Pass Your Inspection: Check These Parts First

7 March 2015
 Categories: , Blog


In order to drive your car legally – and safely – it needs to be inspected, and there's nothing more frustrating than having your car fail an inspection. Instead of wasting your time and money, make sure your vehicle is in good shape by giving it an inspection yourself prior to bringing it in for a state inspection.

Here's a look at some of the things to check out on your vehicle yourself to ensure that it will pass inspection.

Check the Tires

Take a look at the tires. Turn your wheels to the side so that you can see how the interior of the tires look. Run your hands over the tires to feel if they are wearing evenly. If the tires are smoother on the outside than they are on the inside, they aren't wearing evenly and will need to be replaced. You should also check the tread. Insert a penny into several of the treads; if you can see most of Lincoln's head, the tread is too low and will likely fail inspection.

Test the Lights

Ask a friend or family member to sit behind the wheel of your parked car. Have him or her step on the breaks, turn on the headlights and operate the turn signals. All of the lights, including the tag lights (the lights that are located over your rear license plate) need to be in working order. If they aren't working, you'll fail inspection.

Examine the Timing Belt

The timing belt is one of the most important items in your car, as it is responsible for operating the engine. If the belt is worn, your car isn't safe to drive and will fail inspection.

To check the timing belt, remove the timing cover on the front of the engine. If you see any cracks or tears in the belt, if there are any broken teeth, or if there is any twisting, the belt needs to be replaced before you have an inspection done.

Check the Mirrors

Your mirrors can't be cracked, chipped or shattered if your car is going to pass inspection. Simply checking the rearview and side view mirrors can prevent you from failing an inspection.

Look at the Seat Belts

All of the seat belts in your vehicle must be operable. If any of them are frayed or unable to latch properly, you can expect that your car will not pass inspection.

If there are any issues with these parts of your car, you can either repair them yourself or have a professional mechanic at Athens Auto Works do it for you. Doing so will save you the hassle and aggravation of failing an inspection.


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