Failed inspection on emissions

[humanliberty]

Hi all,

Just went to have my car checked, and I failed emissions.

HC reads 2.17 GPM , limit is 1.2
NOX reads 4.18 GPM, limit is 2.5

I have no idea what this means. The car has a nonstock exhaust and air filter. The oil was recently topped up (and too high , because it's a little bit above the MAX line. Might this be the cause of the failure?).

I suppose I need to bring the car to a mechanic who can reduce these emissions. How much do you think it'll cost? Any thing I could do myself? Or should I just do an oil change and clean spark plugs or something, and throw some stuff in the gas tank?

Also, apparently the side-windows tint is too dark (I don't really know why because I see plenty of cars on the road here with the same tint). Is it easy to remove yourself or can the mechanic do it cheaply?

I'll be calling a mechanic tomorrow but I just figured I'd ask you experts here first.

Thanks!

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by humanliberty

Is it easy to remove yourself or can the mechanic do it cheaply?

just buy a couple of single-edged razors and go slow

[bobbob1015]

sounds like your missing your cat. converter... or some one gutted it... good luck with that those things are expensive

[PettitWC]

dude, my car failed once too and i just did it again later and it passed without doing anything. if you're in dc then you probably go to the place down on half street?

[elchicano]

Don't remove the tint with a razor blade you'll end up scratching the glass. Walmart sells a tint remover i don't know how well it works but i would try that out first.

[PettitWC]

Originally Posted by elchicano318ti

Don't remove the tint with a razor blade you'll end up scratching the glass. Walmart sells a tint remover i don't know how well it works but i would try that out first.

yes, please

[naustin]

You shouldnt be able to scratch the glass with a razor blade, or its crappy glass, especially if youre using the side of the razor and not digging into the glass with the edge. I removed the tint on my ti and you only need the blade to get the tint off the corner. The rest you just use your hands and pull VERY slowly. It's absolutely imperative that you get both the tint layer and the adhesive layer at once or you leave the adhesive which is a pain in the butt to get off (did that on the first window). But if you do that stuff its a breeze. Make sure it comes off smoothly, if it jerks it will leave behind residue which you have to scrape off with the razor. I used windex as a lubricant for the razor on the residue glue.

Really not that hard, took me less than 15 minutes per window (except for the one that left the adhesive). Any questions on it just ask me! Just did this 3 weeks ago so its all still fresh in my mind.

[naustin]

oh.. and maybe take it to another inspection place, these things vary

[PettitWC]

good call, it does help if you want to reuse the tint

[aceyx]

Originally Posted by elchicano318ti

Don't remove the tint with a razor blade you'll end up scratching the glass.

http://www.scraperite.com/index.html

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by naustin

You shouldnt be able to scratch the glass with a razor blade, or its crappy glass, especially if youre using the side of the razor and not digging into the glass with the edge.

yeah, the place I work at sells used cars so I have used razors on the windshields to take off writing, and I use them to peel off old inspection stickers and oil change stickers and I have never scratched the glass

[b.u.ti-ful]

I always make sure my car is well warmed before hitting the emissions check - they don't burn as clean when cold.

[humanliberty]

Thanks for your help all.

I'll be trying to remove the tint myself. I'm also taking the car to a mechanic and he'll check emissions again. He said the catalytic converter is probably the problem (1000$ fix). Too much oil might mess with emissions but he said not by that much, and especially sine it's a '95 and it has a new exhaust system it's probably the catalytic converter. Now I am not really ready to spend a 1000 dollar so do you guys know if it's possible to get the title transfered to my name without passing inspection? Perhaps I should resell it to someone in a state where they don't have to pass this inspection or who can fix these things cheaply himself.

[tiFreak]

I think bavauto has cheaper cats

[thesk8nmidget]

you could also try finding a wrecked 318 and take the cat out of that.