Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 10:55:47 -0400
Reply-To: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: TEXAS SMOG LAW ORDEAL (don't fear!)
In-Reply-To: <001101c24919$74b05b40$5325ae18@mark>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
We have had this testing for the last two years here in NJ. Initially many
people were fearful that this new test would cause their formerly passing
cars, to fail. However I have had no problems getting past emissions
testing with a good running vehicle. Even my '85 Westy that has 132k miles
on it and a recent tune up passed with no problems.
If your van is running well you should be fine.
On a funnier note: we had a Chrysler New Yorker that my Grandmother owned
that never passed the normal idle emissions testing since it was new (my
aunt was the original owner). Every year they had to tweak this or that to
get it through. So we were sweating to see if it would pass with the new
test. I did a tune up, changed the oil, and the PCV valve. It went right
through and passed with no problems. I think that the car actually ran
cleaner at highway speeds than it does at idle so the dyno test helped the
problem instead of making it worse.
New law here in NJ. After spending millions and millions to get this new
emissions testing system up and going, and all of the
political/environmental blah, blah, blah... we have a new law that says that
vehicles made after 1994 are exempt from the dyno emissions test. You see
OBD-II cars actually have thier own emissions test equipment built in. The
oxygen sensors and other sensors in the system actually monitor your
emissions and if they are bad the "Check Engine" light comes on. So 94 and
newer cars that don't have the "Check Engine" light on are going to
automatically pass emissions testing without ever getting on a dyno. This
makes you wonder if there are enough pre-94 cars on the road at this point
that are being daily driven to make a significant environmental impact (in
other words did we just waste tons of money testing cars that will be in the
scrap heap within the next 2-5 years? Probably.). Just my opinion. Worth
as much as you paid for it :-)
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Mark & Laura Magee
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:49 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: TEXAS SMOG LAW ORDEAL
Volks,
I am concerned my 90 Carat may or may not pass the new super-stringent Texas
Smog laws enacted in certain counties in Texas and I will have to pass next
year. The new test is run on a dyno and test emissions as I understand it as
the factory did when submitting data to EPA for approval for sale in the
U.S.. Therefore a dyno test for emissions at varying speeds/loads.
Vanagon is now 12 years old, in excellent condition w/only 80K miles, yet I
worry how this machine can come close to factory new specs???
Additionally, your vehicle cannot -drip- one drop of oil as well.... this as
well is a disqualifier. Fortunately mine is presently drip free.
Anyone have any tips of passing such a test........
I do routine maintenance and all plugs/wires/cap/rotor are all within 7 K
miles. I think I will next consider a new EGT sensor. Anything else???
I have thought of a selectable propane conversion, is there a kit out there?
She'd run awfully clean on Propane!! Couldn't handle the 10% reduction in
power long term however (selector valve back to gas).
I want to keep this Vanagon around, but this new Smog Testing seems a little
tough, and I'm sure it will soon be Texas Wide and or Nation wide.
Please respond with any tips/ideas to: marklaura@houston.rr.com
as I am on digest.
Mark Magee 90 Carat 80K
Kemah TX USA
John 14:6
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