What did you do to your Volvo today? Topic is solved

[abscate]

Changed shocks and shock mounts on my '98 V70. Been spraying the bolts with PB and scrubbing with toothbrush for over a month and was extremely relieved when I got the bolts out without snapping them (and they did not look good.) Don't we get a merit badge or something for this?

The horns are hereby awarded …..treat them well

[volvolugnut]

Luckily my 96 only needs safety inspections now in Texas. No more emissions testing.

Same, NC only does emissions testing for cars newer than 20 years old.

Good News = Bad News: Oklahoma does not require emissions or safety inspections except for heavy trucks.

volvolugnut

[abscate]

Safety: tires, lights, safety equipment, muffler leaks, fuel leaks, pull one wheel, brake inspection. Steering and suspension play. Glass for cracks. Horn.

Emissions: no codes allowed , all monitors ready except 1999-2001 models

[erikv11]

Iowa: if a passenger vehicle has a VIN, you can register and drive it.

[bmdubya1198]

Iowa: if a passenger vehicle has a VIN, you can register and drive it.

That's the way it should be!

I do support the idea of safety inspections though. Either way, the things I see on the road, I don't know how some of these people drive them. I've had plenty of customer's cars that I get into and wonder what possessed them to drive it to me. I've been nervous even test driving stuff. My old S60R with a missing control arm bushing was one of those cars... my friend I bought it from drove it back from Georgia like that at 80 mph. Yikes.

[ZionXIX]

I've heard the inspections for Germany are notoriously thorough and difficult to pass with older vehicles.

[bmdubya1198]

Oh yeah, lots of European countries have really intense inspections. They won't let you register cars with worn suspension bushings and whatnot, it's pretty crazy. In one sense I get it, but at the same time, it's a little nuts. In many cases, there is a lot of life left in parts that appear worn out.

[FireFox31]

I just learned that NH allows cars 20 years old or older to pass inspection with a check engine light on. That's a relief for me with an intake VVT solenoid problem I've been meaning to get to. Yet, driving with the CEL on might have made me miss the misfire I only recently physically detected.

Safety and emissions inspections are important. My Mercedes is unsafe, thus it can't pass inspection and shouldn't drive. Keeps it from being a danger to myself and others.

[scot850]

There are 2 sides to the coin. In the UK, like Germany TUV test, the MoT (Ministry of Transport) test is carried out on vehicles. There are lots of changes since I lived the 20+ years ago, but they were thorough. Brakes, suspension, lights, seats, airbags (where fitted), wheels, tires, structure, glass, emissions, and brake testing on large rollers. When I came to Canad I found it unbelievable that there was no testing here in Alberta. It meant pretty much anything goes.

The + to the testing done in the UK was that most testers were good and honest, but at least you knew 1 day a year your car was safe, but with no glaring issues. Today all the results are visible on line which makes it easy to track the history of the vehicle. It also meant that if you bought a car with an MoT you were buying a reasonably good vehicle. I read all the time in UK car magazines about the writers buying an old beater and spending a few hundred pounds and getting a great car that lasts for years. In Alberta it is the wild west and I don't even trust a vehicle inspected at the dealer to be good. They are usually sound cars but does not mean 100%. Private or auction cars are likely to be close to their end or lacking any service information or servicing.

So I would rather have the testing as long as it takes the age and technology at the time of manufacture into account.

Neil.

[bmdubya1198]

The problem is that people don’t know any better, and can’t be trusted to be driving cars that are roadworthy. A lot of those people are a danger to themselves and everybody else on the road.

I wouldn’t trust a dealer inspected car, either. They don’t really care, they just find the most expensive things that could be done, then quote it.