 Welcome to the tightening noose of
emissions testing...and be thankful that you got
off this easy, this long. Californians have had to have
their autos "smogged" for years, so consider yourself
lucky...until now.
Question #1
Okay ...how do I know if my vehicle's required to have the
emissions test?
Answer "If
your car's between two and 24 years old (as in 1979 model year)
and is registered in one of the following counties: Brazoria, Fort
Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Denton, Ellis,
Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall or Tarrant, you're gonna be
required to pass (not just take, kids-you've gotta pass it) an
emissions test."
Question #2
So you mean they finally figured out that there were people
out there getting post office boxes in order to establish
registration addresses in outlying counties and avoid the
emissions testing? (Like I did in the mid-1980s to avoid having my
piece-of-****
Jaguar emissions tested when they started doing this
in Tarrant County.....)
Answer
"Yes Ben, you're a poster child for their motivation to
expand the testing to outlying counties."
Question #3
Okay then, answer the big (and obvious) question for all of us,
Why are they doing this testing
anyway?
Answer
"Because your car's engine-just like millions of other
cars around the world-can be a significant producer of three
pollutants considered to be hazardous to our health:
Hydrocarbons
[HC] that are created when your car's combustion
process is incomplete.
Carbon
Monoxide [CO] which develops when your vehicle's
air-and-fuel mixture doesn't have enough air in it.
Oxides of
Nitrogen [NOX] which, when interacting with
sunlight, form smog.
The state's being forced to test in the counties listed above or
risk serious financial penalties at the hands of our pals at the
federally-run EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). These tests
are to insure that your vehicle's running as cleanly as it was
originally designed to. If it's not, the test will identify which
pollutants are being produced in higher-than-allowable/acceptable
amounts, and give the consumer a chance to fix the problem by
having your engine (properly) serviced."
Question #4 Are my
car's emissions really a serious problem?
Answer
"Motor vehicles are the single largest cause of carbon
monoxide-and smog-on the planet. In a typical city:
- Cars and trucks
cause up to 75% of
the hydrocarbons emissions that cause smog and 90% of all the
carbon monoxide pollution.
- 30%
of cars that are 5 - 7 years old put out excessive emissions.
- 55%
of all cars 7 years old (and older) exceed emission
standards."
Question #5 What can
I do to prepare my car for "the test"?
Answer "The
single best [and easiest] way to pass an emissions test is to have
regular tune-ups every year. Properly tuned vehicles should
pass an emissions test every time. If you haven't had your car
serviced regularly, getting a thorough tune-up before you have it
tested is still the best bet to get through an emissions test
without problems."
Question #6 What
should we do if (when) my vehicle fails the hallowed emissions
test?
Answer
"Here's what will happen and the order in which it'll
come down/you'll have to handle it:
Step 1 - The
Vehicle Inspection Report: If your vehicle fails
to pass "the test," you'll receive a Vehicle Inspection
Report (VIR) detailing which tailpipe emissions exceed the
Environmental Protection Agency's standards.
Step 2 - The
Repairs: Fix the items that failed the inspection
or take your vehicle to a qualified service technician for the
appropriate repairs.
Step 3 - The
Retest: Take your vehicle to the same inspection
station within 15 days for a free
re-test."
Question #7
Free re-test? Really? That'll save me some dough...but
what if they try to charge me?
Answer #7
"They'd better not. State law requires they re-test the same
vehicle, within that 15-day window/since the failed test, for free.
(They'll do it.)"
Question #8 What are
some of the main reasons why my ride would fail
the emissions test?
Answer
"Here are the biggest reasons/usual suspects for a failed
emissions test, category-by-category:
EXCESSIVE HYDROCARBONS (HC)
These emissions result from unburned fuel. Check the following
areas for problems:
- Internal engine trouble
- Faulty air pump
- Ignition system
- Exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR)
- Catalytic converter
- Gas Cap
EXCESSIVE CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
High amounts of carbon monoxide occur in a rich fuel mixture,
meaning there's either too much or too little air reaching the
combustion chamber. Check for problems with the following:
- Mis-adjusted carburetor
- Faulty fuel-injection system
- Dirty air filter
- Worn rings or valve guides
- Air pump system
OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOx)
High levels of NOx can be caused by excessive temperature in
the combustion chamber of a damaged catalytic converter. Check for
problems with the following:
- Air injection system
- EGR system
- Combustion chamber deposits
- Dirty fuel injectors"
Question #9 What
do I do if it looks like the repair's way too costly? Do I have any
options?
Answer
"Sure you do...and here are
two tips that'll not only (hopefully) work the price tag down to
an acceptable amount, but buy you precious time:
Tip One?
Always get another opinion from a specialty shop that works on
cars like yours. Trying to go cheap at a "one-stop fix it
shop" can be a kiss of death, especially since many of the
people working in shops like these are highly-incentivized,
receiving commission on the work orders they write/work they
perform.
Tip Two?
Check into the "Extensions
& Waivers" program. That's right, you may be
eligible to take more time to get your vehicle fixed or may even
get a waiver (free pass) altogether...but you don't know if you
don't explore/give it a try. Do your homework and see if you can
qualify for one (or more) of the "Big 4":
1.
Low income time extension
2.
Part availability (actually lack thereof) time extensions
3.
Low Mileage time extensions
4.
Individual Vehicle Waiver"
Ben's Bottom Line?
You've got to find a mechanic you can trust and do it with the
same level of determination and seriousness that you would
finding a personal physician or a dentist.
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