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aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
"Black Box" inspection
Last week I took the Miata for New Jersey state vehicle inspection (similar to MoT in the UK)....and I was sort of surprised.
In the past, New Jersey tested tailpipe emissions while the car idled in neutral.
A few years ago, our state Governor (Christie Whitman) embarked on a plan to privatize state inspection and test every car using a wheel driven dynamometer (sometimes called a "rolling road"). Emissions were tested at idle and about 35 MPH in high gear.
I think it's safe to say that this emissions-test system brought together Republicans and Democrats: we *all* thought this scheme was a disaster. It also cost NJ tapayers a fortune.
Two of my other cars were tested using this method recently, and both eventually passed after several annoying return visits.
When I took the Miata in, I figured it would get the "dyno-test" also. Instead, the inspection guy raised the hood ("bonnet" to you Brits) on the car and plugged a cable into the ALDL port (the diagnostic connector). After a few moments, the unit recorded a "PASS" and I was good-to-go (after they checked lights, brakes, front-end and a few other items). Evidently, the internal computer records emissions problems well enough to satisfy our state inspection. All NJ vehicles starting with 2000 model year will get this form of emissions test.
Eventually, as pre-2000 cars become rarer, those expensive dynos will be phased out, replaced by querying the "Black Box".
Personally, I have no problem with a formal state inspection (our's is every two years). If it keeps the death-traps and gross polluters off the road, I'm all for it.
But the use of the Black Box surprised me. I wonder what they'll do to test the Miata in 25 years?
Interestingly, these "Black Boxes" can have other implications. Congressman Bill Janklow was recently charged with blowing through a Stop sign and running over a motorcyclist with his Cadillac (the biker died). The car's Black Box was used as evidence against Janklow (it recorded his speed at the time of the accident....over 70 MPH).
Note: New Jersey continues to have two types of "Historic License plates", for car owners wishing to avoid emissions testing (and willing to limit yearly driving mileage). Cars must be at least 25 years old. My Sprite is registered this way.
[ 09-22-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>
Last week I took the Miata for New Jersey state vehicle inspection (similar to MoT in the UK)....and I was sort of surprised.
In the past, New Jersey tested tailpipe emissions while the car idled in neutral.
A few years ago, our state Governor (Christie Whitman) embarked on a plan to privatize state inspection and test every car using a wheel driven dynamometer (sometimes called a "rolling road"). Emissions were tested at idle and about 35 MPH in high gear.
I think it's safe to say that this emissions-test system brought together Republicans and Democrats: we *all* thought this scheme was a disaster. It also cost NJ tapayers a fortune.
Two of my other cars were tested using this method recently, and both eventually passed after several annoying return visits.
When I took the Miata in, I figured it would get the "dyno-test" also. Instead, the inspection guy raised the hood ("bonnet" to you Brits) on the car and plugged a cable into the ALDL port (the diagnostic connector). After a few moments, the unit recorded a "PASS" and I was good-to-go (after they checked lights, brakes, front-end and a few other items). Evidently, the internal computer records emissions problems well enough to satisfy our state inspection. All NJ vehicles starting with 2000 model year will get this form of emissions test.
Eventually, as pre-2000 cars become rarer, those expensive dynos will be phased out, replaced by querying the "Black Box".
Personally, I have no problem with a formal state inspection (our's is every two years). If it keeps the death-traps and gross polluters off the road, I'm all for it.
But the use of the Black Box surprised me. I wonder what they'll do to test the Miata in 25 years?
Interestingly, these "Black Boxes" can have other implications. Congressman Bill Janklow was recently charged with blowing through a Stop sign and running over a motorcyclist with his Cadillac (the biker died). The car's Black Box was used as evidence against Janklow (it recorded his speed at the time of the accident....over 70 MPH).
Note: New Jersey continues to have two types of "Historic License plates", for car owners wishing to avoid emissions testing (and willing to limit yearly driving mileage). Cars must be at least 25 years old. My Sprite is registered this way.
[ 09-22-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>
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