Hi,

I had my car in for its NYS inspection today at the dealer. They failed the car for the following reasons and I quote:

1) Has frame rot. Has hole in frame in the left side.

2) Rear wiper not working

3) Left stay arm bushing

I don't think I've every heard of an inspection failure due to frame rot on a Volvo...especially since there is no frame. The rear wiper has not functioned for 10 years...why the concern now. I can understand the bushing. NYS inspection rules say nothing about the rear wiper and only address rust if it affects the suspension locating points.

Do these guys sound like they're out of their minds?

Since they left my old sticker on the car, I think I can have an inspection done someplace where the folks are a little more relaxed.

Thanks for any guidence,

Ted

I poked around with a scratch-awl today and was able to easily push through the rockers in a number of places. In fact, I was able to reach in with my hand and pull out chunks of metal that just crumpled in my hand. Several inches of the floor came off too. The inner rocker sheetmetal is gone too right into the seatbelt anchor. We're looking at $2-3K to fix this mess plus more if we get into the cosmetic rust that's on every body panel of the car.

-Ted

That's why I moved from NYS 15 years ago. I'm sure every car I own would fail dismally.

I hear that in MD, one rust hole fails you immediately!

Michigan: the land of the free (to drive a rustbucket), and the home of the brave (enough to drive a heap).

1st mistake was going to the dealer, Go to Tom Jones on Clinton St. Been going to him for years. If you need further info e-mail me offline, i can tell you all about him, we can xchange ph. #'s....Tom Wasney 240aholic

I took a look under the car to see what was going on. Here's the story- the floor/sheetmetal is basically gone underneath the attachment point for the front suspension right at the jack point for the front of the car.

How serious is this? Looks like they were justified to fail it. Is the fix for this so involved that I should kiss the car goodbye.

Thanks,

Ted

Ted, I'm in Washingtonville, right next to Newburgh. If you can't get the inspection, I could tell you a place that would do it, and you'd pass.........

My father replaced floorboards on the 85 240 wagon. Just took sheet metal, riveted it up, and tarred the edges to seal. If you afro-engineer it, it should work. About the NYS inspection, just take it someplace else, like someplace that won't even jack the car or check the brakes ;-)

Ted - Here in Houston there is never a need to salt roads, so when I bought a 1983 245GL and found a hole the oval shape of a football in the floor pan beneath the driver's seat I was flabbergasted. The previous owner knew of it, and it influenced her decision to trade it in. The hole was rusted through from the interior to the outside, due to a leaking heater a/c housing. With the seats, carpet and padding out, I could see a high-water-mark in all four foot-put areas of the floor pan. With only the driver's seat re-installed I took it to a nearby "jake-leg" body shop and he said no problem, welded in a new piece with some special arc welding and sprayed it with undercoating. Never had any problem with the repair. Your situation may differ in that the hole may be too close to the outer rails and some strength lost. Volvo likely built in some redundancy in the higher stress areas, you may do OK. BTW, mine cost $300, took two weeks. I was pleased. I believe the key for me was that the body guy could see what was needed, no guessing, and he likely needed the work. I have heard of creating one good car (an Infiniti) from two that were wrecked on opposite ends, and it's still being driven OK. Ask a shop B4 writing off the car. Good Luck, Bob

Ted, Where are you located? I'm upstate, finger lakes. good guys up here in the woods. let me know if you want details.

I'm in Poughkeepsie. Thanks for the offer. I was thinking of taking the car to Alan Auto in PA for their opinion.

-Ted