dave wrote: :>From: Chicago Paddling-Fishing snipped-for-privacy@ripco.com :>
:>sehaare wrote: :>: My loose master plan for my 81 Rabbit convertible is to give it to my :>: daughter when she turns 16 in a few years. She lives in Palatine Il which :>: requires emission testing (over 75% of the country doesn't require testing :>: and my ex has to move to one of the areas that does). I've done an engine :>: swap and some other changes (like a GTI air flow meter and fuel :>: distributor). Now that I've got it all where I want it I'll need to see if :>I :>: can get it to pass emissions. Somebody out there has to live in the Chicago :>: area and has upgraded an old VW. Have you guys had any problems with :>: emission testing and how did you get around it. :>
:>: Thanks :>: Steve :>
:>Well, for my 86 GTI when I took it in for the tests, I don't recall them :>spending much time looking under it. The test is graduated depending on :>age so you might pass just fine... For $25 you can take it into the :>Schaumburg :>test site off Golf road and they'll test it (it's free if you received a :>test notice, if you just want to test it, you have to pay). That's not too :>far from Palatine. :>
:>I think your right on the fringe of testing.. in 2006 you can put AV plates :>on it and then you don't need testing... :>
: There IS hope! : Testing is supposed to be free even without a notice. :-)
No it's not, it's only free if you get a notice, otherwise people could take their cars in anytime they wanted for free and make the lines longer... If you don't have a notice, it's $25 because the state won't reimburse them for testing a car that doesn't have to be tested (it's a private company that does the testing).
: The examiners that I have seen do glance under the vehicles with mirrors so it : is not really a thorough job, but I am not sure that they are looking for the : required cat. conv. Not even sure that some of them know what they look like. : lol
Well, with the stuff running down the middle of the car, and the cursory glance under the car, I think if you didn't have it but your emissions were in line, that they wouldn't notice.
: If you do add one, make sure it is a high flow cat so it does not spoil your : mods already done. : Remember that if it fails they will give you a waiver after the three failure : if you have spent enough to correct the emission problems. So do nothing until : after the first test! ;-)
Yes, although if you fail you need to spend up to $450 in repairs each time (every 2 years) that you fail and you have to take it to a certified shop, they probably won't let you go without a cat.