I went for an inspection on my 2005 Honda CRV. It did not pass Inspection.

ANSWER : Hi there. In short, no; the car will not be in risk of failing a safety inspection because an aftermarket ball joint was used. The only time using aftermarket parts can cause a failure is if they are O2 sensors or other emissions related components; as some times they have connectivity issues with the ECU.

ANSWER : Hi There,
As you may know, the check DRL indication your vehicle is giving you means that the computer is not recognizing some part of the daytime running light function. This is related to the vehicle’s automatic daytime light function and should not impact your emissions test as it separate system not related to any of the emissions components.

ANSWER : Hi there. As long as the window is able to go up and down regardless of speed and as long as the vehicle has a horn that can operate, then the vehicle is inspection ready for the horn and the window.

ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. There are two inspections to pass, the safety inspection and emissions inspection.

For the safety inspection, the station is required to check but is not limited to: tire quality, brake lights, headlamps, turn signals, windshield wipers, window quality, the horn, and the emissions.

If the oil pan is leaking too much, the oil filter housing is damaged or leaking too much, and the DMLT pump leaking, then they can flag the vehicle until the items are fixed.

If you cleaned the oil pan and cleaned the oil filter housing (unless the housing is broken then it needs replaced), then those would be fine for inspection. However, the DMLT pump needs replaced due to emissions evaporative leak.

I recommend cleaning the oil pan, cleaning the oil filter housing, and replacing the DMLT pump, pass the inspection, then replace the oil pan gasket and replace the oil filter housing in that sequence. If needed, you may want to have a second mechanic pinpoint the existing fault(s) and confirm the needed repairs so that this can be corrected properly the first time.

To get an approximation of these costs, you can enter your vehicle’s information on our estimator page and then select the services that you’d like to receive a quote for.

ANSWER : Hello – your Honda Odyssey does indeed have a secondary air pump on less than 6 cylinders to save fuel (ECO=economy mode). Perhaps there is a hole in an exhaust system component which is causing the unusual noise, or the check valve in the air pump system is faulty. If so, I recommend an exhaust inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

ANSWER : Hi there – no, a tapping valve lifter won’t cause direct damage per se, but will run less efficiently (on that cylinder) while clearance is excessive and tapping occurs. Since the lifters are adjustable, you would certainly want to have the lifters adjusted to proper clearance at any point the valve cover leaks, and needs the gasket replaced, or if any engine misfire is detected. I recommend a valve adjustment service performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, and perform this service – which includes a new valve cover gasket.

ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in. You do not need to use high grade of gasoline. The problems you are having may be due to the adding of the Techron which is causing any water in the fuel to disperse and be burned by the engine. This can cause erratic misfires and the Check Engine Light to come on.

The Techron itself should not be a problem, the possibility of water in the fuel tank is the real issue. Run the fuel you have in the tank out until you have less than 1/4 of a tank left then fill it up with regular fuel. See how the engine runs and if the Check Engine Light clears. Then drive the car to see if it comes back on. Do not do any work on the car until you do what I stated to do.

If the problem persists, have the Check Engine Light diagnosed by a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, who can come service your car at the convenience of your own home.

ANSWER : Hi there:

Honestly, the lack of consistent driving could be the reason why you have frequent emissions issues. If the car does not run frequently and have an opportunity to circulate built up carbon deposits on the inside of the fuel injection system or exhaust system, failed emissions testing may be the result. The best thing to do is to drive your vehicle once or twice per week about a month or so before your emissions testing is needed. Also, it’s a good idea to replace air filters frequently before emissions testing is completed. This article is a good one that helps many car owners learn what they can do to help improve emissions testing.