Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

4 Common Reasons a Car Might Fail Inspection

A failed emissions test can really put a brake on your plans. Vehicles fail emissions inspections for a number of reasons. The Daily Herald reports that about 7% of light-duty vehicles fail. Let’s look at a few reasons why cars fail and how you can fix the problem.

1. Clogged Air Filters

Sometimes emissions tests are failed for simple reasons. Clogged air filters for instance are a common cause for failure. The air filter in a vehicle is often overlooked, but this small component plays a critical role in the smooth function of your engine. If the filter is too dirty to catch debris, then the engine will soon be deprived of air. This has a negative impact on the engine’s performance. It also can’t filter out hydrocarbons and heavy metals. This will cause a failed emissions test. Luckily, this is an easy fix. You can grab an air filter for your particular vehicle at a local auto parts store and replace it before your emissions tests. Our mechanics suggest that filters should usually be changed between 15,000 and 30,000 miles.

2. Bad Catalytic Converters

When functioning properly, the catalytic converter is essential for passing the emissions. This device actually transforms the pollutants that come out of the engine. This is transformed into steam. Without a catalytic converter, the pollutants produced by your engine would move directly into the atmosphere. If the catalytic converter isn’t functioning properly, your vehicle will fail the emissions test. Although this can be annoying auto repairs, in the long run, this helps to protect the environment and keep the air in our communities clean.

3. Old or Dirty Engine Oil

Many people opt to get an oil change right before an emissions test because old or dirty engine oil can cause a failed test. According to MyCarNeedsA.com, you can keep up with your service intervals either in terms of mileage or time periods. To ensure that old engine oil doesn’t cause you to fail your emissions test, schedule your vehicle for service right before testing and get other auto repairs done.

4. Bad Air-to-Fuel Ratio

The air-to-fuel ratio in your vehicle is critical to ensure your vehicle creates safe, low-emission combustion. According to Motor Trend, the right ratio is 14.7 parts air to one part fuel. If this ratio is off, the fuel will not combust properly. This will create extra pollutants and a failed emissions test.

These are just a few reasons why your car might fail emissions testing. If you’re concerned about getting your car ready for testing, please contact Chase Automotive Repair Service today. We are here for your automotive needs.