Illinois Emissions Testing Question...
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 13
From: Aurora, Iliinois
Illinois Emissions Testing Question...
Hey all
I have to put my 98 Explorer sport though emissions testing before they will renew my license plates. For those unfamiliar with Illinois, the testing is done by the OBD II Port and fails if it throws ANY codes
I just intalled a new air filter, Sea Foamed the innards (1/3 can through brake booster line, 1/3 in the oil, the rest in the tank) Autolite Plat plugs, Bosch plug wires...I changed the oil and replaced the plugs/wires 100 miles after the Sea Foam treatment.
The Check Engine light is now out and it runs FANTASTIC !
My question is ...Will it still throw codes even if there is no Check Engine light lit ?
Thanks !
I have to put my 98 Explorer sport though emissions testing before they will renew my license plates. For those unfamiliar with Illinois, the testing is done by the OBD II Port and fails if it throws ANY codes
I just intalled a new air filter, Sea Foamed the innards (1/3 can through brake booster line, 1/3 in the oil, the rest in the tank) Autolite Plat plugs, Bosch plug wires...I changed the oil and replaced the plugs/wires 100 miles after the Sea Foam treatment.
The Check Engine light is now out and it runs FANTASTIC !
My question is ...Will it still throw codes even if there is no Check Engine light lit ?
Thanks !
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 7
It is possible, but here in Utah, you are only a fail if the light is illuminated. If all the readiness monitors are good and there are no codes set that would illuminate the light you pass here. If there are pending codes, some of them will fail you. If the vehicle is running fantastic, and your light is not on, and you have completed several drive cycles since the computer was last reset, you should pass without any problems.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 13
From: Aurora, Iliinois
It is possible, but here in Utah, you are only a fail if the light is illuminated. If all the readiness monitors are good and there are no codes set that would illuminate the light you pass here. If there are pending codes, some of them will fail you. If the vehicle is running fantastic, and your light is not on, and you have completed several drive cycles since the computer was last reset, you should pass without any problems.
Talk about a tremendous waste of taxpayers money...what ever happened to the days where they rolled a mirror under your car to be sure the cats were there and stuck a sniffer in the exhaust pipe for 30 seconds...sheesh !
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 13
From: Aurora, Iliinois
Air Team - Illinois Vehicle Emission Test Program
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 13
From: Aurora, Iliinois
Its a ripoff...always has been.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 127,357
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, Illinois
It actually costs nothing...unless your vehicle fails. Then you have to take it to a mechanic and have it repaired so that it will pass. Once you spend a certain amount of money (not sure how much) and your car still won't pass, you can be exempt. Probably cheaper to get another car though...
Its a ripoff...always has been.
Its a ripoff...always has been.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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You fellers from Illinois ought to know about fraud and phony-baloney dealings, and the smog business is full of it. That's why all the Buck Rogers gee-whiz equipment. Makes it harder to phoney up the smog tests. Whole thing is obsolete anyway, they could do away with most of it and just put up roadside sniffers. But the smoggies got themselves a lobbiest or two and they keep "empire building" the smog inspection business. Can't blame them as the investment is pretty high, so why would they want to be put out of business?
Life is imperfect.
Life is imperfect.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 597
Likes: 1
I have done the testing here and now it is actually easier and quicker for 96 and up cars. The old system had more inspection/testing. I remember seeing years back some cars had to be strapped down with the rear tires over rollers and a big electric fan in front of the radiatior to simulate driving. That had to be harder on the car than now just the electrical hook up.
Also on another note I was always told stored codes can be reset if you unhook the battery over night.
Also on another note I was always told stored codes can be reset if you unhook the battery over night.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 7
Yes, but you forget, if you reset the computer, you also reset the readiness monitors. When they plug in, you wouldn't be able to pass because the computer would simply say "Not Ready". You would then have to drive it through one or more complete drive cycles before it would become ready, and if you have a problem, it would set a code . So that strategy doesn't work very often if there is an issue. If you light is not on, you should be able to pass.
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