Post your experiences with Emissions laws in your state

[Ludachris]

I keep seeing smog discussions pop up here and there. It would be nice to build a thread where everyone who has had difficulty passing their state emissions test can post their experiences. Let's assume that all of your emissions equipment, if hooked up, was in good working order. We don't want to hear "my EGR valve was bad". That's a given. We're more interested in hearing what visual mods under your hood drew a red flag for your smog official, or what mods you have done that prevented you from passing the actual sniffer test (like cams, etc). If you haven't had a bad experience, and your car is heavily modded, let us know too (unless you know a buddy who passes your car - then we don't care).

This thread should serve two purposes:

1. To help those of us that want to know how far we can take our cars and still be able to pass the sniffer test, even if we can't necessarily pass the visual test in our state.

2. What visual mods prevented your car from being tested. We all know that CA has some of the most strict smog laws, and many shops will not even test your car if they see parts under your hood that do not look factory-installed.

Let's hear it guys. For those in Canada, post about Canadian emissions laws here:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165531

 

[Kalow]

Here in michigan there isnt any laws so do as you please.

 

[1LE]

Here in michigan there isnt any laws so do as you please.

...as long as you don't intend on keeping the car for more than a couple more years. After hearing that NW Ohio was due to get emissions checking in the 2008-2010 range I checked the official website with all the details (wish I could remember that link now, I'll have to go google for it). I was shocked to see that all of SE MI (including Detroit and surrounding) is scheduled to start ramping up in 2006 with full deployment by 2008! I never would have thought that would happen! Oh well. Funny how some areas are eliminating it while others are adding it. Luckily, the talk for NW OH is that we'll probably get the new laser thing that they park on the side of the road which does emissions as cars drive past and then photos the violators. You supposedly will only have to go to a testing center if you get tagged as a gross polluter (since there's tons of cars around that aren't emission controlled (old muscle cars, etc.) they must set that limit fairly high or they'll keep tagging those legal, but high emissions cars).

 

[jmadison]

Iowa has no emissions laws to much industrial equipment i suppose ie Tractors . You can run open downpipe as far as emission laws are concerned, then they might try to get you for noise pollution depending on the d!ck cops in your area

 

[1LE]

You can run open downpipe as far as emission laws are concerned

Well, as far as *enforcement* goes I suppose The cat and EGR laws are federal, so it doesn't matter what state you're in. However, there may not be anyone actually enforcing it in your state

 

[dsmgsx97]

No problems passing emission in Northern VA. All of my emission junk is still hooked up though. I've always been told it actually meters better than most new cars. That spanned from, stock, minor bolt-ons, profile setup except w/ Buschur stage 1 block.

Ian

 

[eagletalonesi84]

If you have a dsm you should move to Iowa. We never get checked for anything i dont even know if we have any emission laws. I got caught for drag racing once they didnt check any of my parts or anything i just got an 82 dollar ticket. I could believe it 82 it was a 50 dollar ticket but 32 for court costs.

 

[DSMCracka]

Got to love the fact that the Big 3 automakers and the auto lobby keep the regs here at slim to none with slim leaving the building. Guys in the classic scean run tubbed out rears with drag slicks, test pipes, full blowers that most states would get you stopped for blocking vission. The only time I have ever heard of a check in any form for anything here is if you have massave tire sticking out of the wheelwell or if you get caught racing on the east side of the state where they are trying to crack down. Even then most of the time the only thing you get is a ticket if you dont have a cat on the ride. ROCK THE HOME OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY!

 

[fwd-turd]

emissions??? whats that they dont do any of that around zanesville ohio, here we have rednecks with dodge cummins and 8in pieces of sewage pipe for exhaust that blow clouds of black smoke big enough to engulf there trucks and cops wave at them??? the only thing is every import is heavily watched my friends dad drove his civic to work (works at a honda dealership) he gets pulled over for loud exhaust and he is so easy on that car i dont understand?? then we also have harleys everyone loves these right??? the ones that have pipes that start as 1and a half the go to a 4 inch megaphone ive never seen one of these guys pulled over its crap, i asked a state highway patrol why this was and he gave me the run around story and a smile. and i also believe everyone in this town that owns a older chevy truck thinks its alright with just manifolds or headers or maybe nothing its hard to tell around here just my input ,and subaru's sound like crap that too

 

[turboguy25]

I live in fond du lac Wisconsin and here we have no smog or emmisions testing,yes we are luck,every where south of us in wisconsin has the testing but from fond du lac north their is none yet

 

[MikAbtII]

I live in Wake County North Carolina. Currently the state has us check all vehicles for "safety" and visual emissions. Most 1996 and newer OBDII vehicles get the scanner hooked into the port and its checked to make sure all the drive traces are ready and active and uses the factory sensors to ensure emissions. Most 1995 and older vehicles get a tailpipe test unless they weigh over 8800 pounds, then they just get safety. Starting January 2006 the state is canning the tailpipe inspection entirely in this county so all first gen and the 95s just have to worry about passing safety.

At the shop I work at I have seen a Late Model Trans Am beat the OBDII test with a set of Rear O2 simulators. I've also seen a couple days where the OBDII inspection scanner (which is connected directly to the state computers) pass any and everything that came in. I guess no system is perfect, right?

 

[Quicklynx]

The problem with my emmision was i had a breather kit, and that doesnt pass in Maryland. Also if your car doesnt pass the smog test, and you spend $300some dollars on trying to fix the problem, and you still fail the test you are exempt for 2 years.

 

[1LE]

The problem with my emmision was i had a breather kit, and that doesnt pass in Maryland. Also if your car doesnt pass the smog test, and you spend $300some dollars on trying to fix the problem, and you still fail the test you are exempt for 2 years.

Similar here in Ohio. EXCEPT that costs incurred replacing incorrect aftermarket parts/illegal modifications (anything that doesn't pass) do not count towards that dollar amount. So really, you only get to count things like broken stock stuff.

 

[Infinity03]

I recently had to get an echeck for my car which sat for 16 months and i passed with flying colors. I removed all of my vaccum lines including the EGR valve. I couldnt believe it. I just took it in for a "What the hell test". and it was the last day i could get it done.

As far as emissions are concerned all that i hade connected was a brand new 3" catalytic converter and i left in the walbro 255 pump (stock fuel delivery outside of that)

 

[papifry]

I believe it is a city / country thing down here... when I got my GSX one of the first things I did was gut the cat and slap on an apexi muffler... I then found out that in Dallas (100 miles away) they are requiring sniffer tests, and that it was spreading our way... So when it came time to get my inspection sticker I took it to a little Mexican tire shop that had a sign on the window that said inspection stickers - 12$. At first when the guy heard my car as it pulled into the bay, he immediately started eyeing the car like there might be a problem, so I had to act quick... since this gringo speaks spanish :WTF: , I started bullshitting with him. He was so thrown by the fact that im bilingual he completely forgot about my car. After about 15 min of small talk, he told me to go pay the cashier and she gave me my sticker.
It gets better...
A year went by and when it was time to get my sticker renewed, of course I went to the same place. This time they were kinda busy, but the owner remembered me, so he hollered into the office, and out comes his 11 year old daughter she quickly went over the basics... horn wipers blinker etc, and then she's like "ok 12 dollars por favor"

Im so glad I married a Mexican chick.. You would be surprised of the deals you can get if you know the lingo.

 

[projctWraith]

Other than being told to vent ALL engine gasses behind the air filter, emission laws havn't really hurt me .....yet. But replacing the crank case breather filter with the peice of hose before inspection isn't hard.

 

[91 TSI ZzZz]

I currently have a 91 TSI AWD that is heavily modded, but before this car I had a 92 3000gt VR-4, which we all know is one of the hardest cars to pass emissions even when stock. Anyway I had the worst experience with this car passing smog because my car, at this point after having 4 previous owners, was a TEST ONLY car. This just meant the government was on my ass even harder because it was government run program. In other words I couldn't just go to a 76 gas station to get smogged by a friend of mine. No, no I had to go to a goddamn government run smog shop because my car had to many previous owners. The smog shop guy was merciless no doubt. I failed smog 6 times before successfully passing. Each time I fixed something new on my car after failing smog, in hopes of passing the following time coming. Well everytime it failed because the emissions were so hard to pass. I found out they banned smog in Florida and I just about shot myself in the foot, though at this time I had already contemplated strangling the bastard that smogged my car due to his lack of ENGLISH.
It turned out, after replacing my front o2 sensor, my stock downpipe, and cleaning out my motor with the carbon killer, I ended up having to replace my injectors because they were leaky. I took my car to another guy and he somehow got it to pass. I dont wanna know how he did it because I don't think it would have passed considering the tests before replacing the injectors were 1000 for idle and carbon 1000.
CALIFORNIA, THE ONE PLACE IN THE DAMN UNIVERSE WHERE U SHOULD NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER SMOG UR TUNED CAR.

 

[shpyder]

I'm in CA. The auto laws here are incredibly controlling, be it emissions or just visual, the state of Cali will have you by the neck if youv'e got any upgrades.

I barely passed smog a week ago. Smog-test affecting modifications under the hood include an FMIC, a breather filter, a BOV, a boost controller, and an aftermarket T-28 turbo. These parts had no effect on the emissions aspect of smog, but they are a hinderence as far as the visual check goes. The visual check is all up to the smog technician. I got a good guy, and after we talked for a while and he felt comfortable with me, he ignored all the goodies under the hood.

On a side note, I asked about what effect a stroker kit would have on emissions. He told me that as long as you don't go out of your way to tell the technician you have an upgraded engine here in CA, a larger displacement will flow more air, and emissions should not be affected, so it still passes.

 

[akdsmer]

UPDATE -

Strangest thing -

I'm having the WORST luck with NOx on the Ohio E-Check.

Now my TSi is failing NOx, too.

First time I took the TSi in was literally a day after I put the aftermarket high-flow cat back on her after bringing her home from her previous owner (who supplied me with both that cat as well as the factory cat). Failed by over 700 ppm - and both the tech and I decided that perhaps the cat just wasn't hot enough yet.

Drove her around for another 3 weeks and re-tested today. Still high by 600 ppm, and we now both think that I might need to bolt back the OEM cat - that perhaps the aftermarket didn't have enough catalyst baffles?

Aftermarket catalysts are notoriously bad for NOx reduction. Almost all "hard to repair" NOx problems end with one of the following: ignition timing, engine temperature, EGR and Catalyst. The catalysts have to drop large amounts of NOx even after the EGR has done it's job. Aftermarket catalysts usually don't cut it on. That's why very few catalysts are CARB certified. Also, things such as block EGR ports also keep NOx high, since you don't get enough EGR to reduce the temperature of combustion.

 

[akdsmer]

All very nice, but the point of this thread isn't to explain how to cheat your way around the emissions laws and inspections. It's to explain how you got a car to pass inspection.

I'm with you. How to make your car pass...

FIRST: Resetting codes or disconnecting the battery erases the monitors, except for misfire, comprehensive components and fuel. All other start over with each reset/power loss. Fix the reason for the code, and then drive the drivecycles after looking at the following:


OBDII DSM's (1996 and newer. People have a hard time setting these. I have set 3 or 4 doing the following:

1) Verify that the coolant temperature is correct.
2) Verify that the idle switch pid reads OFF when you apply the throttle.
3) Make sure ALL loads are off (including A/C which doesn't matter here

UNDERSTAND:

That the monitor test will have to run twice to set to "complete".

Any voltage drop under 10.0V, especially under cranking conditions will reset the monitors.
These voltage drops can happen for 20mS upon initial cranking, called "counter electromotive force". I have many waveforms of this problem. I will find a way to post these here.. You will not see this with a digital meter. I use one of my labscopes, I'm not sure how to accurately test this without one. Maybe record mode on a higher end meter may catch the lowest voltage. This can be because of weak batteries (sounded fine to me) that dropped while cranking, because of bad starters (One Talon pulled 600 Amps for 40mS dropping the voltage to 8.9V (very good battery ) Sometimes you don't see this at the battery, but find it at the keep-alive power to the PCM. Voltage drops through the system drops the voltage when cranking and will be low enough at the PCM. I do all my tests at the PCM.

What happens is that you start the car and reset the monitors. You drive the car and set the pending monitors. You turn the car off and restart to rerun the monitors and you once again reset the PCM. Can you see the pattern?

This post can go on forever. The Load/Speed relationship is very tricky and almost requires a scan tool if you do not have very flat ground. I find myself using the brake to keep speed/load within range.

I will try to put together a complete list of problems, testing and repairs. Maybe someone can help me put together a FAQ for monitor/emission problems. All these cars I have repaired have passed with all monitors set, so it's not impossible!

 

[akdsmer]

I placed a waveform of cranking battery voltage in my gallery. Take a look at the amount of time it is under 10V. Not too long, 50mS or so, but long enough to keep the monitors from running to completion. New battery and it was fixed. I will add the cranking voltage after the battery to my gallery. This car started up just fine.

I'm getting pretty productive at night now that I have a newborn who doesn't go to be very early!

 

[sciroccosven]

I have yet to have any troubles with passing. I know this is a great way out in PA and It probably will work in many other states. If you drive your car less than 5000 miles per year you are exempt regaurdless. Might be something for some of you to look into. Oddly enough you still have to pay for the inspection and sticker even though they dont do anything!!

 

[Generation X]

I have yet to have any troubles with passing. I know this is a great way out in PA and It probably will work in many other states. If you drive your car less than 5000 miles per year you are exempt regaurdless. Might be something for some of you to look into. Oddly enough you still have to pay for the inspection and sticker even though they dont do anything!!

That sounds all fine and dandy, but how do you prove to them that you only drive your car less than 5000 miles per year?

 

[sciroccosven]

That sounds all fine and dandy, but how do you prove to them that you only drive your car less than 5000 miles per year?

Are you serious?? In the state of PA and I am sure every other state your odometer MUST be functioning properly in order to pass the state inspection. In conjunction with that there is a little spot on every state inspection sticker where mileage MUST be written down every year for numerous reasons. Insurance being one of the biggest as well as for dealer fraud (odometer roll back) and records are kept on each registered vehicle. Im sure if you look on your sticker it will state your mileage last year.
So to simplify it here is how they do it in PA.

Current milegage - milegage from prior inspection = number of miles in the last year which also can equate to an exemption if the number is less than 5000 for the year.

 

[Grimis]

in most pa countys, yes if its under 5000 miles per year OWNED, you will get the free emissions minus the $20 or so fee. Mine gets a free pass because last year it was 118k on the odom, and its been down sence may, and it reads 120k, so i get a free pass this year, going to cost me $40 to get it inspected and emissions done.

from what i understand they go by the odom and the sticker miles for the emissions rule of 5k or less.

 

[Generation X]

Are you serious?? In the state of PA and I am sure every other state your odometer MUST be functioning properly in order to pass the state inspection. In conjunction with that there is a little spot on every state inspection sticker where mileage MUST be written down every year for numerous reasons. Insurance being one of the biggest as well as for dealer fraud (odometer roll back) and records are kept on each registered vehicle. Im sure if you look on your sticker it will state your mileage last year.
So to simplify it here is how they do it in PA.

Current milegage - milegage from prior inspection = number of miles in the last year which also can equate to an exemption if the number is less than 5000 for the year.

Yeah I see what your saying, but it's a little different here. They don't write the mileage on the back of the sticker, just the name of the person or shop that inspected it. That's if the person or shop decides to write it on it. We have a sheet of paper that is documented when the car is inspected that's given to us and were suppose to, and that's a big suppose to keep the proof of inspection in our glove box. But... not everyone always keeps up with it over a years time. I guess it's in the computer by way of vin# Plus every year the inspection sticker is a different color where I live. We have two different color of stickers, one for the 95 and older, and one color for the ones that have to pass obd2. I guess here where I live they don't care as much. Anyone could unhook the speedometer cable and rehook it back if that were the case to cheat on mileage, so I don't see how they would ever know. Plus...theres tons of old beaters around here that the odometer doesn't work or hasn't worked in years. Then you have people that can buy used gauge cluster's, or instrament panels from boneyards as well, so theres another factor to consider. All they are concerned with here is the vin# tag# ect. It's very difficult if not impossible to tamper with the odometer on newer vehicals, unless you unhook the speedometer cable. They may go by the current mileage that you had by your vin# but alot can happen within a years time if you have had to do some repairs. Example: My car has 83,000 miles on it but I have an extra gauge cluster that has 71,000 on it. All I would have to do is swap back and forth. Anyways... that's cool, your lucky, I wished they did that here where I live. Here's a pic of my inspection sticker. http://sep8.imghost.us/lemtge.jpg