Question: I failed my
smog check due to a check engine light on my 98 Honda
Accord. Everything else passed fine. I'm about 75%
sure that the problem causing the engine light on is fixed and
the light is off. If I take it to a different smog check
station, will they know that I had failed previously and
thereby scrutinize my car even further?
Answer: No, they will
not know the car previously failed unless they look up this
information on the internet.
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Question
(a): Ok so my friend went to take his Ford truck to get a
Smog Test. The person said they cant test hi struck cause the
check Engine light was on and we know it was on because his
Alternator was bad. So how can we get a smog test even if the
lights on or what should we do to turn it off. We got an
Engine Diag... But it said nothing about Emissions so please
help us get a Smog Test his registrations already late.
Question
(b): I'm due for a smog check on my 1998 GM SUV and my
check engine light is on. I had it diagnosed, and I'm
told it had an emissions problem and that I need to replace a
part that would run me over $300. Is there an amount beyond
which you're exempt from having to fix a problem that would
make you pass the smog test?
Question
(c): I just moved to CA from NJ anf I need to get a
smog check. I have a Chevy Cavalier (1996) in very good
conditions. The only problem is that the "check engine light"
is constantly on, not because of a real problem with the
engine but because whoever did the tune-up on my car he last
time (December 2005) messed up the engine test. Other than
that I am sure my car will pass the smog check. What could I
do? I really don't want to spend another $100-$300 on a
tune-up.
Answer: Contrary to
public belief, the Check Engine light being illuminated
anytime during the smog inspection is automatically a smog
failure. Vehicle manufacturers have placed the Check Engine
light inside the passenger compartment to inform the driver
there has been or is an engine or drive train malfunction.
Very often you may not notice an engine problem, but this is
only because your engine's computer is operating under
pre-programmed information rather then of real-time. In other
words the problem still exists but your engine learns to live
with it. To avoid spending hundreds down the road, the Check
Engine light should be diagnosed as soon as possible by a
reputable and certified auto repair station.
Our
recommendation is you have a certified and experienced smog
repair shop conduct a full system diagnosis. Along with the
"Check Engine" light being illuminated, there are stored
computer codes in the engine control computer which the smog
station will be able to retrieve and use for diagnosing
purposes. These codes more then often will direct the smog
technician in finding the fault.
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Question: My 94 Chevy
Impala failed Smog 3 times. I have replaced the converters, O2
sensors, and muffler. I have taken it to be diagnosed 2 times.
The last time it showed lean with nox at 1072. I took it
to get diagnosed again and he thought the EGR valve was
faulty so he ordrered a factory EGR valve and it did not
work. What else coulld be going on?
Answer: Vehicles fail
their smog inspection for different reasons based on the
variety of emissions control systems used on production
vehicles. There are several reasons vehicles encounter NOx
failures. The most common is the malfunctioning EGR
system.
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Question: I was told that
the check engine light
on my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder was on because the CAM SENSOR AND
SYNCHRONIZER have a problem and need replacing. This will cost
me over $800 to fix in order to pass the smog!!!
where can i get this fixed at a reputable place and for ALOT
less expensive?
Answer: Unfortunately
there is no limit on bringing a car to passing emissions.
However, California can help you repair your vehicle. You may
receive up to $500.00 dollars in FREE smog diagnosis and
repairs through the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). The CAP
Repair Assistance program is designed to help consumers bring
their vehicles into compliance with California emission
standards. Through the CAP program the State will pay the CAP
repair shop you choose up to $500.00 dollars for repair work
performed on your vehicle. You may contact the BAR at (800)
952-5210 for an application.
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Question: I have a 2000
Toyota Tacoma 2.4 liter with 408,000 trouble free
miles. I took it in for a smog check with the
check engine light lit. The mechanic did a scan
and replaced the CAT and the two oxygen sensors but the check
engine light is still lit and I am afraid he will just keep
replacing parts until he fixes it. (He did show me the
scan showing that the rear oxygen sensor was "firing" too much
prior to the replacement.) The engine is is great shape and
uses no oil between changes and has plenty of
power. It had a recent tune up by the same
mechanic. I have spent $1,367 so far on this problem and
I don't know the best solution.
Answer: Unfortunately
the Check Engine light problem must be found and corrected.
Perhaps further diagnosis is required. We can only suggest a
more accurate hands on inspection.
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Question: I have a 1997 VW
Jetta and it didn't pass the smog test. I have spent
over $1100 and it's still not passing. the car drives just
fine..... the dealer wants to charge me over $200 to tell me
what the problem is and that does not include the fixing. I
did take it to them once because I was told the part that it
needed could only be taken care of at the dealer...... I have
an extension on my tags till June but I would like to
take care of it now. I am afraid of spending more money than
my car is worth. What can I do?
Answer: You must get a
hands-on diagnosis... It's the only way to find out exactly
what's causing this smog failure. It's not required that the
dealer repair this fault, but if you've had a certified smog
repair station suggest the dealership, this may be the only
way to go.
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Question: It is my mom's
car and she feels like she might have been taken advantage
of. I am trying to figure out what happened before she
has it fixed or decides she needs another car. The car is a
1984 Nissan 200SX, the idle emission test results passed, the
visual inspection failed because of 1) the spark controls, 2)
needing a new fuel cap, and 3) engine ignition timing was
listed as defective. Two years ago the engine ignition
timing was listed as 0 TDC (I do not know what that means).
The service description reads: "All cars that did not
pass the smog test require three things, diagnostics, repair,
re-test. She also didn't drive her car or warm it up before
taking it in for the test.
Answer: Apparently
something is wrong with the vehicle's ignition timing. It must
be diagnosed by a smog check repair station and retested. If
this particular smog station is allowed to perform repairs,
ask them to conduct a diagnosis (there will be a charge for
this). Then you'll know exactly where the fault is and how
much it will cost to repair it. NOTE: Spark control failure
and Engine timing defective are similar faults related to
ignition timing and firing the spark plugs. The fuel CAP issue
is some what common. Gas caps are usually equipped with rubber
seals which with time dry up and require replacement. These
worn out seals may cause harmful gas fumes to escape through
the gas tank. The smog test is designed to inspect your
vehicle's gas cap for proper operation. Vehicle's which fail
this portion of the smog test are required to replace the gas
cap before passing the test.
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Question: I appreciate your
feedback. What
a nightmare this has been so far. I've taken vehicle (2001
Ford Taurus) to a friend's shop. He ran compression checks,
etc. and was able to pinpoint the cylinder responsible for the
misfire as cylinder #5, (not altogether positive) and if
that's the case, that cylinder sits in the engine in such a
way that he would have to take apart the head gaskets, which
would prove extremely costly. Without my having to evade the
issue any longer, and also to save time, what do you
recommend? attempt to repair first since the misfiring
cylinder has been detected? or just go ahead let it
fail?
Answer: A cylinder
misfire due to head gasket problems or damaged piston rings,
will not be covered in the CAP repairs due to the fact they
are mechanical engine problems and not emissions. You should
probably get this misfire problem fixed before hand. The only
thing I suggest have your mechanic ensure the compression
problem before the engine is torn down.