Questions for Houston, TX members.

[Fett]

My Wife, Daughter, and I are planning on moving to the Houston area next year. Most likely the Kingwood area...my folks just bought a house there and they love the area. With the insane home prices here in South Florida....plus the constant threat of hurricanes and a horrible school system...the move makes sense.

Anyway, I have two questions.

With the state inspections out there, what do you guys do? I know that when we had emissions testing here in Florida, we had to find ways around it. Usually it was $50 to the "sniffer guy" and we would pass. How do you do it out there? Is it hard to pass? My only problem would be emissions...everything else about my coupe is perfectly fine...but I KNOW it wouldn't pass emissions out here. I am trying to decide if I want to bring my car out there with me...or sell it here and start over when I get settled.

Also, anybody in the Ford business? I am wondering what the job market is out there for a good counterman. I am a back counterman...and very darn good at it...if I do say so myself. I would rather stay on the back counter for two reasons...one, I hate the public. Two, I work much better with techs. Any of you in the business know that it takes a "special" kind of person to be able to handle working side-by-side with technicians. Anyway, I am just wondering how the market is out there for a good Ford back-counterman.

 

[PONYMAN1958]

My Wife, Daughter, and I are planning on moving to the Houston area next year. Most likely the Kingwood area...my folks just bought a house there and they love the area. With the insane home prices here in South Florida....plus the constant threat of hurricanes and a horrible school system...the move makes sense.

Anyway, I have two questions.

With the state inspections out there, what do you guys do? I know that when we had emissions testing here in Florida, we had to find ways around it. Usually it was $50 to the "sniffer guy" and we would pass. How do you do it out there? Is it hard to pass? My only problem would be emissions...everything else about my coupe is perfectly fine...but I KNOW it wouldn't pass emissions out here. I am trying to decide if I want to bring my car out there with me...or sell it here and start over when I get settled.

Also, anybody in the Ford business? I am wondering what the job market is out there for a good counterman. I am a back counterman...and very darn good at it...if I do say so myself. I would rather stay on the back counter for two reasons...one, I hate the public. Two, I work much better with techs. Any of you in the business know that it takes a "special" kind of person to be able to handle working side-by-side with technicians. Anyway, I am just wondering how the market is out there for a good Ford back-counterman.

Inspections here in Houston run around 36.00 plus taxes, under $40.00.
They do the basics checks like signals,horn,brakes.lights,emmision testing ...
You can get it done at most gas stations.
I can hook you up with a good mechanic if you need your inspection done & don't want to be taken.

 

[PONYMAN1958]

Yes, Houston has plenty of good Ford Dealerships, shouldn't be much of a problem for you to find work in one in that area.

 

[Fett]

I appreciate the reply. I'm not really worried about how much it costs....I am more concerned with passing. I will gladly pay the fee, I just don't know how to get around the emissions side of it.

I have a typical setup, ported heads, headers, x-pipe, Flowmasters, and all emissions items removed. So it is safe to assume I will fail. I just don't know how to get around it.

 

[deftsound]

I live in galveston which is an hour from houston and since i have a 99 gt i can pass even with my offroad h pipe with no cats.

What they do is hook up their computer to your cars computer and if any codes pop up regarding emissions you fail, since i have a diablo tuner i can turn off the rear o2 sensors thus disabling the emission code.

 

[Fett]

Oh wait, so they don't actually "sniff" the car? They just scan the PCM to check for codes?

 

[deftsound]

on my car yes, but if you got a fox mustang their gonna sniff it

 

[Fett]

Oh....then yea, they will sniff me.

That is going to be my biggest problem, passing inspection due to emissions. Back when we had emissions testing down here in Florida, we had to find ways around it. You could get lucky and get someone willing to take a few bucks to pass you....but sometimes you would have to go to great lengths to pass, then switch back.

I assume it is the same in Texas, where if you don't pass....you don't get a sticker.

 

[PONYMAN1958]

Oh wait, so they don't actually "sniff" the car? They just scan the PCM to check for codes?

Most shops are not really that strict unless your car is really below par when it comes to exhaust.
Fumes, smoke,hole in muffler \ pipes etc ...
IMO, you will not have a problem.