Pros/Cons of a chopped exhaust...........

agreed

and ive seen a pic on here of someone that cut holes in the bed and ran a dual tipped side pipe out the hole! haha looked "home made"

 

Nice to see that TW is so open minded....wow

 

Those stacks look retarded. Who puts stacks on a V6, a midsize at that?
I let the folks behind me have my fumes, duals out the back.

 

Nope, not opened minded to crap or chrome.

 

Gonna revive this thread if I can:
My wife’s 09 Tacoma Virginia state inspection was rejected for exhaust. The exhaust pipe was chopped at some point before we bought it (I was unaware and thought it was manufactured that way). The inspector rejected it because there is a shell on it and the exhaust fumes may get into the shell. I believe this is the 3rd inspection since cap install and first time this issue came up.
Naturally I’m like wtf so I start scouring the inspection manual and find the following:
Apparently the guy has been inspecting cars for 30 years but I think this shit is bogus.
Guess this is a con of chopped exhaust, what do you guys think?

 

1. Ask him to point to the "shell." (No such thing, except where it crosses under the transmission...and even then, it's welded shut on both ends)
2. The law's wording makes no mention of whether the exhaust system must be original, stock, aftermarket, modified, or anything else. It simply states how it must perform, and a few specific items that are prohibited.
2a. The law says nothing about judgement calls for things that "may" happen. The inspector "may" have worked 30 years in an inspection shop as a janitor, and is only filling in this week for the regular guy who actually knows anything.
3. The outlet meets BOTH parts of the "behind the cab or axle" part, despite the wording leaving the option of one or the other.

Either file a complaint with the state, or find a guy who knows what the hell he's doing.

 

What I mean by “shell” is the ARE cap over the bed of the truck. Apparently if we removed that the inspection would pass.

 

Wow. 12 yo thread. OP last seen 4 yrs ago.

Zombie

Pop off the topper and reinspect.

 

Thanks for reply. Yeh I definitely want to report to state police because I’m stubborn and don’t wanna pay again to get it inspected by my normal guy. I just brought it to Firestone for wheel balance, rotation and alignment. I thought hey might as well get it inspected.
Anyway, my only other concern is the section that states “to the sides or rear most area.”

 

Doubt you'll win that one, it's not to the sides or the rear most area.

 

Never liked virginia inspections when I was stationed there, the process seemed to be too hit or miss regarding what's important, seems like each mechanic interprets the rules a little differently. Many would see that turndown as a non issue and ignore it but there's always those that wont and now you're stuck with a re-inspect plus he's raised that as an issue which is hard for another inspector to ignore.

I had a mildly lifted F150 at the time an ran across a dickhead VA safety inspector that ran me through the ringer. Since I was in the military I ended up registering back in my home state on my next trip back to visit so I could avoid the hassle. Maybe buy a used tail pipe, cut it at the right point and clamp it on for inspection.

 

Last line in your initial post has a note that says exhaust pipes must extend behind the cab or rear axle of pickup trucks or utility trucks. I'd say you're good. A cab is where the driver and passengers sit, the bed of the truck doesn't transport people as it's primary function. Reread C-6 which further emphasizes my point, passenger compartment. Your vehicle satisfies everything outlined in that statement you posted.

-J

 

You're reading it wrong, or rather incompletely.
The part about "sides and rearmost area" specifically refers to passenger vehicles (#5).
Pickup trucks (worded as "property-carrying vehicle") get their own specific callout, where it says behind the "passenger compartment" (#6), and also a separate note about the passenger compartment OR the rear axle (important legal clarification about the difference between "or" and "and"). The bed is the cargo compartment. It cannot legally be considered a passenger compartment unless DOT-approved seats and seatbelts are installed in a DOT-approved manner. Otherwise, what differentiates a camper shell from a tonneau cover or a tarp?? Or from a passenger vehicle's trunk, for that matter??

 

Sounds like a great argument for the OPs position, I hope it will work for him. Can't remember if one has to go back to the same inspector or shop in VA but if not I'd look for a truck shop that did inspections.

 

I can't imagine considering the cargo space inside a bed shell as a passenger compartment. Riding down the road in there would quickly get a ticket. But if the space is set up as a camp area, I can see the concern. You might leave the truck idling to maintain a battery or get some heat.

Its certainly worth brining it to the attention of the authorities to get clarification though...

 

Thanks for everyone’s input. The above is pretty much what I argued at the shop although the inspector wasn’t there. I don’t think he could really retract his decision anyway. The way forward is with state police. I don’t really want to concede and remove the cap because it’s kind of a pain in the ass and I don’t wanna pay another 20 bucks. Kinda want this guy to learn something, or learn something myself.
Now, in the inspector’s defense… there is a “dogs on board” sticker on the cap and there was a kennel in the back on inspection day. He may have been trying to look out for potential pups on board but still.. not really following inspection regulation imo.
Lastly, I think if it’s up for interpretation/debate, the inspector shouldn’t reject. Rejections should only be due to explicit violations. I’ll keep you guys posted.

 

Law makes no mention of animals, only "passengers," which is likely defined as living human occupants in some other section of the VC.
Also, did he note the sticker or the kennel on the rejection report, or document with pics? If not, then they don't exist. (Tip: remove them when you pursue your case, be it filing a complaint of re-inspection, just to avoid giving them any excuse).

 

I had a "baby on board" suction sticker thing on the back of my shell when I had the shell, but that doesn't mean that the baby was in the shell. Like others have said, ditch the kennel and reassess.

-J

 

Spoke to the trooper for the inspection site and he pretty much tried to copsplain to me and more or less said he would side with the inspector. Told
him I’d call back if I wanted to refute further, which I did after a couple hours.
Will be meeting with trooper on Monday for him to snap pics and check it out and decide.
Not long after that phone call he texted me:
“I have requested more clarification in this matter from the Master Trooper that I work with. I will look at the vehicle and make the final call Monday.”
I find his text interesting considering he initially seemed quite certain the inspector was correct.
Update pending

 

Met the trooper at Firestone on Monday and…..
Got a sticker! Didn’t need to remove cap or anything. Pulled up next to his car, we shook hands, he took a look at the exhaust and told me I was spot on with the inspection manual and that the exhaust just needed to go passed the passenger compartment. He apparently consulted some master troopers that notified him it wasn’t grounds to reject the exhaust.
Anyway, brought my key into Firestone and the inspector was pissed! Regardless I got my sticker without having to take it to my usual inspector (and pay again) or remove the cap.