Pennsylvania Code › Title 67 - TRANSPORTATION › Part I - Department of Transportation › Subpart A - Vehicle Code Provisions › Article VII - Vehicle Characteristics › Chapter 177 - EMISSION INSPECTION PROGRAM › Subchapter F - SCHEDULE OF PENALTIES AND HEARINGPROCEDURE › REGISTRATION RECALL PROCEDURE FOR VIOLATION OF Sections 177.301-177.305 (RELATING TO ON-ROAD TESTING) › Appendix B - Department Procedures and Specifications

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
§ 1. Evaporative System Function
							 Test.
The evaporative system pressure test procedure shall
							 be as follows:
(1) Conform, as applicable, to the following
							 requirements:
(i) Meet the specifications set forth in California
							 BAR Exhaust Gas Analyzer Specifications, 1979 (Bar 80) and this section.
(ii) Meet Section 207B of the Federal Clean Air Act
							 (42 U.S.C.A. §
														7541(b)) warranty
							 specifications.
(2) Conform with the following minimum automatic data
							 collection (ADC) specifications:
(i) The ADC unit shall be completely compatible with
							 the analytical equipment portion, known as the bench, of the exhaust emission
							 analyzer.
(ii) There shall be an alpha-numeric keyboard capable
							 of entering the following types of data for permanent transfer to a storage
							 medium, and as set forth in subparagraph (IX). The system shall automatically
							 enter data indicated (auto). Data shall be entered and stored to capture the
							 following minimum information in the following steps:
(A) Date of test (auto)-mandatory entry, field
							 programmed by manufacturer.
(B) Station number (auto)-mandatory entry,
							 permanently set, 5 alpha-numeric characters, field programmed by
							 manufacturer.
(C) Inspector number-mandatory entry, 9 numeric
							 characters.
(D) Vehicle ID number-mandatory entry, title number
							 or VIN, maximum characters used is 26.
(E) Test type-mandatory entry, initial test
							 indicator, retest indicator.
(F) Vehicle year or engine year-mandatory
							 entry.
(G) Cylinder code-mandatory entry, indicator to key
							 in number of cylinders on the vehicle; rotary engines shall be coded as 2
							 cylinder engines.
(H) Vehicle type-mandatory entry, two categories
							 designated for: passenger cars and trucks under 6,000 pounds GVWR and trucks
							 6,000 to 9,000 pounds GVWR. At this segment of the emission inspection, the
							 emission inspection inspector shall proceed with the hang-up check. Upon
							 successful completion of this check, the test may no longer be aborted
							 requiring the emission inspector to insert the tailpipe probe and activate the
							 Pennsylvania Emission Test automatically selecting the HC and CO standard
							 required, plus the RPM and CO values required. Sample collectionshall require
							 17 seconds; validation of the sample shall require 5 seconds; and emission
							 sampling immediately after validation shall require 10 seconds.
(I) RPM reading (auto)-actual reading, display
							 suppressed during emission test.
(J) Hydrocarbon (HC, auto)-reading in PPM, display
							 suppressed during emission test.
(K) Carbon Monoxide (CO, auto)-reading in %, display
							 suppressed during emission test.
(L) Carbon Dioxide (CO, auto)-reading in %, display
							 suppressed during emission test.
(M) Invalid test (auto)-display suppressed, during
							 emission test.
Four categories designated for:
CO pass/RPM pass;
CO pass/RPM fail;
CO fail/RPM pass;
CO fail/RPM fail.
(N) Pass/fail (auto)-display suppressed, during
							 emission test.
Four categories designated for:
HC pass/CO pass;
HC pass/CO fail;
HC fail/CO pass;
HC fail/CO fail.
The automatic test results (auto) suppressed during
							 the Pennsylvania emission test may be displayed after the information is
							 automatically stored. This is an optional feature which may be provided by the
							 manufacturer.
(O) Emission inspection fee-mandatory entry.
(P) Emission adjustment or repair
							 performed-adjustment or repair indicator (Mandatory entry for retest entry,
							 displayed only if retest is entered).
(Q) Waiver issued-yes indicator or no indicator
							 (mandatory entry for retest entry, displayed only if retest is entered).
(R) Sticker number or training number-mandatory entry
							 for pass or if waiver used, 11 alpha-numeric characters (display and entry
							 required for passing test or waiver).
(S) Manufacturer's ID (auto)-2 alpha-numeric
							 characters assigned by the Department.
(iii) Data shall be entered by a Certified Emission
							 Inspection Inspector by the alpha-numeric keyboard in the sequence specified:
Mandatory entry data shall be completed before being
							 allowed to proceed to the next data entry item, nonmandatory entry data are
							 only required as specified. After completing the vehicle type entry the HC
							 hang-up check shall be activated. Upon successful completion of this check the
							 Emission Inspector may no longer abort the test and shall insert the probe into
							 the subject vehicle's tailpipe and activate the Pennsylvania Emission Test.
							 This shall automatically activate the collection, validation and emission
							 sampling, and automatically key appropriate HC, CO, CO2
							 and RPM limits, for pass/fail and invalid test decisions. The entry items
							 designated display suppressed during emission test may not be shown on the
							 display until the test is completed. Test data shall be automatically entered
							 directly into storage and printed on the consumer reports. Data entry items
							 designated field programmed by manufacturer shall be capable of programming
							 changes to meet Emission I/M program required changes.
(iv) The analyzer shall be capable of use as a
							 diagnostic tool and shall also be capable of testing for RPM, HC, CO and
							 CO2, providing corresponding screens for diagnostic use
							 when not activated in the Pennsylvania Emission Test.
(v) The keyboard shall be designed to accommodate the
							 working environment of inspection facilities and to allow for wearing of gloves
							 and contact with grease and oil compounds. The unit shall have the capacity to
							 accommodate 16 present emission standards which may be changed by
							 regulation.
(vi) The keyboard shall provide a capability function
							 so that as data is improperly entered it can be corrected. The
							 automatically-auto-entered data may not be affected by this function.
(vii) When the data is transferred from the storage
							 medium, the unit shall provide the following test after loading the replacement
							 storage medium.
(a) Record a predetermined test record as in
							 subparagraph (ii) in which all number fields are filled with the number "one"
							 and all alpha and alpha-numeric field are filled with the letter "A."
(b) Stop recording.
(c) Read the predetermined test record now on the
							 storage medium.
(d) Compare the predetermined test record on the
							 storage medium with the predetermined record in memory:
(e) Prohibit the instrument from further recording on
							 the storage medium and cause the instrument to indicate this storage medium
							 failure to the operator if the predetermined test record does not correspond
							 directly to that in the memory.
(f) Permit the system to proceed if the predetermined
							 test record in the storage medium corresponds directly to that in the
							 memory.
(viii) The hydrocarbon (HC) hang-up reading in the
							 sampling system may not exceed 20 PPM hexane before each test as measured by
							 the analyzer zeroed on room air. The analyzer shall be designed for automatic
							 HC hang-up checks of the sampling system using room air. The analyzer shall
							 have a selector switch, button with indicator light labeled "hang-up check" or
							 other equivalent display prompter/indicator. Hang-up activation shall cause the
							 analyzer to automatically sample room air through the sample line and probe.
							 The check system shall continue to sample room air until the HC response is
							 below 20 PPM hexane. When the HC level stabilizes below this value, an
							 indication that testing may begin shall be displayed. The analyzer shall be
							 precluded from operating until the HC level is met. The analyzer shall also be
							 locked out unless a successful hang-up check has been performed since the last
							 activation of the test sequence or the HC analyzer has not experienced an HC
							 level greater than that specified in this subparagraph.
(ix) Engine tachometer/idle lockout shall be treated
							 as follows:
(a) A digital tachometer shall be integrated with the
							 console for the purposes of measuring engine speed according to the number of
							 cylinders indicated 1 through 12 cylinder vehicles, in the data entry section.
							 The hook-up to the engine shall be by means of an inductive pick-up.
(b) The following table provides maximum engine RPMs
							 allowable according to number of cylinders:
(i) Maximum idle speeds (shall be field programmed by
							 the manufacturer).
(ii) More than 4 cylinders 1200 RPM maximum.
(iii) Four or less cylinders 1600 RPM maximum.
(c) A lock-out feature shall apply only to vehicles
							 tested in the inspection mode and shall be provided in the tachometer that will
							 cause an "invalid test" to occur and to be displayed, printed and stored if the
							 test idle speed range is exceeded or if the speed fluctuates in excess of 20%
							 of the reading. This data shall be field programmed by the manufacturer.
(x) The analyzer shall be equipped with an
							 antidilution feature to identify vehicle exhaust system leaks and sample
							 dilution. The technique for identifying leaks is monitoring the CO2 levels in
							 the exhaust. If the CO2 reading is less than the lower limit, the analyzer
							 shall display, print and store "invalid" test indication. The minimum
							 acceptable CO2 values shall be field programmed by the manufacturer. At least
							 two lower-limit CO2 values shall be capable of being used:
(a) Vehicle equipped with air pump: 4%.
(b) Vehicle without air pump: 6%.
(xi) In the record mode, if the space on the storage
							 medium available for recording is not sufficient to record the entire test and
							 information as specified in subparagraph (ii), the test may not proceed and the
							 analyzer shall immediately lock out the testing mode of the analyzer until the
							 manufacturer or service provider replaces the storage medium. The emission
							 inspector shall be prohibited from replacing the storage medium.
(xii) The data collection system shall provide to the
							 emission inspection inspector a visual display of the data as it is being
							 entered, except for that data which is required under aubparagraph (ii) to be
							 suppressed during the emission test.
(xiii) The analyzer system shall have the capability
							 to provide an electronic-mechanical span/zero check every hour. If the check is
							 not made or fails either span or zero (gas calibration or electrical component
							 failure), the analyzer shall automatically lock out any capability of
							 activating an emission test until the analyzer is properly adjusted or
							 repaired. In addition, gas span checks or leak checks, checked on a weekly
							 basis (180 calendar hours), which fail shall cause the analyzer to
							 automatically lock out any capability of activating an enhanced emission test
							 until the analyzer is properly adjusted or repaired.
(3) Vehicles shall fail the evaporative system
							 pressure test if the system cannot maintain a system pressure above 8 inches of
							 water for 2 minutes after being pressurized to 14 +/- 0.5 inch of water or if
							 no pressure drop is detected when the gas cap is loosened as described in this
							 section. Additionally, vehicles shall fail the evaporative test if the canister
							 is missing or obviously damaged, if hoses are missing or obviously
							 disconnected, or if the gas cap is missing.
§ 2. Evaporative System Function
							 Tests.
(a) Evaporative system pressure test, the evaporative
							 system pressure test procedure shall be as follows:
(1) An evaporative system pressure test shall be
							 performed on 1981 and newer model year subject vehicles.
(2) The test sequence shall consist of the following
							 steps:
(i) Test equipment shall be connected to the fuel
							 tank canister hose at the canister end. The gas cap shall be checked to ensure
							 that it is properly, but not excessively tightened, and shall be tightened if
							 necessary.
(ii) The system shall be pressurized to 14 +/- 0.5
							 inch of water without exceeding 26 inches of water system pressure.
(iii) The pressure source shall be closed off, the
							 evaporative system sealed and pressure decay monitored for 2 minutes.
(iv) The gas cap shall be removed after 2 minutes and
							 the evaporative system monitored for a sudden pressure drop, indicating that
							 the fuel tank was pressurized.
(v) The inspector shall be responsible for ensuring
							 that items that are disconnected in the conduct of the test procedure are
							 properly reconnected at the conclusion of the test procedure. Damage done to
							 the evaporative emission control system during this test shall be repaired at
							 the expense of the inspection station.
(3) Vehicles shall fail the evaporative system
							 pressure test if the system cannot maintain a system pressure above 8 inches of
							 water for 2 minutes after being pressurized to 14 +/- 0.5 inch of water or if
							 no pressure drop is detected when the gas cap is loosened as described in this
							 section. Additionally, vehicles shall fail the evaporative test if the canister
							 is missing or obviously damaged, if hoses are missing or obviously
							 disconnected, or if the gas cap is missing.
(b) Fuel filler (gas) cap test. The fuel filler (gas)
							 cap test procedure shall be as follows:
(1) A fuel filler (gas) cap integrity test shall be
							 performed on 1981 and newer vehicle either as part of the evaporative system
							 pressure test or as a stand alone test.
(2) The stand alone test will be conducted using test
							 equipment approved by the Department.
(3) If the fuel filler (gas) cap was tested using
							 stand alone test equipment, the cap shall be pressurized to a pressure of 28
							 inches, +/- 1.0 inches.
(4) The flow shall be turned off and the decay or
							 pressure monitored for up to 2 minutes.
(5) If at any time during the 2 minutes of the fuel
							 filler (gas) cap test the pressure drops from the starting pressure by more
							 than 6 inches of water, the test shall be terminated and the vehicle shall be
							 determined to fail the fuel filler (gas) cap test. If the pressure does not
							 drop more than 6 inches during the test, the vehicle shall pass the gas cap
							 test.
(c) Subsequent test procedures and equipment approved
							 by the EPA. If the EPA develops or approves other emission test procedures or
							 equipment, including test procedures or equipment prescribed in this section,
							 the Department may adopt the subsequently approved emission test procedures and
							 equipment consistent with section 4706(e) of the Vehicle Code (relating to
							 prohibition of expenditures for the Emission Inspection Program.