Need help fined a competent CT emissions tester. | FerrariChat
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Need help fined a competent CT emissions tester.

Discussion in 'New England' started by johnk..., Jun 4, 2013.

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  1. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,153
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #1 johnk..., Jun 4, 2013
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2013
    Hi Guys,

    As you may have seen in the On Going thread, I just got a '95 355s. Now I have to get it registered. To do that, as you know, I have to get it emissions tested. So I took it to a test center and they ran a test. It did not pass. It did not fail. They could not get register on the computer. So can anyone recommend a test center that can actually test these cars correctly? Needs a sniff test on the dyno. 348 guys, any suggestions? I've only have a few days left on the temp registration. DMV says try another tester. I'm in Marlborough. Any help would be appreciated.

    (Tittle should be "finding")
     
  2. Joe_CT

    Joe_CT Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 16, 2007
    1,773
    CT
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    Joe
    #2 Joe_CT, Jun 4, 2013
    I used Modern Tire on Rt 3 in Rocky Hill for all my cars including the 360. They are very competent. They do all my tire work as well.
     
  3. mulo rampante

    mulo rampante Formula Junior

    May 31, 2011
    997
    Terra Incognita
    Full Name:
    Charles
    #3 mulo rampante, Jun 5, 2013
    John: You might want to call Desmond's in Colchester as it's nearby.

    For years I've had my pre-OBD II cars put on their dyno / gas-sniffer there with no problems. The people who run the place are absolute no-BS folks who understand cars. (Though I doubt they ever see a 355). You might want to give them a call, and if you've got paddle shifters they might let you drive the thing onto the the dyno for the test... I'd give them a call and see if they can do that.
     
  4. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,153
    CT
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    John Kreskovsky
    #4 johnk..., Jun 5, 2013
    Thanks guys. I going to try Hoffman in East Hartford today. I think, among other things, that the 355 won't makes it onto anything but a ground level dyno. That really limits the options. Wondering how these OBD I cars were tested back in 95 and on to start with?

    If it's nice Sunday I think I will try to get to GB. It's the last day my temp plates are good. It's been a couple of years since I stopped by. Probably won't remember anyone by face, except Lane. :)
     
  5. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,424
    CT
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    Jay
    #5 UConn Husky, Jun 5, 2013
    John, the 355 OBDII cars had a recall for a single pin in the connector that needs to be changed for the emissions testers to read them. I'm not sure if it applies to your car but strangely I had the exact same problem 5 yrs ago, the emissions station couldn't read it at all. Miller fixed it within an hour, took much longer just driving there and back.

    Now my car is up again for emissions...time to swap the cats back in and test pipes out... :D
     
  6. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,153
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #6 johnk..., Jun 5, 2013
    Hi Jay,

    The pin connector recall doesn't apply to my car. Good news though, Hoffman was able to complete the test not problem. So I was able to register the car and get plates. Bad news is that it failed. Both HC and CO2 were over limits. CO2 was a near miss. HC was 50ppm over. I'm a little disappointed because the records with the car showed that it passed CA emission in Fen/2013 well within the CT limits. Of course, that was before the car had a full major with guides and a valve job. Could be a miss at low power but unfortunately i don't have the experience with these cars to judge. Seems to run fine on throttle though. I know my 308 burbles and hiccups at low speed. But it doesn't have to go through emissions anymore.

    I'll get it sorted, eventually.
     
  7. Countachqv

    Countachqv Formula 3

    Apr 25, 2007
    2,350
    USA/France
    #7 Countachqv, Jun 5, 2013
    Great god! thanks I dont have to live this nightmare anymore!!.. I still have flashbacks of the years i needed to do it.. some sweaty guys who jumped in my car and guns it on the rollers for the hi rpm test...Frankly i am very peaceful guy but these episodes each year would have made me a murderer if that had to go on..
    This program is the worst disgrace I have seen.
     
  8. gurslo

    gurslo Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
    1,524
    Connecticut
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    Peter
    #8 gurslo, Jun 5, 2013
    Need to find a shop that will tune the car to pass emissions and then tune the car to run properly.
     
  9. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,153
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    John Kreskovsky
    #9 johnk..., Jun 5, 2013

    Got any suggestion?

    What the heck. I bought it 'cause it's pretty. We all know the really pretty Italian girls are dysfunctional. It's to be expected. Anyway, I got me a set of plates so I'm street legal! :)
     
  10. gurslo

    gurslo Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
    1,524
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    #10 gurslo, Jun 5, 2013
    Need to call shops in CT and find one with a sniffer that can perform the test.
    Start at the reputable Ferrari shops and find who still has the machine.

    I heard there maybe a place in Manchester that has the machine so the car can be adjusted ahead of time then tested. BUT they are not a Ferrari shop, take your chances I guess!

    Call Miller ask how they get their cars to pass, or where they send them to get the readings correct via a sniffer.
    Hoffman doesn't have a sniffer?
     
  11. AbsolutFerrari

    AbsolutFerrari Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2009
    284
    Rocky Hill
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    Rick S
    #11 AbsolutFerrari, Jun 6, 2013
    I use J&M Motorsports in Manchester. They do all the tuning on my 800HP Saleen Mustang and get it to pass emissions every time. Don't know how they do it because that is pretty much just a race car that I drive on the street. I would recommend giving them a call and see what they think.
     
  12. gurslo

    gurslo Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
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    #12 gurslo, Jun 6, 2013
    Wasn't going to name names but yes J&M. I believe we are talking about the same place.
     
  13. StreamlineGT

    StreamlineGT Formula Junior

    Aug 30, 2010
    650
    Marlborough, CT
    Full Name:
    Brendon
    #13 StreamlineGT, Jun 6, 2013
    I am headed to Hoffman to have both my VIN verification and emissions done. They've always treated me well.
     
  14. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
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    John Kreskovsky
    #14 johnk..., Jun 7, 2013
    Hi Brendon,

    Hoffman is good, agreed. Plus I'm a customer of Hoffman Porsche.

    As long as you have no check engine light on, no codes stored and no more that one monitor "not ready" you will be good to go.

    I talked to the dealer who sold me my car. He recommended that I get the car hot (drive it a while) before testing and have it tested immediately. That could be the issue as, while that is what I did, when I got to Hoffman the emissions PC hung when they started the test. They had to abort the test and start over. Then they had to shut down the system and reboot it, twice. The car was sitting over an hour before they were able to run the test. It could be that the cats just never got up to temp.

    If it's nice Sunday I will be coming to GB. At least I'll have something to talk about. :)
     
  15. dipstick1

    dipstick1 Formula Junior

    May 24, 2004
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    Peter Lombardo
    #15 dipstick1, Jun 7, 2013
    Its not the cheapest way, but if you can get it to a Ferrari shop with a SD 2 reader they can view every parameter , pre cat, post cat , etc and see if everything is working properly. The CT standards are a bit stringent, I have had Car's pass in MA and Fail in CT within a week of each test.
     
  16. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
    11,153
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    John Kreskovsky
    #16 johnk..., Jun 7, 2013
    According the the CA test document the car should pass CT without a problem. The dealer suggested to make sure the car is hot before getting it tested. The tech who ran the test also said to drive it and try a retest. They could be on to something as when the car was tested the first test had to be aborted because the computer hung before the engine was even started. Then the tech had to reboot the system twice. It was a real comedy, but the result was that the car say for about an hour before they could start the test. Maybe the cats were just too cold to work efficiently.

    In any event I know what the pre cat HC and CO concentrations should be at idle so when I get around to it I'll have a shop check that with a gas analyzer. If that's good then it would have to be either something with the cats (cold or bad) or something else in the exhaust path (secondary air injection, EGR or something).
     

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