Emissions testing of Ol Blue

[Bret]

Ok so it’s time for my registration renewal of my 01’ Supercrew 4x4. Wasn't really worried as it’s been running pretty much flawless for a few years now. But for this year I have to take her in for an emissions SMOG test.

Yup the dreaded Emissions test – anybody who knows me knows how I feel about those . Want to get me on a rant ask me how I feel about Kalifornia’s emissions testing.

Anyway not expecting any problems the service manager of the shop walks in after the test and tells me that the old gal failed. WTF! I ask “how?” Turns out that my gas cap neck was cracked and if you don’t “click” it closed that one last 1/16th of a turn when putting the gas cap back on it will give an OBDII error code.

Well truth is I didn’t know the filler lip was cracked but everybody knows that you need to close the gas cap with the OBDII systems otherwise you’ll get an error when the vacuum sensors pick it up at about half or a quarter a tank. No big deal for me as I have my own code reader that I can erase the error if I forget. 20/20 hindsight - I'm thinking now that I should've checked for & cleared any errors before hand.

But regardless of the fact that the car passed the tailpipe test without any problem – they won’t sign me off with the cracked filler lip. Grrrrr... And even if I fix the problem I still have to pay for a full test again! Double Grrrrr!!!

So I start searching and guess what? That filler neck on the short bed Supercrews isn’t a universal part and unless I find an exact duplicate at a wrecker I just can’t pop any thing in there. Did a couple of searches and everyone kept on referring me back to Ford for the part as nobody seemed to know what it was I needed.

So against my better judgment I have to go into the local Ford dealership. At first we had some of the same issues everybody else had locating the same part. Model & year produced hundreds of possibilities – but using the VIN number we narrowed it down to one part. And low & behold the dang thing isn’t just the neck but is a part that is about two feet long and goes from the filler access all the way down to the fuel tank between the frame rails.

I ordered the part and left the dealership about a $170 lighter. Truth is I don’t feel that bad about the price as we are dealing with a part that will be scrutinized during emissions testing and I’m not sure how I feel about replacing that item with a used part.

Oh well, guess I know what the boy & I are working on this weekend.

Not my week is all I can say.

 

[racingenglishcars]

I know I'm a cheapie, but I think maybe a weld could have fixed it?? maybe.
Not on the car of course!

So, how much does the emissions test cost?
And isn't a Sprite gas tank about $150, new and complete?

 

[AngliaGT]

Bret,

We took a Saturn back to Tennessee to our Son.
We had to get it smogged.Drove to the station,they
hooked up to the computer.Within a minute,we were on
our way.
There they run you through,like the lines at a
supermarket.They also do this in Denver,but they run
through the whole cycle.
I'd recommend that you have someone do a "pre-test"
next time.It will tell you if you pass (or not)but it
doesn't go to DMV.

- Doug

 

[Bret]

I know I'm a cheapie, but I think maybe a weld could have fixed it?? maybe.
Not on the car of course!

So, how much does the emissions test cost?
And isn't a Sprite gas tank about $150, new and complete?

Hey Donn,

The test is about $45 with the certificate - less if you fail. Some shops offer a free re-test if you let them fix it but that's never cheap, unless you know nothing about cars as most folks these days do.

As for fixing the old filler neck - the cracked lip is made of plastic so welding isn't an option.

Also Doug! I like your idea of the pre-test just to be sure. But I'm also going to use my scanner piror to testing just to make sure any errors in their are cleared.

Here's a pic of Ol Blue & me a few weeks ago.

 

[tony barnhill]

YEAH ALABAMA!!!!! No emissions testing - yet!!

 

[Bret]

Update! Re: Emissions testing of Ol Blue

Well this turned out to be a bigger can-o-worms than I origenally thought.

Anyway here's the reason I failed:

This allowed my full tank to vent and OBDII sensors picked it up - failing to pass the emissions test.

Here are a couple more shots of what I had to deal with.

Seemed like it should've been an easy & strait forward job. But I ended up haveing to drop the fuel cell's skid plate. Then allow the fuel tank to drop about 4-5 inches to get access to where the filler hose & vent hose connect to the tank.

Royal PITB!

Not I got'a find the time to get over to the test station this week to retake the test.

All & all not counting registration fees ($275) I'll be out about $300 for that little crack.