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Smog Test- Deceptive Practice?

Idontdotrix

Idontdotrix

let sleeping bitches lie
Joined
May 20, 2009
Location
Virginia Is For Lovers!* (*some restrictions appl
Moto(s)
Ninja zx9r "the Bimbo"
Name
Dannielle
I bought my vehicle out of state and I finally got all the paperwork I needed to get it reg'd here.
paid all my fees then they tell me I need to weight it (bc its a cargo van for my dogs it's "commercial") and get a smog test.

so I take it to a local testing station. they take the van back and test it, come back out and tell me it Failed.
why?
"bc your Check Engine light is on"

now, this light was on when they took it to test it. the guy goes on to inform me any check engine or service soon light is an automatic failure, regardless of actual emissions- mine were well within normal.

he relays two codes- first is for one O2 sensor (there are four on the vehicle) , the second is for "transmission slipping"- which it isn't. drives just fine, no problems.

he continues- I need to run a diagnostic on it he says, to be sure those codes are even telling me the truth. he says they are no guarantee there's even a problem unless they run the diagnostic (another $79).

so knowing in advance of testing it it was going to automatically fail, they took it and charged me for the test. this sounds bogus to me.

if I want them to do the O2 work, first I have to pay for the diagnostic, then another $171 for one sensor.

and I can't finish registering my vehicle, even though the emissions are acceptable, bc of this. all visual/functional tests (all 20 of them, though 5 were not applicable for my vehicle) passed- the only fail was bc of the codes they can't even be sure are true.

wtf??????
 
Disconnect the battery for 10 minutes and see if the CEL goes away.
 
Go somewhere else, they're tring to rob you. Any decent mechanic can turn the check engine light off with little or no trouble at all. You may be able to do it yourself by looking up the make/model online.

If you weren't a woman, I bet they wouldn't have tried to screw you so royally.

Good luck next time.
 
open the dash - pull the bulb?

--Simon
 
gogounited said:
Go somewhere else, they're tring to rob you. Any decent mechanic can turn the check engine light off with little or no trouble at all. You may be able to do it yourself by looking up the make/model online.

If you weren't a woman, I bet they wouldn't have tried to screw you so royally.

Good luck next time.
Click to expand...

Not true...

Even with the Check Engine light on, it is wise to run the rest of the test to see where you stand in terms of exhaust gas output. You should be able to fix the light and go back and re-take the test for free or with some form of discount.

As for taking out the bulb - that's a no go. The tech needs to see the light blink on and off when you start the car.

Best thing to do is ask them to read the code using an OBD1 or OBDII reader (depends on your year) and see exactly what is causing the fault code.
 
Your vehicle will fail even if the light is off and it has codes stored. Remove the battery lead to clear the memory, then drive it around a bit. If the light doesn't come back on, go somewhere else to have it tested. If it does come back on, you should probably have the sensor replaced.
 
Idontdotrix said:
they wanted the $79 to do that. and btw, the oxygen sensor test Passed.
Click to expand...

2 choices now -

Go buy yourself a OBD reader at Kragens and check the fault codes yourself - About $50 for a cheap one.

Or.

Go to Pep Boys and they will do it for you for free.
 
i have a thing you can plug into teh ODBII port and clear the codes, hopefully the test will not cuase the computer to throw them again....

Brian
 
+1 on unhooking the battery for a few minutes.

If you don't want the hassle of being sold something, find a coupon in the penny saver for a 'test only' station. They only do tests and are not able to sell/perform work on the vehicle. Also, a good shop will give you 1 free re-test if you fail. If they don't offer that then do not bother with them.
 
Dani,
I have an ODB scanner we can read your code and we can clear your codes if you would like. It is fairly easy to read the code...Google the code and vehicle to see what the code relates to as well as suggested fixes. Just let me know.

~*Kristi*~,
If you need to know what your error code is the offer is extended to you as well.
 
so I just got off the phone with the number listed on the test- being told until those codes are cleared they will not pass my vehicle regardless of what emissions read.
also being told that the second code for 'transmission slipping' will require a complete tran overhaul at a cost of about 2K.

I'm going to go drink hemlock now.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Do you have the code #'s? Again clearing the codes are very simple with the scanner I have.
 
My900ss said:
Dani,
I have an ODB scanner we can read your code and we can clear your codes if you would like. It is fairly easy to read the code...Google the code and vehicle to see what the code relates to as well as suggested fixes. Just let me know.

~*Kristi*~,
If you need to know what your error code is the offer is extended to you as well.
Click to expand...

codes are P0155 and P1870. 2000 GMC Safari
runs awesome and doesn't give me any grief. all the actual emissions were very low, most below average.
 
The transmission overhaul is bullshit, BTW.

It's probably just low on fluid.
 
Idontdotrix said:
so I just got off the phone with the number listed on the test- being told until those codes are cleared they will not pass my vehicle regardless of what emissions read.
also being told that the second code for 'transmission slipping' will require a complete tran overhaul at a cost of about 2K.

I'm going to go drink hemlock now.
Click to expand...

The economy is shit and an already shady mechanic is trying to make you his next paycheck.
 
a smog check station told my brother in law the same thing, it is not just because you are a girl. checking things out takes time and they don't want to tell you what the problem is for free just to have you go off and fix the problem yourself.

i pulled the battery, and the fuses for both the ECU and EFI to clear the code on his car.

too bad the light came back on, now we have to head over to his uncle's house to use a code reader.
 
Idontdotrix said:
codes are P0155 and P1870. 2000 GMC Safari
runs awesome and doesn't give me any grief. all the actual emissions were very low, most below average.
Click to expand...

Google search on the transmission code - pulled from edmunds.com:

1870 codes are often caused by faulty valve bodies and can be fixed fairly easily. Of course most shops will say you need a rebuild, that is how they make their money. The 4L60E transmission used in these vans is very tough and rated for much more power than they have. With maintainance, They should easily last 250K or more.
Click to expand...
 
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