Emmissions Testing
- Thread starter bass8lbs
- Start date
Cars actually fail this test???
And here I thought it was just an additional revenue generating scheme by the provincial government!
Who knew...
And here I thought it was just an additional revenue generating scheme by the provincial government!
Who knew...
From when my last beater got tested, I think I learned the drill. The test is the test, and that's about $40. Pas it and you're done. Fail and you must take steps to improve your polluting car's performance until you either pass, or you hit the $450 ceiling. Our lungs aren't important enough to get the Smogmobiles actually taken off the road.
So if your car actually needed, say a whole new engine to pass, you're outta luck, you either spend to the ceiling and stop, or spend the grand or two on the engine, or junk the car. The only way to spend less than that $450 is to have fewer problems w/ the car. Or a dishonest tester.
Consider it, as I did, a $450 dollar fine for driving a bad car, and get something better before the next ET test is due. Mine's on Wed
So if your car actually needed, say a whole new engine to pass, you're outta luck, you either spend to the ceiling and stop, or spend the grand or two on the engine, or junk the car. The only way to spend less than that $450 is to have fewer problems w/ the car. Or a dishonest tester.
Consider it, as I did, a $450 dollar fine for driving a bad car, and get something better before the next ET test is due. Mine's on Wed
My dated understanding is you don’t necessarily have to spend the $450. If the car needs a valve job to correct the emissions problem, and that would cost $1000, then you are done. The garage can issue a conditional pass, or something like that. There is no requirement to spend the $450 to repair stuff that will make no difference to the outcome of the test.
I had mine done in November and failed. I had to show and attempt that I tried to improve it. It cost me 200 bucks, he put in a new something, cleaned up some things, I still failed, but I got my sticker. Talk to the guy who did the test, he should be able to help you like mine did.
I am not worried about the pollution aspect as I drive the car rarely and I spend no more than 10 bucks a month on gas.
Had a failure once as well. Find someone who can interpret the test. In my case, I simply needed new spark plugs.
Keep your car tuned up properly, change the oil and run a tank of supreme gas through it for the test and you shouldn't have any problems. Baring any upper engine problems (valve train, leaking head gasket, leaking or worn piston rings, injector or carbeurator problems, vacuum line problems, plugged (non functioning) catalyctic converter, etc, etc, etc.).
What's the year and mileage of your vehicle? What polutant did it fail on and by how much? Post your numbers, that might generate more suggestions as to what you can try next.
Based on $10 bucks a month gas, if that is made up of short trips, part of your problem might be you;re just not driving enough and always driving a car that never reaches full operating temperature.
Heck, driving 80-100 kms a month, if all the trips are really short you wouldn't even be able to tell if your T-stat is stuck or your Temp Sensor isn't working. If your car is from the 80's or early 90's it wouldn't neccessarily put up a trouble code for many things that that generate a SES light on current cars.
Hi HI, I have a 2000 Focus with 265000 kms. I figured part of my problem was lack of driving. Yes, just about all my trips are short and the engine rarely gets to temperature.
My results were:
ASM2525 FIRST TEST CURB IDLE TEST
]LIMIT READING RESULT LIMIT READING RESULT[/B]
HC PPM 68 147 FAIL 150 1962 FAIL
CO% .38 .46 FAIL .7 .25 PASS
NO PPM 526 1528 FAIL N/A N/A N/A
After doing some minor repairs:
68 149 FAIL 150 172 FAIL
.38 .41 FAIL .70 .47 PASS
526 775 FAIL N/A N/A N/A
The second results were on my waiver report which allowed me to get a sticker. IMHO the whole thing is a scam.
I did have this lined up, but when I save it, all the margins go to the end for some reason.
Well, it is a scam if they let you renew your plate/sticker with a fail on any of the tests. Plus the vehicle only has to pass the specifications for the year in which the vehicle is made. (or so I am told). For eg: you have a 1988 pontiac grand prix. It doesn't have to pass the tests designed for a 2009 pontiac grand prix. Which is also BS because if they want to remove polluters from the road, they should have to pass the current year's specs.
Well, I'm amazed.... I passed the emmissions test!!! This is on a 2001 Dodge Dakota that has exhaust leak, no tune-up for I don't know how long, plus I'm overdue for an oil change. Here are my results of today compared to last test in 2007.
asm2525:
HCppm, Limit 50 Reading in 2007 was 2, for 2010 limit is 45 and reading is 0
co%, limit 0.28, reading 0.00 in 2007 ; for 2010 limit is 0.25, reading is 0.00
no ppm, limit 548, reading 1 in 2007 ; for 2010 limit is 473, reading is 0
curb idle:
HCppm, Limit 150 Reading in 2007 was 3, for 2010 limit is 150 and reading is 0
co%, limit 0.70, reading 0.00 in 2007 ; for 2010 limit is 0.70, reading is 0.00
no ppm, n/a in 2007 ; for 2010 n/a
Anyone willing to explain this?
The mechanic says...wow..you have a 0 emmission vehicle, how is that possible or did he screw up?
Anyway...got my sticker and the test was only $36.00... and further proves to me this is all a scam!
asm2525:
HCppm, Limit 50 Reading in 2007 was 2, for 2010 limit is 45 and reading is 0
co%, limit 0.28, reading 0.00 in 2007 ; for 2010 limit is 0.25, reading is 0.00
no ppm, limit 548, reading 1 in 2007 ; for 2010 limit is 473, reading is 0
curb idle:
HCppm, Limit 150 Reading in 2007 was 3, for 2010 limit is 150 and reading is 0
co%, limit 0.70, reading 0.00 in 2007 ; for 2010 limit is 0.70, reading is 0.00
no ppm, n/a in 2007 ; for 2010 n/a
Anyone willing to explain this?
The mechanic says...wow..you have a 0 emmission vehicle, how is that possible or did he screw up?
Anyway...got my sticker and the test was only $36.00... and further proves to me this is all a scam!
bring it to my garage. I'll just run a newer car on the system and say it was yours. problem solved... but I gotta charge the $36 or a case of beer.
Did you go for a nice long drive? You probably need a new catalyst... but sometimes they will come back if you go on a long drive. Is your check engine light on?
No, I didn't, I know I should have. The mechanic said I probably needed a new convertor. It is not running as good as it use to, again, I think it needs a good highway drive to blow the carbon out. I use to drive it a 100k/day, and it ran great. The check engine light is not on.
