PSA: VPD Handing Out VIs Like Candy

[GabAlmighty]

Pics of car as you took it in please.

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by Oeks1

My car passed at Honda with dual magnaflow and coilovers. They said the car is in excellent condition.
They also said it's not up to the cops to decide weather exhaust is loud but the inspection facility

This means that anytime a cop has suspicion whether an exhaust is too loud or not. They can send you to an inspection facility.

[Berzerker]

"I know enough to give you a VI but not enough to be held accountable for any fallout that may come of it" is the way this system is designed.

"Your car looks to be modified" says officer
"Coilover suspension is legal" is the reply
"I'm not a mechanic, so here's your VI" says officer.
"Fuck" is the reply.

Berz out.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by GabAlmighty

Pics of car as you took it in please.

And when it was VI'd. Because don't forget this:

Originally Posted by Oeks1

Just took off the aftermarket rims they stuck out 1.5 inch out the wheelwells , tires were done too, sold em.
Eveything else was left

[wing_woo]

So, my coworker's car passed his VI. I switched out his Honda HFP muffler for a normal Civic muffler and raised his car. He left the aftermarket rims on.

So, whichever service guy originally told him he wasn't going to pass with aftermarket wheels didn't know what he was saying. When he actually went through with the inspection, that guy said it was fine as long as he had enough of a gap from wheel to fender.

He decided to take off the HFP muffler just cause he doesn't want to get stopped for it again, even though it is legal and came with the car.

So, even though the VI was like $170, he had to pay more to get a stock muffler and pay to put stock shocks back on.

I agree though that his car was kinda low, but sucks that he had to remove his muffler that would have passed because he's scared to be stopped again.

[punkwax]

Wow. Sad to hear people are afraid to keep OEM HFP parts on..

[wing_woo]

That was what the officer originally pulled him over for.

[BIC_BAWS]

Originally Posted by wing_woo

That was what the officer originally pulled him over for.

If so, he should have kept it on, then it would be a legitimate complaint to the VPD.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[AzNightmare]

Lol,... Sorry, what's with these posts like (paraphrasing) "I passed but I removed this and that before I took it in." so what's really the point? You're just enforcing Cain was in the right in the first place then.

If you're confident your car doesn't have illegal mods, take it in exactly as is. Then you have a case and leverage when you pass.

I would have tried to get Honda involved if the HFP part was being in question.

[coneZONE]

as for ride height deviation (lowered), I just wondering if there is a service manual published specification for HFP ride height. Because even if it "looks low", it's still delivered legally low, isn't it?

[wing_woo]

Originally Posted by coneZONE

as for ride height deviation (lowered), I just wondering if there is a service manual published specification for HFP ride height. Because even if it "looks low", it's still delivered legally low, isn't it?

No, his car was too low. I had warned him about that and about Cain. He tried staying out of Vancouver as much as possible, but eventually, his luck ran out and he had to go downtown. He was pulled over at Main and Terminal.
He raised it cause he knew it was too low.

However, the Honda guy did say he will pass with his HFP muffler, but he just didn't want to deal with being hassled again by VPD so he chose to buy a non-HFP one to put on his car and will just sell his HFP muffler and aftermarket suspension stuff.

This whole thing cost him like $500 (reverting certain parts to stock and inspection cost) and he doesn't want to deal with it again.

[wing_woo]

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

If so, he should have kept it on, then it would be a legitimate complaint to the VPD.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

That's what I told him as well as he showed the ticket indicated exhaust too loud but nothing about ride height.

He originally said he was gonna do that but ended up changing his mind cause I did tell him that if he gets stopped by a cop again and he doesn't believe him, the cop can issue another VI. I guess that was the reason he changed his mind and bought another muffler.

[MuckyBarnes]

Originally Posted by wing_woo

No, his car was too low. I had warned him about that and about Cain.

Do you have a pic of how the car was sitting when it got VI'd?

[dtaygolf]

A follow up to my VI on Mar 17. So, brought car as is to Don Docksteader Subaru at Cambie. I live in Richmond, and purchased my car, a 2013 BRZ from Richmond Subaru. As the ticket noted, bring to Subie dealer. Well, Richmond doesn't do VI inspections according to their service counter. Apparently their certification lapsed, or I'm thinking they don't want the hassle of dealing with these issues? I dare say the majority of BRZ, WRX, STi's purchased there end up in someway " modified". That's generally what the buyer's of these types of cars do. Even Subaru intonates this themselves, despite the fact they'll void your warranty if you do bust something "racing" aka autocross or track day. But whatever.
So, the CVSE tech that inspected my car noted a few things. I'm running a EL header, and Invidia Q300 exhaust. A pretty common setup for those that want a sporty exhaust note, a few extra pony's, and a decent looking aftermarket look, not some "brappy" N1 setup, that wakes the dead. The tech did note the exhaust was quite loud on cold starts, but not unreasonable at idle, or even under load, regardless, the exhaust had to go back to OEM. It's no longer just about "loudness". If it's not OEM at the back, it won't pass.
Also I had clear JDM side markers, which are OEM JDM products, I even went to the trouble applying orange amber reflective tape to keep things legit, but nope, no SAE/DOT markings. And perhaps the strangest issue, my license plate lights, I swapped out the OEM yellowish standard bulbs for LED's, which seemed like a good move, brighter, and adds a little flare. hey're white, but according to the tech, "too bluish", what the heck?! There not even "blue", guess a little higher along the color spectrum, so as to not be dingy.
So be it, reverted back to OEM exhaust, thankfully I hung on to that , found my OEM N.A. side markers, and changed the plate bulbs.
My car sits about an inch lower than stock, with sports springs, not any crazy "hellaflush" stuff. The tech was ok with the ride height, which was within acceptable variation, but from a fairly long chat with him, it sounded like any kind of aftermarket coilover would "automatically fail". He also stated that all these aftermarket parts do come with the stipulation that they're for off road, (racing) use anyways...Car went back to dealer after all changed, and passed. The tech was a nice guy and realized the situation. According to the service guys and gals and this tech, they've seen lots of VIs lately. Gotta give a shout out to Docksteader, they at least kept my file open for my follow up inspection, so as not to "double ding" me. So that's it for now, got that ugly looking inspection decal on the corner of my window now. Unbelievable really, all for some pretty pedestrian mods. The war on cars goes on friends!

[Traum]

This is most unfortunate. While I do not agree with the Don Docksteader Subaru tech's intepretation that exhaust needs to be OEM and that coilovers would automatically fail, there is little point in arguing with the front line hands-on person. This needs to be taken to the higher ups at CVSE instead.

In the CVSE inspection manual, Section 1 -- Power Train, the Exhaust System section goes like this:

With engine running, aurally and manually inspect:
a) manifolds

Reject if
a) missing, broken, cracked, loose, leaking


b) muffler

Reject if
b) leaking, missing, patch affixed other than by weld not OEM or equivalent, equipped with noise enhancing device



c) resonators (applicable units)

Reject if
c) leaking, patch affixed other than by weld, missing where OEM equipped


d) tail pipes

Reject if
d) leaking, perforated, missing, patch affixed other than by weld, collapsed, end is pinched, equipped with noise enhancing device


e) exhaust pipes

Reject if
e) leaking, perforated, missing, cracked, collapsed, patch affixed other than by weld


f) mounting hardware

Reject if
f) missing, loose, broken, insecurely mounted


g) leaks

Reject if
g) leaking along system or at joints


h) holes

Reject if
h) other than made by the original equipment manufacturer


i) location

Reject if
i) any part of exhaust system is closer than 25 mm (1 in.) to any part of fuel, brake system or any combustible material and is not protected by a shield – any component passes through an occupant compartment

All inspection procedures are visual unless additional inspection procedures are indicated or where applied force is necessary to verify tightness and/or component security.


j) tail pipe termination

Reject if
j) does not terminate within 50 mm (2 in.) of outside perimeter of the passenger compartment and expels exhaust outward (includes trunk)


k) exhaust cut-out

Reject if
k) exhaust is equipped with cut-out


l) catalytic converter (if OEM equipped) Required on all light vehicles manufactured after 1987 .Required on vehicles manufactured before 1987 if OEM equipped. Required on diesel engines if OEM equipped.

Reject if
l) missing or replaced with a non catalytic muffler


m) Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)

Reject if
m) missing or does not operate


n) heat shield(s) (required where exhaust system may contact occupants when entering or leaving vehicle)
NOTE: Heat shields can be mounted at other than door areas.

Reject if
n) missing, incorrect size


o) noise emissions – confirm noise level with decibel meter for any vehicle with non-OEM, modified or altered exhaust system

Reject if
o ) excessive
The opinion of an inspector as to whether the engineand exhaust noise is greater than that made by other vehicles in good condition of comparable size, horsepower, piston displacement or compression ratio shall determine whether noise level is excessive. Must be comparable to OEM and confirmed with decibel meter.
– is equipped with any noise enhancing device


OUT OF SERVICE
Reject if
i) Any exhaust leak within the perimeter of the occupant compartment of the vehicle with holes in the floor(includes trunk).

[mb_]

Ultimately it's up to the inspector that performs the VI on the car. Can't blame him too much for being stingy and trying to adhere to what the OEM parts are as much as possible. They risk losing inspector certification and also possibly get their dealership in shit with CVSE if they "let stuff slide".

[Traum]

As far as exhaust is concerned, the operative word here is "OEM or equivalent" -- it needs to be comparable to the OEM setup, and I would argue that since manufacturers often offer OEM performance exhaust options, aftermarket solutions only need to be comparable to those to meet the "OEM or equivalent" definition.

The "aftermarket coilover would fail" thing is ludicrous. There is absolutely nothing in the CVSE manual to suggest that aftermarket coilovers would fail. The common "coilover" suspension that we refer to is really nothing more than a coil spring suspension with height adjustibility. The passing criteria does include a clause that says the springs cannot be "sagged so as to lower vehicle more than 38 mm (1 1/2 in.) from manufacturer’s specifiedheight". As long as the lowered amount does not exceed that, it should pass inspection.

[dtaygolf]

I've got no quarrel with the tech, he's just doing his job, and admitingly from him, it's not that he takes any pleasure in having to do these VIs on otherwise safe vehicles in often better condition than average cars on the road.

[westopher]

Sounds like the tech was covering his ass, which I can’t blame him for, but many of the things he said are completely baseless. Many of us have had the manual right in front of us to reference, and as said, coilovers failing automatically is ludicrous. Just because a box of coilovers he saw on the internet said “for off road use only” doesn’t mean that applies to all of them.

[Balrog]

My car finally passed the VI, it's so hard to find parts for european cars here lol, someone even told me St Gobain windows, Valéo equipments and even Michelin are not road legal in North America because they are French brands LOL. I wanted to import a Renault M2RS plus the cops hate so much the Québecois and the French, i can't imagine with the loud F4rt engine. I guess i have to keep driving boring German / Japanese cars

[Balrog]

Originally Posted by westopher

Sounds like the tech was covering his ass, which I can’t blame him for, but many of the things he said are completely baseless. Many of us have had the manual right in front of us to reference, and as said, coilovers failing automatically is ludicrous. Just because a box of coilovers he saw on the internet said “for off road use only” doesn’t mean that applies to all of them.

The tech at Audi took pictures of my car for the inspection and he told me to don't modify my car for a month. I guess i am ok, this fucking VI was so annoying and expensive for me i am done with this joke.

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by Balrog

I wanted to import a Renault M2RS plus the cops hate so much the Québecois and the French

Wat?

[dtaygolf]

Originally Posted by Traum

As far as exhaust is concerned, the operative word here is "OEM or equivalent" -- it needs to be comparable to the OEM setup, and I would argue that since manufacturers often offer OEM performance exhaust options, aftermarket solutions only need to be comparable to those to meet the "OEM or equivalent" definition.

The "aftermarket coilover would fail" thing is ludicrous. There is absolutely nothing in the CVSE manual to suggest that aftermarket coilovers would fail. The common "coilover" suspension that we refer to is really nothing more than a coil spring suspension with height adjustibility. The passing criteria does include a clause that says the springs cannot be "sagged so as to lower vehicle more than 38 mm (1 1/2 in.) from manufacturer’s specifiedheight". As long as the lowered amount does not exceed that, it should pass inspection.

I agree, it does seem ludicrous, and even ridiculous to fail a car for running coilovers, in most cases these suspension parts are an ungrade from the OEM, and considered "heavy duty". In other words better than stock. Ride height is also a consideration, and I can understand ridiculous camber, poke, or extremely low stance. Though most of those guys and gals serious about stance seem to run bags.
Again seems like a colossal waste of everyone's time and money, and not really the true intentions of CVSE regs, which I would think intonates more towards unsafe vehicles, or vehicles in disrepair.
What a crazy mixed up city we live in...

[Balrog]

Originally Posted by Dbone

Wat?

My point was i don't want anymore to import a French Renault Mégane RS because i will be annoyed by the cops 24/7. The F4rt engine is pretty loud and the color i want is pretty shinny too. This car gonna be a VI magnet lol.

[68style]

Personally if I wanted a car I wouldn’t let fear of something like a VI stop me from doing it. Id just not drive it to Vancouver and that’s about it... who the heck wants to drive a performance car in Vancouver proper anyway? Shit roads and shit traffic.