Has anyone else failed the MA inspection this year for an overly loud exhaust? I went through last year with the same combo and didn't have any problem. Now the very same shop that passed me the previous year failed my car, claiming that my exhaust was too loud! I went to several other stations in the Springfield area and all of them were unwilling to pass my car. Many cited increasing activity on the part of the DMV to enforce inspection prodecures. Apparently the rule is that the exhaust system can be no louder than stock.

I'm going to install a stock muffler just for the inspection, after which I will reinstall my Hooker, but this is ridiculous. I have never been cited by the police for an exhaust violation. The car is loud, but not obnoxiously so. I wondered if anyone else has been harrassed recently.

 

No shop in the Springfield area will give inspection stickers for loud exhaust, this state is turning like california very fast, now with New Hampshire getting emissions testing it makes you wonder?? Last time I got an inspection was 3 years ago

 

You're not kidding about the direction MA is heading in regarding vehicle ownership and use. A lot of the guys I talked to at the inspection stations were scared that the DMV was going to cite them for overlooking safety violations. I know one shop in West Springfield that was shut down for improperly following inspection guidelines. My next project vehicle will be something vintage so at least I'll be spared the bother of the emissions test.


I can't believe NH is going to standardize emissions testing. I lived in Enfield, NH for three years and never had to pass more than the basic safety test. No station had the equipment to test for emissions and it wasn't required in the rural areas of the state in any case. Is the state going to run the test stations? What a nightmare.......

 

You would think with the cost of gas the way it is they would encourage us to make our cars faster for more money in Bush's pocket

 

NH just has a OBD2 and safety inspection. I am a state inspector and wouldn't fail anyone for loud exhaust, that's just dumb. If the cops ever came to me asking if I passed it I'd claim they put it on after I gave it a sticker.

 

Wow, you must have a repair plate!


Hahahahaha.....

 

Ever since I bought it it's been an ongoing repair

 

Could you be flagged in the State's computer system that there are so many places unwilling to pass you? ...Not sure how loud your Hooker system is, but I recently passed safety/emissions inspection (08/05) out here in W.Mass w/ my Borla wide open, forgot to put the plate in. Actually, the shop guys asked me questions about the car the whole time. Inspection took over 45min with all of the conversation, but it was worth the time, I was more worried about my O2 sensors not reading properly. -Jeff

 

PM me where. I've been to well over 15 places in the spfld area and theminute I pulled up they all turned instant ****

 

I guess I can forget about passing when I get my 383. What does loudness have to do with emissions or safety anyway?

I still dont get why motorcycles can be loud as **** and now we can't even put an exhaust on.

Even if I do find someone to pass me i'll still probly get harassed by the cops. Or can they do anything as long as u have a sticker?

 

I got a ticket in Salisbury for illegal operation Cop said my exhaust is too loud

Even if the exhaust is 50 state legal they can still fail you, unless you cause a big stink to the registry, meaning you will lose anyways

I showed my 50 state legal sticker for my exhaust and they still said no way..

 

So even if you have an inspection sticker, the cop can still fine u? How much was your ticket? Also how does the cop determine that it's too loud, by ear? If u get repeated citations for illegal operation, whats the worst they can do? impound your car, or you keep paying more money.

 

They go by ear. it's a 100.00 fine and goes on your insurance as a point on your license. you can keep it on, but it's a 100.00 fine and point for each time pulled over. I used to drive with no inspection sticker,open exhaust and never got any problems, but in Wilbraham, where they cannot find a woman hanging in a tree for 2 weeks right in open public will pull you over for driving 1 mile over the speed limit

 

Wow fines are one thing but insurance points???

I gotta do something about this because my car was damn loud with a 305 headers and catback for the short time I had it. Now im getting a 383 with a lopier cam and I live in a small, quiet town. Dont think the cops here are that bad though because I got pulled over for an expired sticker and just got a warning. The sticker was well expired too.

One idea came to mind. If I replaced my borla muffler with a very restrictive muffler. And get an electric cutout for the right exhaust tip. I could close it driving around town or if a cop was behind me, then open it up when it was safe. Cuz I know my cars gonna be waaaay loud.

What do you think? anyone have ideas on how to quiet an exhaust?

 

If they pull you over it's because you were "showing off" whenever I see a cop I go to a higher gear and coast by him so he cannot hear it, the cops in Salisbury were just being jerks because it was late at night and I was leaving a bar, since they couldn't get a dui, (designated driver) they had to find something.. If your not looking for trouble, you won't find it