Vehicle Emissions Testing: Understanding the New Changes
So, you got your notice from the state saying your vehicle is due for emissions testing.
As always, you drive over to the test station, but what is this? The station is closed! Worse yet, it is has chains across the entrance and there is a for sale sign in the grass. Now what?
Take a better look at your registration notice and you see in small print that the testing locations have changed. Now there are 200 locations in a seven county area instead of only seven.
How do you find them? Odds are there is probably one within several miles of your home. The easiest way to find the new locations is to go online at www.wivip.com and enter your city name or zip code, and a list of the closest test centers will be generated. Not computer savvy? You can call 1-866-OBD-TEST and they will direct you to the nearest center.
Now here is the important part
If you pass no problem, renew your registration and you are set.
If you fail, then you need to look at your options closely. You can choose to repair your car or have anyone you want do it for you. If your car is in rough shape and needs a lot of repair, you are required to spend at least $819 to try and correct your emissions problem. If you’ve reached that amount and you still can’t get it to pass, you can apply for a waiver.
Here is where it gets tricky. To receive a waiver the work on your car has to be done by a recognized repair facility. What is a recognized repair facility? It is a shop that has taken the required emissions training and certification showing they are qualified to do emission repair. At www.wivip.com and 1-866-OBD-TEST they have a list of recognized shops.
If your car is in rough shape and needs a lot of repair, you are required to spend at least $819 to try and correct your emissions problem.
If you choose to do the work yourself, that is fine, but it will not count towards a waiver. This means you have to spend whatever it takes to pass emissions before getting your registration.
Our shop is a technical assistance center for the Wisconsin Vehicle Inspection Program (one of five scattered around southeast Wisconsin). We are the only locations that can issue a waiver. We have been seeing a lot of people coming looking for waivers on work they did or work that was done by a non recognized shop. Needless to say, they are a little upset when they find out they don’t qualify.
Another thing to remember is, in order for work to count for a waiver, it must be addressing the issues that are causing the failure. For example, if you have a bad catalytic converter which could cost in excess of $1,500 to repair (on certain vehicles) and you do a tune up and replace an oxygen sensor to get to the $819 required for a waiver, it wouldn’t count because it doesn’t address the weak catalytic converter.
In a case like that, you may have to bite the bullet and replace the converter.
So proceed with caution if repairs are getting expensive. If you are thinking you may qualify for a waiver, make sure the facility doing the repair is recognized. Check the WIVIP website and make sure the shop is listed. Doing your homework up front will save you time, money, and frustration.
Now in closing, don’t shoot the messenger. I didn’t mandate this program. I, like you, have to follow it and help my customers do the same. It does have its benefits.
I wonder how much extra that driver is paying in fuel costs because of their poor running vehicle.
Last week my wife and I were on vacation up in northern Wisconsin. Three times while driving down the road I had to pull over or pass the vehicle in front of me because I couldn’t stand the exhaust smell coming from their tailpipe. I always look when I pass one of these vehicles and the check engine light is always on. Needless to say those vehicles aren’t required to be inspected for emissions compliance.
I wonder how much extra that driver is paying in fuel costs because of their poor running vehicle. Regular maintenance is still the best way to budget and save money on auto repairs. Repairs left undone have a habit of building up and turning into much higher costs to the vehicle owner and are a health and safety hazard to all of us.
Hopefully this helps explain the emissions program a little better to help avoid problems and keep you running smooth.
Richard Head
12:47 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Now we have to take our vehicle into the back yard mechanic to have it tested.
Nuitari
3:34 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
As opposed to the high school dropouts Envirotest employed? FAIL for you, sir.
Steve ®
12:49 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
The emission testing scam continues. Hopefully someday soon this nightmare will be put to bed.
seriously?
12:52 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
How many offers to purchase has the State received for all these abandoned parcels with chains across them, and very specialized sturdy contructed brick buildings that will have to be torn down to make them usable commercial or industrial space?
Those buildings have tiny rooms and very little potential for re-model moving interior walls only. I assume they drained all the water lines so we aren't paying to heat them all winter so the pipes don't burst?
John Haunfelder
1:10 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Richard the good Technicians I know have more schooling under there belt than someone with a masters degree. Steve you do realize the people we vote into office are the ones who started these programs. And seriously the state doesnt own any of the old test centers. That was all done by a private contractor. The emissions program is put out to bid every 5-7 years. The company running the program now was able to lower the costs to the state by the tune of about $800,000 a year.
Richard Head
2:32 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Johnny, Im sure Technicans have schooling under Their belt. The places that are listed as "testing facilities" have grease monkeys. Have you seen the list of them around the area? Too funny..
Luke
9:33 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
John,
Your first sentence is absolutely true. I've said that same thing myself.
Steve ®
12:49 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
John - Yep, and that is why I said someday soon, meaning we finally (and hopefully) have the correct kind of leadership in office. Maybe one day the reality of Gary Indiana will sink into the liberal enviro nuts.
John Haunfelder
2:40 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
It doesnt take a high level of expertise to run an emissions test. All they need to do is be able to find the test connector. And the name is John.
Stevie
7:26 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
John, all I can say is that you have worked on four of our cars doing major to minor work over the last three years and you and your team have always been most professional and honest. You back your work and we'll be back again. I have no problem at all with taking our vehicles to your place for an honest emmisions test and easily would recommend anyone to you at anytime for any auto work.
Steve & Patty
prolife mom
8:35 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Agree, most people don't realize they can go to any auto parts store(Oreillys, etc) and they can perform the diagnostics for free.
Bill
3:53 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
John Boy-
It takes more than you know to be an emissions tester. It's not just plug in a connector and go with it.
Resident of O.C. Paul
4:24 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Bill, The instruments that the "grease monkeys" use are OBDII scanners. The scanners are plugged into the OBDII connector under your car's dashboard. then the scanner gets the sensor readings from all the pertinent sensors and analyzes them. After analyzing them and comparing them to the state set acceptable limits you either pass or fail. The scanning computers that the Emission Testing Stations used were nothing better than what the "grease monkeys" have but in a much larger package. I've watched the testers hook up the computer to my vehicles a number of times, and all they do is plug it in and wait for results.
In a nutshell it's plug and play, the scanner does all of the work.
By the way, how I know this is I have a brother that is a mechanic.
Steve ®
12:53 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Maybe back in the day when you had to run them up on a roller and put this sensor there.
Now you just plug them into a computer. Done. Anyone can do it.
Bill
5:53 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
From what my other brother tells me about this is that before you can even hook up the R2D2 sensor to any car you have to take a test given by the DOT, then if you pass you have to scan your finger print all while being watched by multiple cameras. So yes your grease monkeys are just letting the computer do all the work, but there is more than you know to it.
Resident of O.C. Paul
10:28 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Bill, Any ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Certified mechanic should already know how to hook up the OBDII scanner (On Board DIagnostics...II= Second Generation) to a vehicle...they all connect about the same way, so it shouldn't be that hard getting certified by the state to run emission tests.
Also any shade tree mechanic such as myself can buy an OBDII scanner, Sears, Auto Zone, and other auto parts stores sell them, they aren't exclusively sold to mechanics, they aren't hard to read, and the code lists and software are upgraded via the internet.
As for there being more to emission tests than we know, I've watched the inspectors, and all I've ever observed them do is hook the OBDII connector cable to the connector under the dash, then start the test at the computer. As for the readings that need to be compared, those are gotten by the computer from the VIN #. Then the computer monitors the readings from your vehicles sensors, compares them to the acceptable levels, and gives the Pass or Fail. I have worked in R&D labs with similar software, and know that there isn't much more than what I've stated here to it.
Ben Hogan
7:57 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
R of O.c. Paul
You are 100 percent factually incorrect of exactly how an emission test is performed! when the testing equipment is hooked up to the vehicles DLC it in no way receives any information from ANY SENSOR! on the vehicle. The computer is merely checking to see if the READINESS MONITORS have either run or not and whether the vehicle has failed any of said MONITORS. IT DOES NOT COMPARE ANY SENSOR ON THE VEHICLE TO ANY OTHER VEHICLES ACCEPTABLE LEVEL! You absolutely need to have your brother ( a mechanic) talk to me I'll explain to him how an emission test actually happens on his vehicle. As John stated earlier in a post, I MYSELF HAVE MORE AUTOMOTIVE SCHOOLING THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND! Yres there are still many highly underqualified losers in the industry, but there are fading extremely fast. I spend the majority of my day analyzing waveforms on an osciliscope. OBD scanners are helpful as a diagnostic starting point, but please do not kid yourself in believing that all mechanics do to diagnose a car is plug it in!
Resident of O.C. Paul
1:15 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
OK...so then where do the CO, CO2 readings come from as they no longer put the collector wand up the tail pipe? Some sensors have to be sensing carbon, oxygen and other exhaust components and relaying that to the ECU so that it can be picked up on what ever piece of equipment they are using to conduct the emission test. Or is the mechanic that good at sensing those with his nose? if so, then I wonder how the ECU controls the engine, or if all the sensors (Mass flow, Oxygen, etc...) on the engine are really necessary...maybe a tiny mechanic is under the hood of my vehicle running around adjusting everything to keep my vehicle running correctly? Guess I really don't know how a vehicle runs. Does it run on gas? I understand a battery is under the hood...maybe it runs on electricity? it takes a spark plug to ignite the fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber and it takes electricity to create a spark...but then again you can create a spark if you strike magnesium with a piece of steel...???
Resident of O.C. Paul
1:59 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I guess I now know a mechanic I will never want to have touch my vehicle. He doesn't know much about what the sensors do, or how they interact with the ECU/PCM...something I couldn't possibly wrap my mind around.
Bob McBride
6:00 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
There's a bit of the fox guarding the hen house to this and there have been some reports since the switch (I'm not sure how well substantiated or how many, but there was an article in the J/S recently regarding them) of significant amounts of work being suggested to certain elderly folks who have cars that have never failed in the past. The response from the department in charge of overseeing the program was, basically, that if they get reports of that nature they look into them. That's a rather passive form of oversight and relies on the ability of people who, by their very nature, are susceptible to becoming victims to actually recognize that that's what's happening to them.
It would have been best to leave this in the hands of the DMV/DOT or, better yet, just have gotten rid of the program altogether.
Here's the article:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/privatized-emissions-testing-off-to-bumpy-start-bq64rbs-163620436.html
Lyle Ruble
7:08 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
@Bob McBride....I agree with you, I have heard the same reports. We've gone from seven test centers to five technical assistance centers. I wonder who is getting their pockets filled this time.
Steve ®
12:58 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
That article was ripped apart as blatantly bias a few weeks ago. Notice how they don't mention what mechanic tried to rip granny off? Wouldn't finding that mechanic and asking questions make for a better story? And how the mention of Walker is made by a person that signed the recall petition.
►Governor Walker shouldn't have done what he did. I didn't have a problem going to those emission test places. Now I have to go to these garages and deal with these crooks.◄
Who is the crook?
It's framed, with no details or real reporting.
John Haunfelder
7:44 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Bob I know what you are saying. I preferred to have someone else tell people there cars are broken and then let me fix them. I saw the article in the Journal that you are talking about. One car out of how many thousands that were tested that were tested that week. It does make for sensational journalism and you know there are two sides to that story. As far as technical assistance centers the state requires that assistance is provided to people who are having trouble passing emissions. If a person has made an effort to repair there car and still cant get it to pass they can contact the centers and see if the qualify for free diagnostic services. Bob and Lyle the wisdom of your age shows thru. I like you question everything drives my wife nuts.
Bob McBride
8:27 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
The problem with saying it's only one car out of thousands is that the system relies on the owner to report the issue. If the owner doesn't know any better, doesn't have the time to get a second opinion or is just plain embarrassed they got taken (or may have gotten taken), they won't report.
The other part, as noted in the article, is that there's an incentive for the mechanic to "notice" other things totally unrelated to the emissions test in order to recoup more than the $2.00 they can charge the state for the test. You passed the test with flying colors, but they couldn't help noticing that your tires aren't in top shape and, while you're here, even though you don't really need it now, how about an oil change so you don't have to stop back at a later date?
And John, if you've been i the business 36 years, I'm probably no older than you are. Although I will cop to owning more cars over time than most people my age. (Lyle, on the other hand, still has his first car, which he bought new, and is very reluctant to give it up for anything without a rumble seat).
I know most of you guys are honest, but I also know a number of those in your line of work who take advantage of the lack of knowledge on the part of their customers. Given that there are some unscrupulous persons out there, having them run the test and make the recommendations regarding service based on the results, or based on the fact that they got you in the door with the test, seems like a bad idea.
Richard Head
7:50 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Bottom line, the way I see it. The state closed down the test center's, in turn, eliminated job's, saving the state money and putting people out of work. I highly dought that the money being saved will be used for anything we will notice, except maybe a few more fourclosers. Now we take our car to a fix it shop to have them drop what they are doing to test our car. What ever....
Steve ®
1:01 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Wouldn't the increase in demand from shops doing the testing increase the need for new employment to handle that demand?
Jenny Heyden
8:23 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
I just have a clarifying question. The line, "If your car is in rough shape and needs a lot of repair, you are required to spend at least $819 to try and correct your emissions problem." - only applies to whether you qualify for the waiver, right? I mean, you can spend less, pass, and be fine. You just have to at least have spent $819 in order to qualify for the waiver. Right?
John Haunfelder
9:29 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Jenny a lot of failed cars can be fixed for a lot less. To get a waiver you have to spend up to $819. Guys I'm sorry if I get a little defensive Ive put my heart and soul into this industry. There are a lot of great technicians in this area. I applaud them all and thank them for making myself and my techs strive to be the best. Unfortunately a few people in the industry dont share my point of view.
Craig
11:25 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
John, I feel for you. You didn't make the dumb rules, the State did. Knownothing's in Madison always know best...
I have never been in a Taxi (in other states) where the check engine light wasn't on! They have mechanics and made the decision not to fix the issue, if this is causing further harm, wouldn't they be working on it?
I had my car air fixed at a local tire store (replaced a leaky coolant line). Since then my trac controll light and abs light will not turn off, I took it back because they forgot to bolt the master cylinder back on the firewall. Lights are still on, any suggestions?
John Haunfelder
11:32 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Craig depending on where this coolant line is they may have bumped the wiring going to the wheel speed sensors. Sometimes given the age of the vehicle these connections can be very sensitive.
Craig
11:53 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
They told me a ground wire attached to the master cylinder was resting on the freon line and wore a hole in it (and the wire was bare), so I trust that was the cause of the leak. This is an '02 Impala with 110,000 miles, I hate to put a lot of money into it.
To add insult to injury, the air quit after a few weeks- the compressor was not engaging. The backyard mechanic in me thought it was another leak- but coolant is at full pressure. I jumpered the compressor and was able to engage the clutch, but it still blows warm air. Spending money to fix the traction control and air seems futile on an 11 year old car, she is likely due for struts and more important repairs.
Craig
11:54 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
BUT- It did just pass emissions!
Resident of O.C. Paul
1:36 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
in 25 years of owning vehicles I've never had a vehicle fail an emission test. Then I've seen cars out on the road that should be in a junk yard, you know the ones, you get behind them and almost pass out due to the exhaust cloud coming from them...yet they're out on the roads, and I wonder how they passed an emission test. So I agree that the program should have been gotten rid of all together. Waste of money and time with little coming back for the investment...no bang for the buck.
Nuitari
3:39 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Those would be the ravishing chariots of the hood rats.
Tom Kamenick
6:35 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
They're probably older than 96, and therefore don't have to be tested. Wonky law, huh? The really old cars that are more likely to have bad emissions don't need to be tested, but a car a couple years old has to be.
Bren
3:44 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
A friend owns a 1997 vehicle with "check engine" light problem. Takes the car to 4 different mechanics and spends $2,000+ trying to fix the problem. Each mechanic swears its one problem or another. The codes are cleared out and a host of new codes pop up, the engine light remains on. The car otherwise runs well. Emission testing time and the car fails. Friend is given a book of "preferred" service agencies and 2 of them can't find the problem. Finally "preferred" mechanic and friend of DMV tech services person recommend just replacing a perfectly good timing belt for $800 and getting the waiver.
There has to be a smart way to deal with emission controls.
Tom Kamenick
6:36 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
There is - allow people to test, you know, the actual emissions instead of the computer codes so that a crossed wire doesn't keep you from driving your car.
Avenging Angel
4:32 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
This whole program is backwards. It requires new cars to be inspected, but once it is 10 (?) years old, it is exempt and the cars that are really bad (>$819 in repairs) can get a waiver. Moronic.
Sunrocket
4:40 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I've never gotten that either. My check engine light is continuously on and it is always because of the gas cap. I have spent more money on diagnostics and gas caps and it continually keeps happening.
Steve ®
12:46 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
It is an enviro nutjob scam. If they are worried about the emissions that float up from Gary Indiana they should spend some time in India or China.
John Haunfelder
5:58 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
The emissions program tests all vehicles 96 and newer. Cars older than that would require the old IM 240 test on the Dynometer (very expensive to do). New cars are not tested for the first three years. And starting this year light duty diesel trucks 07 and newer up to 14,000 GVW will also be tested. You all realize that for every one person complaining about this program there are probably ten who thinks it works well. I call it my 10% rule no matter what you do 10% are going to complain. That outta to start a firestorm
Bren
6:12 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I don't think anyone appreciates having to take time out of the day for emission testing. My mechanic/dealership is now a test center and they have a car service in case there's a problem. That's more convenient for me but I'm very sorry that jobs were lost from the changeover from the previous emission testing contractor. A high cost for my convenience, too high.
Bob McBride
6:16 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Nah, no firestorm.
There are plenty of mechanics in the area.
Avenging Angel
6:15 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Anyone know the % of cars that fail? I can't help but wonder if we are addressing a problem that doesn't exist.
Chuck moeller
8:44 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Guess what. You are all correct! Well, most of you anyway. First yes the testing process is very simple. We have trained and certified everyone from auto technicians to service advisors to lot attendants to even salespeople to perform the test. John is also correct, there can definitely at times be more to it were a higher level of automotive technical background comes in handy. The vast array of makes and models do not always locate the OBDII connector in an easily found location. Once located and properly connected the test is straight forward and guided by the test equipment software with minor user input. All while immediately transmitting findings directly to the DMV. The test simply checks to confirm that the readiness monitors have run or recorded failure. The failure rate is extremely low thus far at a rate of less than 2%. Does this mean failed vehicles are belching excess emissions? Usually not, merely means that in some cases the emissions related components are not giving optimum information through monitoring. However any one that feels that today's vehicles have little or no emissions, feel free to close your garage door,start your car and call me in the morning. (not really please don't- just food for thought). As for unscrupulous repair facilities or technicians (grease monkeys), John's 10% rule applies here as well. I might add that that rule applies in all professions. Doctors,lawyers,journalists,resteraunts,grocery stores,etc...
Joe Todor
1:32 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
> required to spend at least $819
Should that read :"required to spend at the most, $ 819" ?
CowDung
10:28 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
No, Joe. If they spend less than $819, then they are not eligible to apply for a waiver. They must spend at least $819 to be eligible to apply for the waiver.
The idea is that there's a limit to what one has to spend trying to fix the problem. if they don't have to spend that much, their problem was fixed and a waiver isn't needed. If they do spend that much (or more), the problem might not be fixable and they need the waiver.
Gregory Kluck
5:11 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
A tip. Before you take your car in for testing, make sure (besides the Check light being off) it's at operating temperature. Cold engines normally produce a bit more in emissions than warmed up cars. When we had testing stations to go to, that wasn't much of a problem. But now, with service centers and dealerships, your car may sit in the lot for a while cooling off. i am sure the mechanic/technician doesn't drive it around for a bit.
$$andSense
10:59 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Correct me if I am wrong John but the testing only applies to vehicles manufactured in the last 20 years. Older vehicles are exempted as well as mopeds, motorcycles, etc. Most new vehicles won't run well if their emissions are malfunctioning. This is akin to treating the young for heart disease and ignoring the older at risk types. I realize you didn't write the law but isn't this one more case of gov't stupidity to maintain fed funding? And yes, I have stopped several car lengths away at stop lights from Harleys that smell worse than an ash tray spewing their characteristic exhaust stink without consequence.
Emissions-guy
11:11 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
@ R of O.C. Paul... I could barely read your posts without laughing my head off. You really think your car has a carbon emissions sensor? GO TRY TO BUY ONE! Stop talking about things you clearly know nothing about. Ben Hogan is 110% correct and you are clearly talking out of your a$$.
Rachel Chiariello
10:05 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I've been trying to get my car to pass emissions since October. 2 extensions later and my check engine light is still on. I might as well become a mechanic, because the ones around here sure can't fix the problem. Apparently code p0446 can mean any number of things are wrong. Mechanics expect you to have the money to try them all.
John Haunfelder
1:18 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Rachel give me a caqll you have options. Here is my work # 262-542-2600
Nikki Hundt Prohaska
5:06 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
P0446 Evaporative Emmission Control System Vent Control Circuit
OBD-II Trouble Code Technical DescriptionEvaporative Emission Control System Vent Control Circuit Malfunction
What does that mean?Evap vent valve has only one purpose. It closes in order to seal the vent so the EVAP system can pressurize and ensure there are no leaks. Evap vent valve is usually supplied Batt. voltage with key on. The ECM's driver controls the ground, and when grounded, activates the valve (closing it). If the ECM detects a short to ground, and open,or a short to battery voltage on the control circuit, P0446 will set. Code also may refer to ECM detecting that EVAP system is unable to achieve or maintain vacuum during test.
SymptomsThere will be no obvious symptoms to driver, other than MIL illumination.
(MIL= Check Engine Light) on.
CausesA code P0446 could mean one or more of the following has happened:
Faulty vent valve
Open, short or excessive resistance on Vent valve control circuit
Blockage of vent valve
Bad PCM
Possible SolutionsWith a P0446 OBD-II trouble code, here are some things to try:
Replace Vent valve
Repair open, short, or resistance problem in control circuit
Repair open, or short, or resistance problem in power circuit
Replace PCM
Other EVAP DTCs: P0440 - P0441 - P0442 - P0443 - P0446 - P0453 - P0455 - P0456
Jack
10:57 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2013
Does nobody realize that OBD2 is Second Generation as stated earlier? Um what about OBD0 and OBD1 testing. LMAO definitely more to testing than plug and play. Second generation OBD only makes the testing much quicker if functioning properly because testers read data instead of doing the work to produce it, such as you have to do on an OBD0 car. Any idiot who has taken a car to be emissions tested would understand, or anyone with 5 seconds of research. Amazing how people on the Internet are so stupid, and love to say they know everything about everything. However those people prove they know nothing about anything.