Massachusetts vehicle inspections what would you do?

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

Weather might be great but those progressive laws you seem to love have turned all major cities into zombie-infested dumps.

Ah, so they still have major cities out there? I thought you guys were saying they were all burned down to the ground, 2 summers ago

[BostonMike7]

Do you have an OBD2 reader that can scan readiness monitors? MA allows for one incomplete monitor during the testing. Usually it's to allow for the EVAP monitor since this one can take an insane amount of time to reset after clearning codes/monitors. Problem is, your catalyst monitor might fail before the EVAP monitor can set. SOme cars are quick, others take a while.

What i used to do with cars that always had EVAP codes (PITA to track down sometimes if it's a tiny leak) is clear the OBD2 codes/monitors and then drive around with the scanner hooked up watching the monitors go from incomplete to complete. As soon as it got to 1 monitor left, i would go get the sticker and pass. Short time later the check engine would pop back up for the EVAP code. I'd eventually fix these, but my stickers always came due in the winter and I wasn't going to crawl under my car on a 20 degree day to find the source of the leak. That's a job for the summer.

Originally Posted by justyouraveragetenant

some states don't require a catalytic converter!!

While states may not inspect for them, they are technically required under federal law with penalties for removal. Of course, if you are in a state that doesn't inspect for them, really hard to be fined for it.

[justyouraveragetenant]

Ya I don't have a ob2 where can I get one? I'll have to see how to hook it up and how it works with a video online. Ya I'm worried it will fail before I get it tested. I assume just because the check engine light is off does not mean it will necessarily pass .

[BostonMike7]

There's a bunch of cheap ones on Amazon. You just plug them into the OBD2 port and you can read codes, delete and check the "I/M readiness". Some of them will allow you to look at sensor data as well.

Here's an example of a cheap one that will do what you need. You can also download a app to your phone and just use a bluetooth/wifi OBD2 dongle as well.

https://www.amazon.com/mucar-CDL20-F...2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1


You are right, just because the check engine light is off doesn't mean you will pass. The ECU is running through it's various checks for things like EVAP leaks, cat efficiency, heated O2 sensor and other things. There might be 3-7 tests that need to complete, and some take a while.

After some time, if the vehicle cannot complete the test, it will render it a fail, and pop the check engine light on. In MA, you are allowed 1 incomplete monitor, so the big question is can you get your car in a state where the cat efficiency monitor is the only one incomplete?