Mass inspection sucks!!

[dayman]

So it's my first year getting the JDMness inspected and it's turning into a nightmare. As some of you may know, the JDM ECU's are not readable by the state's scanning equipment. In order to get the vehicle inspected you have to be using a US spec ECU. I finally was able to get one the other day.

In order for it to display readiness, you have to drive the car for about 70 miles. I was about 30 miles along this morning and my damn CEL comes on again. Apparently my rear 02 is now bad. Grrr, it's enough to make me move to new hampshire.:banghead:

[boost25]

IIRC any car that is post 1996 needs to be scanned now in NH as well.

[wagonmafia]

i had kevin dissable all my check lights before going to inpection. coudnt you do the same on that car?

[Bu11dogg2]

NH is harder, trust me.

[RCKSTR]

I know this doesn't really help you out in anyway now but I've heard of others registering there swapped cars under "kit cars" since they've got different ecu & motor. they have different rules for kit cars:)

[method]

^^^ That wont work...I think mass just passed a law that any kit car must adhere to the same rules as when the original car was manufactured. So a post 1996 car as a 'kit' would have to adhere to the same post 1996 original car would.

[RCKSTR]

^^^ That wont work...I think mass just passed a law that any kit car must adhere to the same rules as when the original car was manufactured. So a post 1996 car as a 'kit' would have to adhere to the same post 1996 original car would.
:unamused: why'd they go and do that :unamused: thanks for the heads up, now I won't go around and tell people that anymore:lol:

[method]

^^^ That law might not be passed yet, but it was on the news the other day.

[method]

I was just reading from the Mass DMV...you can get a waiver, but I think it would be near impossible in your case.

[Kevin]

you gotta know someone that knows someone if you know what I mean lol

I had a buddy that I used for my truck with 35's, 8%tint and no cats.

[compleckz]

mass sucks, but it just got slightly better--before cars 84+ had to do emissions, now there is no emissions, just obd2 check, so cars 84-95ish now are exempt! (and all cars have to do safety of course)

this is why ed loves his pre-obd2 subaru..

[FREAK]

all state inspections blow....

[Iheartsubarus]

hahaha... I've been beating the "system" for 2 years now.. haha!

[squeethebee]

mass sucks, but it just got slightly better--before cars 84+ had to do emissions, now there is no emissions, just obd2 check, so cars 84-95ish now are exempt! (and all cars have to do safety of course)

this is why ed loves his pre-obd2 subaru..

Indeed I do, as long as I don't drive in blowing smoke out my exhaust, I'll pass. That sucks dayman, I know an inspector, and they are really being forced to crackdown on inspections. No one likes it.

ed

[AWDPilot]

Absolutely retarded fines to the shops that pass cars illegally now.

First offense is like 10k plus loss of equipment for 90 days.

[dayman]

yeah, i'm sorta friends with my inspection shop guys, and they say that they don't really have any wiggle room anymore. They are going to pass my silenced exhaust though, which is nice.

NH has inspection now? My mind has officially been blown.

[Pulski]

NH has had inspections right along, they were just stupid easy.

Depending on the code and such, and how your ECU is wired in, I might be able to help you out. Fire me a PM.

[ralph turbo]

mass sucks, but it just got slightly better--before cars 84+ had to do emissions, now there is no emissions, just obd2 check, so cars 84-95ish now are exempt! (and all cars have to do safety of course)

this is why ed loves his pre-obd2 subaru..


no ****, when did that happen? so there is no more sniffer test?

sorry to hear that josh

[dayman]

no more sniffer! go catless man!

[dzkwrx]

well in mass its one year emissions and safty and the next year is just safty no emissions. and it goes back and forth.

[compleckz]

well in mass its one year emissions and safty and the next year is just safty no emissions. and it goes back and forth.
yup thats how its been for all cars post-83, but starting on my birthday last year :) (october 1st):

"Vehicles made in model years 1995 and older no longer receive a tailpipe emissions test, but are checked for visible smoke during their safety inspection." so 95/96 is when obd2 started..



no more sniffer! go catless man!

but technically pre-obd2 cars still have to have all original emissions equipment intact.. so if they do a visual inspection of the exhaust, and see no cat, you'd fail.


"Aftermarket lights will be rejected if they do not meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards."

most places did this anyways, and some places didn't even accept DOT after market lights.

this is a problem for both my truck and subaru:
"Air bags will be checked. If they are missing, have been deployed, or the air bag malfunction indicator light is illuminated, the vehicle will not pass its safety inspection."

both have the airbag light on :(


you can read about all the changes here:

http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/about_howchange.html

you should read about the "new economic hardship failure extension (http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/motorist_whatiffail.html#economic)"

[Evoeater]

Wow thats crazy!!

[Evoeater]

Its still helps to have connections though..

[ralph turbo]

nice, now I don't need to swap downpipes for inspection and my catless one looks like it has a cat. :)...I always pull my Hellas off for inspection they would never pass.

yup thats how its been for all cars post-83, but starting on my birthday last year :) (october 1st):

"Vehicles made in model years 1995 and older no longer receive a tailpipe emissions test, but are checked for visible smoke during their safety inspection." so 95/96 is when obd2 started..





but technically pre-obd2 cars still have to have all original emissions equipment intact.. so if they do a visual inspection of the exhaust, and see no cat, you'd fail.


"Aftermarket lights will be rejected if they do not meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards."

most places did this anyways, and some places didn't even accept DOT after market lights.

this is a problem for both my truck and subaru:
"Air bags will be checked. If they are missing, have been deployed, or the air bag malfunction indicator light is illuminated, the vehicle will not pass its safety inspection."

both have the airbag light on :(


you can read about all the changes here:

http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/about_howchange.html

you should read about the "new economic hardship failure extension (http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/motorist_whatiffail.html#economic)"

[Pulski]

well in mass its one year emissions and safty and the next year is just safty no emissions. and it goes back and forth.

Not anymore. Safety AND Emissions every year now.

[dzkwrx]

oh really? better get my oxygen sensor fixed..inspection is due this month..

[Pulski]

Yep. I'm not particularly thrilled about that either, but it's stuff you'd have to fix eventually anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter when.

[polycrono]

both have the airbag light on :(



just yank them bulbs out the gauge cluster.

[legacygt]

So it's my first year getting the JDMness inspected and it's turning into a nightmare. As some of you may know, the JDM ECU's are not readable by the state's scanning equipment. In order to get the vehicle inspected you have to be using a US spec ECU. I finally was able to get one the other day.

In order for it to display readiness, you have to drive the car for about 70 miles. I was about 30 miles along this morning and my damn CEL comes on again. Apparently my rear 02 is now bad. Grrr, it's enough to make me move to new hampshire.:banghead:
you may have an overboost code... or excessive flow type code... thats the problem i have on mine..

[legacygt]

Not anymore. Safety AND Emissions every year now.
i didnt have both the last time i got it done or the year before.. inless its new for this year.

[Pulski]

It is new for this year.

It used to be every other year, starting with both the year you first register the car. On 96+ it's never been on a rolling dyno, just an ECU scan every other year. Now, no more roller dyno for 95 and below and ECU scan every year.

Brand new cars may have had an initial exemption, but I do not recall for sure.

[AgentRabbit]

Brand new cars may have had an initial exemption, but I do not recall for sure.

We have to do the same inspection on new cars as any other car.

Its still helps to have connections though..

It does help! Even if you do the one thing you can't get away with is fault codes. State inspectors can't trick the computer into thinking your car doesn't have any.

[Pulski]

But I can!


Anyone with an AP or OpenECU flash pass under the new system yet? I've heard disturbing rumors...

[AgentRabbit]

But I can!


Anyone with an AP or OpenECU flash pass under the new system yet? I've heard disturbing rumors...

I just passed a car with an AP a few days ago... what rumors?

[Pulski]

Good enough. :)

Rumor was that the new system could tell if you had modified threshold values or disabled engine codes for the OBD-II scan.

[AgentRabbit]

Good enough. :)

Rumor was that the new system could tell if you had modified threshold values or disabled engine codes for the OBD-II scan.

Interesting! If it does, I haven't experienced it! I've only put a sticker on 2 Subarus since the switch though. I work @ a BMW dealership so it's rare that I see other vehicles.

[CTATV]

Wow saftey inspections that's wacked! CT doesn't have those. Just emissions and for newer cars obd-II and their dynos are 2wd so any full time awe car is exempt from a sniffer. I feel sorry for all of u.

[Pulski]

So you can go in with bald tires and can get a sticker?

We don't have any dynos for Emissions, just OBD-II on 96+ and no scan on older cars.

[CTATV]

So you can go in with bald tires and can get a sticker?

We don't have any dynos for Emissions, just OBD-II on 96+ and no scan on older cars.

Bald, dry rotted, Hoosier race slicks why not...

[dayman]

finally got my sticker!!!!!

[squeethebee]

Yay, it's about time. I just got mine on my 98 legacy, and the next day threw a CEL for rear o2 LOL. I got pretty lucky on that one I think.

ed

[Pulski]

You just rode the Subaru o2 wave. GC owners know what I'm talking about. :)

[ryan13]

just move to FL and you can do whatever you want to the car. run the exhaust through the hood and no one would think twice haha. no inspections at all from what I hear.

[AgentRabbit]

Yep, I used to live in FL. The lady that gave me the tags just peeked out the window to make sure my car existed. No inspections or anything after that either.

The cars down there are incredibly unsafe because of that though. They are all duct taped together and driving on insanely large rims they rented for the weekend.

[AWDPilot]

Does that beige thing have a sticker on it yet?

[Service@ExeterSubaru]

Yep, I used to live in FL. The lady that gave me the tags just peeked out the window to make sure my car existed. No inspections or anything after that either.

The cars down there are incredibly unsafe because of that though. They are all duct taped together and driving on insanely large rims they rented for the weekend.


that's what I hear.

I've seen some baaaaaad cars come through.... inspection is a good thing.

I do however disagree with some things about inspection.

[squeethebee]

Only some counties in FL are no inspection. I want to live in one of those.

ed

[AgentRabbit]

Does that beige thing have a sticker on it yet?

Of course, I know a state inspector. :up:

[grossi419]

How strick are MA inspectors with light mods? I want to smoke and/or clear my headlights but I dunno if clearing is technically illegal.

[Berge56]

How strick are MA inspectors with light mods? I want to smoke and/or clear my headlights but I dunno if clearing is technically illegal.

Depends on the shop. Most places wouldn't even notice as long as your turn signal is yellow.

[scooby823]

i just passed, catless turboback haha, they did a visual, called me in, asked me why there were no cats, and i pointed at the flexpipe and resonator, said 2 high flow cats right there and there, they have no reason not to believe it...then they were like its kinda loud, i told them that it was just cold, and they were like yeah that makes sense, but can you silence it, i threw the silencer in and they were like yeah that works have a good one!

depends where you go really i guess