Vehicle Inspection/Emission Testing

[juliempdx]

Thanks for all the info. We went to Homers Auto Center, were still having to pay a lot of money to get them to pass the car for emissions but it's not as bad as other places probably would've been. I think this whole process is a total scam and a way for the PA government to make money. I mean I am all about protecting the environment but taking all the wheels off the car, come on

[aveojohn]

Originally Posted by juliempdx

Thanks for all the info. We went to Homers Auto Center, were still having to pay a lot of money to get them to pass the car for emissions but it's not as bad as other places probably would've been. I think this whole process is a total scam and a way for the PA government to make money. I mean I am all about protecting the environment but taking all the wheels off the car, come on

They are checking the brakes for wear and general condition of all of the hardware.This is the most important part of the inspection.

[FlyByNightRat]

The waiver is there for people who can't afford fixing or buying a replacement car. Cheap bastids who basically don't care about the wellness of the environment unfortunately can benefit from it, as well.

[hempfield mania]

Originally Posted by juliempdx

Thanks for all the info. We went to Homers Auto Center, were still having to pay a lot of money to get them to pass the car for emissions but it's not as bad as other places probably would've been. I think this whole process is a total scam and a way for the PA government to make money. I mean I am all about protecting the environment but taking all the wheels off the car, come on

If it isn't fixed yet, go to your local Advance or Auto Zone store. They can pull your codes for you with their scanner (for free) and also reset your computer without having to disconnect the battery. If you are even remotely mechanically inclined, you can hook up the scanner and reset the codes yourself using their scanner. Make sure to get printouts of the code/codes then google them to find out what could be causing them. Most times, it is something simple like a bad gas cap (75% of the time) or o2 sensors before or after the catalytic converter. Sometimes, it can be a mass airflow sensor, a leaking vaccum line or something similar. You need to get the codes and research them for your particular car to get an idea of what's wrong, though.

[aveojohn]

Problem is,the codes can be very vague and won't tell you exactly where to look,but can put you in the ballpark.Resetting the codes won't help unless you fix the problem.If the problem is not repaired then the computer will sense a problem and set the codes again.

[tepek]

Hi all,

I have this same problem with my Camry V6 1993. The engine check light (bought it 2 months back) is always there after about 2 minutes driving. I brought it for emission test and failed the HC part at idle. The reading was 287 (the limit is 1300) although at 2500 rpm it was okey (78 versus the limit 130). Is Homer a really good choice because I live in Greenfield.

Thanks.

[PrestigeWorldwide]

I lived in Greenfield and went to Homers b/c I could drop the car off and walk home while it was being repaired. Big mistake. My engine made a noise at starting, but no light was on. So I brought it in so they could check it out. They claimed there was no noise and not to worry. Two months later the engine light comes in, and it will cost $500-600 to fix it and it would have been much less if it was "noticed earlier"!

[juliempdx]

Originally Posted by tepek

Hi all,

I have this same problem with my Camry V6 1993. The engine check light (bought it 2 months back) is always there after about 2 minutes driving. I brought it for emission test and failed the HC part at idle. The reading was 287 (the limit is 1300) although at 2500 rpm it was okey (78 versus the limit 130). Is Homer a really good choice because I live in Greenfield.

Thanks.

We didn't have any issues with Homers. As far as I know the check engine light on my husband's car is still off since they fixed it. The other thing that we found out is that if you drive less than 5,000 miles a year you don't have to get emissions done.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by aveojohn

Problem is,the codes can be very vague and won't tell you exactly where to look,but can put you in the ballpark.Resetting the codes won't help unless you fix the problem.If the problem is not repaired then the computer will sense a problem and set the codes again.

Clear the code right before the emissions test and hope it doesn't come back on until after.... Not all codes are serious , my car throws an Evap Emission Control Code 0440 every couple of months and there is nothing wrong with it. I bought a scanner so I don't have to keep bothering the Advance Auto workers to clear the code . If a code comes back right away then you need to have the car checked out.