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I Have Car Troubles

Took my car in for a regular state inspection. First one since moving here, and wow, did it fail. Needs a new mirror (I knew that; old one was broken), new shocks, new tires (treads were too low, and one had a nail in it), new parking light... ugh. This is going to be expensive.

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Sicarium · 46-50, M

For the mirror, eBay. I'd be surprised if it was more than $50. Or a local junkyard for like $10.

For the shocks, never heard of a state inspection place caring about shocks. If you really have to replace them, you can get them for $40 a wheel if you don't care about cheap ones. They're not hard to install, and can borrow/rent the necessary tools from your local auto parts store.

For tires, yep.

For the parking light. If it's just the bulb, $5 and 5 minutes to swap. If it's the entire housing, eBay or a local junkyard again. All you'll need is a screwdriver and 20 minutes.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@Sicarium I've changed the lightbulbs before; that's easy. Unless someone can rent me a garage and tools to work on the rest, I don't think I can do that myself. I just don't have enough space in my tiny apartment complex parking lot.

Sicarium · 46-50, M

@FaeLuna If the complex management will let you, you can do the shocks without a garage. You'll need a basic ratchet set and spring compressors, can borrow or rent both. It's seriously a lot easier than people think. And there's thousands of videos on YouTube. But some apartments are pretty anal about that kind of stuff.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@Sicarium Eh, I'm sure I could probably do it, but I'd still rather trust a professional. The shocks were optional anyway. Not part of the inspection, but since it was already in, I had them do a general overall maintenance evaluation. It was free.

4meAndyou · F

You can buy used tires where ever you live. Take a penny and if you have tread to Lincoln's head the tires are still good. You can buy the parts yourself online (ebay) and save a lot of money on those, too. I have done all of the above. Do NOT have the work done at a dealer. Take your parts to Walmart, (after making an appointment) and they will install the new tires etc etc. You have 60 days to get the repairs done after failing an inspection.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@4meAndyou I knew they were getting low, but I checked and they definitely failed the penny test. It was time.

TimSummers · M

The state of your car sounds like the standard one on the roads here in Texas and ALL of them passed inspection some how.

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TimSummers · M

@FaeLuna LOL!! At least your car would pass inspection here.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@TimSummers And not have to fix all this stuff? When can I move?

TimSummers · M

@FaeLuna Come on down! We have room for you AND your car!! 😂

BearDownChicago · 41-45, M

Almost trade it in. Lol. Those aren't too bad to fix or replace. But all depends on the car. Diminishing returns

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@BearDownChicago I just finished paying it off, so I better get some more years out of it! I really don't want any more debt!

BearDownChicago · 41-45, M

Lol. Good answer @FaeLuna

kate21 · 26-30, F

Insurance fire?

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@kate21 I'm not sure I could set a convincing fire that wouldn't lead back to me.

kate21 · 26-30, F

Park it in a bad neighborhood overnight and see what happens. @FaeLuna

Elegy · 46-50

Where in the world do you live that you need to do that and why do you hate your car?

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@Elegy The state of Pennsylvania, and I'm too cheap to buy expensive car things.

Elegy · 46-50

@FaeLuna Don't buy expensive car things just get a decent car and keep up on consumables.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@Elegy I've got a fairly decent car, and I keep up on oil changes and everything. Its just everything else being revealed at once that is frustrating. I used to live in New Jersey, where vehicle inspections were emissions only, and no one cared if the mirror was cracked.

uncalled4 · 56-60, M

Don't f with tires. Get them replaced. Once the shocks are replaced as well, it will be a different car.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@uncalled4 One of my friends liked to say that you should never cheap out on things that go between you and the ground, like shoes and tires. Shocks had some life in them, but were leaking oil, and would be a problem later on.

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