• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

After Failing Emissions????

  • Thread starter Thread starter GoBabyVroommm
  • Start date Start date May 23, 2004
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
May 23, 2004
#1
  • May 23, 2004
  • #1
I see there is a thread about LTs passing emissions. That topic seems to come up a lot. Let me skip all the crap and get to the point.

If you have LTs w/cats assumming your emission controls are hooked up right and you fail. What happens then? I know in chicago you have 3 trys to go to emissions.

I heard if you fail all 3 times they will take the best test and use that. As long as the emissions people see you are trying to make a improvement your ok. I'm not sure if this is true but if you think about it...

If you have a almost new car and it can't pass emission they can't tell you to sell your 20, 30, 40,000 dollar car.

So what do you guys think and what happens if you fail 3 times????
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
16
69
santa barbara, CA
May 23, 2004
#2
  • May 23, 2004
  • #2
in CA you cant register your car until you pass. and no matter what you will fail in CA with long tubes because none have a CARB EO number.
 

ADRENLN

Active Member
Apr 16, 2003
2,342
3
49
NJ
May 23, 2004
#3
  • May 23, 2004
  • #3
i just started a thread about this a couple of days ago. pissed at the answers i got. i will cancell the order i had for long tubes, and go with shortys. don't want to but dont want the trouble that comes with the long tubes. i don't know but my guess is that they just don't let u pass because you went through 3 times. thats would be great, everyone would just do what they wanted never fix anything, and pass after 3 times. it seems hard to believe, i doubt it .
 

Go HoTO!

New Member
Apr 11, 2004
602
0
0
Mountaintop, PA
May 23, 2004
#4
  • May 23, 2004
  • #4
I have yet to see any convincing numbers with LT's. Maybe that will make you feel better.
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
May 24, 2004
#5
  • May 24, 2004
  • #5
So i did some read and talking earlier. You shouldn't have a problem passing emissions with a car with LTs. The o2 senser cause a problem and make you run rich because they are moved back.

Its not a big deal if you use a tweecer you can tune the car yourself. Meaning give it a crappy tune and it will pass emissions.

Now if you don't have the tweecer or know how to tune your car then you will have a problem.
 
C

CottonBurnerz

Banned
May 10, 2003
1,554
0
0
Drink and Drive = Teh Lose
May 24, 2004
#6
  • May 24, 2004
  • #6
next year is my emission.. we'll see..
 

Red mustang Gt 46

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2001
601
0
16
Good ol' Maryland
May 24, 2004
#7
  • May 24, 2004
  • #7
It depends on the type of test...if it's the OBD2 test, as long as no codes are thrown you're good. If it's the roller/sniff test, 50/50 chance. If it's the visual/roller/sniff 90%failure rate.
 
3

350HPZ

New Member
Jul 18, 2003
68
0
0
May 24, 2004
#8
  • May 24, 2004
  • #8
Shorty headers are awaste.Ive done the 3 time test thing on numerous cars in chicago.Im done with the EPA B.S. Buy something from the factory with more power and be done with it.If you can afford it.Example=LT's,pullies,intake,xpipe,tune=30rwhp.Now mils go out half the time your LT's scrape on a penny laying in the road your car stinks and wont pass emissions now you hate the 25,000 dollar car you destroyed.This is a example of the money I wasted on performance upgrades over the years.BUY IT DONE.
 
T

tjm73

Founding Member
Aug 3, 2000
2,418
2
48
Rush, NY
May 24, 2004
#9
  • May 24, 2004
  • #9
GoBabyVroommm said:
I heard if you fail all 3 times they will take the best test and use that. As long as the emissions people see you are trying to make a improvement your ok. I'm not sure if this is true but if you think about it...

If you have a almost new car and it can't pass emission they can't tell you to sell your 20, 30, 40,000 dollar car.

So what do you guys think and what happens if you fail 3 times????
Click to expand...

No friggin' way they'll just pass you after 3 tries. They didn't modify your new 20, 30, 40,000 dollar car. What I think they would say is, make it stock again and it'll pass.

Emissions tests aren't about "trying" to be clean. They're about being clean.
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
May 24, 2004
#10
  • May 24, 2004
  • #10
What do you guys think? Do you think they will let me do my emissions now even though i'm not up yet? I just would like to know if i'll pass or not.

O yea you can always buy that computer at pep boys it reads whats wrong with your car. It can turn of check engine and whatever LITTLE computer problem you may have. It is only $99.95. I'm not saying your will pass emissions with just that but hell it turns off annoying lights and tells you why check engine is on.
 

Stl_GT

New Member
Jun 4, 2003
108
0
0
May 24, 2004
#11
  • May 24, 2004
  • #11
Actually here in IL, you can buy your way out of it. After failing 3 times you must show proof of 400 bucks in repairs. Now granted you won't be able to drive the car after the second fail till the time you proove 400 in repairs but you will be free and clear for another 2 years.

If you have concerns, why not just go to the local testing place and talk to them. After all, we can spout info to you all day on here but why not just ask the people that are going to make the final decision.
 
H

Halcyon_Dolour

My gash is bleeding but I don't let that stop me f
Founding Member
Nov 5, 2002
455
0
0
Bottom of a Bottle
May 24, 2004
#12
  • May 24, 2004
  • #12
350HPZ said:
Shorty headers are awaste.Ive done the 3 time test thing on numerous cars in chicago.Im done with the EPA B.S. Buy something from the factory with more power and be done with it.If you can afford it.Example=LT's,pullies,intake,xpipe,tune=30rwhp.Now mils go out half the time your LT's scrape on a penny laying in the road your car stinks and wont pass emissions now you hate the 25,000 dollar car you destroyed.This is a example of the money I wasted on performance upgrades over the years.BUY IT DONE.
Click to expand...


WTF are you doing on stangnet?
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
May 24, 2004
#13
  • May 24, 2004
  • #13
LOL


O yea i have LTs just incase anyone thought i had shortys. The LTs don't have a Carb. number so people think it can't pass. Companys don't want to spend the money to get that number so they sell them as is.
 

Stl_GT

New Member
Jun 4, 2003
108
0
0
May 24, 2004
#14
  • May 24, 2004
  • #14
Ok then I would imagine they wouldn't pass visual. Just to be sure, just give them a call. It couldn't hurt
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
May 24, 2004
#15
  • May 24, 2004
  • #15
Damn i hate emissions owell we need it though.
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
16
69
santa barbara, CA
May 24, 2004
#16
  • May 24, 2004
  • #16
btw if you clear the code for mil's and you take it in for any kind of OBD2 test you will still fail because you will throw a P1000 which means that not all of the tests have had time to have been run. think of it this way, someone KO's you, it takes a little while for you to come back to your senses. clearing the codes does the same thing to your computer.
 

vballshake

New Member
Apr 19, 2004
31
0
0
Naperville IL/Bloomington IL
May 24, 2004
#17
  • May 24, 2004
  • #17
I failed twice with my corvette. They wont test a car that has had the computer reset in the last 50 miles. If you don't pass emissions they will suspend your license plates therefore making it illegal to drive your car. I know it sucks. I dealt with that for over 3 months. I thought if you had cats on your car with the long tubes you would be ok. I am curious, I plan to put bassani cat back, mid length headers, high flowing cats, and x-pipe. Will I have trouble passing emissions?
 

StangLou

Active Member
Jul 9, 2003
1,264
0
36
Holly Springs, NC
May 24, 2004
#18
  • May 24, 2004
  • #18
The visual test varies from state to state. Some will let you get away with L/T's others wont. I was told by 2 local Ford dealers that as long as I have at least 2 cats my car will pass by their dealership. In NC, L/T's are permitted, you are supposed to have the # of cats that came on your car, but as long as you have them, most are ok with just 2. We have to pass the puffer test as well. I dont see how it can be a big issue in NC, there are a ton of people at the shop and in our club that have L/T's. Easiest thing to do is ask a local shop what they will pass. Be cool about it. 9 times out of 10 if your cool with how you ask, they will be cool. Sometimes you can just offer up $50 bucks or so and get a sticker saying your good to go I know I had to do that a few years ago on my 5.0 lol. Its tough these days to find one like that, and he recently retired so I cant use him for my '03. Ill know for sure come Sept/Oct. One of those is when mine expires
You can also check your states DMV or DOT webpage. One of those will have a link to your local emission laws. Read them, there are loopholes in everything
 

neoclasiccl

Founding Member
Jun 1, 2002
3,043
0
57
Help I can't see !!!!!!
May 24, 2004
#19
  • May 24, 2004
  • #19
man I feel for you guys. I played the game back in massachusetts with my 90lx 5.0. I finally made a friend that did inspections and never had to worry again. Glad here in Jacksonville Fl there are no emissions testing.
 
J

JohnyD05

Founding Member
Mar 17, 2002
417
0
0
Massachusetts
May 24, 2004
#20
  • May 24, 2004
  • #20
I failed the visual last year, because of my o/r x-pipe and they dion't even have to do the roller test. I failed this year for non functioning reverse lights.
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Cali Members, Get in Here! - Smog issue with possible error on 2007 Shelby GT Emissions label failed due to EGR
  • saldua
  • Mar 30, 2025
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
26
Views
1K
2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk- Apr 1, 2025
Noobz347
M
Progress Thread 1993 Ford Mustang 5.0 convertible stock manual - ODB Codes shows running lean
  • mcalvo
  • Feb 11, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 22, 2025
AeroCoupe
M
Long headers and failed emissions
  • mcalvo
  • May 6, 2024
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
9
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 12, 2024
mcalvo
M
F
Trouble Shooting Sudden Shift of AFR at low RPM
  • Farva_84
  • Jun 6, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
468
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 8, 2025
Farva_84
F
0
V6 to V8 Swap info
  • 02_2v_Curtis
  • Jan 11, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
662
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jan 11, 2026
02_2v_Curtis
0
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?