Does anyone know what are involved with the VA inspections?

More specifically, does the VA emissions just require a usual OBD-2 port check? How about the actual car inspection?

Thanks.

I thought I would bump this thread instead of starting another as I have similar concerns with inspection. I am looking to have my 1995 turbo 332 inspected shortly but have a few concerns:

1) The car isnt running cats, but doesnt have the tell-tale smell associated with no-cats.
2) The ABS and SRS lights are illuminated
3) What kind of emissions testing is done in a private facility for OBD1 cars? (Is it just visual at private facilities)

My family has a local place that does inspections and he is very good to us usually, though not close enough to simply give me a sticker without seeing the car. I dont think he will be overly picky (like some of the things I have read with failing for just about anything), but can anyone tell me if the ABS and SRS lights being illuminated will absolutely kill any chance of passing inspection?

Thanks!

I thought I would bump this thread instead of starting another as I have similar concerns with inspection. I am looking to have my 1995 turbo 332 inspected shortly but have a few concerns:

1) The car isnt running cats, but doesnt have the tell-tale smell associated with no-cats.
2) The ABS and SRS lights are illuminated
3) What kind of emissions testing is done in a private facility for OBD1 cars? (Is it just visual at private facilities)

My family has a local place that does inspections and he is very good to us usually, though not close enough to simply give me a sticker without seeing the car. I dont think he will be overly picky (like some of the things I have read with failing for just about anything), but can anyone tell me if the ABS and SRS lights being illuminated will absolutely kill any chance of passing inspection?

Thanks!
what tuning are you using?

where are you registering it? most of the state doesn't have emissions inspection (this includes lexington)

pre-OBD1 and OBD1 cars get put on rollers. they test you at idle and at 25mph or something.

as for the ABS light, mine has been on in my 4runner for 2 years now without incident.

why not fix your ABS and SRS lights? or just pull the bulbs?

what tuning are you using?
Active Autowerke
where are you registering it? most of the state doesn't have emissions inspection (this includes lexington)

pre-OBD1 and OBD1 cars get put on rollers. they test you at idle and at 25mph or something.
If a private station doesnt have rollers, would the OBD1 cars on the rollers be skipped?

as for the ABS light, mine has been on in my 4runner for 2 years now without incident.

why not fix your ABS and SRS lights? or just pull the bulbs?
I plan on it. Its definitely a priority among the things I need address.

They usually look to see if you have cats - they don't check if they are in there or not. As long as you have the bulges in the pipes where they are supposed to be then its ok.

They usually look to see if you have cats - they don't check if they are in there or not. As long as you have the bulges in the pipes where they are supposed to be then its ok.
Hmm..might be fooked on that one. My car has a Magnaflow resonator towards the center of the system (same area as the factory cats)...do you think it might be easily mistaken or assumed to be a cat?

I had emissions and Va safety inspection done on Friday the 9th of March.
I have a 01 MZ3. The Goodyear shop I took it too could not do the emissions because....the guy says DEQ? WTF. After jerking my car around for about 30+ minutes, the inspector figures out that he can't get the car on the dyno. Heck he couldn't even get it on the lift because the arms would not go under the side of the car. After speaking to the manager, thank God, I took my car somewhere else.
Evidently the new shop I took it to said that the M's, even thought OBD-II, had to be dyno'd. The clown at the first shop said it was a random thing. I don't know who to believe. The 2nd shop had an inground dyno, a must unless you want your front or rear end damaged.
Anyway, the car passed with flying colors with 69K on the clock. I have the Conforti chip and an Eisenmann exhaust.
Do Not take your car to some Five and Dime shop.

It's a shame that the Commonwealth of Virginia makes it's people go to independent shops to get their inspections done. If they require the tests, they should have their own inspection stations, so as the people don't get jerked around or ripped off by some minimum wage wanna be inspector/shop.

Hmm..might be fooked on that one. My car has a Magnaflow resonator towards the center of the system (same area as the factory cats)...do you think it might be easily mistaken or assumed to be a cat?

Possibly/probably...you only are supposed to have 2 cats on OBDI right? 1 per pipe?

Possibly/probably...you only are supposed to have 2 cats on OBDI right? 1 per pipe?
Yep. I know aftermarket emissions equipment is legal so long as the car can pass a sniffer test (I have an aftermarket cat on my 97 Ford Contour and it passes). I know for a fact the shop we use doesnt have a dyno or rollers, so I dont believe they would be able to run my car that way. Im hoping that considering the business we have given him in the past and the fact that he doesnt have a dyno, he will just look the car over and make sure all appears safe and then hand me the sticker. *crossing fingers*

Airbag light will fail VA State Inspection. No cats will fail VA State Inspection, regardless of how it "smells". Emissions tests are for the DC Metro and VA Beach areas only, I think. OBD1 cars and earlier require roller tests.

I had emissions and Va safety inspection done on Friday the 9th of March.
I have a 01 MZ3. The Goodyear shop I took it too could not do the emissions because....the guy says DEQ? WTF. After jerking my car around for about 30+ minutes, the inspector figures out that he can't get the car on the dyno. Heck he couldn't even get it on the lift because the arms would not go under the side of the car. After speaking to the manager, thank God, I took my car somewhere else.
Evidently the new shop I took it to said that the M's, even thought OBD-II, had to be dyno'd. The clown at the first shop said it was a random thing. I don't know who to believe. The 2nd shop had an inground dyno, a must unless you want your front or rear end damaged.
Anyway, the car passed with flying colors with 69K on the clock. I have the Conforti chip and an Eisenmann exhaust.
Do Not take your car to some Five and Dime shop.

It's a shame that the Commonwealth of Virginia makes it's people go to independent shops to get their inspections done. If they require the tests, they should have their own inspection stations, so as the people don't get jerked around or ripped off by some minimum wage wanna be inspector/shop.

They didn't have to put mine on the Dyno, nor my Touareg (Good thing - it's AWD). Just plugged it in and away we went.

Airbag light will fail VA State Inspection. No cats will fail VA State Inspection, regardless of how it "smells". Emissions tests are for the DC Metro and VA Beach areas only, I think. OBD1 cars and earlier require roller tests.
Thanks James. I was hoping the SRS light would be okay to pass...I'll have to look into fixing it sooner than I thought.
They didn't have to put mine on the Dyno, nor my Touareg (Good thing - it's AWD). Just plugged it in and away we went.
Because they are both OBD2 cars.

Yep. I know aftermarket emissions equipment is legal so long as the car can pass a sniffer test

That is not true. If you remove your cat and still manage to pass the sniffer you are still breaking the law.

The aftermarket cat on your contour is legal, but removing a catalyst altogether is illegal regardless of whether you pass or not.

They didn't have to put mine on the Dyno, nor my Touareg (Good thing - it's AWD).

Most emissions stations have AWD dynos for pre-OBDII cars.

Airbag light will fail VA State Inspection. No cats will fail VA State Inspection, regardless of how it "smells". Emissions tests are for the DC Metro and VA Beach areas only, I think. OBD1 cars and earlier require roller tests.

Can I stop by to get my JTD underpanel installed or do I need to make an appointment?

Evidently the new shop I took it to said that the M's, even thought OBD-II, had to be dyno'd. Both my e39 and e36 were put on the rollers and given the sniffer test. But my 4Runner wasn't. All are OBD-II cars.

It's a shame that the Commonwealth of Virginia makes it's people go to independent shops to get their inspections done. If they require the tests, they should have their own inspection stations, so as the people don't get jerked around or ripped off by some minimum wage wanna be inspector/shop. You can't really get ripped off since the amount shops can charge for emissions/safety inspections is set by law.

Most emissions stations have AWD dynos for pre-OBDII cars.

I'm sure many do, the one I was at didn't, kinda ghetto.

Because they are both OBD2 cars.

Right, but PowerofM's car is also an OBD2 and they said they had to do his. The emission guy at the place I went told me that they had to put E46 M3's on the rollers as well, and last I checked they were all OBD2.

There are actually 3 different manufacturers of the the Emissions testing equipment, supposedly there are variations between them all despite them being approved by the Clean Air people.

Perhaps that is whats in qustion.. :dunno:

An OBDII car should never have to be put on a dyno. Defeats the whole purpose of the OBDII system to begin with.

Yet another reason to not live in VA.

Anyone have any " family friends " that can do OBDI emissions test? I need to register my car but I cant due to the emissions crap. I failed due to visible smoke. Aftermarket cat is in place as well as OBDI port. :help

An OBDII car should never have to be put on a dyno. Defeats the whole purpose of the OBDII system to begin with.

Yet another reason to not live in VA.

Couldn't agree more. :rolleyes

Anyone have any " family friends " that can do OBDI emissions test? I need to register my car but I cant due to the emissions crap. I failed due to visible smoke. Aftermarket cat is in place as well as OBDI port. :help
Im looking to go this route as well. I know back home (NJ) where I could find someone to pass my car, but down here where I have 0 connections, its going to be awkward trying to find someone.

Im going to start looking around...

Im looking to go this route as well. I know back home (NJ) where I could find someone to pass my car, but down here where I have 0 connections, its going to be awkward trying to find someone.

Im going to start looking around...

Good Luck. I found someone for $200 that will pass my car..:nono

there was a guy at the columbia emissions station who was like "y0, if y0 shyt doesn't pass next time, hOLLAR @ me and i'ma hook y0u up shawty.....$75 bones son" :eek:

Good Luck. I found someone for $200 that will pass my car..:nono
In/around Arlington? My sister and her husband live in Stafford...I could make a trip up there and have the car "inspected" at the same time.

Maybe Ill try a local place first just to see if they pass me (doubtful from what this thread has said) which would save me time and money...

there was a guy at the columbia emissions station who was like "y0, if y0 shyt doesn't pass next time, hOLLAR @ me and i'ma hook y0u up shawty.....$75 bones son" :eek:
Hmm...that sounds kinda shady, though so is the process of bribing someone to pass your car. :stickoutt

My understanding is that it's much more difficult to 'cheat' now with the OBD scanners and such. It sends the VIN and results directly to the DEQ peeps and it's not as simple to 'fudge' results as it once was.

My understanding is that it's much more difficult to 'cheat' now with the OBD scanners and such. It sends the VIN and results directly to the DEQ peeps and it's not as simple to 'fudge' results as it once was.
For OBD2, Yes. I believe OBD1 is fairly easy to "fudge" the results. It does suck that I may have to pay 1/3 of my insurance bill annually, just to get the car inspected. :(

I can get state inspections no problem.. Emissions are harder OBDI only I can get you buy.. it's expensive and i need to talk to him again... but he does it for cheap if not free... being in the auto business has its perks..

I can get state inspections no problem.. Emissions are harder OBDI only I can get you buy.. it's expensive and i need to talk to him again... but he does it for cheap if not free... being in the auto business has its perks..
Is it cool if I PM you for info?