once per year in the month that the registration expires.

We don't have inspections here in FL and I wish the state would reinstate it. Some of the junk mobiles running the roads are scary and have to be unsafe.

I totally agree. Some of the cars driving around here look like the wheels are going to fall off and the car just drop onto the road. There are doors missing and worse. The emissions pouring out of the exhaust are something else.

Didn't they discuss having inspections a couple of years ago? However, the reason wasn't safety, it was a revenue source.

 

[MushyMushy]

Where I live in PA, we don't have emissions inspections.

Oh, and everybody around here "knows a guy" where you'll pass on a promise to get things fixed by next year.

 

[MM27]

I have to take my car to inspection in July. I would fail right now because a rock hit my windshield and it's cracked in two directions. This is the 3rd time that has happened to me. I'm sick of paying for replacement windows. Darn Turnpike

 

[disney junky]

I have to take my car to inspection in July. I would fail right now because a rock hit my windshield and it's cracked in two directions. This is the 3rd time that has happened to me. I'm sick of paying for replacement windows. Darn Turnpike

Isn't it covered under your comprehensive insurance?

 

[tar heel]

In North Carolina, our inspections are emissions and safety (things like headlights, tire tread and windshield wipers). Older cars are exempt from emissions, though, so the OP's car would not have had to have that.

In the old days, if you knew the right person, any car would pass, but that is NOT true with the emissions. It's computerized and tied into the state system, so the local garage doesn't have any control.

The complete inspection is around $40 and the one without emissions is just under $10.

 

[Handbag Lady]

If we had car inspections here in CA, then all of the gardeners would go out of business.

We have emissions but not anything else. You should see some of the things we see on our roads here.