Reviving a Salvage/Junk Title in California Options

[busterphysic]

Hello World!

I’m working to “Revive a Junk Title” on a 914 in California.
The 914 was registered in California when it was in an accident and
declared a total loss by insurance. I got the car with ABetter.bid from
CoPart Auctions in Long Beach, CA.

I completed the accident related repairs. Yay!!!

Now, I’m focusing on reviving the salvage/junk title. I’d like to prioritize the
work, so I can get a license plate and wheels on the road ASAP. Then continue
with less critical repairs.



The two steps ahead are passing a Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI).
Then the CHP Verification of Vehicle. I'll post about the CHP Verification later.

So, I found the California VSSI manual here:
https://www.bar.ca.gov/pdf/manuals/VSSI.pdf

Running through the VSSI manual it appears more difficult than I expected.
And I might need to repair a lot of incidentals. Rats!

My neighbor Robert suggested I consult the forum before going overboard.

My 914s concerns:

VSSI 3.4.A Windshield Wipers
A) “Every wiper activates and operates as designed by the manufacturer.”
My wipers only run at a single, slow speed. Fast wipe is slow. Will I fail?

VSSI 3.6 Seatbelt
“If the vehicle is equipped with any seatbelt warning lights or seatbelt alarms,
every seatbelt light or seatbelt alarm in the vehicle must be functioning as designed
by the manufacturer.”
My Seatbelt light and starter interlock don’t work. Do I need to fix the handbrake
switch, seatbelt buckle switches, passenger seat cushion switch, seatbelt dash light,
starter interlock, buzzer relay et cetera just to pass this VSSI???!!!
My current seatbelts are “Worn”. They release and retract reluctantly, and the webbing
was stretched in the crash. I purchased, but haven’t yet installed, Rennline seatbelts: https://www.rennline.com/rennline-retractab...lt-sku-sa-5053/

These seatbelts don’t have Safety switches in the buckles. Will these seatbelts pass?

VSSI 4.2.C Tire Pressure
C) “... inflation specification is normally recorded on label …”
I have 195/55R15 85V Toyos instead of the 155 SR15 tires listed on the OEM
label. Do I need to add a new label? Switch tires?

VSSI 5.8.2 Parking Brake Light
“The dashboard parking brake light turns on/off …”
Seriously??? Rats!

VSSI 7.2.B Bumpers
“... verify vehicle has bumpers (as equipped by the manufacturer)…”
Do I need to but the horns on the bumpers?

VSSI 7.2.D Unibody
“...Inspect for damage that could allow gasses or fumes into passenger compartment”
I have some small tears under the center tunnel. Do I need to fix these now or later?


Thanks All!!! And sorry for the length.

Dave

[busterphysic]

Hi All,
I see now that I need a CHP check not DMV.

So, it's not the Verification of Vehicle form I'm after.
It's the CHP Certificate of Inspection (CHP 97C).
Mostly about stolen VINs and parts. So, no extra
worries there.

Does someone have information about the CHP
inspection or the CHP97C form? I haven't found anything
online.


Thanks!
-Dave

[fiacra]

Hi All,
I see now that I need a CHP check not DMV.

So, it's not the Verification of Vehicle form I'm after.
It's the CHP Certificate of Inspection (CHP 97C).
Mostly about stolen VINs and parts. So, no extra
worries there.

Does someone have information about the CHP
inspection or the CHP97C form? I haven't found anything
online.


Thanks!
-Dave

I'll confirm what Jeff already told you -- California smog check only required on vehicles MY 1976 and newer. Re-registering a vehicle that now will have a salvage title requires a brake and light inspection from a certified shop. Easy enough to do. The CHP will require you to make an appointment for the VIN inspection. I simply went to my local CHP office in Oakland, CA and made an appointment. Trying to call them to do it was a nightmare. They were booking several weeks out at that time. I believe I had to get the form in person from the CHP at the time of my appointment, but it also possible that the DMV gave me the form to take to the CHP. It has been a few years. You can also pay a private firm to come to your house to do the inspection. That cost me just over $100 when I did that on a non-operational vehicle that had fallen out of the DMV system, whereas the CHP inspection is free. Technically in California you are not allowed to operate a car on public roads that does not have its correct smog equipment on it. That means the car has to have FI and not carbs. Having said that, you are not going to run into any problems with your current set up unless they are looking to make trouble for you. Unless things have changed nobody is going to check this when you go to re-register the car. Bottom line: you probably need to go to the DMV to get the process started. You can get the brake and light inspection in advance of that, but I don't believe you can get the CHP form. You can call the DMV and speak to a specialist and that will probably give you the best guidance here.

If for some reason you make the decision to go back to a FI 2.0L engine (opinions definitely vary on this, but many of us believe that is the way to go) feel free to ping me. I have two engines with the complete FI set up sitting in storage. Not sure how I managed to accumulate so many engines and FI components, but I guess we all feel the need to fill our storage spaces to the rafters (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)