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Virginia will. Fail an emissions test and you can't register your car. Convenient, since the only time you need emissions is every 2 years when your registration is due.
... but it won't be grounded. You will have time to get it fixed.
... but it won't be grounded. You will have time to get it fixed.
I lived in VA for a while.. But not when I was old enough to drive. Don't they have an exemption to the emissions after 20 years or something? I seem to remember that if you were within a certain number of years age on the car, they were hardcore about the emissions.. But if the car were over a certain age.. It was almost a free-for-all.
Of course, at that time, it was the 90's.. And cats probably weren't standard 20 years before that
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I think I said that but not in so many words. This is a great explanation and OP should proceed as advised here.
Start with going to another shop, OP. Your "trusted" mechanic isn't worth a dime
I'm finding that too often, enough words aren't used in this forum. 90% of the questions people ask can't just flat out be answered. Sure, we get the occasional "Who makes the best wipers" or something.. but.. Most times, it's like this.. Where the question could mean 5 different things and the answer 20.
I mean, look at how quick it was "Oh, a cat's only $200 or so".. Yeah, right, unless you're in one of the CARB states..
A while back someone had a blower motor resistor out. Obvious resistor problem. The number of people saying their climate control system was bad.. Probably scared the hell out of the person.
I mean, look at how quick it was "Oh, a cat's only $200 or so".. Yeah, right, unless you're in one of the CARB states..
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Originally Posted by unit731
Huh?
That's what I paid.
One of the many things that Labonte18 is addressing is how often posters here do not think beyond their own vehicle and/or city/county/state and apply what works for them to every situation. The $200 cat worked for your situation. But it may not for others, because of where they live.
In short - as with most of the questions of life - "It depends ..."
Like I said. Do the emission check first. If you pass, it means your mechanic wants the big job for the money.
Here in Connecticut, the car automatically fails emissions if the "check engine" light is on.
As long as the light isn't flashing, it should be fine to drive until going to the mechanic. I drove on car that way for almost two years, but had the oxygen sensor replaced before going to emissions testing.
Both times I had a car where the light came on, a sensor was the issue. Maybe a second opinion is needed. The sensor (less expensive repair) might be the culprit.
In Michigan we have no emissions test anymore got rid of it in 1995. So if you own your vehicle you can remove the catalytic if it ever needed replacement and run a straight exhaust pipe if you want.
I lived in VA for a while.. But not when I was old enough to drive. Don't they have an exemption to the emissions after 20 years or something? I seem to remember that if you were within a certain number of years age on the car, they were hardcore about the emissions.. But if the car were over a certain age.. It was almost a free-for-all.
The only time I faced this the law was that you had to have spent more than $700+ (now $815 and $850 in 2019) at specific certified mechanics to try to fix it before there would be any exemption.
A quick check does show an exemption for cars older than 25 years so you were close.
Here in Connecticut, the car automatically fails emissions if the "check engine" light is on.
I don't live in an emission check city, so I am not familiar with the process, but you can't even check the emission if you light is on? I didn't meant for the inspection sticker, but check for sake of checking to find out if there is a real emission problem or just a sensor malfunction.
In Texas a test technician can check your vehicle’s engine and emissions systems, and see if any monitors state a “Not Ready” status. The test personnel can complete the test in around 2 minutes.
@Don in Austin - I didn't meant forever, but for the Holiday trip OP is about to make.
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This is a great explanation and OP should proceed as advised here. 
