Date:         Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:35:37 -0500
Reply-To:     Blake Thornton <blake@MATH.WUSTL.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Blake Thornton <blake@MATH.WUSTL.EDU>
Subject:      Van failed emissions (fwd)
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Here was my experience taking my 1984 westy to get the emmisions done.  It
was absolutely ridiculous.

I took the van to get it inspected today.  The gas cap failed the test, so
I need to get a new gas cap.  $20.  The funny, or not so funny part was
that they also had to drive it on the rollers and they couldn't figure out
how to drive the van.  3 different people drove it and either they stalled
the van (probably 3-4 times) or the test aborted (probably 5-6 times) and
the monitor showed "underpowered vehicle."  No kidding, it really
happened. They finally put the 3rd guy on it.  The test aborted 2 times
and he got the test further than the others (it was like a computer game)
and then he stalled the van.  They were fed up.  The guy waiting behind me
was fed up and was yelling at the people about how slow that lane was.
After the final "abort" the looked fed up and drove the van off.  I was
ready for them to say that the whole thing failed but he said it actually
passed the emmissions but the gas cap failed so I needed a new gas cap.
But, I have to take it back and go through this whole nonsense again.

I just dropped the van off at the repair shop to have it inspected.  We'll
see what nonsense they find.  It will fail that too (I know a couple
things that need repaired).  Who knows when the van will be legal again.

Thank god this is every two years and not every year.

Blake
St Louis