Any tricks to tuning the vehicle so it can pass AIRCARE?

[coco]

My friend got a fairly new 99 Nissan Sentra, it's completely stock, and it can't pass air care... She don't know what to do now, it could cost hundreds or thousand if she picked a crappy repair shop and they just replace everything that isn't broken! I've heard too many horror stories about bad mechanics and technicans who just screw you for money.

I don't know any technican, does anyone know what he can do? Does those "Smog eliminator" sold in Canadian tire works? She's in the Vancouver area, it'd be great if anyone can recommend some honest and fair repair shops.

Also, there were some bad city traffic jam when she's on the way to the inspection centre, and the car is using regular, not sure if that'll cause the fail. Will driving around the highway, and using Premium and Octane booster help right before the Aircare test?

[Arrow]

Driving on the highway should help clear it out a bit. I always do that first before heading to Aircare with my 90 Mazda. Still excellent results.

I personally know a mechanic, he works at "Advantage Collision" in Richmond just across the Knight St. Bridge. He fixes anything I have problems with for me, but I dont' know how the shop itself is (he doesn't own the shop).

[Flux]

Which of the tests did she fail on? Might give us a better idea for suggestions.

Always a good idea to drive for at least half an hour, keeping the revs fairly high, before going in for the inspection. Gotta make sure the cat is nice and hot.

Premium gas and an oil change are also good ideas.

[coco]

Failed pretty badly on Carbon Monoxide. Passing was like 6.xx, she got 10.xx

All oil change was done properly, usually every 4-5k.

The car was taken directly to the air inspection from home, after some bad city traffic... that's probably why there are lots of bad air building up...

[chillin]

do they still have a limit to the amount you have to pay on repairs.. like 300 bux then you'll pass for the year?

[Blunt]

Failed pretty badly on Carbon Monoxide. Passing was like 6.xx, she got 10.xx

All oil change was done properly, usually every 4-5k.  

The car was taken directly to the air inspection from home, after some bad city traffic... that's probably why there are lots of bad air building up...

I don't think the bad air in traffic/city would be a factor, because the testing hose is connected directly to the muffler. Anyways, do a search on the forum. Things that I think do help is get an old change week before, fill up on Premium Sunnoco and rev the car high. It's a good idea to do this preparation for the test. Don't just drive in....

[Kenneth]

One of the car clubs in Canada (I think APA?) on the Drive Clean program in Ontario.

To sum it up: choose a testing facility close to the highway. 30-60 minutes before the test drive on the highway; not neccasirly hard driving just stay at the speed limit. Then pull into the testing facility no not shut off the engine. If you must wait more than 10 minutes before you can enter the facility; cancel the appointment and rebook.

The theory behind above is that a few of emission control systems only begin the actively work at higher temps (mainly the cat's).

Changing your oil and using Octane 94 gas only helps marginally. The special formula Canadian tire sells does work depending on who you ask; but since it has a money back guarantee if you fail the test using the product there's little to lose.

As for repairs: it's strange that a 4-5~ year old ULEV vehicle would fail the test? Something simple as a loose gas cap would make you fail. But since it's the CO2 failure i'm not sure. If the vehicle is close to 100k km you should consider a tune up. But things such as the cats themselves and possibly the O2 sensor's should be covered by Nissan's emissions warranty.

Good luck.

[TigerHawk]

I second the Sunoco gas thing.
Here's a link that explains the low sulphur content.
Link: http://www.sunoco.ca/content.asp?id=125

In Toronto area Canadian Tires, they have an additive called something like "Guaranteed to Pass" and it's an additive you just add it your fuel, they have some sort of money back guarantee with it as well...worth taking a look.
*

[anounymouse]

the best tip is to make sure your car has been warmed up properly.. (and does not idle for a long time before the test) Some more reputable shops will run your car on the dyno for 5 minutes before doing the actual test.

if it's been awhile, then also change your spark plugs, air filter,etc and get a general tune up

[Serveza]

Sounds like this Drive Clean program is a waste of time, since everyone's wasting tons of gas before going in for testing anyway, and everyone else is using "tricks" to pass, so the cars probably aren't fit. It's probably just making things worse. What a disappointment this program is turning out to be.

[MaxPower2000]

If she failed by that much on a 4-5 year old car, something is wrong. She really should get it fixed.

Instead of trying to alter the results, find a good mechanic that will not cheat you instead. Like someone else mentioned, if it's something related to emissions, the warranty for all manufacturers is around 7 years. So depending on the part, it might not cost her anything. But the least she should do is find out what's wrong. Go to 2-3 shops and ask for a quote.

[Blunt]

Sounds like this Drive Clean program is a waste of time, since everyone's wasting tons of gas before going in for testing anyway, and everyone else is using "tricks" to pass, so the cars probably aren't fit. It's probably just making things worse. What a disappointment this program is turning out to be.

I wish I could pull over cars and make them do a drive-clean.
I've seen cars that were in bad condition.. *BLACK SMOKE* spewing out. I hope drive clean gets rid of these cars.

[zippy]

Sounds like this Drive Clean program is a waste of time, since everyone's wasting tons of gas before going in for testing anyway, and everyone else is using "tricks" to pass, so the cars probably aren't fit. It's probably just making things worse. What a disappointment this program is turning out to be.

I agree. Especially when you consider that cars older than 20 years (I think) are totally exempt from testing. It's these older cars that are the ones blowing blue smoke out of their exhaust going down the highway!! Not to mention that catalytic converters weren't even in existence yet...

I've always said that this e-testing is more like a cash grab than a credible environmental program.

[grant]

Your friend should find a reliable repair shop and fix whatever the problem is.

Cars don't fail aircare unless they're broken. Especially nearly new cars like this one.

[eelfliw]

Sounds like this Drive Clean program is a waste of time, since everyone's wasting tons of gas before going in for testing anyway, and everyone else is using "tricks" to pass, so the cars probably aren't fit. It's probably just making things worse. What a disappointment this program is turning out to be.

Such a politically charged statement. Election time must be coming soon.

If you judge the effectiveness of a law by the amount of people not obeying it, then we shouldn't have laws against drinking & driving or murders. Because people are still being murdered and people still drink and drive. Are the criminal code & HTA waste of time?

People try to cheat DriveClean because the program is effective and it catches polluters. People then blame everyone else except their own car and their car manufacturer.

DriveClean can be improved by more effective policing. Not complaining about it.

[enforcerviper]

Where did she take it? I suggest actually taking it to a Nissan dealer. Numerous things can effect the test, but the most common problem is running the car in the wrong gear. My old 3 speed auto dodge shadow failed everytime unless it was ran in 2nd like it was supposed to. In 2nd it passed right away.

If she took it to canadian tire she probably got an inaccurate test.

A friend of mine took his 98 corolla to the local CT. It failed miserably. I told him they probably ran it in the wrong gear as well and to take it to the dealer. We drove the same day to the local toyota and it passed with flying colors. His car was a 5 speed manual and the tech there said he was 99% sure CT didn't have it in right gear.

[i6s1]

A super, super hot engine is the surest way to get through. Sit in the lot, bring the RPMs up to near the redline, and keep it there. If your engine heat guage get to it's limit, its time to go in and get tested. Otherwise, 5 minutes should do it.

I did this and got 0 for CO in an 86 olds. I've never failed.

[enforcerviper]

A super, super hot engine is the surest way to get through. Sit in the lot, bring the RPMs up to near the redline, and keep it there. If your engine heat guage get to it's limit, its time to go in and get tested. Otherwise, 5 minutes should do it.

I did this and got 0 for CO in an 86 olds. I've never failed.

Indeed an idea.. but what happens if you blow a head gasket, waterpump or something else?????

[coco]

Can anyone confirm if running the car at high rev before entering the air care inspection is a good idea?

:?

[MacGyver]

All these "tricks and tips" are a load of hogwash, IMHO.

I took my 2000 Impala with 90,000k in for a Drive Clean test in April. Out of all the different pollutant categories, it scored zero in all but one category, which it scored a 1 out of a maximum of 150.

The tech at the testing centre said my car was in the 99th percentile of cleanest cars on the road.

What is more startling - The car was parked at work all day, and I simply drove five minutes to the test centre. The car was COLD. No driving around at high speed wasting gas, no fancy high octane gas, no fuel additives, etc.

SO, if your car fails an emission test, there is most definitely something seriously wrong and it should be repaired before permanent damage occurs to internal sensors.

A key component that most people and mechanics overlook is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve, or EGR. The EGR recirculates exhaust gases through the engine a second time to make sure as many pollutants as possible have been burned off. If the EGR is not working properly, you will have a difficult time passing any emission test. A faulty EGR may trigger a "check engine" light, but not always.

[grant]

If your car is out of repair, no amount of heat will help you.

As for revving the piss out of your car to get its heat gauge up to the max, that's not such a smart idea, engines have cooling systems for a reason...

[SleepyGSR]

Can anyone confirm if running the car at high rev before entering the air care inspection is a good idea?

:?

You don't need to have a hot engine, you need to have a sufficiently heated catalytic converter. Make sure the car has been driven around for about 20 minutes to ensure the catalytic converter has enough time to heat up.

My brother was an idiot for driving 5 minutes to the aircare station first thing in the morning. Failed for high CO. I told him you must drive it around more, a cold cat doesn't work at optimum efficiency. He drove it around a bit more and went back. Passed.

From the AirCare website:
High CO Emissions
-Excessively rich air/fuel mixture
-O2 sensor malfunction
-Faulty computer control(s)
-Malfunctioning fuel injection system
-Inoperative/missing catalytic converter
-Carburetor float level maladjusted
-Air cleaner, choke or carburetor
-Defective canister purge system

[rp_guy]

Can anyone confirm if running the car at high rev before entering the air care inspection is a good idea?

:?

You don't need to have a hot engine, you need to have a sufficiently heated catalytic converter. Make sure the car has been driven around for about 20 minutes to ensure the catalytic converter has enough time to heat up.

My brother was an idiot for driving 5 minutes to the aircare station first thing in the morning. Failed for high CO. I told him you must drive it around more, a cold cat doesn't work at optimum efficiency. He drove it around a bit more and went back. Passed.

From the AirCare website:
High CO Emissions
-Excessively rich air/fuel mixture
-O2 sensor malfunction
-Faulty computer control(s)
-Malfunctioning fuel injection system
-Inoperative/missing catalytic converter
-Carburetor float level maladjusted
-Air cleaner, choke or carburetor
-Defective canister purge system

at least someone knows something about cars...and not guessing

[zippy]

Sounds like everyone has their own ritual for doing their e-tests. All I can say is that the combo of oil change/premium gas/new air filter/super hi revs before testing will only help if your car is on the borderline. They won't help a car belching blue smoke pass the test, nor should they.

Good luck.

Zippy

[jed]

You could also try the simplest things yourself. A plugged air filter will give inaccurate readings.

A dealership with a reputable service dept is probably your best bet. Typically they do have a bit of responsibility to the customer YMMV.

GSR is right. Today's cats are only effective if they are warm which is why you are now seeing them placed as close to the engine as possible, and things like preheaters.

[canox]

My story:

I drove a 3 yrs old bmw to have my aircare test. After the test was done and about to pay my money....man, the inspection guy told me i failed in the Carbon monoxide section (from his face, i saw he was shocked too). Anyway, this was ridiculous. I used 92 from Chevron all the time...sometimes 94 if the gas is cheap. I had no idea how that could happen. I didn't do any mods in my car so I was thinking it was just some other problems. I ended up going to an autobody w/ certified aircare repair service. The guy asked me if I had done any mod iw/ the car recently and I said no, and he thought this couldn't happen since my car was very new and I should pass the test. So he taught me to step on the gas padal occasionally just before while waiting in line for the aircare service. I did as he told me and I PASSED the test on the second try 1 HOUR LATER AFER MY FIRST TRY.

First try: Carbon monoxide exceed the standard by 60%. (What???)
Second try: Carbon monoxide lower than the standard by 40% (Uh???)...deviation is about 100% b/w the two tests....incredible

My suggestion is if you car is quite new (The autoshop guy told me car w/ age less than 6-7 yrs usually have no problems w/ the aircare test...unless sth really went wrong w/ ur car), ....in this case ur friend car is quite new (99 models) then I think you can did what I did before. I think it is resonable to say if ur car is in traffic jam, carbon monoxide and others may not circulate and wel in ur car and it may get stuck in the car...so when doing the aircare test, all those carbon monoxide will be emiited...and ended up failing u the test.


Just want to save you some money...if possible.

[4salecn]

All these "tricks and tips" are a load of hogwash, IMHO.

A key component that most people and mechanics overlook is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve, or EGR. The EGR recirculates exhaust gases through the engine a second time to make sure as many pollutants as possible have been burned off. If the EGR is not working properly, you will have a difficult time passing any emission test. A faulty EGR may trigger a "check engine" light, but not always.

My check engine light was on, and the mechanic changed solenoid in the front, after driving 600km, the light came back again. This time, he told me that it was the solenoid near the gas tank is broken. In the meanwhile, I failed emission test on CO% of ASM2525 Test. CO% limit 0.37, CO% Reading is 0.74.

1. can anybody tell whether it is badly failed or it is close to pass?
2. I've sold my car, should I have to replace O2 sensor or Gas Solenoid? or both?

[cOmAtOaSt]

1) Cut the tailpipe somewhere underneath the car
2) Split the exhaust and weld on a 2nd muffler that doesn't stick out the back of your car - since the guy just has the hose hooked to the 1st muffler, you've just cut your emissions by half! :lol:

[toujours]

These pollution tests have been added to existing roadworthyness tests in Europe several years ago already.

In the UK the "M.O.T." is a yearly test for all road vehicles. You can fail with just a slightly cracked windscreen. Pollution levels were introduced several years ago.

France has a two yearly test which is not as strict, but when it came into action about 10 years ago a LOT of cars got taken off the road... The French government made it easier to accept by offering new car buyers a discount if they scrapped a car that was more than 10 years old when they got their new one.

[NDman]

Folks, this thread is 2 years old