Passing Inspection $500 in MO

[GotSmart]

The van was in pieces when I got it. I have spent more time working on it than I can remember.

The only surprises were how blatant the lies and price gouging were. They all came up with the same number.$500.00

 

[LoupGarou]

I take it then the vehicle was purchased without having a road worthy safety inspection performed?

 

[GotSmart]

I take it then the vehicle was purchased without having a road worthy safety inspection performed?

It passed the first inspections fine.  Then I moved to a place with greedy thieves as inspectors.  I want a safe vehicle, just not while lining someone else's mink seats. 

I replaced all the running gear. rebuilt the front end, and so on.  I know enough mechanics to be able to rebuild my motor in the desert.  

BS inspections from guys who drive 4 wheel drives with spinner rims is something I am not used to.  I had to drive 20 miles to find a honest mechanic.

 

[FALCON]

In St Louis, the inspections seem to consist of just checking if the Check Engine light is on (with an actual fault code reader) and looking at super obvious stuff like lights, tires, Windows(for cracks).

The car I own has an issue with the M.A.P. Sensor. Can't pass inspection.

 

[sephson]

They all came up with the same number.$500.00

This is just speculation on my part, but I'm pretty sure that there's probably something in the inspection regulations that sets this as an upper limit for inspection related repairs that can be performed by the shop or mechanic doing the inspection. I seem to recall that planet California either has or had a similar rule regarding the amount that a smog inspection station could charge for repairs to bring the vehicle into compliance. There was and is no limit to the amount of things they could find wrong, but there were limits placed on what they were allowed to repair.

The idea here is that it's better that they only gouge you for $500.00 instead of the thousands they could if there were no limits in place. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that these inspectors find some $500.00 repair on practically every vehicle they inspect.

 

[molonewolf]

When the last shop passed it was it the same day the shop before had failed it? If so there will more than likely be a red flag thrown up at DMV when they seen it failed and then passed in the same day. If so there will probably be a visit from the state to see if there is a violation. I seen this happen less than a year ago. You can always buy the part yourself and bypass the mark up on parts but you will be charged for the work again if the part is faulty after put on and needs replaced again. That's if you can find a shop to put them on in the first place. At the shop the labor rate is almost $100.00 a hr plus the cost of the parts. It does not take long to be at $500.00 A person use to be able to buy a cheap vehicle and put very little money in it and be good to go. Them days are gone with the labor rate and cost of parts and the cost of used vehicles these days. Preventive maintenance is the key . It is either pay little now or more later unfortunately. The only thing one can do is constant vehicle check and try to be ready for for what comes up. This is hard to do on limited funds. Stay safe out there my friends