Friday, April 18, 2008

At The Shop

I had a friend help me drop off my car at the shop yesterday. Every two years here, all drivers have to have a safety and maintenance inspection and purchase a special kind of insurance. This helps the govt make sure that cars on the roads are up to standards and are not polluting more than they do naturally. Japan has very strict emission codes (something we could learn a thing or two about in the States). I never mind doing the inspection or insurance but it does take some time.

The garage will have my car at least until Monday. I asked them to call me when they knew for sure what it would need to pass inspection. Turns out that I need front brake pads and an alignment (which doesn't suprise me because it has been grabbing to one side when I brake), and it needs a brake rebuild (which I think means a cylinder rebuild) in the back. I also have a chip in the windshield (which was there when we bought the car) that has to be repaired before it will pass. I will talk to them today and make sure that they also check the charging system because every once in a while it will sound like it is having issues in that department.

Overall, when I am done, I will have a car that I can rely on, and hopefully will have no mechanical worries for another 2 years. In the meantime, I have a loaner from a friend to drive for the weekend and one more thing checked off my list.

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Bad Idea

5 comments:

sourpuss said...

Wow. Every two years? And it's mandatory? I can imagine having to do that here. Though, I bet the mechanics would love it.

sourpuss said...

can = can't (sorry)

... said...

In Oregon, we have a mandatory emissions inspection every two years too and if you don't pass, you can't register your car....they really aren't that bad if your car is in good working order.

I think NC does it also but theirs might be every year...

Joanne said...

CA has emissions testing every year or two or something I can't remember how often and although my 800 year old bronco passed I was kinda surprised. I am fascinated that your car won't pass with a cracked windshield yet you were able to purchase it with that. (Well, really I'm just fascinated that they won't pass it with a cracked windshield altogether.) It does seem like a great system to ensure that cars are running well.

... said...

It wasn't even cracked...just a chip. But here there are very safety aware so perhaps that is it. It cost me 150 bucks to fix it, but now you can't even see that it was there...much better than the free fixes you can get in the states, that is for sure.