Auto inspection question...

[robbobobbo]

A scan tool hooked into the OBD ought to tell your mechanic the code that translates to the specific problem. When my car's light came on and the engine was running kind of rough, it turned out to be one of the 6 ignition coils. Your mechanic is saying the tool doesn't show any codes?

[HarryLou]

Originally Posted by robbobobbo

A scan tool hooked into the OBD ought to tell your mechanic the code that translates to the specific problem. When my car's light came on and the engine was running kind of rough, it turned out to be one of the 6 ignition coils. Your mechanic is saying the tool doesn't show any codes?

No, I'm not even sure what the code was... was related to emissions. Mechanic did test the emissions system and all was okay. Replaced a bunch of stuff over several days to try to get the malfunction light to go off and stay off. By the time he was done, he said all that was left to replace was the computer part that controlled it. I plan to speak with him again before inspection.

[z28lt1]

Find out what the code is, and head on over to the automotive section of City Data and post it, along with year and model of your car (and what the mechanic has actually done to it) and you'll likely get some pretty good advice that would at least point you in the right direction.

[BillHoo]

Originally Posted by Pub-911

Visible Smoke Failure

What year is the car? I have an 89 Geo metro that gets 37 miles to the gallon. In 2012 I got a failure for excessive white smoke - I thought it was bogus as it was winter and any vapor looks like smoke when it's cold enough!

Anyway, I just put the car in the garage and covered it up until it was 25 years old and got "vintage car status" and was thus exempt from emissions inspections. I love tooling around in that car. I use it to go to work. fill it up with gas maybe once a month or so.

[Golddots]

if the car is 96 or newer you have to have an obdii test. 97 up for diesel.

Your mechanic is not competent in my opinion(no offense) You must pass a visual engine light test( must illuminate key on engine off and stay off when the car is running).

Then only one obdii monitor can be not "ready" unless you have a 96-2000 vehicle then 2 can be not ready. I've seen people tr to cheat the system by clearing codes, then immediately driving to an emissions inspection.

If you have a steady engine light on, you will most likely fail a rapid pass test. That is the WORST case scenario. You will likely need to pass both a obdii test AND a smog test( run on a dyno with exhaust analysis unless you are awd or non disengageable traction control).

I recommend fixing the engine light somewhere else. Then ask if you can get a printout of obdii monitors complete after a long road test( they may charge extra for that).

Good luck

[Vacanegro]

Originally Posted by HarryLou

I have an older car with a check engine light that stays on. It is related to emissions. I had it serviced by a very reliable mechanic a couple months ago. He changed out a bunch of stuff and finally said the only thing left was the computer that controls the system. Meantime, he tested and found nothing wrong with the emissions system aside from the light staying on. He said it would be expensive to replace what is needed to "fix" it and didn't think it was advisable. My issue is that now inspection is due and I am worried that it will not pass. I don't know what to do. Do I have any options other than whatever is needed to get the light to stay out? Thanks in advance for any advice.

It will not pass safety with the CE light on. As others have said get the codes and look up on the internet for your car to double check your old mechanic. Depending on what you find go somewhere to get the fix or Get your old mechanic to turn off the light. You can possibly pull a fuse but there should be bulb that illuminates the dash warning lights.

[Golddots]

If the light itself is not illuminated you will still fail. The ecu sends signal to the instrument cluster to illuminate if there is a fault.

On top of that , an emissions inspector is required to see the light come on and turn off with the engine running.

You are better off putting a black electrical tape square over the engine loghy, because the result would be the same= a chuckle from the inspector and a failure.

Bottom line.....fix the car.

Or FAIL the test, spend the required amount for a waiver at a CERTIFIED repair facility(DEQ) and you can renew your tags even though the car is nit really repaired.

[SomeGuyInFairfax]

Sounds like he forgot to clear the code, which is necessary even if the scanner shows nothing.

BTW, Rapidpass is a great idea. I was unaware of it until a few days ago -- when I received a letter from the VA DEQ stating that my vehicle was deemed "Clean" after passing through a checkpoint (I-66E, exit 55) on two occasions over a 3-month span. All I had to do was pay the $28 testing fee online and not worry about getting emissions testing done when I renew my registration.

Originally Posted by HarryLou

I have an older car with a check engine light that stays on. It is related to emissions. I had it serviced by a very reliable mechanic a couple months ago. He changed out a bunch of stuff and finally said the only thing left was the computer that controls the system. Meantime, he tested and found nothing wrong with the emissions system aside from the light staying on. He said it would be expensive to replace what is needed to "fix" it and didn't think it was advisable. My issue is that now inspection is due and I am worried that it will not pass. I don't know what to do. Do I have any options other than whatever is needed to get the light to stay out? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Spazkat9696]

Did you try replacing the gas cap?

Can you just get it inspected elsewhere? We don't do emissions testing in VA Beach.

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by Pub-911

Visible Smoke Failure

I used to have an older car that would fail because of this. They had a fluid called No Smoke or something like that you could dump into the crankcase with the oil and it would minimize the visible smoke. It would pass after doing this.