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Mondial Almost Failed Inspection

Discussion in 'Texas' started by cockrill, Jan 20, 2010.

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  1. cockrill

    cockrill Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2008
    1,088
    Columbia, MO
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Cockrill
    #1 cockrill, Jan 20, 2010
    On Monday I took my Mondial in to a "Pennzoil" oil change place to have it inspected. After about 10 minutes with the car, the worker performing the inspection told me that it wouldn't pass because, get this, it has an air horn. Evidently air horns aren't allowed on passenger cars in Texas.

    I couldn't believe it. I was sweating the lack of cats and the "air horn" gets me? I told the worker that all of the cars came with air horns and that they must be legal. He told me that, sorry, but the car would have to be failed, as that's how it is written in the "book.". At this point I'm getting upset, and I "politely" asked him to go check the book again, as the horn is OEM and I know that it is allowed. He went into his office for a few minutes (door closed), and came out and told me that the "book" allows some exceptions for foreign cars.

    Long story short (too late), the car did pass inspection sans cats (which I was worried about). Funny thing is, the horn quit working on the way home. (The horn wire is loose but I need to pull the steering wheel to fix it...)
     
  2. TRScotty

    TRScotty F1 Rookie
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    Oct 12, 2006
    2,505
    Tyler, Texas
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    Scotty
    #2 TRScotty, Jan 20, 2010
    Same thing happened to me when I first brought my 355 in from California. The shop didn't want to pass the car because they had been getting a lot of heat at that time from the State about going by "the book". They, too didn't like the air-horns.
     
  3. AnotherDunneDeal

    AnotherDunneDeal F1 Veteran

    Jun 2, 2003
    6,109
    N.Richland Hills, Tx
    Full Name:
    James Dunne
    #3 AnotherDunneDeal, Jan 20, 2010
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2010
    What year model is your Mondial? If it is 25 years old or older it does not have to pass emission in Texas. The Mondial was produced from 1980 thru 1993 so there is a chance it might not need it. Therefore the cats are not an issue. My old BMW 325 becomes a Classic next year and will no longer have to pass emission. It is a 1986 model...

    I just looked at your profile and see it is a 1984 model. No longer requires emission unless the law has changed since last year......
     
  4. jsa330

    jsa330 F1 World Champ
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    Oct 31, 2003
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    Scott
    #4 jsa330, Jan 20, 2010
    In early '09, I had this big fat goober at a local Shell station get out and refuse to inspect my 308 because I got in to ride with him on his "test drive".

    Haven't been back there for so much as a soda.
     
  5. cockrill

    cockrill Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2008
    1,088
    Columbia, MO
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Cockrill
    #5 cockrill, Jan 20, 2010
    Even though Texas doesn't require a sniffer test for cars 25 years or older, a visual test of all emissions equipment is supposed to be done. I'm assuming that this is done to ensure that nothing has been removed. In 1984 cars imported into the US had to have cats installed. (I don't know which year this became mandatory, but it was before 1984...) Since my car is supposed to have cats (and doesn't), it could (should) have failed the visual inspection. I was prepared to tell the inspector that the cats were hidden "under there somewhere," but he never asked. He did spend quite a bit of time examining the engine compartment, but obviously he didn't know what to look for.
     
  6. WJHMH

    WJHMH Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 5, 2001
    26,509
    Panther City, Texas
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    WJHMH
    #6 WJHMH, Jan 20, 2010
    I got a friends 348 inspected at a local inspection shop a couple of months ago, I had no issues with the factory air horn but it almost didn't pass emissions from sitting in storage so long.
     
  7. -FROG-

    -FROG- Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Nov 3, 2003
    839
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Paul Daniels
    #7 -FROG-, Jan 20, 2010
    ha ha, great story! I mean, great because it passed and we can laugh about it now. funny how the horn stopped working on the way home. Well, not really funny but... ironic.
     
  8. cockrill

    cockrill Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2008
    1,088
    Columbia, MO
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    Jeremy Cockrill
    #8 cockrill, Jan 21, 2010
    When I got the car the horn didn't work. One day I spent something like 3 hours messing it -- tracing wires, oiling the compressor, etc. I never could get it working consistently. Before I went into the house for the evening I decided to take the car for a quick spin around the block. As I make the first right turn out of my alley the horn starts going off. I ended up having to pull the horn button off of the steering wheel to get it to stop. I think that the car has a sense of humor.
     
  9. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
    24,987
    Dallas, TX
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    Jim E
    #9 jimpo1, Jan 21, 2010
    The max 'test drive' any inspection has ever required for mine is the drive from the parking lot to the garage.
     
  10. jsa330

    jsa330 F1 World Champ
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    #10 jsa330, Jan 25, 2010
    Needless to say, I haven't been back to that station. They used to have a real nice middle aged guy who would take it around a short route with extreme care, then a polite expression of appreciation for the drive.
     
  11. TRScotty

    TRScotty F1 Rookie
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    Oct 12, 2006
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    Tyler, Texas
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    #11 TRScotty, Jan 25, 2010
    The guy I use now in Tyler just walks around the car, checks the tread depth, lights and issues the new sticker. No drive, no honk, no muss, no fuss :)
     
  12. cockrill

    cockrill Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2008
    1,088
    Columbia, MO
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Cockrill
    #12 cockrill, Jan 25, 2010
    I'm hoping that I can find someone like that around here. I went to the Pennzoil place simply because it is the closest inspection shop to my house. Next time I'll branch out a bit.
     
  13. speedy

    speedy Formula Junior

    Oct 18, 2005
    625
    Plano, TX
    Full Name:
    James Gardner
    #13 speedy, Jan 25, 2010
    I've had good luck with the Jiffy Lube on Spring Creek and Coit. Early Saturday or Sunday mornings ONLY. I think the harda$$es probably work during the week.


    I get a safety inspection only and always ask them if it's okay if I drive. It seems to work for the past two years.
     
  14. jratcliff

    jratcliff Formula 3

    Sep 7, 2004
    1,024
    Texas
    #14 jratcliff, Jan 25, 2010
    I brought my 83 Euro 308 in for inspection and they didn't have a clue what emission equipment was suppose to have been there. Good thing, since it being a Euro car it had none. The guy comes up to me after putting on the inspection sticker and said that he couldn't figure out how to make the headlights come on, but he knew they must. I smiled and said "thanks".

    John
     

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