Questions for a VA mechanic

[slateman]

Well, I had to get my POS 86 NOVA safety inspected today and, suprise, it failed. Here's the list:

Center Rear Taillight out
Left sidelight out (not actual tail light)
Tires worn

and the coup de gras-
Leaking exhast

WTF does a leaking exhast have to do with safety? I could understand the lights and tires but the exhast? Keep in mind that this wasn't emissions but just the safety inspection.

If I got the lights fixed and had new tires put on could a mechanic overlook the exhaust? I'm not saying do anything illegal or unethincal, but could I still get the inspection sticker with a leaky exhaust?

Any help?

[krafty]

While not a VA mechanic, I can maybe answer this for you. A leaky exhaust becomes a safety issue because carbon monoxide can filter up through the underside of the car into the cabin. A couple of kids I went to college with actually had this happen to them on a drive back from break, they nodded off and drove off the road. No serious injuries, but still scared the heck out of them.

Leaky exhaust=loud exhaust as well, and it could also be a simple sound issue.

[ASDadam]

Depending on where you are it means alot. In CA you fail your inspection because of Environmental issues with the leaking exhaust. It also fails because it is a fault in the stock exhaust system which is not good. Just replace or fix the leaky part. If its a pipe, either get the pipe repair kit or get somone to weird you a new piece. If its the muffler replace it, not a very expensive or hard thing to do.