Inspection questions

ManglerYJ

ManglerYJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Lexington, NC
Does anyone know for sure if your vehicle has to have brights (hi-beams) in order to pass inspection in NC? For some reason when I installed a new steering column in my YJ, the new column was meant for a vehicle with a floor mounted dimmer switch and the lights are stuck on hi-beams. I can easily switch two wires to make them regular headlights, but is there anything that says I have to have both?

I do also have off-road lights mounted to my windshield (talk about high beams!), so will those suffice even though they are on a separate switch?

Also, is there anything that says where a horn button must be located, or just within reasonable reach of the driver? I was thinking of just putting that button on the dash. I know they test the horn when they inspect the vehicle, that's why I need to put a horn button on.

Thanks in advance, and please.... no guessing at this. I can do that! I need to know for sure before I spend a bunch of time on something that isn't even checked for.
 
20‑131. Requirements as to headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps.

(a) The headlamps of motor vehicles shall be so constructed, arranged, and adjusted that, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, they will at all times mentioned in G.S. 20‑129, and under normal atmospheric conditions and on a level road, produce a driving light sufficient to render clearly discernible a person 200 feet ahead, but any person operating a motor vehicle upon the highways, when meeting another vehicle, shall so control the lights of the vehicle operated by him by shifting, depressing, deflecting, tilting, or dimming the headlight beams in such manner as shall not project a glaring or dazzling light to persons within a distance of 500 feet in front of such headlamp. Every new motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor‑driven cycle, registered in this State after January 1, 1956, which has multiple‑beam road‑ lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted. Said indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.
Click to expand...

Doesn't say you have to have both beams...

§ 20‑125. Horns and warning devices.

(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet
Click to expand...

Doesn't say where the button is!

You're gonna have a harder time with the headlights, since it talks about the ability to dim them... but, it's to dim them so that they do not project a dazzling light at 500 feet, blah blah blah, but with low beams only, I'd say you're covered.

P.S. Cover the off-road lights...
 
When I was working at a garage in High Point, we had vehicles come in all the time with a horn button mounted on the dash. It should be no problem. Just make sure you tell them where the horn button is when you take it in. :)
 
We aren't in Ca...they arent strict enough to actually check. And if you find a shop that does, go to another or find a friend that works at one.

Either way, it sucks driving towards some asshat that doesn't know how to turn off his brights late at night, so get it fixed...and while you're at it, wire them to where you can use your high and low beams at the same time.
 
Richard,
I was told if you have it it must work.
That was for a plate light. Had two and one worked in this case.
The blazer has 4 headlights so I could see them saying for me that they need to work but for you having two one would think that if light is coming out of them it would be passed as long as it was not the high beams.
Jon
 
Rich said:
Doesn't say you have to have both beams...



Doesn't say where the button is!

You're gonna have a harder time with the headlights, since it talks about the ability to dim them... but, it's to dim them so that they do not project a dazzling light at 500 feet, blah blah blah, but with low beams only, I'd say you're covered.

P.S. Cover the off-road lights...
Click to expand...


So far, they haven't given me any fits about the off-road lights, but I think I will have to break down and get a floor mounted dimmer switch and figure out which wires to tap into to rig it. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
If it is a factory installed item such as little orange lights across the roof even it must work. I don't remember them checking hi beams but I would have it functional just in case
 
ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE HIGH BEAMS. every time i have sat thru the inspection class they pounded that one in our head, as well as no white light from behind the vehicle, no light covers, and no neon crap under the car.
all factory lights must work. horn button has to be in reach of the driver and the horn must be audible from 50 yards or something like that.

i agree, wire them so all lights come on when on high beam, nothing illegal about that. off road lights must be covered while on surface streets but that is not checked by the inspection station, but by the po po i think.
 
Greg - not doubting that you were told that.. but this is just like that whole "weighted tag on an SUV" thing.. the law states what I quoted above... The rest of each chapter dealt with what's not allowed, (like white light from behind, etc) so I didn't include it.

If the inspector tried to fail me, I'd ask him to show it in writing.
 
Straight from the NC Inspection Procedure sheet behind my head:

Headlights for:
1. Illumination
2. Proper Aim
3. Condition of the lamps, wiring and switch
4. Beam indicator (when required)

Horn has to audible for 200 feet. No mention of button placement.

Hope this helps.
 
beams

I am an official inspector for north carolina, and for every dmv officer that has ever been in my shop and for every inspection class I have ever been to, you have to have both high and low beams, the indicator in the dash must work, and you must be able to operate them from inside the vehicle within reach of the driver. No ifs ands or butts if the vehicle came with it it has to work. If you get pulled over you can recieve a ticket for improper equipment.
Although most dealerships with an insoection station are very strict, try to find an old hole in the wall place and go near closing time, they want to go home so bad they will often pass anything! I think some of the rules are gay, but its my job. Hope this was helpful. :smokin:
 
Rich, if you questioned it, all they would do is tell you to call a inspector. You might end up at a challenge station. Either way, sounds like a lot of trouble for the cost of a dimmer switch. :D Horn buttons call be anywhere with reach of the driver. Kinda like broken windshields and tires, a judgment call on the part of the inspector.
 
As it turns out, I pulled the connector from the steering column and it has the same wiring configuration as the foot dimmer switch that I bought, so I plugged it in and mounted the dimmer below the dash (kinda funky, but it works). Horn was 2 wires, so I hooked it up as well.

As it turns out, I took it back to the same guy who inspected it last year and he remembered my Jeep (go figure!), so he took a quick glimpse at everything and issued the sticker without question.
 
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