My F250 smog check Rant!

[RangerX]

Today, I took my 1990 F250 in for a smog check, required to renew my registration. I went to this one test place I've been using for years. It had a big sign up, saying "Under new Management". Great.

So at the end of the test they have to test the gas cap for tightness, as required by the state of CA. My truck has dual tanks. On this truck, the gas caps are attached by a piece of plastic that has a ring around the cap, and a 4" or so strip that connects to the body. That strip goes into a 1/4" hole that's next to the filler neck, and it has a small "T" on the end to hold it in.
On my 93 Ranger and 92 Sport, it has a small loop that goes onto one of the small bolts around the filler neck.

The friggen smog tech CUTS both strips, so he can take the caps over to his machine to perform the test! :fire:

I did not know this until after the test. I complained, politely at first, and he told me, "it's no big deal, nobody cares about those, we do it all the time"!
I started to get pissed, we argued, and I got nowhere. I'm going to talk to the owner next week, and really make trouble if needed.

I want to know from you all, do most vehicles have some sort of cap restraint? Our 93 is the newest vehicle I've owned, I don't ever fuel up anyone else's car, so I really don't know. Newer cars MUST have something similar, right??? I can't imagine a 06 Mustang or Explorer coming with a loose gascap. I can't imagine this guy cutting the cord on a late model vehicle and not getting complaints.

So what do 2nd and 3rd gen Ex's have? How about any other car you have?

Am I ultra picky? Am I crazy?

 

[FROADER]

That sucks Bill.

My old Explorer didn't have one (well, was broken), so I set the cap on the bumper when filling it up. The current one does have one and so I use it. My Audi doesn't have one but it has grooves in the cap so it can hang on the fuel door while filling up.

I can't believe he was so nonchalant about it. What a dick! I'd go give 'em hell about it. How the hell does he know that you don't use it and won't care if he cuts it.

 

[everythintech]

regardless of what they do, they didnt ask you or inform you of what they were doing, ida been in his a$$ deep, and i wouldnt have left till i got a refund on the smog and money for new plastic pieces. nothing pisses me off more then when ppl just think they can do something for your rig.

 

[justin146]

my 2000 Ex has a strap.

 

[dogfriend]

Mine also has a strap, still intact after several smog checks. The shop where I go has the tester on a coil hose so they can move it over to wherever they need to.

The guy is a retard.


Edit: I have to share the story about the last smog check on the Ex.

I brought it in and its a different guy so I leave him the key. I always worry that they will try to put the thing on the dyno, so I say:

"You realize that it is full time 4wd right?"

He looks irritated and says: "Yes, I know that, I'm a smog tech."

I feel kinda bad cause I insulted him, but I leave and go to a nearby record store to kill the hour he estimates its going to take.

About 45 min later, my cell phone rings and its the smog tech. They can't get the truck started. I explain they have to press the button on the remote to activate the starter (anti theft ). The previous smog techs always seemed to figure that out on their own.

I head back figuring they are almost finished and I see my truck idling in front of the shop, but no one is inside and its not in the smog bay. The smog tech sees me and asks:

"You don't happen to have another key, do you?"

Apparently the other smog tech locked my keys inside with the engine running. Luckily for them and me, I did have another key attached with a carabiner underneath the truck.

I didn't feel so bad about insulting him after that.

 

[RockRanger]

my 04 silverado has a strap As does my parents 99 escort on 02 jetta. They shouldnt cut those straps I would talk with the owner.

 

[techieman33]

My 88 bronco has one, my dads 95 F-150 has one, so does my brothers 97 dakota, and my moms 03 eddie. I'd be pissed if they cut mine. Obviously if the strap is still there, you want it there. it's not like it takes a smog tech to be able to cut one. Give 'em hell.

 

[tgertz77]

my '03 xterra has a strap and a little slot on the door to set the gas cap in.

 

[410Fortune]

ah the well educated smog check guy, he's got a bright future I am sure!
What a moron, if they cut that part they should buy you new ones IMO and I would not let this issue die until it is resolved.

 

[90ranajo]

my 90 ranger had that little tether as does my 02 super duty.

 

[ajr2000]

My mom's old 89 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser had a strap, My mom's 2000 Explorer XLS has one. My dad's 1990 F150 with dual tanks also has one. MY 93 Explorer doesn't, and my dad's 78 Camaro doesn't. My buddy's 95 Altima doesn't but has a clip on the door to hold the cap.

 

[jimbo74]

my dads 98 ranger has the plastic restraint

 

[RockRanger]

ever get anywhere with the smog shop?

 

[Nasty350LT1]

My 99 Eddie Bauer has the plastic restraint
just to keep me from losing my gas cap...

 

[RangerX]

ever get anywhere with the smog shop?

Yeah, I forgot to update!

First thing I did was go to the Ford dealer, and have the parts guy print out the cost of two gas caps for my truck. Then I went back to the test place, and asked the guy for the number of the other shop, where the owner is. He wouldn't give it to me, until I threatened to report this to the BBB and CARB, and I happened to mix in several F-bombs in the conversation. Got the number , went to talk to the owner, explained what they did, showed him the estimate, and he gave me the cash.

If I had known where the owner's shop was originally, I could have skipped the whole 'making a scene' part. I still kind of want to report this place, but the owner gave me zero attitude, and 100% satisfaction, plus he said he was planning to fire the guy anyway.

By the way, my truck did pass smog.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

 

[FROADER]

F-bombs in a public place of business can be fun when needed.