<VV> RE: HB 2465 - Annual Fees & Inspections for Antiques

[kaczmarek at charter.net]

Mark
While I lived in VA (89-97) I didn't encounter much rip-offs by inspection stations. 
Of course, it's also important to know where to go. 

I did most all the repair business I couldn't do on my own at BRT service in Va Beach. Owned, operated and staffed by Born-Again Christians, they didn't rip people off.  One of my neighbors worked there, and turned me on to the place. 

I sent a friend of mine there who the BMW dealer told he needed a new oil pump, about a 800.00 job all told.  BRT replaced his oil pressure sending unit, checked his oil pressure, sent him away with a parts and labor bill for 70.00  Even HE couldn't believe it. 

Then again, while working at Western Auto (still a SIGH), one of our regular customers (known as "the Chaplain of Aragona Village" for being a busybody), came to me and told me the Goodyear store in the Pembroke Mall failed his truck on inspection for bad shocks. We had installed top of the line Monroe HD shocks on his 80's model F-150 not 6 months before.   

I bounced the bumpers, and the car stopped bouncing immediately.  I got under with a flashlight and checked for leaking oil/bad seals.  Nothing.   I called the SGT at the VA State Police barracks in Chesapeake(that handled the inspection stations), and told him what I'd found.  The SGT requested that the owner bring the truck by for HIM to take a look.  The SGT asked the owner to accompany him to the Goodyear store.  The SGT went inside, took the inspection certificate from both the inspector and the store, and told the Manager---THAT'S IT FOR YOU---1 YEAR SUSPENSION. 

Now as has been mentioned, the inspecting location don't make much if anything off an inspection in VA---BUT when you can't do them, you can't sell or install any parts you find bad (or lie to the customer that they're bad) to make any income off the job.  It can put a dent in any repair business.  Best to be honest. 

My inspector Dennis at BRT would ask me questions when doing a Corvair, he'd been a mechanic for about 7 years, but admitted ignorance re: the Corvair. 
Example--when I put four tailight lenses on my car (changed the bulbs and sockets to double contact for 1157 bulbs, and wired  jumpers to have all 4 come on at once-- He asked me "Where's your backup lights?"  And I told him in 1965 they were still optional--same when he asked me about the rear seatbelts.

After he checked the book, he came back and said "I'll take your word on this stuff from now on".  At the next TCC meeting I told the rest of the club if they wanted a no-hassle inspection on their Vair, take it to BRT.  

Could work for any grouping of clubbies. 

HANK





---- "mark at noakes.com" <mark at noakes.com> wrote: 
> When I was doing my NASA/Langley co-oping in the Hampton Roads area in 
> the mid 1970s, VA had a horrible reputation for ripoffs related to the 
> inspections.  Are they still done  by shops that sell parts or is it 
> govt now?