Emissions inspection issue/question (PITA)

[DMan]

My 03 SRT/10 is bone stock, and runs well (I pulled 11.93@121 last time I was there - racing a C6Z06 no less, which was behind me ... ehem, but I digress).

I bought the car with 11,400 miles for my BDay in Sept, I've driven the miles up to 13K since then.

I got the emissions notice & took the car in, they hooked up the OBD computer thing to read & said they couldn't read any data. That I needed to drive the car everyday for two weeks and come back. The car's not had the battery disconnected, any service (other than an oil change), and it has 13K miles on it, 2K I just put on. And now in Nov in Maryland, I certainly won't be driving it everyday. I explained I won't be driving it everyday & what if I come back again & it's still the same, they seemed confused & I didn't get an answer.

Anyone have this happen? Sitting in line at the emissions station isn't something you want to do several times.

Dave.

 

[Viper Wizard]

75 to 100 miles is far enough to have plenty of memory for OBD! If they can't read it, there is something wrong with their system!!

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Had a similar problem with my GT2 last week. The car has not been driven much as the registration sticker was expired but the payment was made on time, did not take the time to get smog tested. Drive about 10 miles to the test station and they had a problem on the dyno test where they have to keep the rpm in a specific range (between green lines) at "x" rpm then ramp to "y" rpm. The failure was rpm out of range. I think it was more operator error than a problem with the car. The SMOG Test in California seems like a bureaucracy blunder in the name of clean air.

Check with your local VCA to see what expereince they have with local Smog Stations. Pick one that has a good history with Viper owners.

 

[DMan]

Thanks, Chuck, that makes sense. I think I'll try another testing location.

 

[Racer Robbie]

75 to 100 miles is far enough to have plenty of memory for OBD! If they can't read it, there is something wrong with their system!!

Chuck hit the nail right on the head here! I am willing to bet your state has no program in their system for the viper. Here in Connecticut that is the case as I asked why I never received a notice for my SRT-10 viper and was told it is exempt here in CT as it was not worth the money to install a program for such a limited number of vipers that are registered in the state. I do not know if this holds true for the pre 2003 vipers but so far it does for the 2003 and up vipers here in CT. I am sure this will change in the future.

 

[Copernicus]

DMan, where in Maryland are you located? I just took my car in on Saturday and I have driven even less than you in the last couple months and I passed without incident.

They simply hooked up my vehicle to read if any codes were active and then sent me on my way.

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

First of all go on line to the MVA and you can get an extension if you are not past your due date, then as you approach the next due date you can get a second extension. If you always do this it will get you another 6 months at least every two year cycle. Only takes a minute and you can print it right out and carry it with you just in case.
And I don't know which station you went to but if it was the one in Glen Burnie they are not only hard a$$'s but dumb. Try Owings Mills and ask for a waiver, tell them you are worried about the side sills scraping over the rollers when you drive through, then tell them the side sill are $2000 per. They routinely used to waiver Gen 1 and 2, not sure what they are doing with Gen 3.

 

[DMan]

I went to the one in Columbia, not to bash them, but they were virtually unable to speak. It was kind of weird they were so clueless. I have til Jan, i went in right away to make sure I didn't have a weather issue later. I work in Gaithersburg so I'll try that one .. if same thing happens then I'll push on them.

Thanks.

 

[Racer Robbie]

They simply hooked up my vehicle to read if any codes were active and then sent me on my way.

Good point, here in Ct they just pluged in my Jeep and looked for any TSB's and sent me on my way.

 

[SSR9999]

I took my car in for Emissions a few weeks ago. Before it was my turn to pull into the bay, one of the inspectors brought a measuring device to guage if my car would make it over the roller/etc. He then approached my car with a very disappointed look on his face and said that my car was too low and asked me to go the office. Walked into the office and was told that my car wouldn't make it over the roller or some apparatus, gave me the waiver and told that i'm cleared for two years.

I went to the one on Redland Rd, not sure if that's considered Gaithersburg or still part of Rockville and didn't have anything hooked up to my car.