Can’t pass smog check

ANSWER : Hi there – the most straightforward and least expensive approach to this problem is to simply take your vehicle in for testing 15-30 days prior to your "deadline" (birthday month?). Most states or metro areas allow a 30 day "repair period" if there is any problem, and re-testing is usually free. Obviously, the car must be in good running order before having it tested. If your Check Engine light is illuminated, or the car runs badly, there is an issue, and the car must be repaired as appropriate. Once inspected, the "pass" certificate is also good for some period of time (sometimes as long as a year) as well, so there is no penalty for checking your emissions early. If you pass, you’re good-to-go. If not, you have a period of time to get it repaired before your current certificate expires. Good luck!

ANSWER : The most common reason for your Check Engine Light coming on is for random engine misfires. You may be having this problem, and may need to have the ignition diagnosed, to see what is causing the misfire. You may have a failure of your coils, or plugs. The Check Engine Light would need to be checked to see which codes are received, for a proper diagnosis.

ANSWER : The first thing to do would be to see what the failures are. The Check Engine light would have to be scanned to see why it is on and address the codes. Then once the light codes are fixed then the emissions can be checked again. I would recommend having a mechanic, like the certified ones at YourMechanic, come and check it out for you to see what is causing the problem.

ANSWER : The Check Engine light requires a special scan tool to determine the issue. Additional diagnostics may be required. An intake leak is common on this engine and may cause leaks, low fluids, and many other issues. With the vehicle sitting for a long time, other issues may be present. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, can assist you with diagnosis of your car’s Check Engine light.

ANSWER : There are countless potential causes for your illuminated check engine light. The mechanic manually turned off the light, but it came back on because the problem has not been fixed. The first place to start is retrieval of the stored diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). These codes serve as a starting point for any further diagnostics a mechanic may perform. Codes will be stored anytime the check engine light is on. Since the first mechanic was unable to fix your concern, I recommend giving the professionals at YourMechanic a call. We offer expert check engine light diagnosis and repair.

ANSWER : Inasmuch as YourMechanic is mobile, you need not bring the car anywhere as the certified mechanic will come to you and take care of the radiator replacement. If you desire mobile replacement, please simply use YourMechanic’s radiator replacement service page. Once on that page, please click on "Get a Quote" and enter your vehicle information (year, make, model). With regard to the fan clutch if the fan clutch was literally the ONLY part replaced and no other parts or services were included in your bill, you would have saved roughly $300 if you had hired a mobile Mechanic through YourMechanic to procure and install a new fan clutch. Your broader, but very fundamental, question of how to "avoid being ripped off" would require an encyclopedic response and even that would be incomplete. Very, very briefly though, you are likely to save a substantial sum if you use certified mechanics from YourMechanic but, as important, with YourMechanic you are dealing personally with one mechanic and not an assembly line operation at a shop with huge overhead, so you can actually get better results and get your unique concerns better addressed. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you with issues that arise involving your car.

ANSWER : In your case I would recommend getting a second opinion. Enlist the help of a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, to scan your vehicle for trouble codes. The check engine light and the smog test failure are certainly related. The check engine light did not exist until the emissions stuff came to be put on engines. The only reason the check engine light comes on is to inform you that your engine is producing higher emissions, but because of this it may also not run as well due to how the emissions parts are installed on the engine. After the trouble codes are pulled, a more accurate diagnosis can be given.

ANSWER : Hello! I would definitely advise having a basic inspection done before the vehicle is driven on a long trip. Any qualified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to inspect your misfiring issue and let you know if there is anything that needs immediate attention. The most common cause of an engine misfire is usually related to the spark plugs or wires. If the vehicle’s codes can not be read the cause might be that the DLC connector, where the codes are read from, has lost power. Generally this is due to a fuse that needs to be replaced.