[The Irish]

I was recently told that the emissions stations in Harford County (NE of Baltimore City) don't check under the car for cats. Can anyone verify this? I've been procrastinating removing my midpipe to get flanges for a cat welded on, and if this is true, I won't bother with that at all.

I assume I'll still fail the sniffer test (OBD-1 here), but I'd prefer to fail that, than never have the chance at all due to immediately failing the visual inspection.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[fledis]

I just took my 2003 Excursion thru emissions at the Forest Hill VEIP station in Harford County and was very surprised by the process. I've been using this station for the past 10+ years, but this time they did it different. They did not plug into my OBD2 port. They did the sniffer test. I asked the tech why he didn't use the OBD2 scanner and he said they only do that on 2010 and newer vehicles. Guess I don't have to worry about using a standalone on my '97 Supra now. BTW, they do run a mirror around the vehicle, but honestly I don't thing they look very hard. Also, if the car is lowered I'm sure they will have difficulty noticing.
Good luck.

 

[Slow_Sc3]

took my beater a few weeks ago and they checked it like i had a bag of coke strapped up under the car!

the chick at the place in frederick took my dash apart to check the codes so idunno about the year thing

 

[turbosupra]

They've put the mirror under every time I have went

 

[J.O.S.E.]

Well I just took my 93 Supra to the Forest Hill station and "SHOCKER" its a big FAIL.

Scott, whoever you took your truck to maybe they're a little more lenient than the rest. As soon as I drove my car up everybody and their mother from VEIP came to that line. The hooked up my car with some many things it looked like they where performing F-ing surgery on my car.

Oh well, I now have until September 2011 to bring the car back for another test. If I fail, which I will, I gotta spend $450+ in order to qualify for the waiver.

I cant wait for 2013!!!

Jose

 

[Silver Bullet]

They should plug in every OBD2 cars. The 2010 or newer is not accurate unless i suppose you get the same idiot you got this time for your excursion. So fledis your 2007 Supra will still have a problem with a stand alone.

J.O.S.E..... Its not as simple as spending 450 and get a waiver...lol. They will ask to see the part you supposedly bought installed on the car that you have a receipt of. And it has to be an emissions related part. So unless you actually plan on buying an emissions part and putting on car and then failing and getting waiver...your plan will not work. Just a heads up.

 

[11C20]

Well I just took my 93 Supra to the Forest Hill station and "SHOCKER" its a big FAIL.

Scott, whoever you took your truck to maybe they're a little more lenient than the rest. As soon as I drove my car up everybody and their mother from VEIP came to that line. The hooked up my car with some many things it looked like they where performing F-ing surgery on my car.

Oh well, I now have until September 2011 to bring the car back for another test. If I fail, which I will, I gotta spend $450+ in order to qualify for the waiver.

I cant wait for 2013!!!

Jose

I'm assuming you're getting historic tags, are there any restrictions to amount of miles you can drive a year with historic and what about applying for tags do they require an inspection of the car etc..?

 

[Slow_Sc3]

I'm assuming you're getting historic tags, are there any restrictions to amount of miles you can drive a year with historic and what about applying for tags do they require an inspection of the car etc..?

i had historic tags on my 89 supra with a 1jz and i daily drove it without a problem when the time comes my lexus and mkiv will get historic tags!!! its the way to go for sure

 

[J.O.S.E.]

I'm assuming you're getting historic tags, are there any restrictions to amount of miles you can drive a year with historic and what about applying for tags do they require an inspection of the car etc..?

Yes definitely getting historic tags. I read up on the MVA website I did not see anything about a miles restriction on historic tags. No inspection, just fill out the Street Rod or Historic tag form.

J.O.S.E..... Its not as simple as spending 450 and get a waiver...lol. They will ask to see the part you supposedly bought installed on the car that you have a receipt of. And it has to be an emissions related part. So unless you actually plan on buying an emissions part and putting on car and then failing and getting waiver...your plan will not work. Just a heads up.

Thanks Tony. I am more than likely going to fabricate a mid pipe with a cat. and see what happens. That should cover the $450 waiver.

 

[BeyondTheGrave77]

take this as anecdotal evidence, but here in moco the emissions hasnt been as hard to get extensions/waivers for as how everyone on the forums has mentioned. Everyone keeps telling me its impossible to get more then one extension, also youll never get them to accept a waiver, etc. I waited until the last day for my emissions and took it and failed and then I got an extension until winter of last year, my car isnt driven in winter because of the snow so I filed for another extension, and it went though (nov 10), come jan. I had to take the test since the weather was still bad , I filed another extension (now the third in jan) got it extended, and finally a few weeks ago I didnt have any free time to take the test so I called the mva and got another extension. I am now on my 4th extension and havent gotten anything negative from mva yet(aside from a cop mentioning it when I got pulled over once). I think after you pay the fee they don't care too much. They went over my car originally with the mirror and they didnt notice I had no cat,4inch exhaust, wastegate, etc. So the visual was a joke and the dude that was there had been working for years.

I would probably just go to a mechanic and have them print you out an estimate for how much it would cost for a new cat,exhaust,egr, and tune up. If it comes out to more then 500 dollars(it will) then you are eligible for a waiver.

 

[The Irish]

All good info. Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just go up there & fail, and then take a look at getting a cat welded on my midpipe so that I can (hopefully) get a waiver. I have until late July assuming I don't file for another extension.

 

[cybercyde]

I haven't been for a while (up for filing as we speak - haven't gone through since they ditched the rollers), but there was never a mirror in Westminster. Just that rubber bumper height gauge they wedge under the front end.

Granted, in 8+ years, I've only ever actually pulled into the building once. :lol:

 

[Mateen]

I slammed my car on the lowest setting on the coilovers (not a supra). Went to Forest Hill, and got a waiver since the tech said the obd2 port is underneath the car, which it isn't. I didn't correct him, took my 2 year waiver and left.

 

[Silver Bullet]

Just so you guys know the too low car waiver thing is long gone. So lowering your car to the ground should make no difference at all unless you get an idiot as above.

 

[cybercyde]

I slammed my car on the lowest setting on the coilovers (not a supra). Went to Forest Hill, and got a waiver since the tech said the obd2 port is underneath the car, which it isn't. I didn't correct him, took my 2 year waiver and left.

Ditto Silver. Rollers are gone, "Too low"'s are dead.

When I swap out wiring and replace my alt, I may make a day of trying Forrest Hill just to see what happens. (With real front wheels in the trunk, doughsnuts on the front) I do expect to fail, though.

I swear, the only time I've used my spare (outside of the Forced Induction Meet where I burnt the outside rear motherf*cker to the ground and it separated from the rim... Thanks Josh. ^_^) has been emissions. Bolt them on, drop pressure to about 12lbs, roll in scraping pavement... :lol:

I'm not against trying. It's $14 regardless of where I smog. Might as well hit a new area and check out some new cuisine. ^_^