tbone heller

Here in Georgia, certain counties require an emissions test in order to obtain a car tag. My car used to have zero issues passing the test until the state changed the parameters for the speed & rpm at which the test is run. It is a 2 stage test. My car will pass the first stage with no problem. On the second stage of the test, the dyno/test computer will abort the test after about 90% completion due to the test equipment detecting a pulsing. Apparently the change in the states parameters have the operator conducting the test at the same rpm/mph that my camshaft is starting to come in as well as boost pressure. Thinking it was the operator or the test equipment at fault, I have encountered the same results at other test sites as well. The actual emissions out of the tailpipe are well within the states specs. Being that this is the last year that this car will have to be inspected, I am about ready to park it for another year & pick up a new tag in 2016. Do any other states use this type of testing on their OBD1 cars.

Gator Bait

My county is TX does the same. I didn't have any issues though. Would changing the tuning some clean up the pulses? ..or not worth the effort?

https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi...aq/faq_asm.htm

tbone heller

The place that I took it to did not put a fan in front of the radiator. I kept telling the guy that the car would overheat, but he said it would be fine. During the THIRD TRY, the car overheated & blew half of the coolant out. Needless to say, I was pissed off. I absolutely DESPISE letting anyone other than myself work on this car (except for my tuner guy).

tbone heller

They changed it a little 2 years ago when I was having the same issue, but it felt like the car lost some power. They told me to bring the chip by & they could adjust it some more.

Gator Bait

I would find a different place. The place I went to is a Kwik Kar. The guys there were motor heads and were respectful. I felt bad for the other customers b/c work basically stopped while the car was there. ...guess something different/cool trumps a minivan oil change or brake job.

Anyway...I would have talked to the manager and then never gone back...that really sucks.

tbone heller

I took it to another place, & it passed. I guess it needed an old dude like me behind the wheel instead of a young punk.

charchri4

Or a guy that didn't check his common sense at the door when he got to work!

antonego

Ontario has a two-stage test as well. Not sure how it compares specifically to tests used in the States but one feature that works well for V8 Miatas is the "Hot Rod" provision. Basically, all vehicles normally need to meet emissions of the year they were manufactured BUT you can apply for your vehicle to have "Hot Rod" status if it has an engine different that the one it was manufactured with. In that case, the vehicle is tested against the baseline, least stringent emissions level. The application is straightforward, I sent an email describing the Miata, along with a pics of the exterior, the motor, the VIN and manufacturers plate. I got an email acceptance and my status was entered into the central database. When I arrived for the test, my status was confirmed by the tester's console and the only glitch was that they couldn't get an rpm read off the Ford Racing plug wires (?). Because I had taken my Miata to a sympathetic shop (the manager transplanted a Lexus V8 into his own Corolla hatch....), they just switched the rpm to "BYPASS" and took a visual reading of rpm. My results are attached for comparison / reference.

MX-Brad

Awesome info, and great test results. Would you mind PM me the email address you used. I'll be facing this myself this spring.
Thanks. Brad (from near Grand Bend ON)

Gabriel

I'm very interested in this myself since I have to pass it for the first time with my 5.0 1990 in Barrie (if only i could be an hour north, no etests)... but, I've read the Ontario information page about this multiple times, it states that hot rod status where you only need to meet 1980 emissions standards only applies if the engine swap was completed before 1999...

I'm curious if you were able to get around this?

Either way, I passed the emissions in my 1990 before doing the swap and based on your etest sheet, you would have had no problems passing emissions against my 1990 miata restrictions...

Gabriel

Do hot rods need a Drive Clean test? | Ontario.ca

here's the Ontario information page on emissions and hot rods.. in case anyone is interested...

antonego

As there are a couple queries about this, I'll post here -

the email I used to apply for ON hot rod status is < drivecleanATparsons-canada.com >. I had initially called DriveClean (1-888-758-2999) and they emailed me the application form (seems to be too big to attach here but PM me if you want the pdf form for model year 1999 and earlier vehicles). You'll need your tombstone info, the vehicle info, and a bunch of clear, crisp photos as specified (they are picky about the photos). In my own case, once I cleared up the picture issues, I got a approval by email in three days.

Regarding the motor swap dates, I didn't do the build of my car and didn't have the documentation they normally request. I sent a clear picture of the engine block number and an attestation, and they accepted it. On the basis of this info, the car was assigned a 1980 test standard.

I wasn't terribly worried about meeting emissions for that year as my car has twin Magnaflow cats, which will go a long way to cleaning up the exhaust stream on their own. I didn't undertake any significant prep for the test other than making sure the cats were up to temp and arranging with my test centre to do my test as soon as I rolled up (it was early spring and still pretty cool when I did my test...). As Gabriel points out, my results could have passed a 1990 standard as well.

Hope this is useful, PM me if you have other questions.

- Darren

Gabriel

Great Info Darren! Thank you for that. Sounds like this might be worth while for me to do... I'm still getting the engine tuned correctly I'll see how it goes with emissions after this.

antonego

So, Gabriel, how did it work out? Did you get your car through the emissions test? Just curious!

- Darren

Gabriel

Hi Darren - No I never did yet - I found a exemption loophole that bought me 2 more years....

apparently if the etest was passed the year before (in a non etest year for this vehicle) to transfer the ownership in your name - even if that etest is now expired (older than one year) - you get exempted....

my car is a 1990, meaning I needed etest done this year.

I passed the etest in February 2014 with the 4banger...

This year renewed sticker in August 2015 - no etest required!!!

SWEET

so this bought me time, and good thing, cause I wouldn't have made it...

But I will be going through that within the next year for sure.

engineer

Hi All,

I would recommend that EURO 4 or 5 spec catalytic converters be fitted (Magnaflow 51656 2.5" or Magnaflow 51659 3" ) and you will pass the smog tests. These converters flow really well nd remove the ugly fuel smell from cammed cars. If it still doesn't pass an additional cat will make it pass for sure.

You will like the car much better with a decent emissions cat on it (it smells clean!)...they don't reduce flow very much at all.

cheers