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Panic at the NJ Inspection Station...

leesonic

leesonic

Captured on security camera...
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I took my old Merkur XR4Ti to the (NJ) inspection station this morning. I have always tended to go to the State run inspection stations. There are places that will inspect your car for a fee, but I wonder, are you basically just buying a sticker? There were a couple of trucks in front of my car, so I waited and chatted to the two (older) guys there. Here in NJ, what usually what happens is, if a car or truck is 1995(?) or newer, they just plug their computer into it, and it tells them whether to pass or fail it. If the check engine light is on, it's an automatic fail. Don't even get me started on this, because they no longer test the brakes, or even check the lights. When it's older vehicle, like my 1988, they have to do a physical emissions test. So I'm standing there watching them, and the guy driving keeps going forwards and backwards in my car. I walk back to look, and they have a camera in the floor to check out the underside of the car. They were particularly interested in the catalytic convertor, which was new, as is everything else from the front of the car all the way to the tailpipe, including two Magnaflow mufflers. The cat I bought at Carlisle a good few years ago, it's one of those high-flow designs. I asked if there was a problem, the guys there just ignored me. I hear one of them say go and get so-and-so, so I guess they called or radioed for their boss.

Now there were about four guys standing around my car, quite a hive of activity, since their behaviour usually mirrors that of the common sloth. One of them has this book out that's about the size of a telephone directory, frantically skimming through the pages. Then, one of the older guys finally comes over and talks to me. He said he usually goes to the Ford Carlisle show in June, and that's the only reason he knew what the car was. He then says they were looking at the cat. I told him it's legit, it's a brand new cat, I had the whole muffler system replaced about two weeks ago as the original rotted out, and that was also why the car hadn't been inspected since the inspection ran out in December. I told them to test it, and they would see I wasn't lying. At this point, the hood is up, and they are looking around underneath, I heard one of them say "there's the O2 sensor". So, they somewhat begrudgingly put the sniffer probe up the tailpipe, and ran the test on it. I could have jumped for joy when I saw the guy finally walk towards the car with a "passed" sticker, which is just a sticker with the date of the next inspection. I was so happy, I took the car through a car wash, which blew the plastic sunroof deflector off the roof in the drying stage. Didn't like it anyway.

Lee.

Here is it on the grid at the NJ Motorsports park back in 2011.
 
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I grew up in northern NJ and everyone dreaded going to the inspection station. If you went at the end of the month, it could take you hours. My sister-in-law went in a miniskirt once and they didn't even check the car, they passed it right through. This was back in the late sixties.
 
There's a Merkur here in Paola. I had never even heard of it, so i talked to the owner. I guess they're pretty rare. She really likes hers, but the electrics are causing her problems.
 
I had an '85 Merkur years ago and it was a neat little car. There was always some little thing wrong with it, however, like sand would get in the condenser fan motor, make the brushes stick and it wouldn't run. I burned up the clutch on the ac compressor because of that.

CV joints, fuel pump relay, burst ac hose, electronic ignition, ps pump seal leaked, you name it, it broke.

Hot summers here and a battery sitting next to the turbo and the battery would crap out after about 18 months.

The engine was a beast, though and you couldn't kill it. Good ol' cast iron block and head. Did have to replace the valve seals though. Twice. Oh, and a cracked exhaust manifold.

Murray
 
Being an inspector at one time, I never understood the physical check for a cat. None of the cars that came by that had theirs removed ever passed the sniff test anyway. Totally irrelevant.

My favorite was always the people who disconnected their battery before a test thinking that would work.

Woman: I didn't disconnect the battery..
Me: Yeah you did, I saw you do it next door. Believe me, the state already thought of that one. Now I can't even tell you your codes or give you some helpful tips because you just erased the computer. That'll be 20$....

That Merkur XR4ti is on my Euro-want list. That and a DeLorean:D
 
I cannot imagine any state's automotive inspection rituals matching, much less exceeding, those of The Nanny State (i.e., California). Must end @ that, else this takes a political turn.
 
Mystic said:
I cannot imagine any state's automotive inspection rituals matching, much less exceeding, those of The Nanny State (i.e., California). Must end @ that, else this takes a political turn.
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I haven't had any trouble with either one of my cars. A local indy shop does them here ($70 for those not from CA). Usually just drop the car off and they're done in an hour or two.

I'm pretty sure that here a CEL doesn't automatically flunk the car. If it passes the sniffer, you're good.

It is pretty funny, the guys eyeballing the cat on the car. I'm pretty sure there's no way in hell a car would pass the sniff test without one so it's silly.

Murray
 
Older Honda w/ failing sensors that are $$ for the part(s), installation, and then the (re)tests. Thank heavens my Accord falls into the 25 club @ 2015. (automotive vehicles aged => 25 years are exempt from smog check @ CA)
 
Mystic said:
Older Honda w/ failing sensors that are $$ for the part(s), installation, and then the (re)tests. Thank heavens my Accord falls into the 25 club @ 2015. (automotive vehicles aged => 25 years are exempt from smog check @ CA)
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Yeah, that can be a problem O2 sensors for my car are about $200 each. A couple of years ago I had to have two replaced and the guy said, "wow, these things usually don't fail as early as this." Until these two, I guess. Sheesh.

Older car with dripping injectors, bad cat, tired engine and it's haul it off to the junk yard.

Murray
 
NJ inspections are a joke. I like clean air as much as the next guy, but I appreciate other people having brakes that work and tires that have some tread too. Back when they tested that stuff, they actually found that the rear brakes on my truck were not working. I have no idea how long they had been out for, but the prop valve had "popped" and shut them off. It was as simple as pushing in what amounts to a reset button to make it work, but it did take some doing to finally find that. rear brakes on a pickup don't do anything unless you have a load in it, so its very possible I'd have only noticed when I plowed into someone the next time I was towing.
 
gadget73 said:
NJ inspections are a joke. I like clean air as much as the next guy, but I appreciate other people having brakes that work and tires that have some tread too. Back when they tested that stuff, they actually found that the rear brakes on my truck were not working. I have no idea how long they had been out for, but the prop valve had "popped" and shut them off. It was as simple as pushing in what amounts to a reset button to make it work, but it did take some doing to finally find that. rear brakes on a pickup don't do anything unless you have a load in it, so its very possible I'd have only noticed when I plowed into someone the next time I was towing.
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There's no physical inspection of the safety of the vehicle here either. Nothing.

Murray
 
gadget73 said:
NJ inspections are a joke. I like clean air as much as the next guy, but I appreciate other people having brakes that work and tires that have some tread too.
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The State of Michigan used to rob us the same way with an emissions test. You could have the bumper held on with coat hangers and duct taped fenders, but you had to burn clean. The biggest joke was that if your car was 10 years old or more you were exempt from the emissions test, so the biggest, baddest, smoke belchers got a free pass. And they didn't even have to pay the tax, er, excuse me, "fee"...:rolleyes:
 
I can't think of any place that does a safety inspection anymore -- it's all about the emissions.
 
they do a real inspection in canada, rust will often get you a fail sticker.
XR 4Tis are fun cars really haul ass for only 2.3 liter, must be all that boost!
 
I had my eye on getting a Merkur XR4Ti but was suddenly seduced by the 1988 Ford Turbo coupe and ended getting one of those instead.
 
noogies said:
I can't think of any place that does a safety inspection anymore -- it's all about the emissions.
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Texas does. $14.50 a year for the safety only inspection on a 25+ year old vehicle or outside of the EPA air quality non-attainment areas.

$25.50 for the OBD2 plug-in emissions test if your vehicle is less than 25 years old and you live in a non-attainment area.

Or if you fall in the area between 1990 and 1995 they run you on a dyno to test for emissions. It's even more expensive.

And now they have it all tied in to registration. No current inspection on file with the State, no registration renewal. Does away with phony inspection stickers, because they are both in one registration sticker now.
 
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MO has a complete safety inspection, and emissions only in non-attainment areas. Tires, brakes, wipers, lights, all that. Every two years. My mechanic usually ends up replacing wipers or something, but he's a righteous dude, so it's cool. I've never had him try to sell me anything I didn't need.

Sorry bout Jersey and them other bad places. :sigh:
 
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