Hello! I've got an '85 F150, and right now it has two problems that I believe I need to fix so it will pass inspection.

Backup lights
License Plate lights

Does anyone know if Backup lights are mandatory in the state of NC? Well, do they have to work so I can pass inspection?

 

All I can tell you is my F250 had it's inspection on 3/02/10 and the print out they gave me did not list backup lights. It had headlights,parking lights,tail lights, beam indicator light/switch,license plate light,stop light and directional signals.

 

Backup lights probably go under tail lights..

 

The only way to know is to take it and see if they fail the truck. Inspectors usually don't look at older vehicles very closely.

 

I don't think back-up lights are required,I've never been told to put it in reverse for an inspection.

 

As an inspector, I can tell you they are both reqired. Me personally if one of each works (one reverse and one tag) I will pass it. If you want to get technical about it, even if NC inspection doesnt say an item specifically must work, if its on the vehicle, it is supposed to work. But Im flexible lol.

 

06silvercrew - My (NC) car just failed for having to dark of a window tint. I have 35% (legal). The first shop measured 29% (fail). Since I KNOW it is legal (it passed last year with the same meter at a different shop), I got the light transmissivity checked at a different shop...60%. I even went as far as to go to the police and they said it's legal because you can see the opposite door panel thru it.

So my question...I'm going back into the shop to have them re-check and re-calibrate and everything. If it still fails according to their machine...do you know what organization I can contact that would be in charge of inspecting the inspection stations?

Also...when the calibration is done on these photometers, isn't there a piece of glass they are supposed to use as a "baseline"? The first shop didn't use one...the second shop did.

Thanks in advance!

 

Just roll your windows down when you go in then they dont see the tint. Thats what i did..(mines illegal)

 

They were rolled down. But you can see that the back window is tinted. And they are obligated to roll them up to check for tint.

I've got my ducks in a row tho...I'm going to go in and ask them to recalibrate it again...and if they don't use the sample glass as stated in 19A NCAC 03D .0551 of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau Regulations...then we'll have some words about my refund for not performing the inspection properly.

 

A guy at work just finished ripping out his tint for this very reason, although his was illegal. He was going to take it to another shop to have it passed, but was told that once the inspection is started and entered into the computer, you have to have it re-inspected at the same place - I have no idea if that is true or not.

 

There is some truth to that. If you get the issue corrected, you can take it back to the original shop within 60 days (I believe) and have it reinspected for free.

But you can take it to another shop, you just are going to have to pay the 33.75 again (including tint).

 

The meter should be calibrated EVERY USE!!!!! each meter has a calibration glass with it, takes 4 seconds to do it.

No you dont have to take it back to the same place to get it re-inspected but you will have to pay full price, where if you take it back to the same place you only pay for the E-sticker. It used to be 30 days, might be 60 now not sure.

 

Yesterday they didn't use the glass to cal. it...just went face to face and it showed 100%...but when they put it on my windows it read 29%.

The second opinion shop used the glass and cal. it at 100% and when they checked my windows they were reading between 55% and 60%.

Went back to the original shop today and when I asked them to recal. it again...they did then I mentioned the glass and they sort of huffed and puffed and did but didn't let me watch them. And rechecked the car...not letting me watch...and still said 29%.

Now I've got 70% factory on there...and had 40% aftermarket put on...no way in hell that's enough to push it to 29%. Not to mention that it passed with flying colors last year and the police even say it's legal...soooo...License and Theft Bureau will be hearing from me regarding this.

 

Hey Silvercrew,

Does NC consider a turbo a muffler? Last year I had my powerstroke straight-piped and they failed it for no muffler, bought a 4" glasspack (8" long lol) and it passed.

Just curious because I know some states count a turbo as a muffler.

 

Update on my issue.

Turns out there was something wrong with the second shops meter that showed 60%. Tried to take it to them today and it showed 29%...so he graciously stopped and asked if I really want to pay another 33.75.

Bottom line...I took it back to the original place...apologized for being a pain...peeled my front two windows and the rear window. They let me keep the back 2 corners (car is a coupe), so I could prove to the tint shop that they aren't legal.

Since I have a receipt showing lifetime warranty for legal tint...I'm going to visit the tint shop this weekend and get them re-tinted...to the legal limit...for free...minus the 2 corner windows.

Thanks for the help and advice.