Failed my e-test

[FieroDough]

you would be supprised how an injector flush changes everything! better mist = better burn!  my brother can get one done for $50.00  better then the usual $150.00

[A.K.A]

i'd be up for that.....

[dguy]

you would be supprised how an injector flush changes everything! better mist = better burn!  my brother can get one done for $50.00  better then the usual $150.00

Already thought of that, thanks.

Though I went the cheap route.    Two bottles of fuel injector cleaner, each which claims to be good for up to a 60L tank, both tossed into the 35L Fiero tank.

Though likely not as thorough as a shop job, it made a heck of a difference...

[BootMachine]

I just pulled my injectors off and threw them in a bowl of residue free cleaner. (for circuit boards)

They worked fine after!

[FieroDough]

I beleive that the injector cleaner bottle are hogg wash.  Just as effective as peeing in the gas tank. *lol*

I good purge runse pure detergent through the engine. Really hardcore stuff. (engine cannot be put under load or she goes bye bye.. ) ad as the injectors tick, they free up all the buidup inside. also cleans out the regulator, valves and upper cyl heads.

a good investment every 50K.  

*** Warning! do not go crazy on this stuff! if you do it every oil change it wil eat your seals!

Cheers!
Eric

[BootMachine]

if you peed in my gas tank...my fuel pump would pressureize it to 48 PSI....feed it to my engine where it would be turned into piss steam and shot out the exhaust pipe!

Unless there was ONLY piss in there.....I would have a problem then!

[dguy]

if you peed in my gas tank...my fuel pump would pressureize it to 48 PSI....feed it to my engine where it would be turned into piss steam and shot out the exhaust pipe!

Of course the steam would be getting shot out of the exhaust pipe under pressure inflicted upon it by the piss-tons.     :insert pic of Don ducking and running like hell here:

[BootMachine]

ha ha ha...piss-tons

thats rich!

[38racing]

I am confused. Why did not having the diagnostic and repair done at the testing shop void the $200 limit?
Since there are certified repair shops  that don't test I assumed that you could go to one of them , get $200 of emission related repairs and take the receipt into MOT if the re-test failed. Why should the testing stations have a monoply on the repairs subject to the limit? What's the point of the non testing shops getting certified? If it has to pass without $ limit when they do the work then what;s the certification mean? Any shop can repair it, certified or not, if it has to pass after their repair. Getting certifed costs the shop 10-15K$

[JetJumper]

When I went for my E-Test, in order to get that $200 limit thing, they told me I had to get a $100 Diagnostic done there, then have What ever repaired in that remaining $100.  I told them to shove it, got an Aftermarket cat for $80 and piped it in, passed with flying colours.

[dguy]

I am confused. Why did not having the diagnostic and repair done at the testing shop void the $200 limit?

Because that's how the system works, plain and simple.  I suspect that only the pencil pushers behind the Drive Clean program know the reasons why.

Given the age of the car I knew with 90% certainty that I would need a new cat in order to pass, but waited until after the first test in the hopes that the $200 repair cost limit would apply should anything further be needed.  At the time, I was unaware of this "feature" which requires you to give the testing shop more money AT THE TIME OF YOUR TEST in order to be elegible.

I should have checked with the Drive Clean web site first, instead of going in with partial information & assumptions.  It is clearly stated here that do-it-yourself repairs are not eligible for the Repair Cost Limit.  It goes further, actually.  In order to be elegible for the Repair Cost Limit, all testing and emissions-related repairs must be performed by an accredited Drive-Clean facility.

I suspect that the motivation behind this is to avoid the situation of a backyard mechanic performing "repairs" which may not improve tailpipe emissions, but still doing $200 worth of work and managing to walk away with a dirty engine.  It removes any burden of proof, or contestability as to whether or not the non-certified mechanic's repairs were emissions-related or not.

My personal opinion is that most testing facilities love this feature.  You want to drive your car, right?  Most people don't want to spend $1000 in repairs to do so, right?  So they happily let the shop do their thing, and walk away $200 and the cost of two tests poorer instead.  Will I grit my teeth and let the frickin' shop take more money from me for their precious diagnostic test the next time one of our vehicles fails?  If the RCL has not been abolished when that time comes, then the answer is most definitely "yes."  

At least given the age of Fieros, and the date at which the tailpipe snorting started, most of us will only have to go through one test, perhaps two.

Don't get me wrong--I have nothing against trying to minimize the crap that goes back out into the environment, but my appreciation for the way in which it is currently being executed with respect to vehicles is minimal at best.  

[38racing]

Quote " It goes further, actually.  In order to be elegible for the Repair Cost Limit, all testing and emissions-related repairs must be performed by an accredited Drive-Clean facility."
That was the point I was trying to make. My GM dealer is an accredit drive clean repair facility (cost them $15k) but they don't do testing as that would cost ($100K). So  I still assume that they can do $200 of repairs and if I take the car back to the test center and it fails I would get a conditional pass. I will my test center and as the question. I realize that any do-it-yourself repairs would not count in any repair limit.

[38racing]

from driveclean site
"You may qualify for the Repair Cost Limit (RCL). This only requires that you spend up to a predetermined amount on emissions related repairs to qualify for a conditional pass to renew your vehicle registration. A diagnosis of emissions system faults, cost estimates and any actual repairs must be performed at an accredited Drive Clean Facility, to qualify for the RCL. "

It does not say at the same facility that did test.

"The RCL does not apply if your have the repairs done elsewhere, or do them yourself. The limit also does not apply to replacement of a missing gas cap or catalytic converter, non emissions related repairs or repairs to correct a vehicle's smoking problem. '

So in your case the convertor is not covered so it was academic

"Before any work begins on your vehicle: Verify that the facility is accredited to do Drive Clean Repairs if you want to use the repair cost limit. Obtain a written estimate. Request that all emission-related repairs (new and used parts, labour, diagnostics) be listed separately from any non-emission repair estimates so you can identify the emission related items that may qualify for the RCL.
Once repaired, your vehicle must be re-tested. If you fail the re test, you can obtain a conditional pass which will allow the registration to be renewed for a two year period. The maximum fee for a re-test is $17.50, plus applicable taxes. You are allowed up to two re-tests at $17.50 each after repairs, as long as they are performed at the facility that performed the initial test."

I think this reference to repairs at the testing facility gets the next test at 1/2 price. I assume that if you had accredited repairs done elsewhere then you go back to the test facility you pay the full 37.50 again but failing and having the repair  bill from the other place you could still get your sticker at MOT

[38racing]

Found the details. If the testing garage told you that you had to have the max 200 done there then they are just trying to make extra money. This section from the driveclean site clearly states that you can go elsewhere. for  the RCL repairs I think in most people's cases they have a facility that they trust maybe more than the testing centre

To take advantage of the RCL, your emissions tests, repair estimates and actual repairs must be provided by accredited Drive Clean Facilities. However, you do not need to have the diagnostic or repairs performed at the facility that provided the initial emissions test. If you use another facility, the repair technician will complete and sign a repair data form once the diagnostic and repairs within the RCL are completed. You will require the signed repair data form in order to have the vehicle re-tested. If you want to take advantage of the reduced fee rate for re-tests after repairs, those re-tests must be performed at the facility that provided the initial test.

[dguy]

It does not say at the same facility that did test.

Possibly an error on my part.  I was typing from memory the conversation I had with the testing facility nearly a week ago.  

"The RCL does not apply if your have the repairs done elsewhere, or do them yourself. The limit also does not apply to replacement of a missing gas cap or catalytic converter, non emissions related repairs or repairs to correct a vehicle's smoking problem. '

So in your case the convertor is not covered so it was academic

Not quite.  My cat isn't missing, it's 18 years old and horribly inefficient by today's standards.

I think this reference to repairs at the testing facility gets the next test at 1/2 price. I assume that if you had accredited repairs done elsewhere then you go back to the test facility you pay the full 37.50 again but failing and having the repair  bill from the other place you could still get your sticker at MOT

Actually the testing facility I went to still offers the 1/2 price on subsequent (limited to two I think) tests, regardless of who/what/where does the work.  They do however need proof of what repairs were performed, for which sales receipts are apparently sufficient.

To take advantage of the RCL, your emissions tests, repair estimates and actual repairs must be provided by accredited Drive Clean Facilities. However, you do not need to have the diagnostic or repairs performed at the facility that provided the initial emissions test. If you use another facility, the repair technician will complete and sign a repair data form once the diagnostic and repairs within the RCL are completed. You will require the signed repair data form in order to have the vehicle re-tested. If you want to take advantage of the reduced fee rate for re-tests after repairs, those re-tests must be performed at the facility that provided the initial test.

Note that all this mentions having the repairs performed at another facility, by a repair technician.  I imagine that "facility" and "repair technician" as used by the Drive Clean program refer to an accredited Drive Clean facility and/or technician.  I see nothing mentioned anywhere in the literature which leads me to believe that those who prefer to perform their own repairs are elegible for a conditional pass under the repair cost limit.  In fact, I see quite the opposite.

More appropriately, I should have mentioned in my earlier posting that by choosing to do the repairs myself, rather than have a D.C. facility perform them, have I lost my eligibility for the repair cost limit.