The inspector's checklist, item by item: brakes, steering, tires, lights, glass and the emissions test, and what can and cannot fail your car.
A New York State inspection follows a set list. Knowing it takes the mystery out of the visit, and most of the items that fail a car can be spotted by the owner beforehand.
The safety inspection
These are the items the state lists for cars and light trucks:
- Seat belts: that they work and are anchored. The requirements depend on the car's model year.
- Brakes: the pedal, the power brake unit and master cylinder, pads and shoes, rotors and drums, calipers and wheel cylinders, lines and hoses, the parking brake and how evenly the brakes pull. The inspector removes at least one front wheel to see them.
- Steering, suspension and frame: play in the steering wheel, the steering linkage and power steering, shock absorbers, springs, the chassis and frame, and the wheel fasteners.
- Tires, except the spare: tread depth and condition. Tire pressure is checked too, but low pressure is advice, not a failure.
- Lights: headlamps, tail lamps, brake lamps, turn signals and their indicator, backup lights, license plate lights and hazard flashers.
- Windshield and glass: all windows, including tint. A crack 11 inches or longer that reaches the area the wipers clear is not allowed.
- Wipers and blades: present, working and in good condition. Rear wipers and headlamp wipers are not part of it.
- Horn: mounted and working.
- Mirrors: mounted, and free of cracks, breaks and discoloration. The requirements depend on the model year.
- Fuel leaks: any leak that drips or pools fails the car.
The station also tells you if the air bag warning light is on or not working. That is advice only, not a reason to fail.
The emissions inspection
For most gasoline cars from 1996 on, and most diesels from 1997 on under 8,501 pounds, the emissions test is a computer check. The inspector plugs into the car's diagnostic port (OBDII), confirms that the check engine light works, and reads what the car's computer reports about its emission controls.
That is why a check engine light matters so much: if the computer reports a fault, the car will not pass this part until the fault is repaired. Older vehicles that are still tested get a different check of their emission parts, such as the gas cap and catalytic converter.
What fails cars most easily
Most failures are things you can see or hear before the inspection:
- A burned-out bulb: brake lights, a turn signal or the license plate light.
- Worn wiper blades, or a crack spreading across the driver's side of the windshield.
- Tires worn down to the tread bars.
- A check engine light that stays on.
- Brakes that grind, pull to one side or feel soft.
If something fails
You get the car back with the reasons. Repairs can be done at any registered repair shop, or by you, and the new inspection can be at any station; you don't have to return to the first one. No station may start a repair without your permission.
Getting ready
A ten-minute check at home catches most problems: lights with a helper, wipers and washer fluid, tire tread, the windshield and the dashboard lights. If the check engine light is on, bring the car in for a diagnosis first.
We inspect cars at our Greenpoint shop, 300 McGuinness Boulevard, Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM. Call (718) 349-9742 to ask about a time.
