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I'm wondering if I'm going to fail the State Inspection because of my side markers. They're clear but illuminate in the proper color.
Problem is I cut up my old ones to illuminate my Bling Bling ones.
According to the TX DOT website, it looks like I might. :punchout:
I guess I'll go try and hope for a lenient inspector.
Just an FYI - Ya know when you fail a state inspection for any reason it can show up on your carfax report.
Does that go for the first inspection, or only if you fail the free re-test?Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
On my RX7 it showed everytime it failed... YMMVQuote:
Originally Posted by Titus
Any inspection... but if you then pass again, it too will be reflected on the record.Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
But the pisser is the possible next owner of your car is going to see the car failed an inspection if they pull a carfax on it before they buy it.......Quote:
Originally Posted by Treibenschnell
If it will make you feel better....
My car passed this morning.....::Rimshot:
Perhaps... but if you explain the situation and the fact that it's now all fixed and has a current inspection...Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Good luck with that! ::Clown::Quote:
Originally Posted by Treibenschnell
If I am looking at two cars and one has a negative on the carfax it quickly moves to the #2 position on my shopping list. Or I will hammer you for a deal since it has had "issues" in the past. ;)
Not me... I'll take the car that got a new CAT, new plugs and wires, a fuel injector cleaning, seafoamed, and god knows what other new parts before someone figured out that the O2 sensor was bad. ::Clown::Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Perhaps, but I believe any reasonable person would be able to tell the if the person was sincere in their explanation. However, one does always have the right to up and walk away from the deal because they were scared away by a carfax report.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
For me, personally, if it was a car I really, really wanted because it was a rare, hard to find car with a smog issue that had been fixed, I would probably try to deal on it and buy the car anyhow.
Possibly if it was rare I consider giving it a chance, but otherwise I'd be looking at other alternatives.Quote:
Originally Posted by Treibenschnell
I just don't get the reasoning. There are a bunch of different wear parts that will cause a car to fail an inspection. Many of them can be bad enough to cause a car to fail inspection without the car owner ever having a clue there was a problem. Odds are that most cars will have a problem like this at one point or another. It doesn't make it a bad car... it just means it is a normal used car.
OK, Let me simplify it for ya!Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
Hypothetical Situation:
Going to buy my daughter a Camry have found 2 that would work. Both have about the same miles, look to be in the same shape, both have maintenance records, and are equipped identically. Pull a Carfax and one has failed a state inspection, the other on has not. I'm going to favor the one that has not had any issues, over the one that has failed.
Seems pretty simple to me.......
Ask to speak to the person doing the inspection and ask them, also, I believe they turn on the lights to check all the bulbs and at that time your lights will show the proper color.
Would you consider something like an O2 sensor that went bad in the past to have any baring on the future reliability of the car? I guess in some instances it could, but I still have no problem with the car that failed.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Imagine that your 2 Camrys each have around 100k miles on them. Lets say that Camrys of this vintage tend to have O2 sensor failures 100k-120k miles. the car that failed has already been fixed. You are going to likely to get stuck replacing the O2 on your clean carfax Camry when its O2 sensor goes out the following year. You may even fail an inspection becuase of it! ::Clown::
How can you guarantee that was all that cause the failure? Just because the previous owner says that the case that doesn't always mean that truly is the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
O2 sensors would be something I would automatically replace shortly after I buy a high mileage car, as well as all filters and fluids.
It's obvious to me you and I will never agree on this and that's fine.
Agreed! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Getting back on track for BR, does Texas offer pre-inspections? I know in California, you could get a pretest for Smog (they didn't car about testing safety). It basically was the exact same test, but without the computer connected to the DMV mainframe. If you are concerned about getting an Astrix next to your vin, this would be the way to go.
They might do that Titus but I would figure on forking over 39.50 even for a pretest. There in business to make a living. I really don't think they will do it for nothin.
Going back to BR's problem. I thought it was the clear marker lights he was worried about "this time" ?
In my opinion....If I was looking to buy an older Miata with close to 200k on it. I think I would accept the fact it had some issues and spend my money getting it right rather than on a carfax report.
As always just my opinion....::Clown::
Perhaps it is an informal pre-test that is needed in this case... Before agreeing to getting the inspection, ask the guy "are those lights gonna pass?"... if he says no, or that he can't answer that until the test begins, then you (or is it he) just failed your pre-test. Drive down to the next block and try again. ::Clown::Quote:
Originally Posted by riverracer
The place where I get my cars inspected is family owned and has been here forever. They would have no problem answering questions like that. In fact there was a guy there this morning asking questions about an older car he had at home.
But::StirTheP Thats in Arlington and you know how far that is to drive....::Clown::
William,
I'm guessing that you're getting side markers and rear reflectors confused. Red/amber side markers are required in the rear/front (respectively) of a TRAILER. The only section I could find is this:
Quote:
20.24 Side Marker Lamps. Refer to Reference Section for lighting diagrams.
1. Required on all:
Buses 80 inches or more in overall width.
Trucks 80 inches or more in overall width.
Trailers and semitrailers 80 inches or more in overall width.
Trailers and semitrailers 30 feet or more in overall length.
Pole trailers.
The rear reflector is integrated into your TAIL LIGHTS. Here's the section on it:
Don't worry about your side markers, your tail-lights would be more of a concern, but IIRC, they are DOT legal... When I worked w/ AJ, our light check part of the inspection involved headlights (high and low), signals (front and rear, left and right), parking lights, license plate lights, and brake lights.Quote:
547.325. REFLECTORS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided
by Subchapter F, a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole
trailer shall be equipped with at least two red reflectors on the
rear of the vehicle. A red reflector may be included as a part of a
taillamp.
I took it to a Good Year place around the corner a ways and got an inspection. (Saw TtT on the way there!) Got the cat good and hot on the way over.
He did a visual but never said anything about my mods. The poor guy was 6'4" at least and he had a fun time driving it for the brake check. :punchout:
The car was then hooked to the dyno (He did ask first if it was FWD or RWD.) :rolleyes:
The car was tested at 15mph, then 30mph and then retested at 15mph. He said, usually when they retest like that, they fail. :(
Well the car passed! :clap: Last year BAM! tested it but it barely passed on HC(ppm) by 1 point IIRC. The only thing different from last year was a sea foam treatment about 4-5 months ago. The year before it also barely passed. :confused:
Here are the numbers for those that care.
Low Speed (15mph)
HC(ppm): Standard - 159 Reading - 77
CO(%): Standard - 0.89 Reading - 0.13
CO2(%): Reading - 12.9
O2(%): Reading - 2.0
Nox(ppm): Standard - 1242 Reading - 134
DILUTION: Standard - >6.0 Reading - 13.03
High Speed (25mph)
HC(ppm): Standard - 153 Reading - 109
CO(%): Standard - 0.86 Reading - 0.16
CO2(%): Reading - 13.6
O2(%): Reading - 0.9
Nox(ppm): Standard - 1123 Reading - 279
DILUTION: Standard - >6.0 Reading - 13.76
Very nice!!!
ouch im a weee bit late on this one.
no the side markers doesnt make a difference in inspections. for all i know you can have one of those LEDs out of a cell phone blink every color and still pass for all i care. i mean, im not a bad state inspector or anything but that isnt a requirement. (like the color of your wheels for example)
also, if he went to 30 mph, thats a little high. it should be 24-25.9 mph. unless the state changed something recently which usually, changes happens slower than molasses....
Meh, I refused to sell my Z28 to a couple people! I'd just say, "See ya later," and find someone who really wants the car! ::BigWhackQuote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
If you haven't gone yet, the Mobil station that BAM! used to work has some cool guys there. Off 75 and Parker I think?
Front and side markers can be clear but the directionals have to illuminate amber on the front, at least that's the way it is supposed to be. The rear can be either red or amber for directionals, though I think it should be amber only IMO. Actually a lot of new cars, like the VW's, have clear side markers from factory that light up amber so you should be just fine.
Ooops. Yeah.. it was 25mph.Quote:
Originally Posted by BAM!
that crew recently moved to another mobil lube express off arapaho somewhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by icepenguin66
Mine are white. but that isnt too big of a hassle....Quote:
Originally Posted by icepenguin66