I had to get my car smogged today (that’s CA for inspected), so everything is ok, except the gas cap, or so the mechanic/attendant tells me. Apparently it doesn’t fit properly or something. It is a replacement cap, but I did get it from a Honda dealer, (I own a Civic).
So, basically, I won’t pass inspection unless I have a new gas cap, and, conveniently enough, they sell gas caps that fit my car for just $12. Am I just a skeptic or did I just get bamboozled?
It has to do with venting your gas tank, and it’s worth it. An improperly vented gas tank can cause your fuel pump to fail, resulting in fuel starvation for the engine. In case you can’t guess, that results in you on the side of the road. Twelve clams seems a small price to pay, though I am sure the convenience is for their benefit, not yours.
I just knew all those hours wasted listening to Car Talk would pay off one day!
I think it’s becuase an old gas cap, with corroded gaskets, dosen’t seal very well. There is supposedly a constant stream of gas vapor leaking into the atmosphere. I’ve heard theories that upto 30% or so of all hydrocarbon polution in our air is due to leaky gas caps, but I’ve never seen any scientific corroboration.
Why don’t you send Democritus over to b---- slap the guy? Then maybe you’ll get a discount. 
I believe the other posters, but I had never heard of a gas cap needing changing for a smog certification.
My bitch-slapping services are $50/per bitch. She spent the $12 wisely, even with the 50% family discount she still came out ahead by $13.
Hard to say, but all the same take it somewhere else next time. My husband used to take his someplace that would repeatedly tell him they wouldn’t issue the cert unless he had the plugs replaced BY THEM, regardless of the fact that they were brand new.
I guess mechanics feel they have the opportunity to rip you off when you don’t have many choices. For example, state vehicle inspections. In many places you have to have one, so what can you do if the mechanic says you have to “fix” something? You pay before hand, so if you take your car to some other shop, you have to pay all over again.
Twice, in two different states, I was told my muffler did not pass. The first time, I took my car over to Midas and had them look at it. “Nope, nothing wrong here” (passing up a great opportunity to make a bundle selling me a muffler–they knew I was in a spot.) Instead, they signed a statement saying that my muffler was fine. I then spoke with the inspection station manager. All of a sudden, my muffler passes inspection. Imagine that.
Second instance, different car. Again, muffler does not pass. It’s a Midas, so I take it to them. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with it, but since it’s under warranty, we’ll just fix you up with a new one.” Okay, new muffler passed inspection. But the inspection station did nick me for $18 wiper blades (again, unnecessary; but I figured I’d let them have their wiper blades before they discovered some “problem” with my brakes).
Once I had a cracked windshield. Went to the autoglass place.
“That’ll be $400, but don’t worry, we’ll file with your insurance.”
“I don’t have windshield coverage. I can’t afford that. Later.”
“Oh, in that case, it’ll only be $100.”
See the scam? And you wonder why your insurance rates are so high.
Really Democritus? US$50?
OK then, I’ll pay you US$50 (and add in a 15% tip) if you go b----- slap Jesse Ventura, governor of Minnesota.
(P.S. I’m not trying to be coy by using hyphens, I just do it out of deference to a dear friend of mine, now married and moved to Texas, who had a policy of chastising anyone who used the b---- word in her presence unless they were referring to a female dog. She had a special aversion to the expression “b---- slap”.)
My pleasure Arnie. Kindly send a money order for the $50, plus a working allowance of $2000 for taking the time off and travel expenses, as well as a round trip ticket to the closest airport to Jesse. Then you can consider him bitch slapped by one of the best!
(Thinking about waiving the $50 fee in this case just because I hate wrestling so much…)
I see how this works. I’m on to your little scam buddy. Your offer of b---- slapping is only your way of trying to get paid vacations. Nuts to you! 
P.S. I have nothing against Jesse Ventura in particular but I figured that if our friend Democritus had the cojones to b---- slap the governor of Minnesota it would make the news and bring additional publicity to the SDMB.
Dem, what about hospital costs when Jesse “The Body” does one of those fancy WWF moves on you after your bitch-slap?
Gotta figure in all your expenses, my friend!
Eh, you people are rookies. Jesse wouldn’t touch me. It would be his downfall. You see, you have to plan all this stuff out. Anyway, I’d make it look like he was assaulting me and the bitch slap was in self defense. The judge would feel so bad that a grown man actually was bitch slapping another man in self defense, he’d award me with a huge punitive damages settlement.
Hijacked by my own sweetie, what has this board come to?
::shaking head::
Jesse has officially renounced his former “The Body” label, and now wants to be known as Jesse “The Mind”. He would probably try to out-think you Demo (good luck Jesse, SDMBers are not to be out-thought).
When he fails at this, he will become distressed, and insist that you have coused him mental anguish. You can guess the rest…
Sili
Sorry Psycat, I just realize how badly I’ve highjacked your thread - the $12.00 is nothin’ - consider yourself in the winning circle. I’ve noticed that the guys who run the smog stations are ALWAYS trying to sell something to ‘help you pass’ the test. I’ve had everthing from $10.00 to $200.00 quoted, and be default refuse everything, and go to another station. I’ve found a few who are good to work with and stick with those. Since you’re in No Cal try Quality Tune Ups - they have been good so far.
Sili
Oh please Demo couldn’t bitch slap his way out of a Brittney Spears concert.
Now me on the other hand is the bitch slappin king. And I only charge 25 dollars for bitch slap.
lol trad! Don’t sweat it, i was kidding, you guys have carte blanche, it’s more amusing than a stupid old gas cap anyway!
Me is? What would Professor Strunk say?
:: Bitch slapping TS with a gas cap (Just to stay on topic.) ::
Dearest, you know I would never intentionally hijack your topic don’t you?