Date:         Sun, 10 Oct 1999 01:34:45 +0200
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: Inspection Horror Story!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Ohhh... some guys are dumb!

I was at an inspection not long time ago with the Syncro, and the DMV guy
naturally wanted to test the brakes on the roller. I said "No way, its a 4wd!"
The DMV guy just said "ok, we'll just do it on the truck rollers, they turn the
wheels different ways to keep the drive shaft still!" This was pretty cool, and
no damage done to the 4wd. I really didnt think such thing existed, but I figure
those rollers are to test rear brakes on 4x6 trucks with 2 driven rear axles.

PerL
87 Syncro 112i




David Snyder wrote:

> Had a similar experience with stupidity at an Arizona inspection station
> with my 1982 Turbo Diesel Rabbit (Caddy) Pickup.  The guy goes to pull it on
> to the big roller wheels and pulls the front wheels past the rollers and
> begins lining up the rear wheels on the rollers.  Seeing a big 4X4 lifted
> truck right in front of my pickup, I know when he pops the clutch, my front
> wheel drive truck with a nice and straight front end, a full charge of
> really expensive Freon and a custom radiator is going to crash right into
> the nasty back end of a big iron American vehicle.
>
> I run out into the shop yelling at him to stop and immediately a supervisor
> and another guy accost me about not being in the shop area.  I am trying to
> tell them my truck is front wheel drive and they start to argue with me, all
> of them saying that there are no front wheel drive pickup trucks and I need
> to get out of their way and let them do their job.  Finally, I implored,
> threatened, and bribed them enough ("Hey guys, we could find out if it is
> front wheel drive by looking at the big mirror that checks for a catalytic
> converter to see if there is a drive shaft going to the back wheels right?
> If there's a drive-shaft there, I'll buy you all beer-  but, you've got to
> look.")  to take a second and verify if it was front wheel drive. They took
> a look and didn't say much.    I did not even ask them if they knew about
> full time 4WD vehicles, I figure they'll learn the hard way.
>
>  My bunny truck survived, never to go to inspection again if I can possible
> avoid it.  I am breaking the law by registering it out of county (where
> inspections are not required) and driving it to work in my county (where
> they are).  So, if I am caught, I hope you all realize that I am taking a
> stand that Jefferson, Henry, Franklin and Adams would be proud of.  Somebody
> said a little rebellion is good for the country.
>
> The saddest part of it is my diesel passes every time since they test for
> opacity (amount of smoke in the exhaust) and I am on the same standard as
> diesel buses, trucks etc...  The real pollutants that come out of a diesel
> that is not running right are not even tested.  I know it's running clean
> because I maintain it correctly and am getting appropriate mileage and
> power.
>
> Oh well, they breath carbon monoxide all day and I don't.
>
> Dave