Virginia inspection stations???

[madmike]

I'm going to register my 93SE in Northern Virginia, and I'll need to get an emissions test and general inspection.

Obviously I want to go where they won't do any damage to my car out of ignorance. Anyone have any good recommendations, or experience with a good station around these parts?

Mike

[swedishsurgeon]

Mike,
In Massachusetts we have the toughest standards next to Cali. We have two tests... dyno, and two speed idle. For an Esprit the dyno is tough, these cars rip and if the person doing the testing is not familiar with the car... I'm going upon my experience.... they need to follow a chart on the screen, however.... they let me run my car my self... it's tough. Ask for a two speed idle test.
Robert

[lotusman]

Hey, You lawyers out there!
What are the legal ramifications of these vehicle tests. In Louisiana, we don't do the moving tests but the inspectors drive my other cars around, not the Lotus though.

What would our recourse be if one of them wanted to do the drive test and wrecked or worse, tore up the tranny? Or broke the steering system while doing the test?

Bob Kumse
'89 non_SE

[swedishsurgeon]

Bob has a very valid question here! In Massachusetts, the regular test is done on a dyno with the wheels spinning on rollers. They cannot do all wheel drive cars with this so they have to do the two speed idle test where the vehicle is " at rest {not moving}" during testing. One thing that will kill you on this test is if the base idle is to high. The guy who tested my Esprit the first time on the dyno made me cringe with fear! He couldn't feel the gear pattern vs. speed and dogged the motor. That's when they let me do it... trying to keep the revs down, and follow the curve on the scope was not easy. Owning an all wheel drive Audi and knowing about the 2 speed test, I asked for that. Of course the car was already entered to the registery for dyno, and they worked around it.
Good Luck,
Robert
'87 TE