Inspection

Every year I put off getting my Ford Explorer inspected out of fear it's gonna cost me alot. In Pennsylvania you must get you car inspected annually, or at least you are supposed to. Last year my inspection for the Explorer ran me about $3000.00. Granted I had some other issues fixed as well and it hadn't been inspected in 3 years or so. So I was expecting it to cost about $2000.00, but i bit the bullet and paid the $3000.00.

So this year rolls around and I was supposed to get the Explorer inspected in June, so i took it to get inspected and of course it failed. Well it passed the emissions part, but the physical inspection it failed. They told me it needed $800.00 worth of fixing. I told them no thanks and went on my way.

Now I have been meaning to get it inspected since then, but just never got around to it til this week. This week the water pump also broke. So I took it to a local garage. They came recommended from my mother. So I took it in at 8:00am and around 10:00am I received a call that it would be about $490.00 to inspect and fix the water pump and the other stuff that needed to be fixed in order for it to pass inspection. I said ok go ahead and fix it. I was also told that it would be finished today and that i should pick it up before 5:00pm because they closed at that time.

So 5:00pm comes around and I pull up to the garage to pick up the truck. It was just after 5:00pm and the doors were locked. Then Allison points out that someone is in the garage part. I knock on the window and explain why I am here then I look and see the Explorer still on the lift. I say I guess it's not done yet? They reply "nope" and go on to explain why it isn't done yet. Apparently the heads snapped off of the bolts holding the water pump on and they had to order new bolts which should be in the next day. Ok nothing I can do about that.

The next day around noon I call in and ask about the status. Still not done, the bolts just got in, so they haven't started yet. I call back around 4:30pm, Water Pump done, but the ball joints haven't been started yet. I say so it should be ready the next day? Yup.

Ok the next day comes around. I call in around 10:30am, and aha! The truck is done. However, the guy who owns the garage isn't there so no one can give me a price. I call back around 3:00pm. They guy still isn't there to give me a price, I ask if he is really coming back today. They guy replies "I hope so we need to get paid". So apparently they get paid on Thursdays. I call back again around 4:00pm and finally the guy is in. I ask if he has a price for me, he says no, but give him a few minutes. So I call back a few minutes later. He has a price! Keep in mind he originally quoted me $490.00. So he tells me the new price.......$653.35. I ask him if he is serious he replies yes.

So I paid the $653.35 and now I have a legal car. Only 3 more cars and 1 motorcycle left to get inspected.