The Worst Vehicle Inspection Experience: My Journey Through Frustration, Inspection Failures, and Customer Service Pitfalls

Once upon a time, while in the worlds largest nuclear canoe club - the USN, I was tasked with carrying a large amount of sonobouys from Brindisi to Naples in Italy across the Apneas SP mountains. The journey involved driving five 6X6 trucks, the newest of which was a 1949 GMC, with the other trucks dating back to World War II. The MM3 and I went over the trucks as best we could, and were amazed that they would even run. Our first day on the road was a 'torture experience' with breakdowns every 10 miles, and we completed the 50-mile journey in 11 days, thanks to a lack of operational heaters. This was in 1968, and we always find joy in such experiences!

The Frustrating Shell Garage Experience of 1987

Fast forward to 1987, and I was faced with the experience of a different kind of vehicle inspection. The state of Maryland required that any vehicle purchased and needed to register it, go through a state inspection. Ironically, my inspection was only required to be done once but usually took an entire day and was frustratingly time-consuming. One day, a 1977 Chevy 1-ton pickup truck, 2-wheel drive, had a power steering leak that had been repaired, but the scene that unfolded afterward was nothing short of a nightmare.

The Inspection Begins

During the inspection, one mechanic informed me that the right front lower A-arm was cracked and that I needed a new one and an alignment. Initially, I was skeptical, considering I had just replaced the brakes and could not see any cracks. The mechanic mentioned that it was a cracked lower A-arm, and it needed to be replaced. As I drove home that afternoon, under the lingering afternoon light, I inspected the area around the lower A-arm thoroughly. After cleaning the area with some cleaner, I found nothing amiss, just a standard rough part that appeared to be a steel stamping. This wasn't a crack, nor was there any visible damage.

The Rejection and the Subsequent Reinspections

I took the truck back to the garage, only to be met with the same allegations. After protesting and requesting they look at the area again, the mechanic begrudgingly inspected the A-arm under a service lamp and confirmed a crack, suggesting they could get me a new one if I wanted it. Their unwillingness to address the issue further frustrated me, especially considering I had previously brought them a dozen cars for inspection without any similar problems. I left the garage with a mix of anger and skepticism, promising to return the following morning to prove my point.

The Second Chance

Upon returning the next day, I took apart the wheel, thoroughly cleaned the area around the lower A-arm with cleaner, and even polished it with a grinder. After 15 minutes, the area around the A-arm was gleaming, perfectly clean with no burrs or sharp edges. The mechanic at the garage was initially taken aback, but eventually, they had no choice but to acknowledge the absence of any issues and provided me with an inspection certificate. However, the owner still insisted that the part was broken and should be replaced, and even suggested requesting a State Police officer's assessment.

The Conclusion

Despite the owner's insistence, I refused to replace the part, stating that I had just received a state certification of inspection, and they still wanted to insist that the part was unsafe. I suggested that we request a State Police officer's assessment. He turned around and walked away, as did I, leaving me to touch up the bare steel area with a coat of paint before it rusted.

This experience left me with a bitter taste for dealing with car inspections, proving that not all services are as reliable as they should be. Whether it's a long journey with old vehicles or a single inspection, the right balance of skepticism and persistence can often help resolve such frustrating situations.