DMV Rejected my truck

[JoeC5]

Last week I went to go get my truck inspected. They got all this new high tech equipment, which I dont think is accurate. Anyway they failed me on my brakes. They said the rears are locking up. What the heck are they talking about. My truck stops on a dime so they failed me for having good brakes. I am very mad. Just out of curiosity what could make the rears lock up? The print out they gave me reads, "Deceleration sufficient, brake force front axle insufficient in relation to rear axle. vehicles designed to carry heavy loads may show reduced front/rear balance when tested in an unloaded condition". Left Wheel, Check for loose, leaking or damaged damper- consider damer replacement. The new machines they have are GARBAGE. Sorry just venting.

 

[yob_yeknom]

Take off the wheel and drum (94's have drum brakes right), and tell us what you see.
They could need adjusting, the shoes could be worn too low and grabbing, and worst case you could have a bad axle seal thats allowing gear oil into your brakes. (that causes them to lock up, believe it or not)

 

[sortsol]

I had the same problem with my '94. They failed my rear brakes with probably the same equipment. I took it to the brake shop and showed them the printout. They looked at my brakes and told me they were fine. In fact the pads were almost brand new. They also told me the high-tech equipment wasn't always perfect. I took the paper from the brake place and showed it to the inpectors and they passed it.

 

[special ed]

geez

what state are you buys in?
when i take my truck for inspection the only thing they check are the brake pad / shoe thickness, the lights, the horn , wipers and the tires
thats it

 

[IgotTwo]

You must live in NJ!!!!

You should have seen the 30 minute show they put on when I went for their "new and improved process" It brought stupidity to new heights.

If you think you have a problem you should fix it.

Otherwise, Why fight it?
I can't count the number of times I just drove around the block and passed (for real) or laid back a day or so and returned to be passed. You are not dealing with rocket scientists!
(Apologies to all conscientious DMV persons)

The DMV inspection guidelines I live by:
If all else fails, bring and offer Dunkin Dounuts, the international gesture of friendship. Munchkins go a little further and are easier to handle.

Its good to vent. Hang in there, it will work out for you.

 

[ExplorerEB96]

Sorry

If you live in Jersey I am so sorry tis a sad day when the inspection team knows little or nothing about what they are doing with cars, trucks, etc. ... just how to place the machines..... Funny how it seems that everyone I know from Jersey has failed inspection at least once in 5 years.... One guy I know had his inspection at the DMV right after driving it off the lot at a dealership..... This truck was a salesman's model and was up for inspection .....they gave him so much $$ off if he would just go and get it done himself rather than wait for them to get around to it..... it failed!! I don't know exactly why but lol he was steaming...

Unfortunately to us Pennsylvanians Jersey is known as "A Police State" My dad jokes that if there was ever a problem in this country and there had to be Marshal Law....New Jersey would be the first to pass it!!

Karol

 

[IgotTwo]

Ah...NJ is OK ...... Its DMV. NJ DMV has had a long consistant track record for gross incompetence for as far back as I can remember.

Now, they test cars with a dynamometer. I went in with my 97 and they put my car on a one wheel dynamometer. I think they have "dualies" at just a few locations.

I honestly believe that they didn't have a clue what drive system I had (nor did they ask). I think 97 was availabe with all wheel 4WD. Many others makes and models are. It may be buried in the VIN # and the computer matched a table, but so many of their actions made that seem unlikely. Major gitches were already found in the system. Many claimed the new system was a failure and wanted to sue the manufacturer.

I do not have an "all wheel drive" system but I also did not have a high comfort level giving them my car to perform this test.

After it was all over, I was tempted to hang around and wait for the "wrong" 4 wheel to be put on that machine then watch the show. Straight out the door, taking down the "have a nice day" sign, throught the parking lot, and into the woods. Ride em cowboy!

I do hope it has never happened but their reputation has always preceeded them.
Christie (the governor) bolted out the state probably to miss all the fallout of this after a big fanfare of what a great thing it was for NJ. Right Christie!! Where is Jesse V. when you need him.


So if you don't pass the first time, just drive around the block or wait a few days. Sounds scarey but it does work.

 

[JoeC5]

Thanks for the suggestions fellas. Eventually I will go back to try again. Wont have to for a week or so, my uncle went away to florida with his family, so he gave me his 2000 ML 430 to drive around in for a week or 2

 

[Litebug]

You guys need to move to Ohio If it rolls you can drive it here!

 

[CHH777]

My latest inspection (in Houston) was a comedy of errors also. I was told there’d be at least a 2 hour wait because there was a line of cars before me. I dropped it off and gave them my number to call when it was done. They called ~4 hours later and said it failed (emissions too high). When I picked it up I was upset because they were keeping my money! They said I shouldn't take it too bad because nearly every car they inspected that day failed the same test.

Turns out the problem was the cars were sitting in the lot cooling off for hours before inspection. Then they drove 'em into the shop and immediately performed emissions testing with the catalytic converters cold. I let my truck idle for ~10 min. and forced them to perform the test again. Bingo, problem solved. The "inspection pro" said he had no idea this could affect the test. I feel sorry for the other 20 people or so whose cars he failed that day…

 

[IgotTwo]

What they didn't tell you was the guys' brains at the inspection station were all mushy from taking in all the emissions. (most didn't go to work that day much better off)
(apologies to consciencous DMV people, its not you...it the other guys)

 

[Duke727]

I feel for all you New Jerseyites out there.

I have countless stories about the geniuses at the NJ DMV. After awhile I started to go to private inspection stations, its worth to 50 bucks. I the gross intelligence doesn't stop at the inspection station. It takes at least 4 hours to get a drivers license renewed. I just purchased my 92 Explorer in VT where I go to school. When I bought it I didn't even get have to get it inspected, what a state. All you need to get a hand gun is a valid drivers license.

JERSEY RULES

 

[gijoecam]

Umm, this might sound like a dumb question, but wasn't rear wheel ABS standard in 93? If so, how exactly did the rear wheels lock without activating the abs light? Besides that, it's an Explorer... the same identical brake system as both the heavy duty Aerostar and the Ranger! Both of those vehicles are designed to CARRY HEAVY LOADS!!! Sounds like the inspector's giving you a load trying to drum up business! What could cause the rears to lock up? A vehicle with brakes designed to carry a heavy load NOT CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD!!!

Left wheel: check for loose, leaking or damaged damper. Consider replacement?? Either it's bad or it's not. Based on that, it's not mandatory that it be replaced to pass the inspection.

I think I'm almost as p'd off at them as you are! I can't believe they can deny to pass you based on a machine that says you "might" have a bad shock?! Sounds like the shops are able to make a killing on repairs that "might" be necessary to pass the inspection.

OK, I feel better now.



-Joe-

 

[JoeC5]

Tell me about it. This week I am going to try again. I'll let you all know what happens. But there is one thing I did notice and it seems odd. The other day when it was raining, I decided to see if my rear brakes do lock up, to my surprise they did. Are my rear abs sensors bad? When the back tires were dragging, the abs didnt kick in. Hmmmm

 

[ld50]

Inspection,
What`s that?

Is it mandatory for you in America to have your vehicles have a mechanical inspection every so often?

Where I am we have to go through emissions testing once a year, but unless a police officer orders that you have a mechanical inspection done, you don`t need it.

I think at one time we had to have inspections every 4 years or something tho, there is something tugging at my childhood memories.

 

[Brian1]

Originally posted by ld50
Is it mandatory for you in America to have your vehicles have a mechanical inspection every so often?

No, at least not in my state. We only have to do emissions every 2 years when the vehicle's registration has to be renewed. No mechanical inspections are required.

 

[Crankcase]

Originally posted by ld50
Inspection,
What`s that?

I think at one time we had to have inspections every 4 years or something tho, there is something tugging at my childhood memories.

I remember that here too. The inspection used to be very year, and there was a little card they punched for defects. Some of my Dad's vehicles still have the liitle inspection sticker on the windsheild(they are that old)

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Missouri has them also. I grew up in Kansas which use to have them but did away with it 25+ years ago.
I wish I had stayed in Kansas.

 

[bigbadfred]

Same here in Wisconsin

Emission sucks because new cars the DMV just plugs a wire into your computer and your test is over. My truck they run the snot out of and some fat lady who could barely fit in my truck put the seat all the way back and she had trouble getting in and out of my stock height explorer. She just hammers on the gas and on the brakes together and it is just nuts. If that was there vehicle they would be more gentle. And if you move the seat back because your too dam fat please move it back up so, at least I can reach the pedals and I am 5'9. And if you have to move the steering wheel up over your stomach please move it back down when you get your big fat over sized body out of my vehicle. I am not ranking on heavier people just the ones at DMV because I have been heavy all my life. :fire: :frustrate :thumbdwn:

 

[jjue]

Originally posted by Litebug
You guys need to move to Ohio If it rolls you can drive it here!

Same here in Mississippi. I have had 2 inspections that I didn't have to do any testing to get my inspection sticker on my '97 Mountaineer. They asked for my $5, then they wrote up the inspection.