You know you're an ecomodder if/when...

[Diesel_Dave]

YKYAEI...you look a the weather forcast and are disappointed when you see that the warm, sunny day in the forcast falls on the weekend (when you don't have to drive).

[euromodder]

YKYAEM when ...

You have to deflate your tyres to make sure the car passes its annual inspection.
(You don't want it to fail the suspension test due to 178,000 km / 110,000 mile shocks not responding well to the vibration test.)

You think the car feels like a lead slug and coasts like a Shuttle's drag 'chute with the tyres at the manufacturer-specified pressure.

The fuel station's compressor you use to re-inflate the tyres kicks in 4 times - once for each tyre

[bestclimb]

Originally Posted by euromodder

YKYAEM when ...

You have to deflate your tyres to make sure the car passes its annual inspection.
(You don't want it to fail the suspension test due to 178,000 km / 110,000 mile shocks not responding well to the vibration test.)

You think the car feels like a lead slug and coasts like a Shuttle's drag 'chute with the tyres at the manufacturer-specified pressure.

The fuel station's compressor you use to re-inflate the tyres kicks in 4 times - once for each tyre

That sounds like my version of hell. Oh here are the forms you need to fill out to get your shoes checked by the inspector, we can't have you walking on public sidewalk with soles that may be worn out of spec.

[Mustang Dave]

YKYAEM when there's rain in tonight's forecast, so you park your car outside the garage and hope for a free car wash.

[Weather Spotter]

When you spend time to visit a fellow em member to help them mod their car , and they live several states away.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by euromodder

You have to deflate your tyres to make sure the car passes its annual inspection.
(You don't want it to fail the suspension test due to 178,000 km / 110,000 mile shocks not responding well to the vibration test.)

Do they really require you to pass an annual suspension test?

If so, what is the criteria for passing? How would a Chopper "hard-tail" pass a suspension test when it has no rear suspension?

[wmjinman]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

You Might be a ecomodder when reading the above post you wonder where the build thread is

- but I still don't have the thing yet!

I did spend the day doing "mileage vs. speed tests" with my 2000 GMC Jimmy, though. I found out the best fuel economy speed in "stock" condition is 40 mph. I averaged 32.3 mpg at that speed, and was very pleased. But, one question: will the ScanGauge be off for mpg before the second fill-up "calibration" is done?

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by bestclimb

That sounds like my version of hell.

It's not too bad, just a nuisance.
What angers me most is they can't seem to spot problems regardless.
So what's the point of doing the testing ?

Most cars fail for non-adjusted lights and corrosion.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Do they really require you to pass an annual suspension test?

If so, what is the criteria for passing?

Mandatory yearly inspection from the time a car is 4 years old - trucks (big and small) have to go every year.
Also mandatory before selling a car to a private person.

The suspension test is part of the testing.
Apparently the amount of damping at constantly varying frequencies, and left / right balance in the system.
Even to me - as the daily driver of this thing - the suspension feels on its way out. Still passes with flying colours !
Last year I went light with the tyres at sidewall max - nearly failed the test.
This year I did go with a full fuel tank, flat tyres, and the spare tyre and some other OEM junk in the trunk though - putting more inert weight on the suspension

When they introduced it, light cars like the brand new Fiat 500 would fail the test. The rear was too light for it to pass !

How would a Chopper "hard-tail" pass a suspension test when it has no rear suspension?

In Belgium there's no test for bikes - yet.
Dunno if a suspension test is part of the mandatory German bike test.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Mustang Dave

YKYAEM when there's rain in tonight's forecast, so you park your car outside the garage and hope for a free car wash.

When it's raining and the vehicles need a wash, on go the shorts and I go wash them in the rain- still with bucket and hose- as I'm gonna end up soaked anyway. It just helps a lot with the baked-on grime and it doesn't dry out between "sections" that I'm working on. And the soft water rinse is the best.

BTW during rain is the best time to clean house gutters.

[MetroMPG]

You know you're an ecomodder when...

you have exploded the air hose on your bicycle pump... while pumping up your car's tires. (Man, that was loud! Went off like a firecracker.)

Fixed it: there's now a slightly shorter air hose on the pump.