Trouble getting inspection sticker in NYC

J

johnny0723

New member
Hi fellow T4R'ers,

I moved to NY last year and finally got around to registering my 2005 4runner last week. I now have 10 days from the registration date to get a inspection sticker. Here's where my problem lies...my car failed due to oil leaks on both front shocks. Is this at all possible with my car being so new? I only do highway driving and have 42,500 miles. I think the Mobil gas station I brought my car to ripped me off. I just hope they didn't deliberately make the shocks leak oil to cover up for anything shady they were doing. Or...they may have been telling the truth. Anyways I need some guidance on how to proceed.

Should I try to get the car passed inspection at another location?

Should I bring my car in to the dealer for the 50k tune up and confirm if there is a problem?

Anything else you think I should do to get through this? I'd like to avoid spending $600 bucks getting this fixed just for an inspection as I truly don't believe anything is wrong with the car.

Please help a new NYC member.

Thanks,
John
 
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Unless this is an SE, I didn't think these could leak unless they were blown. If the shock is blown, you can tell if you bounce the car up and down a couple of times. If it settles within a bounce, the shocks are fine, otherwise, you'll need to replace them. I would really wonder what you were doing to blow out the shocks with 42k miles on the rig.

Can you post a pic? Is it leaking from the top or the bottom?
 
Problem is, everything is computerized. In NY I believe if you go to another inspection site they will already know you had failed previously.

I think I would go and have the dealer check the shocks, and if nothing wrong, you can bring the dealer work order stating its ok back to the original inspection station. At that point you had it checked by the manufactuer and if the manufacterer says its ok, they should pass you.

The other thing to look out for is that inspection station may be trying to get bucks out of you to "repair" the problem with them, then they will pass you.

Thats my take. hope it helps.
 
my inspections never include looking at the underside ... and I always pass in chinatown, no matter what the problem ;-)
 
Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies so far!

I only drive my car on the weekends but when I move the car I dont see any oil stains on the floor. Shouldn't I see some over a weeks time if there is a shock leak? I don't go off roading or anything, nothing but highway miles to and from Boston and New York.

Unfortunately I couldn't see the oil leak as by the time I went back to pick up my car, they said it was off the lift and can't show me. I know, I shouldn't have left it...I'm too gullable.

I will give the front end of the car a few pushes to see if it bounces back up and stays (thanks for the tip).

I really think nothing is wrong with the car though. I think its more cost efficient for me to find a inspection place that'll give me a wink wink deal for a little bit more. Any suggestions for this? I'm new to NY and know there must be some of these out there.
 
johnny0723 said:

Unfortunately I couldn't see the oil leak as by the time I went back to pick up my car, they said it was off the lift and can't show me. I know, I shouldn't have left it...I'm too gullable.
Click to expand...

Sounds like they are :FOS: There is enough room to look up at the shocks with it on the ground. Snap a pic and post it here if you are unsure. I could think of a few clever ways to disguise the leak (ahem... armor all ahem...)
Seriously, take it somewhere else. Go to the dealer for and early 50k. Say nothing about the shocks.
 
johnny0723 said:
Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies so far!

I only drive my car on the weekends but when I move the car I dont see any oil stains on the floor. Shouldn't I see some over a weeks time if there is a shock leak? I don't go off roading or anything, nothing but highway miles to and from Boston and New York.

Unfortunately I couldn't see the oil leak as by the time I went back to pick up my car, they said it was off the lift and can't show me. I know, I shouldn't have left it...I'm too gullable.

I will give the front end of the car a few pushes to see if it bounces back up and stays (thanks for the tip).

I really think nothing is wrong with the car though. I think its more cost efficient for me to find a inspection place that'll give me a wink wink deal for a little bit more. Any suggestions for this? I'm new to NY and know there must be some of these out there.
Click to expand...

If you are going to go to a dealer for an early 50k service, then ask them to do the inspection while they have it. Don't mention the shocks, and see what happens. Unless fluid was leaking really bad from the shocks, you won't see any oil on the floor. You could also just wipe them clean, if you do see any slight leaks when you look at it yourself, before you take it in to the dealer.
 

Here in VA, they'll just steal it from another vehicle.....or give the inspector a bottle of his favorite whiskey.

:bash:
 
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