White Knight II

Hello everybody, I just recently moved to the Concord area and I have my eye on an '88 rx-7. It's a beautiful car but it doesn't have any of its emissions equipment installed which has me a little worried. I've searched the forum a bit and looked at the NC DMV website and it appears that vehicles over 10 years old are exempt from emissions testing. However, they still have to go through a safety inspection which requires visually inspecting the emissions equip. Suppose I purchase this car outside of NC and title and register it here. After the plate is issued, I have 10 days to get it inspected. Here's where I have some questions..

-What if I never got the car inspected? Are the inspection shops and the DMV connected somehow? That is, after 10 days, will they find out that I never went and fine me?

-What if I take it to be inspected and they fail me. What happens exactly? Does it go on record that I failed (communicating that to the DMV?) or do I just leave and it's like I never came in the first place?

I suppose the right thing to do if I get the car is go and if I fail, "fix the problem". Just trying to get an idea of how it works and what others have done. Anyone ever been stopped without a sticker?

impulsive-rx7

iTrader: (2)

You have to find someone to "hook you up"

mazda.junkie

If you never get the car inspected, and you get pulled without a sticker...ticket!

Only OBDII cars are linked w/ the DMV because they hook a scanner up to it and it sends the results to Raliegh (96 +up). If it fails, then you will have to take it elsewhere or like was previously stated get someone to "hook you up".

Adding the emissions crap back to the car is counterproductive and a waste of time. My car has a racing header and open exhaust, w/ no emissions at all so I have to get hooked up too. Fortunately I know people, but it may take you a few tries to find someone that could use an extra $20.00 bill. Dont let this be the factor that determines whether you get the car or not, its not really that big of a deal.

13b4me

Precisely.

BTW where the hell have you been Jason? Give me a call sometime man!

White Knight II

Thanks for the input guys, I had a feeling that was the answer.. I didn't feel too confident either trying to pass off fake or disconnected equip as functional

and thanks for the encouraging words mazda.junkie, it really was the only thing holding me back but now I think I'm going to get the car! I'll be sure and post some pics after she's mine and hopefully I can meet up with you guys sometime; I'd love to see some of the awesome rides around here up close.

btw, how steep is that ticket you mentioned? I'm going to take the car around and try to get it passed but if I can't immediately I was wondering how much I should worry about getting pulled.

thanks again

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Whoa! I just went through this with my 1980 SA. It has headers into two presilencers and a muffler, no emissions left at all. It flew through the inspection. If the car is older than 1996 then it just has to pass a safety inspection. A safety inspection only looks at the usual stuff horn, brakes, lights, wipers, etc. It only makes the station $10 for just a safety inspection so it seems like they tend to do em as fast as possible.

Just take it to a mom and pop garage and stay away from pep boys, sears or any other national brand shop.

I'm over in Huntersville and theres a friendly place not far from me that did the inspections of all my cars.

PM me if you want details.

Jeezus

iTrader: (4)

I agree with Farrell. My Car has no exmissions at all! Passed easily. My brothers 96 Cavalier... wow, it is crap. Smokes, burnt out cat, and he still passed.

White Knight II

haha all right, you guys are giving me some hope!

mazda.junkie

Sure thing! +1 for the mom n pops garages! $9.10 is what the sticker costs, just make sure the lights and tires are in good shape because just about anywhere will look at the tires. As far as the price of a ticket...I think its $100 but im not sure, I know thats how much a seatbelt ticket is. Anyways if you do get a ticket, just have it inspected before court and it will be dropped. Looking forward to seeing pics and hope all works out great 4 ya.

trickfc

I used to do NC inspections back in the day..

The safety on 95/older cars are supposed to have the visual smog check, but do not do tailpipe readings anymore. A lot of places do minimal work and inspect them as fast as the computer will let them because for $9 or whatever its not even really worth it to lift the car. A lot of shops have quite doing inspections because of this. So it all depends on the shop/inspector doing it.

As far as DMV is concerned, if you title/register car and do not get inspected, you will most likely get letters/fine in about a month. Some cars slip through the cracks, but for a newly registered vehicle, it is less likely.

I wouldn't be too worried about car getting failed then passed at another shop. I'm not 100% sure if the results to to raleigh DMV or not for safety anymore. I have heard horror stories about local DMV enforcement officers tracking down cars like that, but they are rare.

So... like others have said, don't worry too much and find a place that doesn't check much or will hook u up.

White Knight II

wow sure are a lot of locals here, cool. Thanks trickfc for the details! This thread has really been informative; what a great forum. I should have the car in a few weeks or so, hopefully everything will go smooth - super excited

workinprogress80

I worked at a shop that did the inspections. The safety ones are entered into the computer so if you go to one shop and they fail you then go to another one the same day and it passes you then they could catch you. but most shops will pass you on the safety as long as your lights and horn work, thats how it was at the one i worked at. +1 for the mom and pop shop, they are usually friendlier.