Cars suk

buckaroo

buckaroo

Here kitty, kitty, kitty
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Winston Salem, NC
In the same vein as SST's thread about banks, I've got to add mine to this list, not to compare what I've got to say with what Andy says. We all know he has his issues.

Here's my problem. Here in NC, we have to have our cars pass inspection yearly before we can renew our tags. For the last few years, that inspection has been nothing but the emission test, via the computer hook up. For the last month or so, I have had that dratted "check engine" light on, but so I know that I had to have that fixed before inspection. So, I break down and call the local dealership service repair shop and schedule a diagnosis of the problem and to fix it. Well how about this, the problem was the "purge" canister, whatever that is, has a sticky switch and had to be replaced. Okay, do it because I had to have this problem fixed or I couldn't renew my tags. But here's the real rub. When the emissions were checked via the tail pipe, all were A-okay. However, to be able to pass emission tests, the computer has to be correct. A sticky switch with no problem with emissions cost me a cool $425. The guy told me that everything was really okay as far as the law was concerned with the emissions, but that it's the computer that has to pass the test. I'm thinking, if that light comes on again, I'm gonna smack that canister with a hammer, if I can find it!
 
The purge canister on an older car was filled with charcoal and they run the gas fumes from the tank thru it so they can "safely" vent them back into the air.Not sure what year your car is but that's what I remember it being as of 2002.Right about that time is when they started to computerize that system on cars and the time I kinda got out of that business.
 
My old Lincoln had that dang light that kept coming on. Had it checked once --- Ford said it was a leak somewhere so small they couldn't find it. Well, to be truthful, what they said was they could find it --- it just depended on how much money I was willing to spend finding/fixing it.
I bought one of those hand-held readers, and just cleared the light whenever I got tired of seeing it.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
My old Lincoln had that dang light that kept coming on. Had it checked once --- Ford said it was a leak somewhere so small they couldn't find it. Well, to be truthful, what they said was they could find it --- it just depended on how much money I was willing to spend finding/fixing it.
I bought one of those hand-held readers, and just cleared the light whenever I got tired of seeing it.
Click to expand...
Most of the time it's a pinhole in the rubber line from the tank to the canister.But trying to find that is like finding a needle in a haystack.
 
same here, rotted hoses on the charcoal lines. Cept my truck uses formed hoses that you can't find anydamnwhere.

I have an SCT so I just clear codes right before I get it inspected.

Last year my PS pump was on it's way out, went to kwik kar for my oil change, they wanted to renew sticker first. the guy couldn't turn the steering wheel and said he could not inspect it since he could not drive it. Showed him I had no problem cranking the steering wheel. Guy throws a hissy fit, I leave, go to the mexicans a few blocks down, they have no problem driving it, give me the sticker. I go back to the KK not 10 minutes later to get the oil changed, guy just gives me this mean PO'd look.
 
Many years ago I was certifiable, I mean I was and still am a certified auto inspector. RI uses the system Calif threw out btw.
I put my cars on a friends machine and <PRESTO> they pass, I don't care if the dash board is lit up like the Christmas tree in Times Square! Machine says they pass,:sarcasm:

Used to be able to clear the codes then throw it on and it would pass, now the lastest version of the software won't pass a car unless it's been driven a minimum of 75 miles. But for every cat out there you can find a way to skin it.:)

At one time we had a true safety inspection, wheels pulled to check the brakes, ball joints, tie rods etc checked, all lights, tread depth, exhaust system.

Now as long as the check engine light isn't on you can have metal to metal brakes, ball joints/tie rods about to fall out, muffler wired up with a coat hanger <com'on, you did it too> and it'll pass.

But because we have emission testing we get FREE gubmit money. Whoopee
 
In order to find small leaks in the EVAP System you have to have it smoke checked
Smoke is how they find the leaks
 
TexasRaceLady said:
My old Lincoln had that dang light that kept coming on. Had it checked once --- Ford said it was a leak somewhere so small they couldn't find it. Well, to be truthful, what they said was they could find it --- it just depended on how much money I was willing to spend finding/fixing it.
I bought one of those hand-held readers, and just cleared the light whenever I got tired of seeing it.
Click to expand...


You could have taken battery cable loose and cleared code and that would have put out the check engine light

But it would still fail the emission test
 
fastfordfan said:
In order to find small leaks in the EVAP System you have to have it smoke checked
Smoke is how they find the leaks
Click to expand...
Ford did a smoke test --- that's when they asked how much money was I willing to spend. Whatever it was, didn't affect the operation of the car --- ran/drove like a champ. The state inspection was never a problem, either. I think I drove that car 50K miles with that light periodically coming on.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
Ford did a smoke test --- that's when they asked how much money was I willing to spend. Whatever it was, didn't affect the operation of the car --- ran/drove like a champ. The state inspection was never a problem, either. I think I drove that car 50K miles with that light periodically coming on.
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What year Model
How was emission test done did they do a tail pipe sample?
 
Beat me to it. Any check engine light is a immediate fail here. Even if the results of a tail pipe sniffer passes.
 
In most areas where emission testing is required there is also a clause that after it takes X amount of attempts or X amount of money to repair they will allow the vehicle to be licensed with out full compliance. It's always best to run it through inspection then get it repaired that way it's documented from the first repair attempt.
Many times the SES or CEL can be on and set for a diagnostic code that will not effect your tailpipe emissions.

Don't blame the car manufactuars the Goverment is the one that requires this mess.

If you have any questions that are GM specific pm me and I'll help.
 
BTW if you have a GM vehicle there is a evaporative emissions vent valve update on some vehicles that can be done at your local dealer, if your a regular customer or bought the vehicle from them they may well even cover it under a customer satisfaction claim at no cost to you.
 
Yeah, here you had to show proof of 4 or 500 hundred dollars worth of repairs, then pay another 4 hundred "fine" to the state, repeat every 2 years.

Considering we have no industry left here and 95% of our air polloution comes from the midwest doesn't make sense to be so stringent here when the problem originates elsewhere.
 
SST55 said:
Beat me to it. Any check engine light is a immediate fail here. Even if the results of a tail pipe sniffer passes.
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Here we have 3 possible test depending on year, traction control, or full time 4 wheel drive.
OBD2
Dyno
Two Speed Idle
 
SST55 said:
Yeah, here you had to show proof of 4 or 500 hundred dollars worth of repairs, then pay another 4 hundred "fine" to the state, repeat every 2 years.

Considering we have no industry left here and 95% of our air polloution comes from the midwest doesn't make sense to be so stringent here when the problem originates elsewhere.
Click to expand...

The Reason
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 
It's ridiculous that every state and sometimes each county sets its on standards and testing standards for something that is actually a federal law? Why is there no consistency? Because there's No Common sense in goverment :(
 
Well let me tell you how it went down in Georgia
Around 1970 the EPD and EPA told Georgia law makers that they had dirty air.
Then they told them that they had 300 million dollars that they would GIVE them if they would do SOMETHING.
So we have emissions and the state got 300 million dollars.
Origionaly we only did 4 counties now 13 but we have about 125 counties.

The 300 million is just a guess but they get it every year.
Plus they get 4 dollars for every car tested and that is about 250,000 PER MONTH
 
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