Just wondering if anyone has recently gone in for an inspection sticker in Massachusetts. They came out with new requirements recently and part of it is jacking up the front of the vehicle to check wheel play. I had my Caddy SUV done recently and the guy who did it said they have cameras in the inspection bay now watching that they do a complete inspection. He used to let me drive the Vette in myself and never jacked it up. They just use a regular floor jack.

 

Nobody is jacking my car up - almost impossible anyway with ground effects - bring it to a dealership they didnt jack mine up - just had sticker done

 

Your in Easton, make the trip to McLaughlin Chevrolet in Whitman - they didnt jack my car up that I know of

 

The inspection hasn't changed the enforcement has.
ALL Mass inspections stations now have cameras so the state can go back and watch the inspection.
The ball joint inspection is for cars a couple of years old.
Just did my 2015 tundra guy hardly looked at anything.

 

But I will tell yah lol - they had to get fancy with a floor jack to change oil - took two guys to do it as not to damage car - they dont have a lift low enough or a pit to drive over

The quick oil change guys have pits but still there is a small piece of metal that goes across the front of the pit and you cant get a C7 over it only C6 and older

 

I wonder how long the ball joint inspection will last. When I first moved to NY State 49 years ago their state inspection required a ball joint check. Then somebody realized brand new Fords right off the carrier couldn't pass the check and the requirement was dropped. PA also had a ball joint check in their inspection requirements however I don't know if it is still included. Not a lot to do with safety and a lot to do with selling more ball joints. The accident rates between states that have inspections and the ones that don't have inspections don't really show much advantage to a state vehicle safety inspection program.

Bill

 

Just had mine done at local service station, owner showed me cameras that were installed so state can insure proper inspection is being done. Was on my way to body shop to have rear bumper repaired and because there was hole where tail pipe from my neighbors car had broken fiberglass he had to cover it with black tape, no sharp edges on body work.

 

Here its all about the money they arent fooling anyone although from what I have been reading here lately California is just crazy expensive

 

 

 

Yah they are watching - all transactions are taped and they could loose their license to do stickers so maybe they lifted my car - probably did I was not watching, I'll find out next time

 

That's one thing - the only thing - I'll take my 2014 to a dealer for. Have had no problems at Boch (formerly Clay) in Norwood.

 

I have to get a sticker this month. The place I've always gone to, the owner and inspector is a BIG guy. Big being about 6' 6" and a good 350-375 pounds. I don't see him driving my C5 in.

I'm not thrilled about jacking the car either, but will certainly help if they do it. The car is lowered on stock bolts, so only a low profile will get under there.

 

Problem is they will not let you in the bay. When doing my Caddy which is a 2015 my registration blew of the table onto the greasy floor. I went to get it and the guy freaked out screaming that they are watching him and customers cannot go in the inspection area. This state just gets more stupid. As others have said it is all about the MONEY. I have until next May to take the vette in. By then they will damage a lot of cars and get sued so maybe it will stop. Next time I am at the dealer I will ask if he jacks them up. I am sure he does but it should be a lot safer.

 

Had mine inspected in April and they did jack it up. I bring 2 hockey pucks with me, and I use masking tape on the side of the car to identify the location of the jack points on the car. For the past three years I tell the inspector why the masking tape is there and I show them the hockey pucks that I leave on the passengers seat.

Good Luck.

 

I'll second the Mclaughlin recommendation, have had all my stickers done there since I bought the car there, no jacking.
I'll also second the notion that its all about the money...my first sticker on my brand new c7 (5 days old), they had to do all this nonsense, while the guy with a 1982 Olds, belching smoke and stinking like gas was "exempt" from the emmissions test because his car is old !???
isn't the point of the emissions test to get the dirty cars fixed and off the road ?? Why do we exempt the old ones and test the brand new ones ??

 

*Sigh*

I guess my only saving grace is the shop and bay is so small, that even standing outside, I'd still be right there. Inspection bay is a single bay wide, by about 1.5 deep. I can watch and "suggest" from outside and still easily be heard.

And yes, this state sucks! We're actually looking at used Wranglers and I now have to be careful and make sure it's not more than 2" higher than stock....

 

OK, I went Friday to get a new sticker (had to get 3: truck, Jeep and the Vette).

Vette was no issue at all other than the parking brake didn't work as well as it should have. I asked about the aftermarket exhaust (axle back) and was told it'll be fine because "Corvette's are typically loud from the factory so it should be fine. I have the Corsa Extreme, and at idle and even under light load, it's not *that* loud. I also have tinted tail lights and side markers (a light tint film) and not a mention of it.

The car WAS jacked up to check the front end. I brought a puck with me and told the inspector I had it, and hoped he had a low profile jack as the car was low (lowered on stock bolts). He did have a super low profile jack, and used the puck as I requested. He had ME come into the bay to ensure the jack/puck was in the right spot as he didn't want to cause any damage. I only went into the bay, lined up the jack, then stepped out. Returned to do the same for the other side, and left again. No issue with me entering the bay. He finished the inspection and had me drive the car out. As I previously mentioned, it's a small garage/gas station and the inspector is a big guy. Even though he has lost about 150 pounds, he still big. I had the top down so entering and exiting was a little easier, but he still wanted to limit his use. To add, my Vette is a '99 convertible. No emissions testing since it's over 15 years old (our 2004 Jeep Wrangler was hooked up for testing). He certainly tested everything else as usual but also noticed he checked functions of seat belts too, and the gas cap. He took pictures of front and rear license plates, so those not running their front plate, put it on.

As for the Jeep, no issues other than he barked at the exhaust! It's louder than stock, but not that loud. He said it's not OEM so he can't pass it. This was before the Vette, and that's when I asked about the Vette since it wasn't OEM either, and the comment of "from the factory" came out. Like the Vette, at an idle, the Jeep isn't loud at all. Slightly louder than stock, but that's it. The Jeep also has a 2" lift and a few other aftermarket additions, all of which were no issue. I did have to raise the front plate since it was "obstructed" and couldn't be. I raised it, got it inspected (he said he'd allow the exhaust) then put the plate back down. Here's the Jeep for reference.

 

The most absurd part of that is they don't inspect your 2009 for emissions because it's older than 15 years.
I have to get my 2015 BMW and 2016 vette tested.
and out of all of these, which is most likely to pollute ? (not implying yours does )