Safety Inspection Process

The vehicle must pass a safety inspection in accordance with the procedure and standards set forth in the RI Official Manual for Vehicle Inspection. This will include inspection of but will not be limited to the Safety Inspection items below.

Safety Inspection Items

  1. Headlamps
  2. Horn
  3. Master cylinder
  4. Mirrors
  5. Parking lamps
  6. Parking brakes
  7. Plates and plate light
  8. Reflectors
  9. Registration certificate
  10. Seat belts
  11. Seats
  12. Side market lamps
  13. Springs, torsion bars, shocks
  14. Steering, alignment and suspension
  15. Stop lamps
  16. Tail lamps
  17. Tires
  18. Transmission
  19. Universal joints
  20. Wheels
  21. Wheel safetychock blocks
  22. Windshield wipers
  23. Windshield
  1. ABS Light
  2. Air bag light
  3. Back up lamps
  4. Ball joints
  5. Body items
  6. Brakes (ABS)
  7. Brake drums and discs
  8. Brake failure warning lamp
  9. Brake lining or pads
  10. Brake performance
  11. Brake pedal reserve
  12. Bumper (rear end protection)
  13. Check engine light
  14. Clearance lamps>
  15. Directional signals
  16. Doors (front latches)
  17. Emergency brake
  18. Emissions
  19. Exhaust system
  20. Fenders and flaps
  21. Floor and other panels
  22. Fuel tank - cap
  23. Glass
  24. Hazard switch

Emissions Inspection Process

The emissions test performed on the vehicle will be determined by the vehicle model year and equipment (drive type, traction control etc.) the vehicle will receive one of the following test types:

OBD

The OBD inspection evaluates your vehicle's emissions status via its onboard computer. The OBD inspection occurs through the connection of the OBD-II SAE standardized vehicle port to the inspection analyzer.

1.     An on-board diagnosis system inspection failure occurs when either: Current Diagnostic Trouble Codes are indicated and the Malfunction Indicator Light is commanded on.

2.    The malfunction indicator light (MIL) does not illuminate at all when the vehicle is in the key-on/engine-off condition, even if no diagnostic trouble codes are present and the MIL has not been commanded on.

3.    (a) For 2001 and newer vehicles, more than one readiness monitor in a vehicle's on-board computer is not set as ready; or

(b) For 1996-2000 vehicles, more than two readiness monitors in a vehicle's on-board computer are not set as ready.

Connection

To start the procedure, the inspector connects a communication cable from emissions analyzer to the Diagnostic Link Connector located in your vehicle. The emissions analyzer simply reads data from your vehicle's computer; no changes are made to your vehicle or its data.

Communication

If the vehicle's OBD system is not communicating with the inspection analyzer do to a vehicle defect it is cause for failure.

About Readiness

The computer in your vehicle performs diagnostic tests on certain emissions systems while you are driving. These system monitors are usually "Ready" or "Complete", unless there's a pending problem with a particular system. Sometimes system monitors become not ready if the vehicle's battery has been disconnected or if the vehicle computer's memory has been erased. As part of the OBD-II test, the analyzer checks to see how many of these system monitors are "not ready", If more than one (1) monitor MY 2001 and more than two (2) monitors MY 1996-2000 read "not ready", then the vehicle will fail the OBD-II test.

Maintain Your OBD-II Vehicle's Readiness Status

Some vehicles require extensive driving to reset certain system readiness monitors. Do not disconnect the battery on your vehicle. If your vehicle is in for service, ask your technician not to clear the computer's memory, since this will only unset the system readiness monitors and result in your vehicle failing the OBD-II test.

About Your OBD-II Vehicle's MIL

If your vehicle's MIL is flashing or blinking, you should have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible. The flashing light may indicate that there is an engine misfire, and extensive driving with a misfire could damage your vehicle's catalytic converter.