NJ Emissions test - what are they doing to my car?!?!?

[JHZR2]

Hi,

Got my car registered in NJ today (was in DE), and had to do the dyno emissions test. First, the results:
NOx=1114
HC=97
CO=.33%
CO2=14.1%
O2=0.2%

I was quite suprised by the NOx reading. The max passable amount is 1134, so I nearly failed.

What is worse, they drove it onto the dyno, and took it up to some speed. Whatever speed it was, they mustnt have shifted gears, becasue the engine was maiking noise like crazy! I think they were driving at like 25 or 30 in 1st gear. I was in the waiting booth, but all I saw was billows of smoke coming from the rear of my car.

When they drove the car up, it looked like they were driving with the parking brake on, as I saw the red light illuminated.

How can I tell if they were driving like that with the parking brake on? I knwo that woule make my emissions much higher than they ought to be, because of all the additional load, plust would require more RPMs from the engine to be able to spin the wheels.

Can I tell if they did the test with the e-brake on? The guy right in front of me claimed that they were testing his truck with it on, so I dont knwo about these test people. Would my hubcaps be all black with brakedust if they drove it with the brake engaged like that?

More importantly, do you think any damage was done? For some reason, the engine sounded a little bit differently at ~65mph on the way home, but I might have been listening a bit more critically.
Thanks

JMH

P.S. By the way, since this is an oil board, the car has pennzoil 15w-40 longlife in it, with a Mahle cartridge filter.

 

[Jimbo]

I'm guessing that this is a 5-speed BMW.

Does NJ allow you to choose a test facility, or is it a state-run place? California has had smog testing for decades now and tried both systems. They gave up quickly on the state-owned ones. I carefully select a garage that will not abuse my car.

 

[Whimsey]

First off welcome the Peoples Republik of New Joisey where your first responsibility as a new comrade is to give all your money to our commissar, aka "Gov" McGreedy

. Other than your NOX being high, which could be your EGR system needing some maintenance, you did ok. As far as them being responsible for damage they cause during the test, you are SOL

It says so in the inspection station, in very fine print I might add! Is your vehicle a manual shift? In that case they most likely had no idea on how to "test: it, so they leave it in first and rev the sh*t out of it

Good news though, if your vehicle is a 1996 or newer they are not going to use the dyno anymore. They are going to plug into the OBDII diagnostic port in the car to see if any problem codes register. If they don't, you pass the smog test. In fact 2001 and newer vehicles only have to go every 4 years for the smog test instead of every 2.

Whimsey

 

[Whimsey]

Oh yes, In NJ you can go to a private inspection garage. But they usually charge $75. But if you care about your car It's worth it. I'm lucky because I'm in the northern farmlands of NJ and most of the inspectors at our small state inspection center can drive sticks!

Whimsey

 

[mph]

Here in CA, they do the dyno test at two speeds (15 and 25 mph, I think), but they've always shifted my car to run about 2,000 rpm in both cases.

They may well use my parking brake as well, but since it's FWD, I don't really care!

The almost-failing NOx might not be worth worrying about. Remember that the catalytic converter needs to be hot in order to function. If it cooled down while you were waiting for the test, or if it didn't fully warm up on the way to the test, it might not have been working to its full potential. They'll stop running the test as soon as the computer indicates a passing result, so the numbers could very well have improved if they ran the test longer.

 

[dickwells]

Here in Illinois I think they are eliminating the dyno test as the state has had to pay some big claims due to damaging customers engines. Luckily I live 3 counties away from chitcago so we don't have testing.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Parking Brake/E-Brake does not illuminate the brake lights only the brake pedal does!

 

[mph]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
Parking Brake/E-Brake does not illuminate the brake lights only the brake pedal does!

---

I suspect he meant the dashboard light, not the ones on the rear of the car.

 

[buster]

quote:

---

First off welcome the Peoples Republik of New Joisey where your first responsibility as a new comrade is to give all your money to our commissar, aka "Gov" McGreedy

---

Exactly. NJ is the worst state in the nations for this **** . We have the most densly populated state in the nation. My car recently failed because my license plate lights (which by the way I never new I had) were out. You can't even see them! Second reason my car failed is because I threw out the old insurance card two weeks before the new actually takes effect so they nailed me on that. The people that work there and the process you go through are a f**in joke. My 2 cents.

 

[Whimsey]

Yes, the best taxpayer dollars can buy! You being in Calif have my deepest sympathy, having McGreddy's twin on the left coast, "Greyout Doofus". Also thanks for all your unrealistic emission regulations that our socialist Government in NJ follows, right to the electric car!

Nothing personal to you

, just the goverment.

Whimsey

 

[Whimsey]

Sorry, it should be "McGreedy". The thought of him really messes my mind up and affects my spelling

.

Whimsey

 

[Jimbo]

At least you have good Basketball and Hockey teams.

 

[metroplex]

If you dont' mind the drive, head over to Lodi, NJ. They ran my 1981 Ford T-bird on the dyno w/o any problems. They're very professional about stuff.

In 2001 my NOx was 1184 or so, and when I changed the EGR (most common cause of high NOx) my 2003 inspection read 230 or so.

Anyhow it passed w/ flying colors.

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

Yeah we have the IM240 dyno test... I thought the lady was gonna smoke my clutch when she started out. I could hear it, but they put you in that room (probably so you can't smell your clutch frying!)

Then on the re-test the guy seemed to drive better but he still stalled.

A couple years ago it wasn't pretty either

They should just let the owners drive!

 

[kev99sl]

quote:

---

Originally posted by dickwells:
Here in Illinois I think they are eliminating the dyno test as the state has had to pay some big claims due to damaging customers engines. Luckily I live 3 counties away from chitcago so we don't have testing.

---

Actually (in Illinois), they're phasing in a system where if you have OBD II (most cars '96 and up), they'll just scan your computer to make sure there aren't any codes set. 15 minutes, tops.

 

[metroplex]

how fast are they going on the dyno?!?!

In NJ they barely run it up high enough - I didn't hear my 302 V8 scream up to speed so I'd say 35-50 mph TOPS.

 

[Whimsey]

Metro, I think that's because you have an automatic, which even the NJ inspection station personnel can most likely handle

. But present them with a manual tranny and all He*l breaks loose. After they mangae to grind it into first gear they figure that's good enough at 5 mph or 50mph

. And after they blow your engine, hey, that's your fault for having a manual tranny in weenie world! Remember, "we're from the government and we're here to help you"

Whimsey

 

[Joe1]

My Manual tranny car is due for inspetion. WHere is that place where they actually know how to drive a stick. My usual place in Lodi, but I wouldn't wish that place on my worse enemy.
Have you guys heard McGreedy on the radio touting inspection every 4 years on new cars? Sounds good, but the annual registration fee INCLUDES the price of an inspection at a state facility. WHere is this money going to now? Motorists are paying for FOUR inspections, but only receiving one. Who's pocket is getting lined with the cash?

 

[Whimsey]

Joe1, I don't know where you are, but the NJ inspection station in Newton, Sussex County, seems to have been good. I've been going there for 25+ years and they haven't smoked my clutch, stalled or destroyed the vehicles yet, of course there is always a first time

! I know it costs money but if you're really are worried maybe your best bet is to go to a private inspection garage this year. At least you can yell at them if they f'up and not go directly to prison as when you yell at NJ State inspectors. Also, as a bonus the waiting times are nil, @ Newton compared to other NJ inspection stations. If you come up here e-mail me and maybe we can get together for microbrew beer @ Kroghs

, yum, not far from Newton.

Whimsey

 

[Joe1]

Whimsey..I'm going to roll the dice and take my vehicle to Paramus or Lodi. Hopefully they won't smoke the clutch too bad on the dyno. Newton is a bit too far to get to during business hours. However, I will take you up on the microbrew offer. I go out to the water gap often, and can exit rt 80 at exit 25 and head up rt 206 to newton for some nice microbrews! Heck I'll even show you my PArtially filled Mobil 1 5 quart jug amd I'll bring my Baldwin air filter in the bar to discuss with the patrons! YUMMIE!