Did Your Car Failed an Emission Test? What to Do

With the green revolution in full swing, it is not surprising that countries around the world are implementing strict emission standards. If you are taking care of your engine properly, you should not worry about failing an emission test. But if something went wrong and your car failed an emission test, worry not as you can still take some actions to make sure that your car can pass the retest.

As is with all car problems, the first thing that you should do is find out the reason why your car failed the test. Emission problem can be the cause of several things and by troubleshooting; you can pinpoint what are the problems in your engine or the exhaust system and rectify it. With the multitude of auto parts that can be blamed, it might take you a long time to find the ones at fault.

If your car failed an emission test, you cannot have it registered unless you secure a waiver in some states. A waiver is quite controversial as some people think it is unfair for people with vehicles which passed the emission tests. Basically, a waiver is something that one gets if he or she cannot meet the requirements of an emission test.

This loophole is created by politicians who understood that some people may not have the resources to have a car fixed to meet strict emission guidelines. This is given to people when they have had spent a fixed amount of money to fix the emission problem of the vehicle. This is called a good faith effort.

If you do not want to spend a lot of money, you can avail of this waiver if available in your state. Some state puts the waiver limit at $75 to $150. For new cars on some states though, this could be as much as $450. If you care about the amount of greenhouse gas your car is producing, then it is not surprising if you go beyond that amount to fix your car’s emission problem.

In automobiles, the old adage “prevention is better than cure” holds true. By keeping your car well-cared for, you are putting yourself in a good position to pass an emission test. Consult your owner’s manual to see which should be replaced when. A well-maintained car will not produce as much greenhouse gas as one which is not well-cared for.

Some of the things that should be cared for are spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, and PCV valve. A spark plug with its contact covered with carbon will not be effective in burning gasoline. This means that the car with a dirty spark plug will produce more unburned gases which increase the risk of failing an emission test.

The PCV valve is a very important part when it comes to reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by an automobile. This auto part evacuates from the crankcase. If you want a retest of your car, make sure that you replace the spark plug, air and fuel filter, the PCV valve, and engine oil.