Posted by Mark on October 20, 19100 at 04:25:17:
In Reply to: NJ Inspection - Disappointing Results - Long posted by PeteL on October 19, 19100 at 15:59:25:
I have a 90 full-size Blazer that I took to the Randolph inspection. On the
way there the O2 sensor blew out. Instant exhaust leak and the "Check Engine" light
came on. I passed emissions but failed for exhaust leak/noise (duh). I laughed all the way home.
The RPM on the report was zero (0). You're right about wondering how they determine engine RPM
from wheel RPM unless they make assumptions about gear ratios.
I was more impressed by the gizmo they have for checking the front-end.
They pull the front wheels onto a "speed bump", and it shakes the front tires for about
90 seconds or so. Supposedly the harmonics/resonation of a bad suspension can be detected.
Of course I had a bad ball-joint that it didn't detect, so that system may be a joke as well.
Chatted with the contractor at the end of the line, discussing the "scandal" that happened
last winter regarding the inability of the system to work in the cold. He points to a HP laser
printer and said: "Guess what? Frozen toner doesn't stick to the paper very well!"
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: I was tring to get numbers to base a brake comparison upon. The machine they use DOES provide quantifiable measurements, by wheel. They would not let me near the computer, would not print the results, did not know what the results were (read NO CLUE), and summarily chased yours truely back to the "customer area". I can tell you this the 100 some odd million that the State spent bought some fairly fancy brake test equipment adn software. From what I could make of the graphical part of the display the rear brakes on my 99 K2500 454 measured significantly less then the fronts! So from a distance and without benefit of the numbers that WERE THERE and I could not see I'm guessing about 80% front, 20% rear. I'm not sure of the quality of the brake adjustment, but the pedal is high and firm and does not have that "rears need adjustment feel".
: The rest of the test was so pitiful, I almost felt sorry for these contractors (if it weren't for all the $$$ I spent in taxes for this foolishness). I had an appointment and when I got there a 3/4 ton Ram was waiting. Seems they broke something and the heavy trucks had to wait. Then an astro van BACKS out from the dyno? Then BACKS into the light duty dyno. A couple of minutes later it back out of that dyno and leaves?? Huh? Ram pulls into heavy dyno and contractor pulls a run at about 5 mph for less then 30 seconds (this is supposed to be a 15 minute test up to about 25 mph). Ram owner and I look at each other and shrug. After completing the all important blinker and light test, they pull the beast on to the dyno and install some monster 4" wheel chocks on the front. Nice contractor goes to computer and inputs for a while and returns to beast. Then goes back to computer. Nice contractor talks with another nice contractor and all I can hear is "VIN". Nice contractor goes back into beast, puts it into D. Left side of beast begins to raise as it climbs over 4" wheel chock, Right wheel chock slides to side. Nice contractor puts beast in R and then P and removes remaining wheel chock. Beast is driven to brake test area. Test never completed. I asked the nice contractor why test was never completed, he said he didn't know????? I walked up the line and asked a guy who seemed to be the most lofty in the place, lofty instantly relayed my question to nice who didn't know. Lofty asked if I had "all wheel drive", I said no it's not full time 4 wheel unless selected, which it is not. Lofty shrugged, I shrugged. The guy at the end of the line made a minimal attempt to remove my old sticker and slapped a new passing two year sticker ramdomly in the general location of my windshield. I spent $100 million for this? I could have put the 502 in the Tahoe and they would not have a clue. Never opened the hood. Never lifted the truck. Never inspected the cat.
: At idle:
: HC 200
: CO% 0.06
: CO2% 14.9
: NOX n/a
: O2% n/a
: RPM 584 (and how they got that is beyond me, no connection to the truck)
: Oh they did put the gas cap on some machine and it passed.
: Pete