Virginia Administrative Code › Title 9 - ENVIRONMENT › Agency 5 - STATE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD › Chapter 91 - REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA › Part VI - Inspection Procedures › Section 9VAC5-91-420 - Inspection procedure; rejection, pass, fail, waiver

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. All aspects of the inspection shall be
				  performed by an emissions inspector, using the instructions programmed in the
				  certified analyzer system and procedures approved by the department, within the
				  designated inspection area, and on the permitted premises.
B. The emissions inspection station shall
				  notify the customer prior to initiating an emissions inspection that the
				  emissions inspection station is either able or unable to perform the
				  emissions-related repairs required by
				  9VAC5-91-480
				  for that particular vehicle should that vehicle fail the inspection. The
				  emissions inspector shall not conduct an inspection on a motor vehicle unless
				  the customer gives approval after being so notified.
C. The emissions inspector shall not conduct
				  an inspection on a motor vehicle if the vehicle is in an unsafe condition for
				  testing according to the following conditions. The customer shall be informed
				  of any such condition.
1. The vehicle shall
				  not have holes or detectable leaks in the exhaust system. The inspector may
				  check the system for leaks by listening or visually inspecting for such leaks
				  or by measuring carbon dioxide. The presence of leaks shall cause the vehicle
				  to be rejected from testing.
2. The
				  motor vehicle shall be evaluated for the presence of visible smoke emissions.
				  Those vehicles exhibiting any visible smoke emissions from the engine crankcase
				  or exhaust system or both, shall be rejected from testing.
3. The vehicle shall not have any mechanical
				  problems, such as engine, brake, or transmission problems or engine, radiator,
				  or transmission fluid leaks that would create a safety hazard for the
				  applicable test, or bias test results. Such conditions shall cause the vehicle
				  to be rejected from testing.
4. For
				  vehicles receiving a test while operating on a dynamometer, the vehicle shall
				  be rejected from testing if drive wheel tire tread wear indicators, tire cords,
				  bubbles, cuts, or other damage are visible. Such vehicles shall be rejected
				  from testing if space-saver spare tires are being used on a drive axle or if
				  they do not have reasonably sized tires on the drive axle or axles based on
				  dynamometer manufacturer safety criteria or if the set of tires is a mixture of
				  radial and bias ply. Vehicles may be rejected if they have different sized
				  tires on the drive axle or axles. Drive wheel tires shall be checked for
				  appropriate tire pressure and adjusted as necessary as recommended by the tire
				  or vehicle manufacturer.
5. The
				  vehicle shall be rejected from testing if the fuel filler cap (gas cap) is
				  missing.
6. The vehicle shall be
				  rejected from testing if a known, emissions-related, manufacturers recall has
				  not been satisfied according to Part XI (9VAC5-91-720
				  et seq.).
7. Vehicles that are
				  overheated shall be rejected from testing. Vehicles that indicate that an
				  overheated condition will be achieved during testing may be rejected from
				  testing at the discretion of the inspector.
8. OBD vehicles shall be rejected from
				  testing for any of the following:
a. The OBD
				  data link cannot be accessed physically or electronically.
b. The testing equipment indicates that the
				  OBD system is in a "not ready" status. A "not ready" status shall be indicated
				  by the following:
(1) For model year 1996
				  through 2000, three or more monitors indicate "not ready."
(2) For model year 2001 and newer, two or
				  more monitors indicate "not ready."
(3) For vehicles that failed the emissions
				  inspection for a catalytic converter related fault code, and the catalyst
				  monitor indicates "not ready" during a reinspection.
c. The catalyst monitor or oxygen sensor
				  monitor, or both, are not supported, except for models exempt by the
				  director.
d. The OBD system is
				  unable to communicate successfully with the analyzer system.
e. The OBD system indicates evidence of
				  tampering.
f. The director may
				  adjust the number of "not ready" monitors required for rejection from testing
				  for specific vehicle models based upon information from this program or other
				  state programs, vehicle manufacturers, or the EPA.