Emissions Testing

[RyanbabZ71]

Anyone have to take their trucks to be emission tested? Darn indiana legislation changed it and I had to take mine in this yr (for upcoming 04 registration). It used to be every that when your vehicle turned 5 yrs you had to take it in and then every 2 yrs now its when it turns 4 and every 2 yrs after that.

 

I took mine in today. Passed with flying colors. They plugged their computer into the OBD and did a reading that way. Very easy

[Shaners]

Alot of counties here in PA have had emmision testing for years and years... Our county is starting in January.

 

It's a simple test for now, where all OEM pollution controls have to be intact (visual) and a leak test is performed on the gas cap.

 

It will cost us probably an extra $5-$10 for our annual State Inspection now...

[JimG]

Too bad you've never had the fun of New Jersey inspections. They use to be once a year, regardless of vehicle age. They FINALLY changed it. For 2001 and newer, the first emissions inspection is in 4 years. After that I think it's every 2 years. And even better, they use the OBD II port, and check your emissions that way. Downside is you CANNOT have a check engine light on ... if you do, you automatically fail. Could be something as stupid as the gas cap not being on tight.

Anyway .... that's how it works in Jersey. I'm safe til '07

[carguru]

It's every year here in NC. They just started to do the OBDII plug last year. Half of our fleet still has to do the tailpipe test.

[Z71GUY]

Yep, since I moved to the city, I have to get that d**n inspection as well. Passed everytime.

 

Shaners, dont you live near Mercer county? I'm surprised they are passing it up there. Butler Co. doesnt have to do it yet...not sure if there are any plans either.

[bigdogs]

I used to live in LA and dealt with that smog testing for long enough. Here in WI they do it too (altho my DMax is exempt) but it is free, where in LA it was like $30+ and that was years ago.

[Shaners]

Shaners, dont you live near Mercer county? I'm surprised they are passing it up there. Butler Co. doesnt have to do it yet...not sure if there are any plans either.

Yep!!! I live in Mercer county. I'm surprised that it is happening here too!!!

 

This is really putting the squeeze on the small mechanic/inspection garage, because they are now required to buy a special computer ($4K) so that they can check the gas cap. They also have to buy a dedicated phone line for this computer so that it can download the results to Harrisburg ($4 per call). They will have to do alot of Inspections to make up that investment...

[RyanZ71]

Here in the Denver metro area we have had tough emissions testing for years now. All 1982+ vehicles require a state run Dyno test (unless you drive a vehicle that is not a diesel and is over 8500GVW in which case those and 1981 and prior vehicles get the tailpipe test) they could only be done at 15 locations throughout the metro area so wait times were always big and complaints were always big as well. I would know, I worked for one of the stations for about a year and a half. They have just now started a new road side test in which a van will be parked on the onramp to a highway and as you drive by the van it samples your vehicle to determine the emission levels. We don't have a safety inspection so to say though I think it would be wise if we did. Alot of people out there like to drive around with burned out headlights and brake lights and other safety related issues and not want to do anything about it. all 1982+ vehicles have to be tested every 2 years and 1981 and older vehicles get done every year except if you have a Collectors Vehicle (anything over 20 years old I believe) in which its every 5 or 6 years. Check engine lights and gas caps were the common reaons vehicles failed the emissions test here. If the check engine light is on while the vehicle is operating then the vehicle will fail the test even if it passes the emissions part. Gas caps not sealing properly would cause a failure in the test. The 02 (oxygen) sensor was the most replaced part of the emissions system on vehicles when vehicles would fail. Very common for 02 sensors to wear out and fail at around 80,000-100,000 miles on many many vehicles, and FYI if your 02 sensor is bad it will NOT always trigger a check engine light. Even on the newer vehicles. I personally recomend having the 02 sensors replaced at every 100,000 miles (80,000 miles on Jeeps)

 

Cost of inspection = 24.25 for 1982+ vehicles 15.00 for 1981 and older vehicles.

Cost of registering a new vehicle in colorado= more $$$ then you make a month.

[JayMan]

The 02 (oxygen) sensor was the most replaced part of the emissions system on vehicles when vehicles would fail. Very common for 02 sensors to wear out and fail at around 80,000-100,000 miles on many many vehicles, and FYI if your 02 sensor is bad it will NOT always trigger a check engine light. Even on the newer vehicles. I personally recomend having the 02 sensors replaced at every 100,000 miles (80,000 miles on Jeeps)

 

Cost of inspection = 24.25 for 1982+ vehicles 15.00 for 1981 and older vehicles.

Cost of registering a new vehicle in colorado= more $$$ then you make a month.

I think O2 sensors should be listed as replacement items in servicing, You're right, they do degrade over time, and the MIL only turns on when the sensor is shot - You will experience poor fuel economy and poor performance long before that happens. You could also damage the catalytic converter.

 

City driving is the absolute worse, you're lucky if the O2 sensor lasts 40,000 miles. I personally would never try to get more than 100,000 miles out of an O2 sensor.

 

When I used to live in Salt Lake City, both Salt Lake County and Utah County had their yearly I/M. The county test facility had the dyno and the fancy equipment, and you had to book at least 2 months in advance. Dealers had the tailpipe sniffer. Many small garages didn't do I/M as they couldn't justify the Gas Analyser cost (At least $4-6 thousand).