Do they test your emissions in your state inspection? (Page 3/5)
theogre APR 06, 04:39 PM
even in states does Safety/Emission inspections...
most have bare minimum for each.
Example: Lights must work but near no-one check for HL aim. Old NJ state barn inspection you had to pass an HL aiming "wall" for low and high beams but I'm told they stopped that years ago.

Almost every one in US Mex and S.Am. countries and some to all of Canada would Fail UK MOT and other EU inspections because they use HL optical aiming, various brake dyno, and Exhaust sniffer even now.
More so for using Illegal external lights on a vehicle like HID and LED "upgrade" crap sold in a lot of places including Amacom Eflay etc.
Jake_Dragon APR 06, 04:56 PM
CA checks for codes and does a visual inspection. If you have headers they will requires a number that shows the comply with SMOG checks.
Most places I lived in before CA only did the initial inspection at most then didn't care.

Best to look up the cut off, you may only have to pass safety inspections for your "new" Fiero
PK APR 06, 05:26 PM
That it do!
theogre APR 06, 09:38 PM
go to YT and search mot inspection then watch longer ones showing most/all of the inspection.
But note most videos don't cover newer MOT Rules like Instant Fail having HID "upgrades" for car build w/ Halogen Bulbs.
can read the Official Rules that UK shops for inspecting whatever vehicle type too. I don't have links handy. Search here for old links maybe dead.

Other EU countries have similar or harder inspections but I don't have right terms to search all of them. then you likely don't speak language and auto translate doesn't work on many YT videos.

Beside "weaker" inspections in most states that have them... Some states also have reduce inspections....
In 1 state,
New cars now don't get inspection until 5 years old. Including "used" cars < 5 years old like bought a lease car, rental car (like at Enterprise Sales) etc.
After that 2 or more years between inspections.
But you still get billed by state each year for registering a car.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

armos APR 07, 08:12 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
I remember waiting in those lines... it was ridiculous. And the people in the testing facility would always tell me to put my front wheels on the dyno, to which I had to explain to them that it was rear wheel drive. And then they'd ask me to pop the hood so they could look, so I popped the trunk, and they'd walk around to the front, and I always had to get out, and then they'd tell me I couldn't get out of the car, so I'd be like... the engine is in the back, and then they'd ask me what it is, and I'd say... "It's a Pontiac..." and they'd apparently never heard of it before... literally at this time, my 87 Fiero was like... what, 9 years old in 1996? I just don't get it.


LOL I remember how many people questioned me when I towed my 84 on the front wheels from Nebraska to IL in 1998. They meant well but it got old, especially after 1 guy who really didn't seem to think I knew anything about my own car.
I guess in the 90s people figured every small car was FWD, and that Fieros catch fire.
Even without opening the hood, I don't think the Fiero even looks like it has room for a FWD engine bay. Maybe a 3cyl with a short deck.
PK APR 09, 05:43 AM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

go to YT and search mot inspection then watch longer ones showing most/all of the inspection.




All up to date MOT test info is ear Ogre

https://www.gov.uk/guidance...-commercial-vehicles

It is a very basic tyre kicking that ensures there is nothing horrifically dangerous on a ve-hickle at that point in time.

The motorcycle equivalent is an even more basic tyre kicking exercise... after all there are on average two less tyres to kick.

My Fiero had passed at least 3 MOT tests with its original headlights (RH DIP!!!). A friend nearly ran me over with his Toyota Hilux in the mid 1990s. I was very grateful as on very close inspection I noticed his headlights were a direct (LH DIP) replacement . ♪┌|∵|┘♪

Exhaust inspected for emissions, loudness and damage.

[This message has been edited by PK (edited 04-09-2023).]

theogre APR 09, 11:53 AM
Thanks for MOT link.
Others can also watch YT to see Examples of MOT inspection being done.
Many show E-sniffer used even on OBD2 vehicles because many of them don't have O2 sensors to test the Cat. (Either doesn't have pre/post Cat O2 sensors or O2 sensor in a Cat.)

HL "Upgrades" are covered here...

quote
4.1.4. Compliance with requirements
<Snip>
Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.
</snip>

"first used on or after 1 April 1986" is likely for early "Aero" and other Factory HL that use Replaceable Halogen Bulbs. Not for "Sealed Beam" units.

Third part is important for all vehicles, bold there added by me...
IOW For Fiero and many others can get "Legal" HL LED upgrades from companies like Trucklite that fully meet UK EU or USDOT rules but Fail for a lot of crap sold in many shops and Amacon etc. And Not just illegal HID or LED in Halogen Shells like H4 sets but Full "bulbs" assemblies don't meet rules for light pattern, markings, etc.
This rule change (started ~ 2018) are a direct result of fools installing HID in all types of Halogen Shells for many years and blinding other drivers and expand to LED fools doing the same more recently.
Kitskaboodle APR 10, 10:40 PM
Do they test for emissions in CA? Does a bear poop in the woods? 😀
You name it, they check it!
Flat mirror under the car to verify your cat p/n. (it must be for that car or you fail)
Roller test
Sniffer test
Evap test
Visual (which includes the smog check verifying vacuum hose/charcoal canister integrity.
Verifying ignition timing. (some check it, some don’t) And when they do, they have to access the aldl plug in order to jumper it. My car takes even longer than most Fiero’s as my battery is in the front so they have to find a spare battery in their shop to run the timing light. 😀

I have been in the smog shop for two hours before because they checked everything.
One guy got frustrated trying to smog my 86 GT and told me he wasn’t going to do it and for me to go away basically. (I’m not kidding)
Kit
armos APR 12, 07:50 AM
To help encourage goodwill, and to avoid any broken parts, I always went to the CA tests with both engine vents removed and the ALDL plug exposed. The shop guys don't want to mess with stuff like that, and I didn't want them messing with it either.
I also put a sheet in the trunk showing how to read the timing marks. No idea if the guy actually looked at it or trusted it though.

The shop I went to had different prices based on the model year of the car. I just happened to be on the cutoff - my 86 was in a cheaper tier than an 85 would have been. Still an expensive test though. My last test in 2020 was almost $100. Add another $130 for the annual registration itself.
That shop was pretty quick and reliable, but it was on the edge of the suburbs bordering rural areas (including where I lived). There were lots of old cars there so the shop was used to them.

When I got my first renewal notice in Florida I laughed. It was $22. Much larger/heavier cars are in the $30s, no test needed.

[This message has been edited by armos (edited 04-12-2023).]

Vintage-Nut APR 12, 02:41 PM

quote
by Kitskaboodle
Do they test for emissions in CA? Does a bear poop in the woods?



California’s stringent approach on this subject is the worst state in the nation!

I also bet that many members heard about California’s recent ban on New Gasoline-Powered Cars too….By 2035, California shoppers looking for new vehicles MUST buy electric – period!

Many California SMOG inspection stations in my area don’t offer a certificate any longer for ’89 and older vehicles given that their cost to pay the ‘enhanced’ Smog Check inspection.

When I was done of restoring my 1984 Chevrolet K10 Short Bed 4x4 Truck with Factory California Emission Equipment, the certificate fee was $130 and took nearly two hours with visual inspection AND functional emission control checks …

I’m working now to refurbish my ’88 GT and I bet it’ll take the same cost and time or more!

If possibly, I hope to flee from California’s restrictive laws and policies very soon before I’m too old to move…..
VN