Hosed by an incorrect inspection

[Tedybear]

Well...consider my nads' frosted.

Took the ol' girl in for the yearly inspection, had to replace a parking brake cable and wiper motor. (we knew that would fail, so we did it prior)

The shop took the truck in...and bombed it.

Quoted to the states DMV computer: Service brakes bad, and suspension bad.

The inspector said my brake rotors failed, and my wheel bearings where loose.

OK...so the rotors are scored up. Still in decent shape actually with no 'chunks' missing or bad spots. But the inspector failed it saying "On a scale of 1 to 10? You're on a 1.5".

As for the wheel bearings? They where correctly adjusted, and most I've done in the past have a tiny tiny amount of play over the years. He stated "No play is acceptable". I can drag out the repair manual with the specs that states the exact amount is considered acceptable "Play" with wheel bearings. The play was so minor it's laughable. (and I USED to be a state inspector!!!!).

Anywho. I figured I'd change out the rotors and give it a proper brake job. It does have some pedal pulse. One rotor came from China--looks like a crap machine job. The other? From Canada. Looks 100% better. Same brand name and store--just one was older stock. Put in new bearings, etc...So the wheel bearings now have no play at all with correct adjustments. (go figure? They are new after all, give 'em two years? (I installed new bearings two years ago) And I'm sure they will wiggle slightly LOL). Even put new pads on it.

Finished it all up...and the right caliper started to hang up. Even with the new hardware kits and all the wire wheeling...lube.... The piston only retracts 1/2 way. It didn't like being pressed back into the bore to make room for the new pads.

I picked up the reman from Napa. With luck I'll finish it tomorrow and have the reinspect done on Tuesday. It's NOT going back to that shop ever again. And of course, once the computer logs in with my registration? It will pull the records of why it failed in the first place, and the next shop will have to do the whole thing again.

This shop even went as far to just about tear a rear drum off the back. Even though I had one side off for the parking brake? They thought the passenger side with the old cable would flunk. (news flash...It got rebuilt two years ago, shoes, wheel cylinder, hardware....) They must have been disappointed after having to pry the drum off--to see everything was still 'mint'.

Just venting at this point. I'll go back to the other shop my parents use...I figured this one was legit after they helped us with our tibby (wifes car)...But they really tried to hose me--picture the look on their face when I said "If it fails? It fails...but I do all my own repair work" The parts alone came to $180....Picture paying list price and labor to the shop!

S-

 

[adsm08]

I had to get a vehicle inspected by someone else once after I had my license and they tried to fail me for some dumb stuff too.

I went in, said "I know that passes because I just checked it myself last week". The writer tried to argue with me, so I told him to get the manager out there, by the time they got back to the desk my driver's and inspector's cards were out and waiting.

They stopped arguing with me.

 

[jsmith]

You know, I would be inclined to say that the shop you went to is in cahoots with the inspectors! The shop gets the inspector to nitpick in hopes the shop will get the work and in turn the inspector gets a nice little dead president as a kickback.

 

[azhrei]

I thought about bringing mine someplace else, but wasn't worth the hassle, I could see another shop finding more issues!

definitely feel your pain!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You know, I would be inclined to say that the shop you went to is in cahoots with the inspectors! The shop gets the inspector to nitpick in hopes the shop will get the work and in turn the inspector gets a nice little dead president as a kickback.

This is what I think happens more often than not.

Richard

 

[adsm08]

You know, I would be inclined to say that the shop you went to is in cahoots with the inspectors! The shop gets the inspector to nitpick in hopes the shop will get the work and in turn the inspector gets a nice little dead president as a kickback.

This is what I think happens more often than not.

Richard

You two are freaking geniuses.

In pretty much every state that has some form of safety inspection program the inspectors are technicians employed by the inspection stations who get paid not only for the inspection, but for whatever work they can up-sell, inspection related or not. That is how flat-rate works boys. No work, no pay.


Oh, and by the way, as an inspector I prefer to call it a "pay check" rather than a "kick back".

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It's unfortunate that this is how the world works. Some people [governments] try to pass laws to protect everybody [it also may be an attempt by the insurance companies to help keep rates down], and others [some mechanics or shops] see it as an opportunity to fleece the general public.
I've been through numerous inspections, the most memorable is the one where they said a palm sized, 1/4" deep dent in the hood could cause a failure. I think they said that to ease my pain induced by the lengthy repair order. In any case I now buy the services of a retired mechanic that 'inspects' my vehicle by asking me to get him another beer while he looks out the window of his apartment to see if the color of my vehicle matches my description. Oh, and it costs me C$40.00, approximately 1/3 of what a shop would charge me. If I think there's a problem with a vehicle that I just bought I'll take it to a mech and get him to check out the basics; steering. Usually that'll cost me C$25.00. I check the brakes and I then replace whatever is wrong.
I know flat rate as that's how I get paid doing new construction siding, and that's why there is a lot of butchers and 'fly by night' operations out there. It's hard to make a decent dollar with out cutting a lot of corners, so now I do renovations instead. I imagine it's the same in the mech trade.
There is a lot more I'd like to add to this post but my typing just won't keep up with my thoughts, that's why this post is so disjointed.


Richard

 

[MrE_Powers]

in Missouri we have some shops that only do inspections with the only work they do is light bulb change or wiper change, and if they fail you it is legit.i like em but they dinged me for 2 pinholes on the exhaust of my wifes taurus. i fixed that real quick. and on my ranger the flexigasket on my exhaust and third tail light on the cab.

 

[SinnTax]

Inspections? like to be on the road? never heard of such crap, what state you have to do this in, remind me to never go there!

 

[adsm08]

It's hard to make a decent dollar with out cutting a lot of corners, so now I do renovations instead. I imagine it's the same in the mech trade.

Not really. It depends on how you do your estimate. When I write up an estimate I'm careful to not anything that might make the job take longer than normal and quote the labor as worst case scenario, but I don't try to gouge the customer. I present it (or rather my advisor does) as "Well, the wheel cylinders are leaking, and since it's a 94 odds are good we are gonna break a brake line trying to replace them. Here's what it will cost if they both break, but we'll do our best to not break them".

In the case of that guy yeah, they both broke, but if one or both had come out ok I wouldn't have hit the guy for time to replace the lines too.

In auto tech, many times it's possible to make a buck and still do a complete honest job. It's really all about presenting the job as completely and accurately as possible and then figure the labor accordingly.

At the same time, its possible to do work without double charging the guy and make money. Same truck needed front brakes and the wheel bearings were loose (this was an inspection too). I was ahead by about an hour on the front brake job, but didn't charge him any extra to re-pack and adjust his bearings over just a rotor replacement.

All about how you do it and being good at what you do.

 

[Bennybooster]

Inspections? like to be on the road? never heard of such crap, what state you have to do this in, remind me to never go there!

I am assuming you are kidding because we definatly have inspections in Oregon, they are just not in dept at all. They just make you pass an emmisions test

 

[SinnTax]

I am assuming you are kidding because we definatly have inspections in Oregon, they are just not in dept at all. They just make you pass an emmisions test

Never been in a inspection in my life. Have heard of some in the portland area for emissions... emissions is way diff than complete mechanical inspection.

been driving in Oregon 21 years

 

[4.0B2]

Have I mentioned I'm glad I live in Mississippi and don't have all this crap... YET.
Lol Ive said that on here a couple times. I hear of so many people getting screwed at these inspections. I'm sure my truck would fail...

 

[Shran]

Shouldn't have read this thread, ol' blood is boiling pretty good.

We used to have inspections here but of course the system was so corrupt that the appropriate laws were eventually repealed. I'm sure some asshole will try to bring it back. Can't see it being any different without a) the same old shit we had before, or b) creating a new state agency with more bureaucracy that wastes more of MY tax dollars.

Can you guys not complain about inspections or something? It's a total conflict of interest to have a repair shop do inspections and then sell you repairs... and failing you for really minor stuff? Don't just lay down and take it, call your local govt reps and make 'em change it!

 

[shane96ranger]

I don't know how your state is set up Tedybear, but here we have places that do State and IM only. They also do them at Jiffy Lube here. One of these two choices are what I use. They don't pull your tires and measure your rotor and drum thickness, they do a skid test on a machine - which some people disagree with (and rightfully so). I keep close tabs on the condition of my vehicles safety parts though, so I use it anyway. The technicians are not employed by the state here, but employed by the shop.

Do you have an option to use a State and IM only shop ?