Arcane Virgina Inspection Rule

[The Drakester]

The other day I took my '97 to the dealer to have the recall done for the steering column lock. While I was there I figured I'd get the state inspection done since it was due in a month anyway.

Long story short - they flunked me!

Why? Well, my car is a LPE supercharged car and has a raised hood to clear the supercharger. There happens to be a rule in the Virginia State Inspection Manual that requires that hood scoops on 1991 and newer cars to be no more than 1 1/8 inches tall as measured from the junction of the dash and windshield. My hood rise exceeds this height. I would argue that the rise in my hood is not a scoop but that fell on deaf ears at the dealer.

So - be careful if you have a hi-rise hood or a scoop. You may run afoul of a stickler (read that CSMF) for the rule book. Oh, if your car was a 1990, you can go to 2 1/4 inches! (What is the logic in the difference?)

 

[MM-C5]

That's a bummer! What did you do to resolve the problem? Also, does the law require that you even have a hood? If not, why not do some under hood sprucing -- which I am sure you would do anyway -- and take it in w/o the hood?

Bureaucrats

Tom

 

[6 Shooter]

Can ya find someone that might be a bit more lenient than a dealer do your inspection?

 

[MsSchroder]

Good Grief! What a stupid rule.

 

[*89x2*]

generally, service stations are more leniant than dealerships for VA State inspections...


On the flip side, I beleive you can still run without a hood in VA - go get it inspected that way, then re-install the hood :eek

 

[The Drakester]

I got it resolved. I went elsewhere.

You are correct in saying take the hood off. I learned that there is no requirement to even have a hood.

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

No need to have a hood but if you have one it can be no taller than...


Politics at work!

 

[Eric]

I got it resolved. I went elsewhere.

You are correct in saying take the hood off. I learned that there is no requirement to even have a hood.

Nice to here you got it resolved. I sent you a PM with some info for future reference.