Emissions Testing...Help

[maxgt]

When my car was being tested (I was watching closely to what the tech was doing) he stopped in the middle of the testing and talked to another tech. This other tech picked a gas cannister and attached the tubings to a port within the testing equipment (the emission gas analyzer it self) and then another tech tested my car. While my car is being tested the, other tech (holding the gas canister) opened the valve of the gas canister and I can see that the readings displayed by the monitor also increased and the more he opened the valve the higher the readings were and then he started to close it and the readings went down and then he stopped adjusting the valve and the readings did not change.

The gas cannister remained attached throughout the testing procedure. When the testing was completed, my car failed the test. The result was almost 2x the acceptance limit. I know there was nothing wrong with my car and it passed the previous test.

So, I had the car looked at and had no fault codes on its internal diagnostics. I had the car re-tested and I brought along my camcorder. When the tech saw my camcorder he started acting funny and had a talked with his supervisor.

To make things short, two different techs tested my car for at least 15 minutes, about 7 extra miles on my odometer and my car almost jumped out of the rollers, my car failed the test again. But this time the readings were 0.9 (acceptance limit =0.8) while from the previous test was at 1.4!

Help....I don't who to talked to with this incident! I would appreciate any suggestions!

[Odawg]

I'm not even going to guess at exactly what the techs were doing to your car. I worked in a smog shop for about a year before the dyno test was required. And I know the tests have changed.

But if you feel that the shop was doing something untrustworthy, you should contact your local B.A.R.

(Bereau of Automotive Repairs)

[82_camaro_owner]

id also contact your local BBB (better business bureau) i know some shops do stuff like that just to make a few extra bucks. take the tape and any other evidence you may have to them. also goto another shop and have them test it. its times like this im greatful sc dosent have anysort of inspections on cars at all :-) cos god knows mine would fail miserably

[DOUGLAS KING]

give your car a tuneup and then have it tested at another shop because an antique car tuned up can pass an emissions test if tested by a reputable place.

[vetteonr]

This is why a lot of states are dropping these tests. No one can properly monitor these shops and there are a lot of crooked ones out there. If the Motor City doesn't have them, that should tell you something.

[89s10]

if this was a dealer ship i would call there hot line and 82 is a very good also call the attorner general office and file a complet

[elbi_chorrea]

It smells like a rip-off.

[xxgarxx]

the only thing i can think of that they were doing would be a propane enrichment witch should raise your hydrocarbon count

[Gearhead52]

The new dyno test is a GPM test (grams per mile) vs. a PPM (parts per million) the max miles that should be ran are 13.

If your car is tuned well and WARMED UP (which is a common mistake) it would have to have a readable fault to cause it to fail.

I have taken my souped up cars to these here in the Chicago area and all have passed. One didn't even have any catalyst in the converter. The other had a SES light that intermittently came on.

Tune it , warm it and take it to another shop. When you get the readings talk to the operators at that shop, particularly if it passes and ask what the other shop may have been doing.

If you suspect foul play then report them.........

[thecarguy]

hit the nail with the BAR comment. Darn, thats the one thing I hate about living in California, that darn test every 2 years. Go to another place and get tested and tell them about what happened at the other shop and they should be willing to help as they will look at you as being vornurible (sp?) and will want your service, and thats good.

[angus.g]

When you get your emmisions done the only equiptment that should be at use is the tail pipe emmisions equiptment and if you don't have a gas can or whatever attached to your car's engine while you drive it then it bloody better not be on there while testing.This test is so important to the common person because it can cost the customer a lot of money and I am sick of hearing this type of robbery being done.Why is it that some honest retired official who worked as a certified automotive tech,can not be hired to go with the ordinary car owner when this needs to be done and save the masses money,in the millions,from this type of thieft.We have policemen for when we are at home but people lose more outside the home with nothing only trust to protect them really.
Sorry but my fur standed on end here.