Pacer

This is from today's Star. Perhaps something to think about if your car's on the road, you need a test done in the next 12mths and you've got time over the holidays.

Drive Clean emissions standards tightened

As of Jan. 1, it will be tougher for cars to pass the emissions test under the province's Drive Clean program. And maximum repair costs will rise to $450 for most of southern Ontario.

Emissions standards, which vary from model year to model year, will be tightened by 11.5 per cent from those in place since the program's inception in 1999.

"One of the points is to catch some of those older cars that are borderline pass or fails," said Charles Ross, spokesperson for the environment ministry. "A lot of them barely pass at one and barely fail at the next. We want to identify and catch some of those and require them to be repaired."

Drivers registered in the GTA and Hamilton whose vehicles fail the test must pay for a maximum of $450 in emissions-related repairs in order to obtain a conditional pass for licence renewal.

Now drivers registered in other urban centres between Peterborough and Sarnia — Phase 2 of the program — will have their repair ceiling raised to $450 from $200. Mandatory testing began this year in Phase 3 — southern Ontario outside Phases 1 and 2. Drivers in Phase 3 face a $200 maximum, which rises to $450 in 2004.

Vehicles more than three years old and less than 20 years old are subject to emissions testing.

Drivers who know they'll face an emissions test in 2003 can race to their local garage for a test this month under the easier emissions standards. Each Test is valid for one year.

The province estimates that the program reduced smog-causing emissions by 15.2 per cent in the GTA and Hamilton from 1999 to 2001

Demon355

iTrader: (1)

dang...

Cruzin Kaz

Well we might as well move to Cali. soon. At least we can drive our cars all year round there. Man!!

EDGE

Another scam for the Assh@le government. Anyway....I read an artical about modified cars. If your engine is pre 1999 and was never available in the cars manufactured year. So that means any 350 or 305 that had the drill taken to it....well they will run under the Hot Rod class. And those standards are lightened up quite a bit. Ill try and get a hold of it and post it.

Cruzin Kaz

Hot Rod status isn't all that lightend up, don't kid yourself. Most people go in there with there bigger engines and practically no exhaust and Fail misserably. Just so you know.

EDGE

his is right from the drive clean website:


"What happens if I change(d) the motor in my Light-Duty vehicle?

If the vehicle is included in the program (appropriate age, registered in the program area), it will be considered a hot rod if the motor differs from the type that was originally offered by the manufacturer for that particular model year. All hot rods registered as the model year 1999 or earlier will continue to be tested according to 1980 emission standards. Vehicles registered as model year 2000 and later will be tested according to emission standards for their model year. Vehicles built to non-Canadian standards but imported into Canada will be tested similarly. Other specialty vehicles will be tested according to 1980 emission standards for an indefinite period, except for vehicles that have "kit" marked on the vehicle licence. Kit cars are exempt from the Drive Clean program. "


I know there still tight Pacer. As far as i know the car still has to have all the original equipment installed and funtional. So that means cats intact and all the other crap. But meeing 1980 is easier than 87.....I hope...

EDGE

Sorry Pacer and Cruzin.....I got you two mixed up in that last post

Eric2ndGen

"The province estimates that the program reduced smog-causing emissions by 15.2 per cent in the GTA and Hamilton from 1999 to 2001"


-and this "estimate" is based on what, precisely? I love it when the government gives "estimates". How about the federal government's "estimate" on what the gun control registry would cost vs. reality? $2 million vs. just under $1 billion.

Climate differences year-to-year also affects the measurable amount of pollution in the air. Is this 15.2 per cent "estimate" for just vehicle emissions or for pollution overall? I think we could lay money on it that this is for cars only and does not include industrial/commercial emissions. But also only if we assume the "estimate" is anything close to being accurate.

Cruzin Kaz

LOL not a prob. Actually most place that I know of don't even really look when the car is in Hot Rod status. they just set it up and test. I have no cats and 3' true dual,no pump or tubes , not even the canister or the EGR, I passed but just!

EDGE

Well cruzin.....Im not about to pull my head off the block to prove its bored thats for sure. But Tthe place i went to is fair. They checked to make sure my Equipment was in place and ran it under Hotrod status. And i just passed right on the max limits....for 1980. Not bad considering Its a 1987.

Cruzin Kaz

Sounds good to me. Alot of people under Hot ROd status just pass. Hmmmm. Wonder why?

EDGE

Hey maybe the Idiots in power are going to mandate us into making sure our cars are Nuclear powered so theres no emmisions. Cause you know how they think.......

"Lets see?.....we can get some of the crap out of the air...never mind industry!!! its all thsoe damn firebirds and camaros causeing all the trouble. Then we can make work for all the fire departments and construction companys cause everytime theres an accident the whole block explodes.......but emmisions are down %15.2....Ive done my job re-elect me now"

Luva350

Where did you go? I am due for 2 tests in 2003. I would go now but Fast88 is sleeping.

tanager11

...When will the madness ever end?????

Cruzin Kaz

Most people are going to laugh or flame here, but I take all my vehicles to Canadian Tire here in Welland. I feel comfortable with these guys, plus I have know most of them for years. They didn't pull any strings for me either, so... I would try your local Canadian Tire too. If your worried, give it a fresh oil change, spark plugs, cap and rotor, Air fiter is a must if dirty, Some good gas, and take her for a really nice run on the hwy to blow out any junk first. All these precausions shop help you. HTH

STIFFLER

I need an etest next year.. so if I run in now since my B-day is Dec 3rd i should be good for a whole year... Hand it in, in Next december and I should be good for the next 2 years then? so in total it should be good for 3 years the way I am looking at it..

right?

copperchick

I'm even more glad I got mine done in October. She passed and by 2004, she'll be 20 years old. For once, the rules worked out in my favour. I'd better write that down!

johnyIROC

This sucks so much. Maybe I should hold on to the '83... or at least the VIN tags.

Slade1

And people wonder why I keep my emissions stuff functional...

at least my levels are low enough that they can go 50% lower and I'd still pass...

Then again, TBI has probably the strictest levels due to the efficiency of the design...

NTChrist

CT's fine for E-tests, but NO SAFETY INSPECTIONS!

Save yourself the time, throw the $45 in the ditch, and start looking for some other shop, if you want a Safety done. $662 in repairs! Yeah right! B@stards!!!

Cruzin Kaz

Oh Yeah! I wouldn't have them do a Safety, heck no. They do the old fine tooth comb thing on ya. But as for Etest they are great.

copperchick

You might remember from my "She passed!" thread, but here goes...That Guaranteed To Pass stuff seemed to help. I put a new cat on and used that stuff according to it's instructions and my car passed in October with levels that were no where near failing. I did it before I put her into storage so I wouldn't have to drive with expired plates this year in order to have the test so I can buy my sticker.

88AstroMan

The "Hot Rod" statis is a joke! There's NO WAY IMHO that a 1980 vehicle had to pass a 114 ppm HC level. I put an 88 TBI 305 in my 88 Astro van, with all new sonsors and pollution gizmos, and failed 2 tests (in at +-145ppm). I did all the pre-test things, plugs, wires, oil, timing etc, I even ran it up and down the 404 for an hour!. I finally had to put a new cat on to pass. My pass level was 112! NOBODY at the Drive Clean center could give me ANY input why the level was so low. The guy that tested before me with an 89 Corolla, HAD A HIGHER PASS LEVEL! Another friend has a 90 AWD 'stro his pass level was 200ppm!

Daz

iTrader: (1)

hey checkout the GTA gathering post..

Daz

Slade1

Just for kicks I finally found my limits on my car... its distrubing come to think of it...

78 on HC
0.43 on CO
878 on NOx

I managed to pull a 31 HC, 0.34 CO, and a 750 NOx on 4 year old plugs, wires, (14 year old coil), paper air filter and stock air cleaner box and stock exhaust. I didn't even bother to do an oil change.

Sinoed

Since all of those machines are linked together (I think), theoretically I suppose they could be compiling a huge database that they could use for estimating. For the cars that failed they could use the original e-test followed by the re-test and calculate improvements. Although I suppose if they were busy doing all of this there is another huge amount of taxpayer money being donated to the porcelain ***..

Eric2ndGen

If that's the method being used- it's obviously a bit dubious- it does not account for shops that improperly perform tests, or 'load up' the first one to get a few repair dollars out of the event... Personally I think it's crap- BUT, even if it's 100% true and accurate- a 15% reduction is not something to get wet in the pants about- especially if this is only on vehicle emissions and not emissions across the board. This is especially true when some component of the 15% reduction would be due to cars being junked for a million other reasons- not emissions tests (i.e. old age, accidents, etc.).

IROC_Canuck

I should pass i am not worried, i have brand new cats, so if i fail there not doing there job, gotta get the test done next june, but i might now, cause i wont be able to drive after then, cause of insurance