It’s an understatement to say that cars can be a bit of a money pit. Outside of the basics that you need to legally operate a car (like a driver’s license, insurance, and registration), there’s also gas and routine maintenance (i.e. oil changes, tire rotations, recommended manufacturer service, etc.). But cars can quickly go from convenience to nuisance when an unexpected repair is necessary, especially when you consider the average car repair bill is in the $500-$600 neighborhood. There’s another problem which user face i.e. emission testing.
Let’s look at how emission testing works:
What is Emission Testing?
The emission testing decides the degree of air poisons discharged from the fumes of an engine vehicle. The first emissions testing was performed in California in 1966. Since then, numerous states started testing for every enrolled vehicle. Repairs must be done if a vehicle fails the emissions test, and the vehicle retested.
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Do emission inspections required in all states?
Presently, 32 states require some sort of emissions inspection which depends on many factors. In Massachusetts, for instance, vehicles more than 15 years old require an annual check for visual smoke only. Some states need annual testing while others require it only once every two years.
Many Important point may impact emissions testing:
- Vehicle age
- State (some states only require testing in urban areas or certain zip codes)
- Vehicle weight and type
- Fuel variety (for example, in North Carolina, non-gasoline powered cars are exempt)
Reason for Emissions Testing Failure?
A lot of mechanical factors can cause a vehicle to emit excess pollutants such as a faulty fuel injection that can lead to a rich fuel mixture (too much fuel, not enough air). Rich fuel mixtures tend to lead to high carbon dioxide levels.
The air injection system pushes fresh air into the exhaust. Emissions testing may detect high levels of hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide when the system fails.
Another reason that leads to emissions testing failure is oxygen sensor malfunction, ignition system defects, and vehicle vacuum leaks.
