and thats what gets me about butler county. cause i am well aware its like that in allegheny, but i can never seem to get a straight answer for whats doing in butler. everyone i talk to does not seem to have a real answer. just bothers me because yes i do have all the crap on there it needs but really would like to do away with it to clean up the engine bay, plus i would love to have long tube headers again.
according to the PA code, if you drive under 5000 miles a year your exempt from the emissions program. That includes visual inspection and other tests
Thats teh way i read it in the code book as seen in here under subject vehicles and etc
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter177/chap177toc.html
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter177/s177.51.html
those are great links. but they are just for Pa in general i asume. so im lost as to what is more relevant the county or state? and i guess it really does not matter anyways cause any shop i go into in butler county trying to prove a point will just get me funny looks. i dunno maybe i should just accept the fact i have to run the emission crap for now, or just get my car done in allegheny county which i have no clue if i can since its in butler?
But according to the update sheet sent out by the state the car should not pass the State Inspection without anything that was on the car from the factory The 5000 rule doesn’t apply to collectible or classic registered cars
(d) Visual inspection of emission control system. Vehicles registered in counties where there is not an emission inspection program under Chapter 177 (relating to emission inspection program), shall be checked visually for the presence of emission control components. These components may be original vehicle equipment or an equivalent aftermarket replacement component meeting the same standards. In addition to the exceptions under § 175.4 (relating to vehicles required to be inspected), this subsection does not apply to vehicles registered as collectible or classic motor vehicles as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to definitions).
(1) The visual inspection shall be performed through direct observation or through indirect observation, using a mirror or other visual aid.
(2) Provided that the make and model year of the vehicle would have originally been equipped with the device, reject if one or more of the following apply:
(i) The catalytic converter has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
(ii) Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
(iii) Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
(iv) Fuel inlet restrictor has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
(v) Air pump has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
(vi) Evaporative control system components have been removed, disconnected or are the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
(e) Beneath the vehicle inspection. A beneath the vehicle inspection shall be performed as follows:
(1) Inspect the tires and wheels and reject if one or more of the following apply:
i dont know… its confusing. it makes sense to me that if there is a emissions inspection program and a vehicle is exempt under the 5K rule, then you should be exempt period from all the emission program
but that rule seems to contradict it. But since that rule states its for places that dont have a emissions inspection program, then places that do will only do the visual if the vehicle is subject to the testing requirements, which a 5K a year or less car is NOT subject
if you have a regular vehicle in an I/M county exempt is exempt. period, no tailpipe, no visual, no OBD-II
the way i understand this is: in non I/M counties emissions control devices are inspected as a part of the state inspection process. since no regular vehicles are ever exempt from state inspection then there is no emissions exemption
It is confusing .After reading it again there seems to be alot of gray area in that
whats really gonna flip your lid is that its a FEDERAL law to not tamper with emissions devices, yet states are allowed to uphold their own emissions laws and such… hahaha
o well its all bullshit anyways. if the gov was really concerned about it that much there wouldn’t be buses running around spewing god knows what out everyday.
New buses and deisel trucks are all required to have emission equipment as of Jan 1 07 I think was the date . You want to see a expensive cat check out one for a bid truck or bus .
honestly the states emissions program is a money making scheme that keeps the tree huggers happy as a bonus. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the state did away with tailpipe testing within the next few years. the machines are old and the parts are getting harder to find, every year shops loose the ability to tailpipe test because the machines break down and can’t be fixed. now that OBD II is 12 years old there are less and less vehicles every year that need tested and the state is starting to realize this. in our shop we might see 1 tailpipe test a month
it’s actually very straight forward it just gets confusing with different regulations for different areas. emissions testing in philadephia is pretty different for certain years than out here