The Mass. vehicle safety check is sooo damned bogus....

[Meghan54]

Just got our Murano "safety" checked in Mass, Cape Cod specifically.

Now, not being familiar with Mass's safety/emissions check, I thought it'd be much like Virginia's. For those that don't know, VA's safety/emissions check involves "driving" the vehicle on a set of rollers at specific speeds while a probe is stuck up the tailpipe. It takes a good 15 minutes or so to do the emissions check.

Then the vehicle is put on a lift and everything underneath is checked...ball joint looseness, exhaust system integrity, etc. Takes a bit to do this part, too.


Imagine my surprise when the tech simply drives the Murano into a bay, one without a lift or any other way to get under the vehicle, plugs an OBD II reader into the port, checks to see if any codes are being stored or impending, makes sure the lights, horn, etc. work, seat belts work, and then stickers the car.

No emissions testing, no brake check, nothing. Almost seems to be a worthless check except garnering the state $29 minus the miniscule few dollars the station gets from the charge.

Pointless.

 

[XZeroII]

In WI they did away with the rollers a few years ago. The would just plug in the OBD checker and that was it. They just changed it now so you go to a local mechanic or dealer and they do it as opposed to going to a special DMV location. It takes just a few minutes max. they don't even check the horn.

 

[MagickMan]

Here they just check to make sure your lights work, but there's no charge, so whatever. :awe:

 

[Black2na]

OBDII systems use the actual road. the ECU has system checks that run constantly. and for you to pass an OBDII test your MIL light or malfunction indicator lamp. and that system has to read READY which means its done all the proper test and everything is running correctly. so scanning is ok with me. also probly be nice if they threw it up in the air and checked the brakes suspension ball joints etc to make sure there nice and tight! and those machines are expensive which is why it still cost $30

 

[NutBucket]

CA is even more bogus IMHO. They check your tailpipe emissions (though that is supposedly going away?) and nothing else. Frankly I'd like them to check ball joints, brakes, lights, etc. Helps keep some of these damned jalopies off the road.

 

[Capt Caveman]

OBDII systems use the actual road. the ECU has system checks that run constantly. and for you to pass an OBDII test your MIL light or malfunction indicator lamp. and that system has to read READY which means its done all the proper test and everything is running correctly. so scanning is ok with me. also probly be nice if they threw it up in the air and checked the brakes suspension ball joints etc to make sure there nice and tight! and those machines are expensive which is why it still cost $30

This. Nothing bogus about the inspection. I've been rejected for having a cut in the sidewall of my vehicle. And my last vehicle was rejected two years in a row due to the ECU displaying failing emission codes.

 

[Capt Caveman]

CA is even more bogus IMHO. They check your tailpipe emissions (though that is supposedly going away?) and nothing else. Frankly I'd like them to check ball joints, brakes, lights, etc. Helps keep some of these damned jalopies off the road.

It's why it's called a SMOG Check.

 

[satyajitmenon]

What is this "Vehicle Safety Check" y'all are talking about? 😛

 

[AmdEmAll]

The OBD II will report any emissions issues. As for ball joints and brakes.. would be good if they checked those.

 

[Meghan54]

OK, I'll reconsider my "bogus" call on the OBD II checking, but to NOT check the undercarriage of a vehicle during a so-called safety check, esp. in a state with snow and salt on the roads, just boggles the mind.

 

[SSSnail]

CA only cares about emission, your car can be a POS, the state couldn't care less. Actually, the tech is supposed to check for everything on your car that's emission related. So, no oil leaks, no busted pipes, OEM or DOT approved intakes, any modifications to exhaust system before the CAT, evap canister, hoses, gas cap, etc...

 

[master7045]

in IL all I've had to do for the past 5ish years is drive into the self serv bay, plug an OBDII reader in for about 30 seconds, plug it back into the computer and off I go. Then every year I have to pay $99 to the state to get my plates renewed (totally off topic there, but it drives me nuts)

 

[lavaheadache]

The inspectors are supposed to do a full safety inspection every year. Most do. My Passat failed last year for a bum tie rod end. No biggie, only took a couple hours to fix but it sucks when they slap a rejection sticker on your window for it.

Have you blown the high pressure power steering line yet on your Murano? very common problem Just happend to my wife's last night. Looks like I'm going to have a fun Monday.

 

[KentState]

What's bogus is in a lot of states, if your car is older than OBDII it doesn't have to get inspected.

 

[wirednuts]

What's bogus is in a lot of states, if your car is older than OBDII it doesn't have to get inspected.

thats because its likely throttle body or carb intake, meaning you have little chance of keeping it running like it should anyway. and also, it wont be too much longer before any car without obdII will be old enough to legally be antique.

 

[wirednuts]

and i think its funny how everyone expects the sate to do safety checks on your cars. that overall diagnosis can run $100 at most shops. what youre asking is a full blown expert opinion after 30min of work to look around at everything. must be nice if you have one every year, because thats a lot of free help. many times the hardest part of car work is just figuring out whats wrong.

 

[Black2na]

OK, I'll reconsider my "bogus" call on the OBD II checking, but to NOT check the undercarriage of a vehicle during a so-called safety check, esp. in a state with snow and salt on the roads, just boggles the mind.

i agree with you 200% which is why im glad NH does full yearly inspections. keeps MOST of the dangerous cars off the road. there are some stations that lick and stick and dont even check which is annoying. also what year is your murano?

 

[marvdmartian]

Texas safety checks lights, horn, wipers and parking brake, yearly. But they also pegged the fee for it at $15.

It's all a money making scheme. No different than annual registration renewal (why? do you think I'm going to have a different car every year?), or giving licenses out to morons who can barely walk and chew gum at the same time, but can totally be trusted to drive a 2 ton vehicle, daily, without fear of killing someone else. 🙄

 

[NutBucket]

What's bogus is in a lot of states, if your car is older than OBDII it doesn't have to get inspected.

True. I am glad CA checks those vehicles as well. In the past the exemption law used to 25 years or so. The current cut-off now is 1976 IIRC. They realized if they kept raising it there would be a lot of cars that weren't inspected.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that I'm a saint when it comes to emissions laws. But I am saying that I support vehicle/smog inspection since it helps maintain at least some baseline of properly running vehicles.

 

[serpretetsky]

wait.... so do other states (i live in CA) simply not have SMOG and do this test instead or do you guys have to pass both smog and this "safety" check?

 

[wirednuts]

wait.... so do other states (i live in CA) simply not have SMOG and do this test instead or do you guys have to pass both smog and this "safety" check?

in wi, i dont do have to do any inspection tests. same with illinois, unless you live in chicago.

 

[jlee]

wait.... so do other states (i live in CA) simply not have SMOG and do this test instead or do you guys have to pass both smog and this "safety" check?

FL has no safety or emissions testing at all. AZ has emissions in some areas.

 

[Throckmorton]

In Hawaii it costs $20 usually (I don't think the states get any of that) and all they do is check to see that your lights and brakes work and your tires aren't too worn. No emissions testing whatsoever.

 

[MovingTarget]

AL has no smog or safety inspections for vehicles already registered in the state. One of my cars (1987 Caprice) certainly would not pass the former. The previous owner removed the smog pump when it seized and had a straight pipe welded in place of the cat when that got clogged.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

wait.... so do other states (i live in CA) simply not have SMOG and do this test instead or do you guys have to pass both smog and this "safety" check?

No smog here, It allows you to have diesels that run properly: