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[HELP]any auto mechanics out there? Question about Texas State Inspection.

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Franchise2001, Sep 5, 2003.

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  1. Franchise2001

    Franchise2001 Contributing Member

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    Well... I went in to have my car inspected today and my car failed inspection.

    It passed the emissions test but the mechanic failed it because he said that my parking brake was defective (like I even use it because my car is an automatic). The parking break works just fine. I went to a downhill part of a street, pressed it on and the car held. The mechanic said he failed it because the car rolled when he pressed on the gas. Now is it just me or will a car engine generate more force than a parking brake?

    A little history, 2 years in a row I went to the same Texaco Inspection/Oil change place and they failed it with the exact same problem. I took it to a different place and they passed the car. The place I went to today was also a Texaco Inspection station so I dont know if they are just extra stingy about passing cars. If you don't bring the vehicle back within 15 days you get charged again.

    After doing some research, I found the Inspection/Rejection Criteria for a parking brake.

    ---------------------------------------------------------
    20.03 Parking Brake. The inspection of the parking brake (auxiliary or holding) applies only to all motor vehicles beginning with the model year 1960. This does not include motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, mopeds, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, and mobile homes.


    Some types of parking brake may be actuated by foot or hand lever.


    The parking brake may be assisted by the service brakes or other source of power, provided that failure of the service brake actuating system or other power assisting mechanism will not prevent the parking brakes from being applied. The parking brakes should be so designed that when once applied, they shall remain applied - despite exhaustion of any source of energy or leakage of any kind. If the means of applying the parking brakes and the service brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part shall not leave the vehicle without operative brakes. Brake lock systems will not meet the parking brake requirement.


    1. Inspection Procedure. On a motor vehicle that has the automatic parking brake release when the transmission is placed in gear, the parking brake should be held down with the foot and the engine accelerated enough with the vehicle in gear to determine if it is working properly.


    2. Inspect Parking Brake for and reject if:
    a. Motor vehicle is not equipped with a parking brake.

    b. Operating mechanism, when fully applied, does not hold the vehicle.

    c. Actuating mechanism is not fully released when the release control is operated.

    d. Any mechanical parts are missing, broken, badly worn, or not operating properly.

    e. Pull cables are badly worn, stretched, frayed, or not operating freely.

    f. Parking brake will not hold the vehicle in place when, with the engine running, the vehicle is placed in forward gear and the engine is accelerated enough to cause a pull on the braking mechanism.
    ----------------------------------------------------

    The guy said I needed to service my car and have the wire tightened for the parking brake.

    Am I getting jacked around here again by a Texaco mechanic or is my parking brake really faulty? How much pressure on the gas is reasonable for this test?
     
    #1 Franchise2001, Sep 5, 2003
  2. codell

    codell Member

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    Based on my experience as a mechanic, the parking brake should be able hold the car in place even when throttling it up. If the parking brake is fully applied and moving when you step on the gas, then I would agree with the mechanic and say that your cable needs adjustment or perhaps your shoes need to be looked at.
     
    #2 codell, Sep 5, 2003
  3. dc sports

    dc sports Member

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    My experience with inspections is that they tend to lean on the lenient side. Unless you said something bad about the Texaco owner's mother, they have no insentive to be more demanding. If he failed it for the parking brake, it's probably bad.

    FYI -- You really should use the parking brake. It's the law, and better than putting the strain on your transmission.
     
    #3 dc sports, Sep 5, 2003
  4. droxford

    droxford Member

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    Here's a few excellent tips that may help \...

    Do not take your car to be inspected at any place that actually does repair work. They will find something wrong with your car every time, with the hopes that you'll just tell them to fix whatever is wrong.

    Take your car to some place that simply does oil changes and inspections. Be suspicious: if they offer to fix whatever is wrong, there probably isn't anything wrong (or, they have deliberately created something wrong).

    One final tip: if you keep coins in your ash tray or somewhere else in your car, remove them. The inspectors/mechanics love to take a little change from each car they inspect.

    -- droxford
     
    #4 droxford, Sep 5, 2003
  5. DallasThomas

    DallasThomas Member

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    That is exactly the way I've always been told to do the brake tests.

    But yeah, droxford is right, most everybody that can offer to fix something for you will tell you its broken when you go to get your car inspected. Sadly, even the oil/lube places will try to tell you how your car's borderline emissions failing and that you need to have your fuel injectors cleaned. Anything whatever shop can do, as far as I've seen at work, they will do it to rape you.
     
    #5 DallasThomas, Sep 6, 2003
  6. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

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    BULL****! :mad::mad:

    as an ex-mechanic/state inspector, I can say that ALL inspectors are not like this.
    IF your car passes, it passes...
    If it fails, it fails..
    take it to get it fixed somewhere else, I could care less.
    and I never took anything out of a customer's car.

    out of all the people I worked with for over 10 years...I can tell you that there are a few guys like that...but for the most part..

    your generalizations are all complete and utter bs.
     
    #6 Rockets2K, Sep 6, 2003
  7. Franchise2001

    Franchise2001 Contributing Member

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    Thanks for the help guys.. I just wanted an honest opinion, thats all :) .

    Going to get the brake fixed monday morning. Gotta make sure it works for those big Houston hills (not the old golf course).
     
    #7 Franchise2001, Sep 6, 2003
  8. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

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    I just realized I hadnt answered your question.

    Texas regulations require applying a moderate amount of gas to test the brake.(about what you would do to startt away from a light)
    If the car will not stay in place for the test..it fails.
    Some places will slack off from doing the inspection the right way, some of the guys are too lazy to do it properly.
    In my case, the fines from the state for not doing the test properly are a risk I wasnt prepared to take...I always did the tests the proper way.

    you shouldnt hold it against the inspectors who are doing it right just because you are used to the ones that dont.
     
    #8 Rockets2K, Sep 7, 2003
  9. Kam

    Kam Member

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    will a bad o2 sensor fail me?


    will bad breaks fail me?






    I need new breaks. How much do break pads for a 99 tacoma cost?


    it's a 4x2. I saw some for like 50 bucks. I don't know if it is the right or left, but it is probably both of them.


    I don't know how to change the break pads.



    Who is a good place to take my breaks to?
     
    #9 Kam, Sep 7, 2003
  10. Timing

    Timing Member

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    So do I... lots of breaks. :)
     
    #10 Timing, Sep 7, 2003
  11. Kam

    Kam Member

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    brake pads.


    damn.

    ;) ;)


    ya know, i kept looking at it and thinking now what the **** does he mean with that damn lil smiley icons. it took me like two minutes or so to figure it out. damn do i suck.
     
    #11 Kam, Sep 7, 2003
  12. codell

    codell Member

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    Kam

    There is a Just Brakes there in Jersey Village, right off of 290 and Senate. They will usually do a complete brake job for $99, although be careful of them selling you some extra stuff.

    Brakes are not hard to do yourself. However, its not like changing your oil and if you don't have general knowledge of brakes, I would recommend that you not do it yourself.

    A bad o2 sensor can indeed cause you to fail an inspection.
     
    #12 codell, Sep 7, 2003
  13. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

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    Kam,
    your O2 sensor determines how much gas gets fed to the engine...if it is bad...too much/ not enough gas..which will cause too much pollutants in your exhaust...

    either condition will fail a vehicle.

    wherever you go to get your brakes done...make sure they are a reputable shop with ASE certified mechanics

    your brakes ae too important to leave to amateurs.
     
    #13 Rockets2K, Sep 7, 2003
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