inspection and emissions question

[Zigroid]

I took my car to get inspected/emissions testing this morning. when the guy did the emissions test he punched my VIN # into his computer, attached a thingy to my gas cap, asked me if I still had the cats and AIR, and then said I was good to go. I thought they hooked up a sniffer of some sort to the car and they test for hydrocarbons or something? If so, why didn't they? He didnt even look underneath the car. he didn't even have it running. now i'm not complaining since I passed emissions
If this was the case with him not looking underneath the car I would have bought long tube headers to install with cats instead of MACs.
I did however fail the inspection due to my driver's side window not being operational...
my buddy that came with me said that my car was a 1997. the guy said to put the window down so he can run the cable in but I told him its a 1994 and the window doesnt work. "I won't put a sticker on it if that window doesnt work." darn. he was nice enough to give me a full month to get it fixed and bring it back though. I never knew that a non-working window would fail inspection.

[wolfdogs]

each county is diff. ...of each state. however..yes..the sniffer is supposed to read hc's at diff. speeds, noX too..... dont understand whay they only checked your gas cap for sepage..... stoopid.

[Dave M]

In PA, they only do a sniffer test for 96+ cars. Pre 96 cars are supposed to get a visual inspection and the gas cap pressure test. He apparently trusted you to tell him if you still had everything under there. For the safety inspection, even a nonfunctioning windshield washer will fail you. I have the list of everything PA inspects for if you have any questions.

[HottestZ28]

I have my inspection and emission licenses in PA
All cars 1975-1996 get a ASM2015 which is the dyno test with the sniffer. On 1996 and newer OBDII cars and trucks get a Pennsylvania Anylitical Test which is basically and a test to see if, you have a MIL light on, had a MIL light on, or has a system suspended due to a cleared code or malfuction of some sort
In PA your windows have to be there but don't actually have to work sounds really stupid but it is true.
The reason he tested you gas cap is that even if your not in a area that has emissions you will need to get a gas cap test. The demo period is from April 1- Jan 1 after Jan 1 all will need to be tested. This is in pennsylvania

[Dave M]

I don't know where in PA you are located, but in the Hbg area, where the emissions inspection was just implemented, that's not how it was explained to us. Pre 1996 cars get a visual only inspection to make sure the required equipment is there. I don't remember if they get the gas cap test but I think they do. 1996 and newer vehicles get the cap test and a dyno sniffer test. This is per PennDOT when the system was started in december.

[HottestZ28]

I live in philladelphia area. I just got my recert Dec 18 2003 and in my area Everything i said has be done for many years except the new OBDII testing
I don't know how in your area they havn't been doing this but i have been for 3 years now and they have been doing it this way for as long as i can remember
You have never heard of the OBDII testing?Pennsylvania Anylitical System testing?
Seriousy i don't know how it is that different from county to county.

[Dave M]

Philly and Pittsburgh are the only two areas in PA that they've ever done testing in. They recently expanded the area this year to include most of central PA. I haven't yet had my car tested (due this month) but it was widely publiscized when the program was rolled out in December and the way it was explained is the way I wrote earlier. I can't tell you much more than that until I get the car inspected. We'll see what they do then.