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Buying a Used Car – Ask for an Emissions Test First

October 24th, 2011

In Colorado, the seller of a used car or truck is responsible for the emissions test required in the licensing to the new owner. If you buy a used car from a private party and the vehicle fails the emissions test, the seller is required by Department of Revenue rules to repair the car or truck to pass, or refund the purchase price. However, to enforce the rule, it may be necessary to sue the seller who does not want to comply and that is a big pain in the butt.

If you buy from a new or used car dealer, the same holds true when the dealer has not had the vehicle tested. Only, the dealer is allowed to provide you with a voucher to have the test run, with the same rule about failures as the private party.

My advice: have the vehicle emissions tested before you buy it and save some potential brain and financial damage.

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Avoid Standing On Line – Use the Rapid Screen Testing at the Side of the Road

October 20th, 2010

By driving through the Rapid Screen setup along the side of the road and having two consecutive passing readings in the year before your test/renewal is due, you can avoid the trip to the testing station. This link

http://www.aircarecolorado.com/rapidscreen/locations.html

will show you where the vans are parked for the week. Many times there are two or even three vans parked on the I 25 south bound on ramps at Mulberry, Prospect, and/or Harmony. A quick trip out to the freeway and some down and up driving may be all it takes.

Remember:

1. two consecutive trips with a passing grade

2. the trips must be at two different sites if on the same day

3. the tests must not occur within the two months before your due date as the reports will not be available to the county

4. you can start the drive through process up to one year before your tags are set to renew

5. YOU NEED TO BE ACCELERATING AS YOU PASS THROUGH THE TEST LANE,  DO NOT SLOW DOWN

The Rapid Screen Testing is NOT FREE, but will be added to your registration fees and is the same $25 you would pay if you went to the testing station.

Questions? Email to robc@theperformancetune.com or call us at 970-482-3971 M-F 8 am to 5 pm.

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More on Emissions Testing

October 20th, 2010

The state is beginning to offer the first training class for technicians this evening in Fort Collins. Kevin will be attending as we ramp up to become ready to diagnose (analyze and test) for those who fail. We have our own dynomometer which will allow us to “road test” in the shop just as they do at the testing center. We also got our testing equipment upgraded for testing of the nox (nitrous oxide) out the tailpipe. NOX is a precursor of smog and combines with sunlight to create a damaging chemical (nitric acid) that affects human airways and also our trees and other plants. We will continue to be testing for hydrocarbons (unburned or partially burned fuel) and carbon monoxide as we did in the previous emissions programs.

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It’s baaaack! Emissions testing, that is.

September 20th, 2010

Beginning on November 1, 2010 we will all be experiencing the testing of our gasoline burning cars and trucks for excessive emissions. There are currently four testing stations under construction in northern Colorado. Access for Fort Collins residents will be the north side station located just east of Interstate 25 on the south side of the road by McDonald’s and the Otterbox Distribution Center. On the south end of town the testing station is west of College Avenue, also known as Highway 287, almost to Loveland near the UPS distribution center.

 Testing will be done every two years for cars of vintage 1982 and newer in the year matching the last number of the car’s year. Thus 2004, 2000, 1994 etc. vintage cars and truck will be tested in even number years and those vintage of years of an odd number such as 1999, 2005, and the like in odd numbered years.

 If you don’t like waiting on line for your test, you can drive through the mobile inspection stations. If you have a passing score twice in a row in the preceding year, you will be able to skip the inspection site and just register as usual. The two consecutive passing tests must occur in the year before your renewal, but excludes the two months before your renewal for processing purposes. Your registration card will tell you whether you can skip the inspection station and just pay your inspection fee for the two roadside tests with your registration.

 The mobile testing units are located in places where it is usual to accelerate, as acceleration is an important part of the test. You will find them at freeway on ramps and curves or corners where you are most likely to accelerate. Make sure that you are accelerating since if you take your foot off the gas pedal the test will not be valid
 You cannot go through the same location twice or more on the same day, but it is okay if you go through two different locations on the same day. I have observed the vans out on the freeway on ramps at the south entries on Mulberry, Prospect and Harmony, making it possible to go through two stations in a row with a quick trip over to the freeway. You can find the locations of the mobile vans at the website http://www.aircarecolorado.com as they will be moved around each week. There is other information at this site concerning the program.
 
 Most cars are expected to pass and will not have a problem. Those that are smoking or polluting
will be identified and made to get repaired in order to improve air quality. If you have any questions about the program or anything else, contact us at Performance Tune at 970-482-3971 or info@theperformancetune.com.

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