"Test-Only station"?

[moribundman]

On the actual printout the reason for me having to go to the Test Only Station is spelled out: High Emitter Profile
Need I mention my car has always passed the smog check with flying colors? This is neither the right time to start a rant on lack of maintenance at US Audi dealerships, but surely there is a reason why my car always passes the smog check. Well, my Audi is also one of the few reliable ones (here

). No dealer has touched my car since '99 and nobody but me has wrenched around on it since 2000.

Anyway, here is todays Test Only Station smog check result:



Click the thumbnail for a larger version.

By the way, my AFC engine has no (secondary) air injection, so why the tech would mark it as "pass" instead of "n/a" is a mystery to me.

Too my car didn't fail. I could have gotten $500 worth of repairs for free!

 

[moribundman]

I meant to type "too bad my car didn't fail" up there. Sometimes I type too lightly.

 

[another Todd]

Calif. smog test program is written by idiots although it is better than it used to be when installing aftermarket parts. My motorhome when smog tested is labeled as "heavy duty". So when I go to get it smog tested, it costs extra and they test less. They sniff the tailpipe and thats it, done. On my other cars, it costs less, but they run it on a dyno, check the fuel cap, check the timing, look at all the emmisions stuff, check vaccuum hoses, test EGR etc. 15 years ago you could fail for having accel coil instead of stock. Thank *** they have straightened that out!

 

[The Critic]

quote:

---

I could have gotten $500 worth of repairs for free!

---

Really? I know my Saturn won't pass right now, due to the coolant temp sensor, O2 sensor, plugs/wires, etc.

But if I can get those all replaced for free, that sounds like a plan!

 

[NJC]

Those test results look great. No test for Oxides of Nitrogen?

For both of my 80's vintage cars, I get tested for CO/HC and NOx only. I don't think even the newer cars are tested for CO2.

 

[AcuraTech]

quote:

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Originally posted by mechtech:
In Illinois, cars made before 1995 don't have to be tested. this is a rather new statute.
Not too many left, and not worth the bother, I guess.

---

No no no. I just took my 92 Legend in last week for testing. All pre OBD II vehicles have to be tailpipe tested, and OBD II vehicles are checked by hooking up a scanner to check for DTC's.

If anything, they are probably MORE concerned about pre 95 cars because they are old and would be more likely to be gross polluters.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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Really? I know my Saturn won't pass right now, due to the coolant temp sensor, O2 sensor, plugs/wires, etc.

But if I can get those all replaced for free, that sounds like a plan!

---

In order to qualify for repairs worth of up to $500, you

1. must have been sent to a Test Only station by the DMV and
2. must have failed the smog check once
3. must contribute $100

Read more here: Consumer Assistance Program

Of course I'm glad the car passed without me having to jump through hoops. $500 would never cover any major repair like cats. For example, my car has two cats. Each OEM cat retails for way over over $500, and the available aftermarket cats usually don't last. When I lamented not failing the smog test, I was being cynical.

 

[Tosh]

quote:

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Originally posted by moribundman:
By the way, my AFC engine has no (secondary) air injection, so why the tech would mark it as "pass" instead of "n/a" is a mystery to me.

---

Look harder: The results column is in front of the ECS column, so it says N/A for Air Injection. Back-aswards, but that's the guvment for ya.

 

[moribundman]

You're right. It all comes together.

 

[sprintman]

Sure glad we don't have any of this stuff to go through. A hassle I can well do without. We have roadworthy tests on some older vehicles but that's it.

 

[Shannow]

sprintman,
about a decade ago, NSW govt was advocating emissions testing of all vehicles.

A local guy bought the gear, and was testing every rego test to get his hand in before it all went live.

Was talking one day as he tested my HZ 4.2 wagon (voluntary test on both parts).

He'd heard a rumour that the proposed testing would not be made law, as the only cars requiring extensive repairs were the new cat equipped vehicles.

ADR27 type cars could be fixed with a charcoal canister, idle mixtrure adjustment, and a set of plugs and points.

Post 1987 vehicles needed new cats etc. (we never had the requirement that the states had for the OEM to certify the emissions compliance, so ended up with shoddy installations from the get go).

Anyway, aside from NSW (Newcastle Sydney Wollongong), and maybe Melbourne, we really don't need the emissions controls that are fitted anyway.

 

[moribundman]

May the Force be with you.

 

[The Critic]

quote:

---

Originally posted by moribundman:

quote:

---

Really? I know my Saturn won't pass right now, due to the coolant temp sensor, O2 sensor, plugs/wires, etc.

But if I can get those all replaced for free, that sounds like a plan!

---

In order to qualify for repairs worth of up to $500, you

1. must have been sent to a Test Only station by the DMV and
2. must have failed the smog check once
3. must contribute $100

Read more here: Consumer Assistance Program

Of course I'm glad the car passed without me having to jump through hoops. $500 would never cover any major repair like cats. For example, my car has two cats. Each OEM cat retails for way over over $500, and the available aftermarket cats usually don't last. When I lamented not failing the smog test, I was being cynical.

---

That's fine. My car does have to visit a "test only" station anyway, and I'm quite sure that it won't pass, in its current condition.

I think the O2 sensors may be to blame, along with the coolant temp sensor, and the plugs/wires. Together, those parts would run me over $100 anyway, so I may as well have someone take care of it for me.

 

[Zee1]

if you meet income guidelines you only have to pay $20 instead of $100.

I have spoken to a rep for the CAP program and you can do it pretty much as many times as you need to, if you fail this year but get passed after the CAP repair and next year fail again you can apply all over and get another $500 in assistance.

you get a one time only "referee" or something, to where if after the CAP doesn't fix it to pass smog you will be given a one time only free pass where they give you your tags, but next time you have to have it repaired to be legal, either on your own or through the program again.

cats don't have to cost a lot, magnaflow is pretty decent and they are pretty cheap.

chances are high that any repair shop will use OEM and not aftermarket to get you the most repair for the money though.... so if you need an oxygen sensor and a cat, they will use $480 to buy an OEM o2 sensor then you're on your own.

 

[javacontour]

quote:

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Originally posted by dkcase:

quote:

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Originally posted by mechtech:
In Illinois, cars made before 1995 don't have to be tested. this is a rather new statute.
Not too many left, and not worth the bother, I guess.

---

Is this right ? What is the source on this ?
I just got a notice to have a 94 Chevrolet tested.

The Illinois EPA or Illinois General Assembly websites don't reflect this. There was a Bill introduced in October to exempt vehicles 25 years old, but not this. I hope this is right, and I know there had been talk of this. As most cars only get an OBD-II test now it's not economical to maintain the whole testing infrastructure.

quote:

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If you live in Illinois, as opposed to the Chicago area, cars don't have to be tested at all...

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I'm in St. Clair County near St. Louis. Parts of St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe Counties are subject to testing.

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I think it's pre-1975, not 95, if there is any exemption for older vehicles.

Yes, the tests for 1996 and newer is simply a check of the OBD-II system via computer. Older cars have their tailpipes sniffed.

Resident of St. Clair County also