EnviroTest is at it again.....

[RangerRick]

My 84 XJ was running bad and I found the stuff in the cat was blocking the flow. I took the cat off and removed all the inerts, put it back on and it still passed with fling colors. Years ago I was replacing a muffler on my BMW and found it had nothing in the cat and it passed just fine. That's why I tried it on the XJ.

 

[kujito]

Envirotest does the drive-by emissions screening now. It seems to me that that would be the route you have to go if you're running tires larger than 32". The only problem is you have to do it something like 2 weeks or more in advance of your registration being due. If you don't, you're stuck going in to a testing site.

I don't get the point of those drive by emissions vans. Supposedly if you pass a couple of those tests within the year, you don''t have to get the e-test. When I was remodeling houses over the last few years (driving 2wd 1995 Dakota w/Cali emissions) I'd pass a few of these things a week, sometimes 2 or 3 in a day, but ALWAYS had to go in for a test. EVERY time that truck got tested, the tech would make a surprised remark about how CLEAN that thing ran. A couple of the readings BARELY even registered. Same thing has happened on the girl's '98 Subaru ( not Cali emmisions).

So what do those vans do? Do they not trust their instruments when an older vehicle goes thru and meets/excedes specs? Seems like a huge waste of money for all that equipment and man hours for the monitoring tech!

 

[Jawa]

I'd have to go look at the Air Care Colorado site to say for sure, but I think you have to sign up/register/notify them/whatever in order to use the drive by test. IIRC if you don't do that you'll still have to go in, even if you have been by the van several times.

 

[kujito]

An alternative to standard emissions testing, RapidScreen gives you the opportunity to have your vehicle’s emissions screened as you drive, rather than having to visit an emissions testing facility. If you record two clean RapidScreen readings within a ten-month window in the year prior to your registration renewal, you’ll receive a notification in the mail on your vehicle’s registration renewal card. If you choose to accept RapidScreen’s clean readings, simply pay your emissions fee along with your registration renewal fee, and you’re good to go. If you wish not to participate, you’ll need to receive a standard emissions test at your local testing facility—in which case your emissions fee would be due at the time of that test.

Never had that option to NOT go in for a test.

 

[XJTodd]

They at it again? Yella, I feel your pain....(http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=953833)

What a joke these guys are. I wonder if a reason why they lowered the limit can be found? Isn't there some sort of approval process they have to go through for that?

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Ok, time for a side-note rant.....

Why the hell are folks in other States posting up in this thread saying "Well here in (their State here) it's not like that. I got my test done on (tire size larger than 33") with no problems."

Yeah, thanks Sparky..... that does me a whole helluva lotta good with my issue.

Rant off. And yes, I deleted a couple of those already and I feel better.

All I wanna do is drive this.......

.......less than 500 miles a friggin' year on Colorado's roads and comply with the law. Is that too much to ask????? For cryin' out loud the damn thing is a trailer queen most of the time anyway - yeah, I'm contributing to the brown cloud.

 

[Ecomike]

Ok, time for a side-note rant.....

Why the hell are folks in other States posting up in this thread saying "Well here in (their State here) it's not like that. I got my test done on (tire size larger than 33") with no problems."

Yeah, thanks Sparky..... that does me a whole helluva lotta good with my issue.

Rant off. And yes, I deleted a couple of those already and I feel better.

All I wanna do is drive this.......

.......less than 500 miles a friggin' year on Colorado's roads and comply with the law. Is that too much to ask????? For cryin' out loud the damn thing is a trailer queen most of the time anyway - yeah, I'm contributing to the brown cloud.

I was trying to point out that while Texas, and Houston in particular are very tough on emission inspections, that we have loop holes here, or common sense rules. You can even apply for various waivers here based on mileage, age of the vehicle, emission repair cost overruns .... and so on. If we could convince the Texas state agency here to add those waivers and waiver procedures, and common sense loop holes you guys should be able to do the same there.

Just trying to offer some ammunition.

There should be an official state complaint process for grievances and your state lesgislator / representative would also be a good start. That is what they are there for.

Make em fix it!

 

[Hypoid]

They at it again? Yella, I feel your pain....(http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=953833)

What a joke these guys are. I wonder if a reason why they lowered the limit can be found? Isn't there some sort of approval process they have to go through for that?

Think about it: A private company, contracting to the state MUST carry insurance to operate. Like any other business, insurers try to manage expenses. If mulitple claims involve a common factor, that silliness has to stop.

The State accepted the IM-240 program. I doubt the state mandates the equipment manufacturer for administering standardized testing and data collection.

At least that's my wild-ass guess.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Just trying to offer some ammunition.

My rant wasn't aimed at you or anyone else that offered up information on HOW their State's testing is different. That can be valuable info. I was just P.O.'d on how a few posters seem to think telling us that they don't have these problems is helpful.

Someone struggling with solving their death wobble problem doesn't want to hear someone else say "Huh, that's strange, I did the same lift and I have no problems with death wobble."....... well la-dee-friggin'-da I'm happy for ya..... How's that fixing the problem? Ya dig? :twak:

Rant off...... again.

 

[Kittrell]

:laugh: :roflmao: :laugh:

 

[philip_g]

someone's mr cranky pants today.

 

[willyb]

I agree that is a general waste of time for taxpayers and the hoops that we [auto enthusiast's] have to get through are even more ubsurd.

I recently titled my 1998 TransAm LS1 in Boulder county, was required to do an Etest and this is my story:

1. Go to DMV. Clerk tells me that I must have notarized bill of sale because I traded a vehicle for the TA - News to me, but I say 'okay'. I recieve a temporary tag - AND I USED MY WYOMING DRIVER'S LISCENSE

2. Go to get ETest, fail because of the gas cap... Buy gas cap, go back, get female clerk that doesn't know how to DRIVE STICK! WTF! Have to go out and request someone else to ETest the car. I then asked for the manager and he stated "oh yea, she doesn't know how to drive stick" I keep my cool and just get the f#%k out of there.

3. Determine that I don't need to have a notarization per CO state law. Go back to DMV show them the ETest, paperwork, and AGAIN my WYO driver's liscense. Clerk says "thanks, you'll have your title in 3-4 weeks."


If I can get a vehicle titled, liscensed, ETested with a Driver's liscense from another state you should have no issues registering it in a different county

Or maybe you should just register the truggy in Wyoming - No Etest there

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Thanks Willy - definitely encouraging news....... I'm thinking I'll try running up to the Estes Park DMV Friday or Monday.......(fingers crossed)

 

[Rockken]

If you register it in a different county, how do you deal with next year's registration form going to the wrong address? Do you know someone in Estes Park and are going to use their address, or do you just go to that same DMV and say you never received your renewal form?

 

[YELLAHEEP]

If you register it in a different county, how do you deal with next year's registration form going to the wrong address? Do you know someone in Estes Park and are going to use their address, or do you just go to that same DMV and say you never received your renewal form?

My folks have a cabin in Estes. This way, I'm only fibbing a little, rather than borrowing some address outta the blue.

No one "needs" the renewal notice that comes in the mail. Once you see that your tags are coming due, you just go down there again and renew. Dunno if my folks would remember to give me the renewal card if they got it anyway. Hell, I've never received a renewal notice for my Dodge or my GTO. We get them for the Trailblazer and the Jeeps but not all our cars for some reason. :dunno:

 

[zluster]

As an aside to your Etest woes as you already know larimer county no longer has gasoline emissions......and yet we still have diesel emissions(which creates some complications in my life because my liberty and mercedes are both diesels), so when you convert a gasoline vehicle to a diesel engine.....you don't have to worry about emissions testing, and yet if you have a factory diesel you still have to putup with the added expense and complication every year.


But ya, I say keep it registered in larimer county, I would rather you pay taxes here.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Ok, well trying to do things reasonably and with common sense with the State got me absolutely nowhere. (And no, I'm not surprised.)

Colorado Air Care administration said I "may very well qualify for a waiver" and should talk to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

Spoke to the CDPHE and they said that the only way to get a waiver is if I spent money to repair it from a failed test and it still won't pass the dyno test, or if the car is a "custom built, reconstructed or kit car". I told them since it's cut off from the cab back with basically half a tube chassis and whatnot, that it's definitely custom. They suggested talking to the Denver Emissions Tech Center.

I spoke to "Lloyd", a tech at the DETC. He said he fields "lots of calls" with issues like mine. He said that the DETC wouldn't provide a waiver to a vehicle that had been altered from it's original design which causes it to be unable to be tested under normal circumstances and requirements. He was cool about it and even called their own policies and regulations "bureaucratic" but it's what it is. He suggested pursuing the "custom car" angle with the Colorado State Patrol, VIN investigation/inspection division. He concluded by saying "The long and short of it is - you knew what the requirements were before modifying the vehicle, the State won't bend on that." That's hard logic to argue with...... unfortunately.

So, I called and spoke to a Trooper who was pretty cool about the issue. He asked "does it have a title and VIN currently?" I tell him yeah, it's technically an '88 Comanche. He said "Then it needs to be registered as such and as such, needs to comply with ALL Colorado emissions and registration requirements." I told him that was my goal, but that the dyno test is the biggest obstacle. I asked him if there was any way to have it declared a custom, or reconstructed vehicle so that I could get a waiver and comply with just an idle/sniffer test. He said if it has the body, windshield, headlights, turn signals, safety belts, etc. that a Comanche came with, then it's still a Comanche.

So, after all that...... I'd either need to cut away a significant amount of the Comanche sheet metal and remove all VIN numbers and trash my title in order to get a "Custom or Reconstructed Vehicle" VIN and title, or swap out all mechanical components necessary to make it safe and operational on the Air Care dyno. (Running the exhaust out to where they can get to it and borrowing some 33's at a minimum).

Or....... take a trip to Larimer County DMV.

Looks like the latter is the better option. Fawk 'em if they can't see the issue and work the problem with me.

 

[Fred]

"I fought the law, and the law won,
I fought the law and the law won."

Actually that trooper is incorrect. They changed the rules for tire size for testing AFTER you modified the vehicle. You could make the point that it was designed to be tested with 33" tires, and the change in tire size has made it impossible, or something to that effect.

I'd try to find some libertarian leaning lawyer. Sounds like a government taking of your property to me.

Fred

 

[YELLAHEEP]

.......Except the folks at Colorado Air Car said they hadn't even heard of their stations requiring anything under 34" tires. I told them about the guy with the YJ when I was there. The person I was talking to said "It was probably a judgement call by the tech. Maybe there was something out of the ordinary with his vehicle or the tires."

I asked her if I could get that in writing...... half jokingly. She said "It's right there on our website, if you have a problem, ask for the manager and point out the website."

She might be right, but the YJ guy telling me about the issue and the part of the conversation I listened to between him and the tech seemed fairly straight forward. "We no longer test with 33" tires, they must be 32" or smaller."

:dunno:

 

[xj-grin]

"I fought the law, and the law won,
I fought the law and the law won."

Actually that trooper is incorrect. They changed the rules for tire size for testing AFTER you modified the vehicle. You could make the point that it was designed to be tested with 33" tires, and the change in tire size has made it impossible, or something to that effect.

I'd try to find some libertarian leaning lawyer. Sounds like a government taking of your property to me.

Fred

I am such a libertarian leaning lawyer, but somehow I don't think this battle is worth the heartache... glad to hear you are now a resident of Estes Park, Troy!!:eeks1: