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Message |
    
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4727
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 2:23 pm: | 
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Had to get this one off my chest. There was a round of complaints about these guys awhile back and now I can add to it.
Mid May my car failed inspection because the edges of the wipers were slightly broken. Never in my life have I had to replace wipers, but the rubber always seems to crack on them. (They still worked fine, I guess my balls were being busted?) Get 45 days to come back with replaced wipers. Last week, Inspection was closed, so I make it over there today. Since more than the alotted 45 days has passed, they have to do over the whole inspection.
I FAILED for a crack in a rear light that has been there for 2 years! The light works fine, it's just cracked. Grrr...I looked online and found the stupid light for $135 cheapest. I think the worker was just PO'd because I didn't have an appt. The guy who failed me the first time said to just go down there with my paperwork, not to make an appt.
Grrr...I am so annoyed. This is the first time I've had a car more than 3 years since 1993 and they really don't make it easy for you. |
blackcat
Citizen
Username: Blackcat
Post Number: 657
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
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Sometimes the machine picks up the crack, not the person. That's the bs line we got. Yep, over $100 for a light cover with a crack. Glad they didn't notice the working headlight with mold building up inside it....and we were way overdue for inspection by years! |
Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 1019
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 2:51 pm: |
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Were do you go? |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1157
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 3:11 pm: |
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Why do people go to state inspection stations , just go to a gas station , pay $ 25.00 bucks & be on your way. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 2004
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 3:15 pm: |
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I think it's more like $65 if you go to a gas station isn't it? I can't remember really, but I could have sworn I was quoted much more than $25 (which is why I go to the free places...) |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8328
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 3:30 pm: |
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With the new emissions requirements, a lot of the private places want over $100.
Our then-14 y/o SUV failed last year. We put a used catalytic converter in it and it failed again. Finally figured out that they tested it at the wrong class the second time. Our mechanic went to Newark and got the erroneous failure removed from the vehicle's record. Apparently, a vehicle only gets so many "failures".
This year, I took my VW to the Flemington inspection station. It was rather pleasant. No appointment and I was in & out in 40 minutes. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 447
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 4:25 pm: |
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With the appointment you are in and out in about 10-15 minutes.
When you are sent back you most definitely do not need an appointment, and they don't have any problem with it.
I go to Montclair and never had a problem though I have had failures & needed to go back for relatively minor items.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4729
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 4:58 pm: |
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I think they were all peeved because of the shut down. Then, because I was just past the 45 days she was probably even more PO'd to have to check the whole thing and I did not have an appt.
Not what I need to deal with right now!
BTW, this was Westfield.
The place my husband uses costs $85 or so. I didn't think it would be a big deal to get it done, $85 is a lot of groceries, or something I'd rather spend my money on. |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 431
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
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the state extended all deadlines by 30days due to the shutdown-did that not include re-inspection deadlines? I would think it included all deadlines-but hey, this is NJ!
oots |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8330
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
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The first 3 times we went to Montclair with an appointment, in & out in 15 minutes. The last time, over an hour wait. The people without appointments waited much longer (separate line) but still...... |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4731
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 5:44 pm: |
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Oots, if that's true I'm going to complain. I will check the DMV website. What a pain in the arse! |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1235
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 6:27 pm: |
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For me, the $80 or $85 for a garage inspection is well spent (and I'm a real tightwad). No driving around, just leave the car with my local friendly mechanic. If anything is wrong, he fixes it, no second trip for reinspection.
Might as well put in a plug for Ridge Tire & Auto on SO Ave. while I'm at it. We've had many years of pleasant and capable service from George and Tony. |
combustion
Citizen
Username: Spontaneous
Post Number: 233
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 7:15 pm: |
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I go in the middle of the month, middle of the week, middle of the day. Never had a problem waiting. Of course, I have a work schedule that allows me to be flexible like that. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8333
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 7:32 pm: |
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That's what I did; Wed., 11am on June 14. I just took an early lunch. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4734
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 7:33 pm: |
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Today the wait wasn't the issue. It was the 'tude! |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 4031
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 8:04 pm: |
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getting my car fixed tomorrow, another exhaust leak (at least it's always somewhere different, this time it's where the exhaust connects to the manifold, and I swear I had the whole thing replaced a year or so ago), then I need to get inspected again, just a couple of days before I'm past the 45 day mark.
The worst part is that I have to go at 7:30 in the morning, and wait until it's completed, hope it's fast. |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 1188
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 8:12 pm: |
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Virtual Girl,
Last year I picked up a pair of tail light assemblies for my car on e-bay for less than $50, shipped.
Its worth a look. Good luck.
As an aside, is a cracked lens on a fully functioning tail light something for which we can be stopped and cited?
TomR |
mimosa
Citizen
Username: Mimosa
Post Number: 221
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 8:29 pm: |
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Is it only cracked tail lights that count for failure? Our teen driver's car has a cracked plastic cover on the fully functioning headlight. Is there a website that can tell you what things can get you a failure? |
kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 795
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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VIG, you could always try again by losing the ticket that says why you failed (tell them that you had failed for winshield wipers). I'm not sure if it is computerized, but it never used to be.
You'll have to get yet another full reinspection, but they might not pick up on the tail light again.
Or get your husband to take it....
After the second attempt, I'm thinking that it might just be better to take it to a private inspection station, unless you have the time to waste.
I've always gone to Plainfield over the years only because it was near where I lived in Somerset County. I tried Newark once, failed there for loose ball joints, then lost the card and went to Plainfield later the same day where I passed without a problem. It's all who you get and what type of day they are having.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4739
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 11:30 am: |
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Thanks for that advice Kevin. If I find my light cover cheaper I might replace it, but otherwise I might have my husband bring it to his guy (who inspected it last year and passed me with the cracked light that works perfectly fine) and be done with it.
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oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 433
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 9:24 pm: |
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vig:
per administrative order 2006-01 all inspections & reinspections due to expire by 6/30/06 or 7/31/06 have been extended by 30 days!!
this is on the nj dmv "official" website.
oots |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4745
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 11:42 pm: |
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Oots, can you post a link to that? That BURNS me up!!! I checked the DMV website but couldn't find that info. I'd greatly appreciate it! I'd like to print it out and bring it with me. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1657
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 4:54 am: |
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Come to Florida!!! No waiting at all. We don't have inspections. |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 436
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 11:48 am: |
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vig:
its not easy to get to-if you google njdmv you end up in some private dmv site-be sure you indicate nj -there is a small link to the njdmv actual site. once your there you have to read the small print and find a small link that talks about reinspections-good luck
oots |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 4045
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
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http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/PressReleases/archives/2006/070206.html
P.O. Box 160
Trenton, NJ
Contact: Mike Horan
609-292-4711
Dave Weinstein
609-777-3791
RELEASE: July 2, 2006
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2006-01
I, Sharon A. Harrington, Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, as authorized pursuant to The Motor Vehicle Security and Customer Service Act, N.J.S.A. 39:2A-1, et seq., by N.J.S.A. 39:2-3, by N.J.S.A. 39:3-4, and by N.J.S.A. 39:3-10f, and for good cause shown, do hereby order that in the event of an interruption in state government services, the renewal dates of driversŐ licenses, vehicle registrations and vehicle inspections shall be extended as set forth below:
1. Any person who is the holder of a valid New Jersey license to drive a motor vehicle that was due to expire June 30, 2006, but which was not renewed before July 1, 2006, may continue to exercise the privilege(s) therein conferred until July 31, 2006. Any person who is the holder of a valid New Jersey license to drive a motor vehicle which is due to expire July 31, 2006, but which is not renewed prior to August 1, 2006, may continue to exercise the privilege(s) therein conferred until August 31, 2006.
2. The renewal date of any New Jersey registration certificate, including any temporary registration certificate, that was due to expire June 30, 2006, but which was not renewed before July 1, 2006, is hereby extended until July 31, 2006. The renewal date of any New Jersey registration certificate, including any temporary registration certificate, that is due to expire July 31, 2006, but which is not renewed prior to August 1, 2006, is hereby extended until August 31, 2006. This provision of this Administrative Order shall not apply to extend the expiration date of any non-resident temporary registration issued pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:3-4b and N.J.A.C. 13:21-15.10.
3. The inspection date or re-inspection date for any vehicle that was due to expire on June 30, 2006, but which was not inspected or re-inspected before July 1, 2006, is hereby extended until July 31, 2006. The inspection date or re-inspection date of any vehicle that is due to expire on July 31, 2006, but which is not inspected or re-inspected prior to August 1, 2006, is hereby extended until August 31, 2006.
4. Nothing in this Administrative Order shall be construed as restoring the driving and/or registration privilege of any person subject to a valid Order of Suspension as of the date of this Order or any such suspension order subsequently imposed, and nothing in this Administrative Order shall be construed as permitting the operation of a motor vehicle without the automobile insurance required by law.
5. Nothing in this Order shall be construed as reducing the fees required to be paid upon renewal of a driverŐs license, vehicle registration or upon inspection of a vehicle entitled to extension under the terms of this Order.
This Order shall only take effect in the event of an interruption in state government services which results in the closure of Motor Vehicle Commission offices and agencies for any period of time.
Date: June 28, 2006 Sharon A. Harrington
Chief Administrator
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Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1668
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 1:49 pm: |
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I thought this thread was about Insects.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4751
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 2:22 pm: |
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Thanks Monster...you'da man! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4752
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 2:23 pm: |
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Hoops... I didn't even realize, that's how angry I was! |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1393
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:26 pm: |
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When I drove a 1968 VW camper I had it inspected by the guy who repaired it for me. He'd pass me and say, "just make sure you come back and get the wiper engine replaced." He hated fixing my old rust bucket and constantly suggested selling it. Many of the "required" repairs never happened.
Even better, when I had a VW Superbeetle, I got it inspected in Maine and it was cold and raining on the day of inspection. Well, the defrost on that car was some heat on your left ankle at best. You couldn't see out of the front windshield on the day of inspection. They guy didn't want to pass me, so he called the state. They told him defrost functioning isn't a part of the Maine inspection.
So I passed and drove away with raincoat hood tight and my head out the window.
J.B. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 455
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
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Yeah there are two places I would never take an aircooled VW to: a state inpection station and a Jiffy Lube. The first is guaranteed to fail the car for one reason or another and the second stand around scratching their heads looking for the oil filter (after pulling their heads out of the trunk of course!).
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kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 804
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:52 am: |
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Here you go VIG....
Posted: Tuesday, 18 July 2006 7:20AM
Plan Could Reduce NJ Vehicle Inspection Failures
TRENTON, N.J. -- Mechanics and the auto club are opposed to plans to eliminate some items that cause motor vehicles to fail inspections in New Jersey.
The Motor Vehicle Commission wants to give motorists a letter saying they should get the problem fixed. The items include horns that don't honk, cracked windshields, speedometers that don't work and broken parking light lenses.
Motorists would be flunked for serious defects.
The MVC says the change would save $3.5 million a year and save motorists the aggravation of having to return to inspection centers.
Service station owners fear the proposal would cost them business and jeopardize highway safety.
http://1010wins.com/print_page.php?contentId=173448&contentType=4
I will say that I think that there is a difference between a "broken" tail light lens and a cracked one. A cracked one doesn't leak white light whereas a broken one would.
The article mentioned "parking light lenses" which are different from "tail light lenses"
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ncakes
Citizen
Username: Wbwallflower
Post Number: 304
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 10:19 am: |
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VIG- I got my car inspected in Westfield last month and the jerk failed me for having a copy of my insurance.. well I should say what he THOUGHT was a copy of my insurance and not the original. Made me go through the whole inspection and then handed me a failed letter. Called my father (insurance is under his name) and he told me to go right back and tell him he's wrong. After copping an attitude with me and telling me he has insurance and knows what it looks like, I told him to go ask his manager. He came back without an apology, made me go through inspection again and passed me. So rude! At least there was no line and I got to through inspection twice very quickly.. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4809
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:40 am: |
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So here's the next load of bull. REinspections do not get extensions(!!!), and I don't have to REPLACE a cracked tail lens, just silicon it. So, I have my next appt. on Monday and if they fail me again I will ask to speak with a manager.
Grrrr..... |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 440
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 3:15 pm: |
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vig:
admin order 2006-1 specifically includes reinspections!! did you bring a copy of it?
oots |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4811
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 5:21 pm: |
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Hmmm, OOts, is that item 3? I printed it out but that line is a little blurry. They said because my ORIGINAL inspection expired May 31 and then I had 45 days (from MAy 17, my initial visit) it was deleted from the system after that. The whole thing is so annoying and very bureaucratic! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4812
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 5:23 pm: |
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Oh, OOTS, I see it now above. I called before I went and have an appt.Monday. I will bring a copy of the letter printed from the website and raise hell if necessary! |
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