Due to one fuel tank strap on one of our vehicles' fuel tanks rusting off (The fuel tank didn't fall off, There are two straps,) It got me to wondering; Are there any true stories of cars falling apart as they were reversing out of the inspection station, Freshly inspected with the mechanic watching? Austin
Not quite that quickly, but the day after I got the 78 Thunderbird from the shop being certified safe, I almost t-boned someone because both back wheel cylinders were leaking so badly I had not brakes back there! They tried to say they hadn't noticed! They had, the day before, installed new parking brake cables! Of course, by the time I got to that shop, I had already had new brakes installed on the back, as the old ones failed 100 miles from home! Let's say I was not what one would call amused!
I had a c-clamp fall out of my rear universal on my Jimmy a few days after having it repaired. The driveshaft dropped but thankfully did not come all the way out before I was able to get to the side of the road. I was travelling about 110km(68mph) passing a semi hauling huge equipment at the time.
In New Jersey, the only thing they inspect is the check-engine light and gas cap. You could have four bald tires, no brakes, and no lights, but if that check engine light is off you pass. When we first registered it a few months ago, my wife took our '05 Taurus wagon through the NJ inspection line for a new sticker. it passed, but when she got in to drive it away, the check-engine light lit up. I'm glad it waited until after the new sticker was on the windshield!
I think(?) the main land still has inspection stations but the one the island shut it's doors in 1983, my Beateor still has the sticker. But we do have mobile inspection trucks that drive the highways on the island. They mostly target big rigs, dump trucks etc but have the power of the police to pull you over. Every now and then they also team up with the police and set up inspection areas in the middle of no where. I'm told it's like driving into a drinking and driving road check. Cops, tow trucks waiting.
When I took the new-to-me 1992 Custom Cruiser for it's first Texas inspection it passed with no issues, but when the inspector brought the car back around he put the driver's side front door window down, and the auto-down feature stuck on, and the window motor burned up right there in the parking lot. Had to drive home in 90-degree heat with the window down, and the entire inside of the car smelled like burned brake pads. You just never know! Oh and when I removed the door panel and replaced the motor, it was a rebuilt NAPA window motor that burned up. Man it STUNK. I removed the auto-down feature from the door switches when I replaced the motor. No issues since! -Mike
