Safety Inspection - HELP!
11-26-2002, 04:48 PM
#1
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Safety Inspection - HELP!
Hi, I need my daily driver (a 1997 Ford Escort) safety inspected to get it registered.
I took it to Canadian Tire, and left them with my car and $52. They came back saying that my (in near perfect condition) car needed $662.00 (!!!!) to pass the inspection.
I was told all sorts of bullsh!t. Everything from, my 2 rear coil springs were broken (definitely are not, I spend a lot of time underneath this car), and one of my lights were out (which is also complete bullsh!t).
Among other things, I was told that I'd need a new windshield because I had a rock chip in mine. Do we have to buy a new windshield everytime we get hit with a rock?!? Living in Ontario is going to get expensive!
Anyways, I'm looking for a shop in the neighbourhood of St. Catharine's, that won't try to make a buck off of me, or as a last resort, will just pass me for a few extra bucks. Can anybody recommend one? Help! I need the car registered yesterday!
This is no heap of crap car. It's only a few years old, and from another province.
I took it to Canadian Tire, and left them with my car and $52. They came back saying that my (in near perfect condition) car needed $662.00 (!!!!) to pass the inspection.
I was told all sorts of bullsh!t. Everything from, my 2 rear coil springs were broken (definitely are not, I spend a lot of time underneath this car), and one of my lights were out (which is also complete bullsh!t).
Among other things, I was told that I'd need a new windshield because I had a rock chip in mine. Do we have to buy a new windshield everytime we get hit with a rock?!? Living in Ontario is going to get expensive!
Anyways, I'm looking for a shop in the neighbourhood of St. Catharine's, that won't try to make a buck off of me, or as a last resort, will just pass me for a few extra bucks. Can anybody recommend one? Help! I need the car registered yesterday!
This is no heap of crap car. It's only a few years old, and from another province.
11-26-2002, 04:57 PM
#2
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Car: 84 Trans Am
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
the rock chip in the windshield needs to repaired, there arent supposed to be any cracks in the windshield. all the lights have to be working but you can easily replace the bulb yourself.
as for the rest it sounds like they are screwing you over.....avoid the garages at crappy tire at all costs.
good luck finding a better garage to get a safety. probably a independantly owned one might be better.
as for the rest it sounds like they are screwing you over.....avoid the garages at crappy tire at all costs.
good luck finding a better garage to get a safety. probably a independantly owned one might be better.
11-26-2002, 05:04 PM
#3
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Originally posted by darbleinad
all the lights have to be working but you can easily replace the bulb yourself.
all the lights have to be working but you can easily replace the bulb yourself.
I didn't bring it up, because I didn't want to have to fight them on the other 10 things they were bullsh!tting about.
I thought about just going to another garage and getting another inspection done. But I don't want to risk another $50, when I can just pay a little extra, and guarantee that it gets passed. If you get my drift.
Any suggestions are welcome.
11-26-2002, 05:06 PM
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Car: 84 Trans Am
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yeah i know where you are coming from. unfortunately i dont know any place in the St. Catherines area.
11-26-2002, 05:08 PM
#5
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Car: 84 Trans Am
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what all else is on this list of stuff that "needs" to be done for a safety?
by the way a place like speedy or apple auto glass could fix the stone chip.
by the way a place like speedy or apple auto glass could fix the stone chip.
11-26-2002, 05:39 PM
#6
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I'll get the list....
1) One of the female ends of the rear seatbelts has fallen behind/into the seat. Y'know, like into the little slot it came from. The tech decided to not reach in with his fingers, and pull it out. 5 second fix. Instead, fail the car.
2) They said my glass was chipped within the wiper sweep. This is true. I'll look into fixing it.
3) One of my lights mysteriously burned out the second I dropped my car off, and MYSTERIOUSLY started working again the second I picked up my car. It has never done this before... I'm thinking somebody's trying to make some money...
4) My "POWER STEERING BELT" is excessively cracked. I find this interesting as my car has a SERPENTINE BELT for all the accesories, and it is not cracked.
5) Both of my rear coil springs also had the same mysterious problem that my one of my lights has. They both broke some time between me parking the car at Canadian Tire, and the tech picking the car up. The weirdest part is that THEY'VE FIXED THEMSELVES! I took a look on my back, with the back of the car on a jack tonight, and the springs are fine. I once had a spring break on me (in a different car) at the very bottom, in the spring pocket. I made sure to look there, just in case. No break.
6) My Emergency brake cable is aparently broken... This is probably one of the most blatant lies. It works fine. It even PASSED the "Parking brake test - Forward/Reverse," which I might add, was done by the same mechanic that told me my parking brake cable is not attached.
AND, the required fix is not to simply reattach my (already attached cable), but to buy a whole new cable.
Just something to think over, in case you aren't already anti-Canadian Tire, like 90% of the population.
1) One of the female ends of the rear seatbelts has fallen behind/into the seat. Y'know, like into the little slot it came from. The tech decided to not reach in with his fingers, and pull it out. 5 second fix. Instead, fail the car.
2) They said my glass was chipped within the wiper sweep. This is true. I'll look into fixing it.
3) One of my lights mysteriously burned out the second I dropped my car off, and MYSTERIOUSLY started working again the second I picked up my car. It has never done this before... I'm thinking somebody's trying to make some money...
4) My "POWER STEERING BELT" is excessively cracked. I find this interesting as my car has a SERPENTINE BELT for all the accesories, and it is not cracked.
5) Both of my rear coil springs also had the same mysterious problem that my one of my lights has. They both broke some time between me parking the car at Canadian Tire, and the tech picking the car up. The weirdest part is that THEY'VE FIXED THEMSELVES! I took a look on my back, with the back of the car on a jack tonight, and the springs are fine. I once had a spring break on me (in a different car) at the very bottom, in the spring pocket. I made sure to look there, just in case. No break.
6) My Emergency brake cable is aparently broken... This is probably one of the most blatant lies. It works fine. It even PASSED the "Parking brake test - Forward/Reverse," which I might add, was done by the same mechanic that told me my parking brake cable is not attached.
AND, the required fix is not to simply reattach my (already attached cable), but to buy a whole new cable.
Just something to think over, in case you aren't already anti-Canadian Tire, like 90% of the population.
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11-26-2002, 06:31 PM
#8
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Car: 1987 iroc-z custom
Engine: 355 tuned port
Transmission: 5spd baby, only way to go
Axle/Gears: 3.45
i used to work at a dealership...
and i know from experience that some and i mean some not all mechanics try to get extra things done to customers cars because they arent on the "clock" but on a job basis...
which means...
if they stand around all day they dont get paid...
so they pretend things are broken so that they are working on a car...
ie power steering belt takes (in the manual) .5 hours....a 10 min fix and he makes 20 mins on it...
doesnt seem like much but add like 10 or 20 of those a day at like $18/hr...plus everything else they are do8ing....
thats alot of coin...
watch yourself man..take it to a proper mechanic a private mechanic that has little or no overhead expenses..
iroc2nv
and i know from experience that some and i mean some not all mechanics try to get extra things done to customers cars because they arent on the "clock" but on a job basis...
which means...
if they stand around all day they dont get paid...
so they pretend things are broken so that they are working on a car...
ie power steering belt takes (in the manual) .5 hours....a 10 min fix and he makes 20 mins on it...
doesnt seem like much but add like 10 or 20 of those a day at like $18/hr...plus everything else they are do8ing....
thats alot of coin...
watch yourself man..take it to a proper mechanic a private mechanic that has little or no overhead expenses..
iroc2nv
11-26-2002, 06:54 PM
#9
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Yeah, I know they were trying to rip me off, but all they're going to get from me is my $52 for the test.
Now, I'm looking for a place that will take my money, and not dick me around.
Lemme know if you know anybody honest! Or dishonest... But in my favour...
Now, I'm looking for a place that will take my money, and not dick me around.
Lemme know if you know anybody honest! Or dishonest... But in my favour...
11-26-2002, 07:12 PM
#10
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never never never take your car to crappy tire for anything... and I mean anything... bunch of rip off artists there.
I don't know anyplace in st catharines.. but my buddy works in Ricci's Garage in Port Colbrne, now he won't give you a bumb safety, but he'll be leniant. (905) 835-8484
I don't know anyplace in st catharines.. but my buddy works in Ricci's Garage in Port Colbrne, now he won't give you a bumb safety, but he'll be leniant. (905) 835-8484
11-26-2002, 08:34 PM
#12
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Car: 1985 Trans Am
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yeah never take it to crappy tire...and the chip in the windshield is bull**** unless its in eye view of the driver...than they will make you replace it, or go get the kit yourself and do it.
11-26-2002, 10:57 PM
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Car: 1990 GTA
Engine: L98 5.7 L
Transmission: 700R
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 Bolt
I would never take a car to CT, I will buy some tools and parts, but never my car. The last time I took a car in for an alignment, I was told that I needed $450 worth of work to get the job done.
I took the car to the dealership that I had bought the car from the year before and all they did was replace a ball joint and two tires. The total cost was about $150.00. This was going back about 14 years ago. I have never taken a car there again.
Your windshield can be replaced through your insurance. Go to a shop that will pay for your deductable( up to $300) and they will do the rest. I have replaced probably 3 windshields, a 1991 Cavalier, 1988 Tempo and a 1996 Windstar and my insurance has never been affected. Just a thought...
I took the car to the dealership that I had bought the car from the year before and all they did was replace a ball joint and two tires. The total cost was about $150.00. This was going back about 14 years ago. I have never taken a car there again.
Your windshield can be replaced through your insurance. Go to a shop that will pay for your deductable( up to $300) and they will do the rest. I have replaced probably 3 windshields, a 1991 Cavalier, 1988 Tempo and a 1996 Windstar and my insurance has never been affected. Just a thought...
11-27-2002, 01:31 AM
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One good reason why I don't go to CT...
I went to school with a lot of the idiots!!!
No seriously... I was in shop class with a bunch of the up and coming scam artists...
These type of people you DO NOT want servicing your car lol
I went to school with a lot of the idiots!!!
No seriously... I was in shop class with a bunch of the up and coming scam artists...
These type of people you DO NOT want servicing your car lol
11-27-2002, 11:03 AM
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Just curious if anybody has taken their car in for a safety inspection at a dealership. I was wondering if they are strict at a dealership or would they be lenient towards a f-body?
11-27-2002, 01:26 PM
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I think independant mechanics are the way to go, dealerships always make me nervous and at 90bux an hour they can be pricey.
11-29-2002, 02:22 PM
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A couple of things:
1) Many of the items 'required' for a safety come down the mechanic's opinion more than anything. I.e. when is a tie-rod considered too loose? GM doesn't publish a specific movement or pressure amount that must be met to be considered 'good' vs. 'bad'- so it becomes a matter of 'opinion' of the particular mechanic.
2) The engine can blow up in the course of checking a car for a safety- heck, the engine doesn't even have to start for a safety- it is not a part of, or related to the criteria. The way they tried to squeak a ps belt into this was with the idea of if the belt lets go, you lose power steering- not steering, but power steering- not required for a safety- but sounds good to your average a-hole.
3) Laziness and crookedness on safeties cannot be judged based on whether the shop is a 'dealer' or not- crooks can and are everywhere. With the addition of item 1) above- opinion- even a usually honest shop can have a mechanic stick it to you to up his daily pay- it's is extremely unlikely anyone else would look the car over beyond the tech. signing the safety.
4) A crack or a mark large enough to obstruct your vision can fail you on a safety- but a small surface chip that doesn't affect visibility is not grounds for a failure- again- an item of opinion.
Total BS items I have been told in respect to a safety:
-Rear defrost didn't work (on a mid-70s vehicle where rear defrost was optional- defrost also only has to work on front, not rear windows)
-No spare tire or jack (totally irrelevant)
-Needed an oil change (uh huh- right)
-Needed an alignment- despite fact car tracked straight and had no tire wear to indicate this- did they put it on an alignment rack first? Of course not- but it sure sounds good.
1) Many of the items 'required' for a safety come down the mechanic's opinion more than anything. I.e. when is a tie-rod considered too loose? GM doesn't publish a specific movement or pressure amount that must be met to be considered 'good' vs. 'bad'- so it becomes a matter of 'opinion' of the particular mechanic.
2) The engine can blow up in the course of checking a car for a safety- heck, the engine doesn't even have to start for a safety- it is not a part of, or related to the criteria. The way they tried to squeak a ps belt into this was with the idea of if the belt lets go, you lose power steering- not steering, but power steering- not required for a safety- but sounds good to your average a-hole.
3) Laziness and crookedness on safeties cannot be judged based on whether the shop is a 'dealer' or not- crooks can and are everywhere. With the addition of item 1) above- opinion- even a usually honest shop can have a mechanic stick it to you to up his daily pay- it's is extremely unlikely anyone else would look the car over beyond the tech. signing the safety.
4) A crack or a mark large enough to obstruct your vision can fail you on a safety- but a small surface chip that doesn't affect visibility is not grounds for a failure- again- an item of opinion.
Total BS items I have been told in respect to a safety:
-Rear defrost didn't work (on a mid-70s vehicle where rear defrost was optional- defrost also only has to work on front, not rear windows)
-No spare tire or jack (totally irrelevant)
-Needed an oil change (uh huh- right)
-Needed an alignment- despite fact car tracked straight and had no tire wear to indicate this- did they put it on an alignment rack first? Of course not- but it sure sounds good.
11-30-2002, 01:37 AM
#20
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Originally posted by 87GTA57L
PM me your car info and I will safety your car from where I'm sitting.
PM me your car info and I will safety your car from where I'm sitting.
In this case, I managed to get it safetied around here. It was no easy fu(king task, I tell you. So, I don't actually need your help, but thanks anyways.
BTW, did you talk to your friends dad? I will certainly bring him some business when the Firebird makes its trip up north.
Thanks again man.
I totally agree, Eric. You can't judge a shop's crookedness from the outside. In the future, I'm going to go with a shop that I've heard good things about. I'll keep your points in mind for the next vehicle that I bring from out of province.
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