On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:38:28 -0600, thunder
wrote:

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:23:52 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:


I'm a little conflicted by this. Inspections are a PITA, but it is nice
to know that all those cars out there had their brakes working at least
once a year. ;-)

That was one of the big jokes here in CT with the old inspection system.
Never tested the brakes as such either dynamically or static but they'd
check it off the report for every inspection.

IIRC, your inspections are done at a licensed service station? Here, we
have designated inspection centers, which are relatively thorough.
There's a visual inspection for rust, cracked windows, etc., a tailpipe
emissions test, a dynamic wheel balancing/alignment test, and a dynamic
brake test. The problem here is, if you fail, you can be retested at a
regular licensed service station. There things get considerably easier,
costlier, but easier.

That changed about ten years or so back. There were official "State"
inspection stations that were supposed to check for that, but all they
were interested in was getting the money - you coud blow through the
emissions inspection pretty easily with some simple tools and a hot
engine. I know because I did it with an old pickup I had to bang
around the woods in. :)

Now they are done at certain service stations - mostly dealerships as
the cost of the computer is high and your average garage mechanic
can't afford the constant software updates never mind the computer.
They say they do a "safety" check, but other than sticking the sampler
up the tailpipe (which is an apt metaphor huh?) I've never seen them
do a "safety" inspection.

It's still only an emissions inspection - nothing else.