Meso stage 1 questions

@ARNIE R the inspector is correct to fail you for the stage 1 kit. The inspection manual clearly stated that the bulbs used, must be DOT/SAE approved and have the markings on them. Same goes for the LED tag lights. He'd being picky about the tags off in rev. I would not fail you for that. I have had to reject many cars/truck for LED or HID headlight bulbs. They are not approved for use in halogen light assemblies. Headlights have the type of approved bulb molded into the lens with the DOT/SAE markings. As far as the the third brake light goes. If it's OEM, he should have passed that. You can always call the State Police and dispute the rejection.

They will investigate the issue, have you take the truck to a "neutral" inspection station and look at the issues. If you are wrong, they will tell you. If you are in the right, you will be issued an inspection sticker, and the inspector will get some form of discipline from the Trooper. Could be a verbal warning, all the way to a fine.

 

Possibly?

In my VW days a hot modification was to order LED taillights for the model that the car came with overseas. Many of us did it. While technically not legal, it wasn't garbage eBay products. They were a genuine VW part. Dude at the dealership was failing everyone that had them.

 

It really isn't a revenue generator for the shop doing it. 99% of the vehicles pass. The fee is $20, with $1 going to the state.That leaves us $19. We pay .5 hr to the inspector, and most make $20+ hr. So the shop "makes" $9 off this. Don't forget the service writer gets paid a portion of the ticket as well. So I think our shop "makes" $4-5 off each inspection.

 

I know how it works I had my license 25 years ago (I was also a full mechanic, so I didn't make much off of it). My friend that was a full-time inspector did pretty well. And this was before the price increase and just as the roller test for emissions was being phased in. I have a feeling that the pass rate for cars up here isn't that high. I could be wrong.

On the other hand, I worked at a shady shop that gave 10% of the repair work total that was generated from his failures. Fortunately, I didn't do inspections there.

I actually popped back on here to ask you a question. Used to be that much of the auxiliary (off-road) lighting had to be covered. Supposedly that changed in relation to where the light was on the vehicle? I think it was that if it was below the headlights it didn't have to be covered and didn't have to turn off with the high beams, but anything above the headlights had to be covered? That true?

 

It has changed. There was a bulletin that went out about it. I forget the exact wording is for it.

 

Good to know. I should look it up and see if I can make any sense of it. I was still taking my Tacoma in for inspections under the old thinking. Even had a cover made for my light bar that was in the bumper!

 

If they are covered. There is no question about them passing. I'm not inspection many these days, but I supervise several inspectors. And it is nice when they have covers. Just ignore them and roll on with the inspection.

 

If a cover was available that's what I was doing. For the light bar I had to contact a dude, provide him with measurements and he made one for me. It wasn't expensive, just a pain. And it didn't like to stay suctioned to the light very well.

 

I used to tell people to get strip magnets to cover light bars that were behind metal bumpers.

 

It's a great idea.....

Unless you've Line-Xd your bumpers....

 

I’ve experienced that as well. Somehow I got it my head the OP had a OE 3rd brakelight. Thought A Toyota dealer would be hard pressed to reject it for that.

My bad…..

 

He did say it was OE; other than the recall being performed. Did I miss something?

 

was referring to your VW experience with LED taillights. Genuine VW parts, but technically not legal. I had assumed his CMHS was OE. And fully compliant in the US. I guess I’m confused

Just ignore my posts and I will go back to yelling at the clouds.

 

Ah! Yeah I'm slow.

I will yell at clouds with you.

 

My thought, if this was happening to me, I’d get all lights compliant and have my Toyota dealer inspect under the assumption they won’t fail their own OE CHMS.

I always prefer eliminating vs. mitigating. Done, solved, cross it off the list.

I try my best to have a predictable outcome when I make choices. This seems, to me anyway, to have the most predictable outcome, and reduces the likelihood of future time wasting circle jerks.

Making an appeal which my result in disciplinary action against said inspector is like pissing off your waiter…..I’d expect spit in my eggs.

Just my .01 and may not be an option for the OP. My dealer is 10 miles away.

OP, keep us posted.

 

Talked to the dealership today about having it reinspected after I convert all of the lighting issues back to stock. As far as the OEM CHMS is concerned, they said the DOT is very small and most likely somewhat "hidden" by the gasket material that was applied when they did the water leak correction procedure a year or so ago. But they know where to look, plus recognize an OEM assembly.

I'll flip the lights tomorrow and have them reinspect it Friday.

 

You have 15 days to get it reinspected. Just swap out what failed, and that's all they will look at. Unless there is something obviously wrong. Like a huge nail in the sidewall, or the windshield is busted out. Then they would leave the rejection. I think in 20 years, I have run across this once or twice.

The state has a $1 reinspect fee, but most places do not charge that.

 

Swapped out the "offending" LED Meso tail lights this morning and had the truck reinspected this afternoon by the dealership. All passed with flying colors. Good for another year at least.

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions.

 

What covers did you get? Magnetic or what? If it was that was ours. If you purchased one let me know. I like to make sure that our customers are 100% satisfied!

 

I don't remember who it was. It was quite a few years ago. Only place I could find at the time that would custom make them.

It was suction cupped to the light lens. Whoever I talked to was awesome to work with. But because they're suction cups, they don't always like to stay stuck. I didn't care, I used them once a year for a few hours to get me through inspection.