It’s frustrating when your car fails the emissions test. A passing grade is required when you have your vehicle inspected per North Carolina statute. We can help here at Getz Automotive. We can diagnose the error codes from your emissions test, or we can run a diagnostic check to get the error codes that way. Once we know what’s wrong, we can fix it. Here are common reasons why automobiles cannot pass their emissions tests, and we will tell you right away that if your check engine light is on, your vehicle won’t pass even if there’s nothing wrong.
Engine Control Problem
One thing that can turn on the check engine light is an engine control unit (ECU) problem. The ECU is your vehicle’s mainframe computer. It communicates with system sensors and makes adjustments to things such as your air and fuel ratio to keep your automobile running safely and efficiently. If the ECU is malfunctioning, it may turn on the check engine light and refuse to turn it off.
Exhaust System Failure
It will also turn on the check engine light for legitimate reasons, and one of those reasons is the exhaust system. There are many parts in your exhaust system that work together to make sure that your vehicle’s exhaust is under state regulations. Failing parts, such as the catalytic converter, mass airflow sensor, and oxygen sensor can make your vehicle fail the emissions test.
Fuel System Imbalance
Part of what is found in vehicle exhaust is carbon gas created when your combustion engine burns fuel. If the fuel system is having problems that create a rich fuel mixture, i.e. a mixture with too much fuel and not enough air, you’ll end up with excess gases in your exhaust and your vehicle will fail the emissions test. Things that can create this problem include leaking fuel injectors.
Spark Plug Malfunction
Your spark plugs are the thing that sets the air and gasoline on fire. The engine control unit fires the spark plugs in the correct order so that detonation occurs in each engine cylinder. If the spark plugs or the plug wires are worn out, you will have excess detonation that will make your engine knock and your vehicle fail the emissions test. A malfunctioning ECU can also cause a spark plug problem.
As we said above, Getz Automotive in Fuquay-Varina, NC, can get to the bottom of your vehicle’s emissions test failure and fix it. Call us today.