Posted: 12/24/2011 2:48:50 PM EDT
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Hi guys,
I am looking for some insight on the inspection process and laws in your state. My sister moved to the Philly area and just had her car "inspected". My understanding is that the shop is run by the state and it looks like they screwed her over big time. She was given a huge list of things wrong with her car (it is a 2008 with less then 80,000 on the clock) with one being that the catalytic converter was bad. They refused to release the car to her and stated that they had to do the repairs. The bill came to over $2000 and they would not let her inspect nor take the old "bad" catalytic converter. My questions are 1) can the shop legally refuse to release the car to her for her to get a second opinion and 2) is it legal for them to refuse the owner to inspect the faulty parts? In Michigan I have the right to inspect any parts that were replaced and to keep any that did not require a core return. Since they did the work I am thinking that there is next to nothing to do now but I would like to report them to the state's attorney general's office. Is this how things work for you guys for the state inspection? |
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No, they are not run by the state(but you have to be licensed by the state), you are not required to have the items fixed before it is released, and they cannot hold the car! if a car fails inspection you should be given a list of items that failed and you are given a period of time to have them repaired or replaced. then a re-inspection is done. Sounds like the shop took advantage of your sister!
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| I would get in touch with the dot or the state police on this matter & demand they look into it. She got ripped by a Philly garage. I lived in Pa for 70 years. so I know what goes on in some of these shops when it comes to newbi`s in the state, particarly women. |
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I'm actually not that familiar with the regs, but it definitely sounds like she got scammed bad.
They probably just wanted to replace her converter so they could keep the old one and sell it for the platinum. I had a GF once who needed a converter. I told her to get the old one when she had it replaced. The shop she used replaced the converter, she asked for the old one, and they got pissed off and refused. I forget what happened to that in the end. I find it incredible that people trying to run businesses pull this kind of thing. Your reputation is everything. |
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Thanks for the input guys, I think I will sit down with her and make some phone calls on Monday.
They also kept threatening her about her front struts and rear brakes. From what she told me, they said to her that they are marginal and have been entered into the computer so they will have to replace them next year. The whole thing sounds like a scam and it was too far away for me to get there during this. Sounds like the intimidation factor was really played hard too. |
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I would have her remind the inspection garage about the 8yr/80,000 mile emission control warranty on the catalytic converter. This will most likely require a trip to a franchised dealership for whatever brand of vehicle she drive, but is far cheaper than paying retail for a new cat. As far as brakes and struts on a car with that type of mileage, they are consumable items that will wear out with time and mileage and are a very clear cut pass or fail with PA inspection. If they pass this year, then they pass, however, it sounds like the station that she is dealing with is informing her of what will be needed by next inspection. This is a very common practice and nothing that I would consider a strong armed tactic. If she only drives a 1000 miles before next year and the brakes and struts are still within spec then they will pass again, however, in most instances they will need to be replaced by then. Probably, with the fact that your sister has managed to put almost 80,000 miles on a car in 3-4 years, the inspection mechanic is figuring that the wearable items will need to be replaced before the next inspection comes around. As a safety measure to your sister and a "cover your ass" measure by the mechanic, he is recomending the work a little bit before it is absolutley needed so that the car does not become unsafe during the next calendar year with the type of mileage she is doing.
The Capn' |
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Quoted:
I would have her remind the inspection garage about the 8yr/80,000 mile emission control warranty on the catalytic converter. This will most likely require a trip to a franchised dealership for whatever brand of vehicle she drive, but is far cheaper than paying retail for a new cat. As far as brakes and struts on a car with that type of mileage, they are consumable items that will wear out with time and mileage and are a very clear cut pass or fail with PA inspection. If they pass this year, then they pass, however, it sounds like the station that she is dealing with is informing her of what will be needed by next inspection. This is a very common practice and nothing that I would consider a strong armed tactic. If she only drives a 1000 miles before next year and the brakes and struts are still within spec then they will pass again, however, in most instances they will need to be replaced by then. Probably, with the fact that your sister has managed to put almost 80,000 miles on a car in 3-4 years, the inspection mechanic is figuring that the wearable items will need to be replaced before the next inspection comes around. As a safety measure to your sister and a "cover your ass" measure by the mechanic, he is recomending the work a little bit before it is absolutley needed so that the car does not become unsafe during the next calendar year with the type of mileage she is doing. The Capn' She purchased the car used and hence the higher mileage. The thing is that the rear brakes were just done a few thousand miles back. I am aware that they are consumable items just like struts but the game with refusing to release the car to her just makes everything they said/did suspect in my book. I have gone over the car since she is back in town for Christmas and quite frankly most of what the garage said was not the case. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the input guys, I think I will sit down with her and make some phone calls on Monday. They also kept threatening her about her front struts and rear brakes. From what she told me, they said to her that they are marginal and have been entered into the computer so they will have to replace them next year. The whole thing sounds like a scam and it was too far away for me to get there during this. Sounds like the intimidation factor was really played hard too. This is a complete lie. There is no database to enter "marginal" parts into. There is no database on parts what so ever. The car either passes or fails. |
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Quoted:
You were told right on a second opinion. You can get the work done some place else but must notify that garage that it failed an inspection before proceeding with the secont exam. She got taken! You don't have to notify another shop that you failed. There's no reason not to, but you don't have to. The shop cannot keep the car. It is very common for shops to make a list of what "needs" to be replaced, then the owner will fix the obvious problems on their own, and bring it to another shop. Unfortunately there are many many many shops that will gouge the hell out of people at inspection time and come up with all kinds of BS. Most cars can make it through inspection just fine, but they don't. It is very hard to find an honest shop to do an inspection. There is absolutely no database of what was changed or what needs to be changed; the only thing the state knows is if you have an inspection/emissions sticker or not. |
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Quoted:
No, they are not run by the state(but you have to be licensed by the state), you are not required to have the items fixed before it is released, and they cannot hold the car! if a car fails inspection you should be given a list of items that failed and you are given a period of time to have them repaired or replaced. then a re-inspection is done. Sounds like the shop took advantage of your sister! This. OP, your sister was ripped off. Could you please post the name of the shop so that PA residents know not to take their vehicles there to get inspected? Thanks. |