Elliott_Davis's Blog

Hello Sir:

who paid for that test?

We bought an older vehicle that was in excellent condition, low miles, etc. We took it to the dealer and had the injectors cleaned and some other maintenance to assure the car would pass the emissions inspection. Total cost $700.00. We then proceeded to the emissions facility and the car did NOT pass. We were devastated. We showed the inspector our $700.00 bill that we had incurred at the Buick dealer, but he said that was not acceptable because the dealer was NOT on the their list of approved mechanic shops. We were shocked. The dealer wasn't an acceptable mechanic shop? We took the car to one of the mechanic shops on their "approved" list and they could not find anything wrong with the car after a diagnostics test. NOTHING! Took the car back to the emissions inspectors and they still wouldn't pass the car. The car never passed! Thank you Elliott for all of your hard work to change the emissions program. I just wish it went into effect this year instead of 2007!

I had no idea the emissions tests were ending. I'm glad though! My next emissions test would have been October 2007. THANKS!

Well, as a former employee of the infamous GCAP, I will say I do not mind seeing the emissions testing put to an end for the current company. But let me say one thing, if you thought the program under GCAP and DNR was a scam, you ain't seen nothing yet. Think about this, you now are going to have your vehicle emissions test performed at a mechanical shop of your choice. Which means if they "find" that your car will not pass the test, hmmmmm, who do you think will be making the money on the repairs? Hmmmm? At least with the former program, you had a unbiased company performing the test. The mechanics listed in "thier" books were certified through THE STATE OF MISSOURI, not the program. Who got the kickbacks? Think about it. Also, testing of 1996 and newer vehicles does NOTHING for us. The most polluting vehicles aren't even subjected to testing. Now where is the scam? Before jumping up and down and celebrtating about the "new" emissions testing laws, consider the consequences.

My point is this: all this complaining is useless. And you shouldn't complain about something you haven't researched. I would like to know who everybody thinks THEY are? Are you talking about the machines? Seriously. And as for your Puegot, if the readings were too low, it would seem to me that there may have been an exhaust leak of some kind. Is that why THEY told you before testing your car 3 times? (just wondering)
As for the crooked shops, so isn't it the same end result?
Sure there are fewer older model cars on the roads, but unfortunately, the number of those are not tuned and well maintained as you indicated your vehicles are. Congrats, and thanx for doing your part to keep our air cleaner.
Let's think about the ones that are not though. These can be polluting far more than you might think. They should not be exempted, I don't think that is fair to the owners of the newer cars.
Just one more thought: decentralized testing that was done in STL county prior to 2000 had a fraud rate of approximately 80%.

CUBFAN, they told me that my Peugeot would fail before they even saw the car and no it did not have an exhaust leak! It was reading what a new Peugeot was supposed to read not what an 18yr old car would because I keep my vehicles in top shape. If something is not right I spend the time and dollars to make it right. What I was trying to say was that most of these testing facilities are biased against vehicles that are not the norm like Chevys, Fords, BMWs or MBs!

I bought a slick 96 Ford Probe GT for my daughter. Failed the emmisions test because the engine light was on. Had to spend 850.00 at my local Ford Dealership just to get a waver. The vehicle still has it's engine light on. It cost me 900.00 just to get lic. plates. The only real winner is Ford Service.