What makes a car NOT pass Emissions Testing?

[devotedchristian]

I have a 1990 Geo Prizm that hasn't been used in a while, fairly good condition but need Emissions Testing to get current tag.

It should pass shouldn't it?

 

[tar heel]

Are you sure it has to? In North Carolina, cars that age don't have to pass emissions testing. I believe the new law is that cars 1995 and newer have to pass.

 

[devotedchristian]

Good point. I double checked and it seems I do. Darn it!

 

[Towncrier]

In Ohio, your car might fail due to either a bad catalytic converter or a gas cap that won't hold pressure. You won't know for sure until you have the tests done.

 

[laurajetter]

Well my 2001 Toyota Echo just failed emissions. What a shock to hear the words, "I'm sorry, your car didn't pass..." What? No one has ever said that to me before, how dare you say my car didn't pass?

The check engine light had come on shortly before we took it in and since we waited until nearly the last day of the deadline, we didn't have time to get it fixed. They handed us a print out with a bunch of codes on it (which they didn't even know what it meant) and said to take it to a shop and get it fixed. I'm sure whatever is causing the check engine light to come on is also what caused the car to fail emissions.

Sorry, I guess that's not really that helpful.

 

[icebrat001]

If your check engine light is on, you will fail the test! Trust me!!!

 

[bicker]

My 1997 Subaru recently failed emissions inspection, but that was because I replaced the battery. Losing power empties out the data that is used to test emissions on vehicles. I had to drive around a few days and then take the test again.

 

[Tiggeroo]

in NJ passing emissions esp. on an older car can be a painful process. I have a 98 Mustang that failed twice. We're still working on it. We had the check engine light come on. We took it to have the codes read, it was a bad oxygen sensor. Had it changed, lights out, took it thru failed because they said the computer hadn't reset itself. 150 miles later light is back on with same code. No idea what's wrong. The car runs fine.