"Dear Sir, please report to the Emission Test Station

[benebob]

I just checked out the MD DMV website and it says nothing about an exemption for AWD on there but I would still look into it. I know when PA started talking about testing statewide the Subie dealer posted a letter stating that any AWD subie was not to be put on the rolling emissions test. MD says they use a treadmill thing so that might work on that. I think PAs was/is supossed to be like a dino tester. Emissions with the 2wd fuse in could be different that with it in AWD couldn't it? I'd go to a subie dealer in Md and find out if you can get a copy of this letter from SOA and see if your exempt. Now you would still have to do the tailpipe idle test I'd guess even if you don't have to do the roller test.

Here in St. Louis they set up a van with an emissions reader on highway entrance ramps. When your car drives by, it reads the emissions and snaps a picture of your license plate. If you pass, you get a letter telling you to send in $24 to get your sticker--and you don't have to bring the car in.

Weird, but true. Anyone else ever seen this?

--Dan

[seasvx]

Originally posted by TE1221
Subaru's are excempt from the dynomometer test isnt it?

..been my experience here in WA also.

[Ron Mummert]

Thanks for all the social interaction so far. I had no idea the states so widely varied in their approach to sniffing vapors, but politicians were involved; so it's no surprise.

I think I'll just bop by Mr. Inspector & ask what to expect before I submit the Batmobile to urban terrorism.

No, Joe, my car wasn't doing tranny time at Heritage.

Today, during my daily 12 mile morning jaunt east on MD RT.100, I was overtaken & waved to by an identical black (ebony pearl) '92 with an MD plate "ERP...." Too much fast moving traffic to stop, & he kept going past my turn off. The rarity here was that we both passed a purple Prowler.

Uh...what was this thread about again?

Ron (Living in the great state of confusion).

[mohrds]

In Wisconsin they have four wheel dynos. I just had the new SVX tested last week and it passed. It was damn scary watching it wander around on the drums with nothing but some frayed safety straps holding it from propelling itself into the car in front of it.

Doug

[LarryIII]

Alright Everyone,

"Who put the tail sniffer in the spout of the BOX-O-RONI."

The computer just died.



Maryland Comissioner of Automotive Inspections.

[Ron Mummert]

Yes .... I know few of you have gotten much sleep since you haven't found out the results of my emission check challenge, so here's.....
THE REST OF THE STORY.

Today I found myself on the road that leads to the MD State roller derby & sniffer station. I pull in at 4:00 PM. It's freakin' empty! Only one car occupying one of four open bays. I decide to throw myself on the mercy of Kevin. Uh..he's the duty manager.

Me: "Sir, excuse me, but I'm a bit paranoid about putting my EXTREMELY RARE & EXPENSIVE Subaru all wheel drive SPORT TOURING MACHINE that's got over 100,000 miles on its VERY SENSITIVE transmission & all those COMPLICATED clutch pack things that can disintegrate IN AN INSTANT if something goes wrong with the rollers". "I mean NO OFFENSE to your rollers, and I'M SURE the state takes extra care with EXPENSIVE LIMITED PRODUCTION cars like my darling sitting out there". "If there's a way I can just get the sniff test, like last time, I'll gladly sell my soul to Satan".

Kevin: "What year's the car"?

Me: "A '92 & it doesn't have one o'them OBDII thingies". "Uh... wait doesn't a '92 qualify as an antique? I mean don't antiques get special consideration"?

Kevin, turning aside. "Hey, Marge".

Marge: "Yeah?"

Kevin: "What's the deal with the 4 wheel drive lane today?"

Marge, grinning: "It's broke again".

Kevin: "You wanna' get the test today"?

Me: Grinning like Mr. Cheshire Cat. "EEEE-YEEEESSSSSSS"!!!!!!!

Kevin: "Go to any lane & tell 'em to just do the sniffer".

Me, kissing Kevin's high school ring: "Thank you, oh thank you, sooo much". Me, now sobbing uncontrollably.

I get in car, blow nose & drive into bay. Festus pops the gas cap, turns on the fan, & tells me to take it to 2500 rpm & hold it. I do.
"OK, pull up". I do. Festus hands me the diploma. "Pass".

PASS!!!! My second favorite four letter word!

Yee-haaa! No cats or sensors to buy. Free ride for two more years.
Did I mention the check engine light came on for 30 seconds about three days ago?

Life is good today.

Hmmm....what's that scraping noise?

Ron (ignoring noises & cranking up stock CD player).

[Beav]

Does 'Box-O' count as a four letter word?

[Ron Mummert]

Originally posted by Beav
Does 'Box-O' count as a four letter word?

No, but for you, Beav, I'll give it credit.
My favorite four letter word is "Free".

Ron (free at last!)

Ron:

Congrats on passing the Whiffsniffer. Next time, take up temp residence here in RI, where insps are done at repair shops and dealers. I take mine to the local Subie dealer who knows how to handle the SVX and its awd.

Dan

If you happen to live in one of the major metro areas in Texas, then it's time for your SVX to go through the "two stage RPM" test.

I about died when I looked through the door of the waiting room to where my SVX was tied up. I shouted "don't do that, it's an AWD vehicle." Caught the tech by surprise, but the better surprise was that my 1993 Limited Edition passed with flying colors. The tech said all that was required was a two stage RPM test (sniffer up the butt style). I didn't care, just as long as it passed the tests. AND IT DID! So much for dyno testing.

We have had a bad experience here in Texas with state regulated testing stations. The legislature shut them down several years back, then turned around and told inspection stations that if you wanted to perform a state test, then you had to purchase the two wheel dyno system.

Since we can't seem to control our polluntants here in the D/FW area, the Feds will step in next.

Happy motoring everyone.

[alltrac]

goverment is everywhere and taking up a local vehicle next to you

[DavieGravy]

Why are the AWD drums bad?
I've had this done and will need it again in a few months.

[SvXit]

Originally posted by TE1221
Subaru's are excempt from the dynomometer test isnt it?

No. I was subjected to a 4-wheel dyno test near my home in MD. When I went two years ago, they were not set up to dyno AWD vehicles, so they just did the tailpipe test. This year they had they dyno and said I was way over the top on NOX emissions, so I'll have to retake it at the end of this month.

[SvXit]

Originally posted by Clydesvx
I'm in Maryland. My '92 with 230k on it failed the emissions gauntlet (rolloing drums) test. 3 Catalytic Converters later I went to be retested and they didn't do anything but the tailpipe test. In MD. they only plug in '98 and later cars. It's hit or miss on the test they perform. If its busy they only do the tailpipe test to save time. It takes only about 20% of the time it does on the DYNO.

Ron,
I had my entire exhaust system replaced at Heritage. There wer 3 other SVX's in there with mine. I hope yours wasn't one of them. Two were having transmissions fixed.
Joe

I'm afraid to ask how much they hit you up for to replace the cats, but I suspect that is my problem. . . . Okay I give up, what was the damage?