Emission repair jobs are not something drivers like to hear about when they bring their vehicles in for a state inspection. Most states now require emission testing on cars and trucks, along with any other type of vehicle on the road. Some drivers quickly find out during these routine inspections that there is an emission problem with their vehicle. The driver is usually given a certain amount of time to fix the problem (usually a month) and then they can retake the test again. Problems with egr valves, oxygen sensors, pcp valves, and map sensors can all cause emission repair issues for your vehicle. Testing is required in most states due to control pollution. If your vehicle is emitting too much carbon monoxide, an emission repair job is more than likely in store for you. In fact, if your vehicle is releasing too much emission toxins into the air, this not only affects the larger climate issues, but can put yourself in a dangerous position for carbon monoxide poisoning when your vehicle is in a stopped position and running.
Unfortunately once your vehicle’s warranty runs out, the owner of the vehicle becomes the lonely soul that has to pay for an emission repair job. In the mid 90’s, federal emission warranty requirements were altered. Warranties were extended to 8 years or 80,000 miles on powertrain control module and the catalytic converter, but then pushed back to 2 years or 24,000 miles on other parts. Many emission inspection programs take into account “waiver” benefits that reduce how much a driver has to spend on emission repairs. If an emission problem cannot be taken care of by a professional during this waiver time, the vehicle will still be able to pass an emission inspection test even if it is considered to be producing higher levels of toxins. Every state differs in its emission testing procedures, but typically tests specifically focus on two pollutants: unburned hydrocarbons or HC and carbon monoxide or CO. Tests also take carbon dioxide into account since this is a greenhouse gas pollutant, but not considered a regular pollutant. These tests primarily focus on carbon dioxide solely for diagnostic purposes. Most vehicles will pass emission tests, but the ones that don’t can point to a few causes of what the problem may be. These problems include:
- Unclean air filter-this can cut off your engine’s air supply causing high carbon monoxide levels.
- Unclean oil-Co readings can augment if your oil has not been changed in awhile.
- Worn out or dirty spark plugs-ignition misfire can occur with worn out or dirty spark plugs. As a result, HC emissions may increase significantly.
- High idle speed-just a few hundred rpm can make all the difference when taking an emissions test and whether or not you pass or fail.
- Older models-some of the older built vehicles tend to collect more dirt because that’s the way they were designed. It could be the engine design itself or the engine control system. Problems like this require emission repairs by dependable professionals.
If your vehicle is experiencing an emission problem, be sure to have it checked out right away. You may not know if your vehicle has an emission problem unless you have an emissions test run on it, but if you smell anything suspicious or notice that your car or truck is releasing alot of exhaust into the air, this could be an indication of an emission problem. Cooper Service Inc. specializes in emissions repair and testing. No matter what type of vehicle you drive, our team of devoted experts can diagnose an emissions problem using the most sophisticated equipment in the business. Don’t let an emission problem get worse. Be sure to get regular annual inspections done, and if there are any problems, rely on Don Cooper and his team of experts to perform the necessary repairs on your emission control system.