Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Question about passing inspection???

Starting this month, here in Houston, the inspection for vehicles changed. I don't know all the details and stuff so i'll get to the point. Before, they'd run the car at certain RPM's with some thing stuck in the exhaust, etc.

Well, i went to get my inspection today and all they did was plug a wire into my OBDII port (?), turned the car on for a couple seconds, and turned it off. End of test. I passed. But i was wondering what kind of info did they get? I did see on the screen something about MIL's, but he passed that screen before i could get close. Is the info that they can obtain going to prevent me from passing next time if i start getting mods (all i have is an intake and exhaust)?

Thanks.

Dude, they got your social security number, credit card #, mom's maiden name...Pretty much everything it takes to become you...LOL...
I actually have no pertinent info on this post...I'm just whorin'. Somebody wanna step up and help this guy out?

PA has a pilot program for this sort of thing. In a year or two, my inspection will consist of this too (not sure if the chassis dyno sniffer test is going away). All they did was plug in to your OBD-II info on the PCM, checking to see that all the monitors are completed and that you have no pending or current diagnostic trouble codes. The basic assumption is that as long as OBD-II is happy, there is no need to run a sniffer on your car. Supposed to help by reducing the time and money spent on inspections, since the computer is supposed to monitor your car's emissions anyway.

FWIW, as long as you're not throwing CELs you will have no trouble passing this test with mods. Heck, I passed a sniffer test and I have all kinds of crazy mods.

My understanding of the new smog test in this area is that your car is entered in a database that, if you failed the test at one place and went to another, will tell them that you failed already. This may not be the case but that is how I heard it. And for the unwary, a disreputable shop can disconnect a hose or a plug wire and fail you then tell you need repairs, charge you for what they say you need, and do nothing more then reconnect what they undid. Easy money for them.

I live in Galveston Co. and our tests start next May if this EPA induced Federal blackmail (no highway money if you do not meet EPA standards) is not brought to a halt before then. I am not advocating polluting our air at all but newer cars breathe pretty clean and trees and grass contribute much to the ground level ozone.

The computer has all the info for them. The CEL question is just asking to see if you have a CEL while the car is being tested. If it does, it will fail.

Utah, well at least my county, has had those for awhile.

Now when you get the kind of inspections my truck had. The vehicle wasn't even at the shop! Passed with flying colors!