Check Engine Light + Emissions in CT — Any Way Around This?
Posted by cheff1616@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 19 comments
I’m in Connecticut where you can’t register a car without passing emissions. My 2006 Camry (230k miles) is unregistered and my check engine light keeps coming back. • Mechanic fixed some cheap codes but said a bunch more show up. • AutoZone scan said gas cap — replaced it, no luck. • Cleared codes, drove ~60–70 miles, light came back on. • Mechanic says if I can go 100 miles CEL-free, I should pass emissions.
I don’t want to dump big money into this car, but I need it for now.
Is there any realistic way to keep the CEL off long enough to pass? Or am I just screwed unless I pay for bigger repairs / junk it?
fishin413@reddit
This thread is full of idiots. Codes don't mean anything if you don't know how to actually diagnose them. Autozone does them for free because they are functionally worthless except to sell a billion dollars worth of gas caps and O2 sensors a year to clueless customers. An evap leak could be a $15 gas cap or a $2500 fuel pump or a hundred different other failures and 99.99% of the population has absolutely no clue how to figure out what's actually going wrong.
A code is like going to the hospital because your stomach hurts. An actual diagnosis from a doctor tells you if you have bad gas or cancer. If you don't know how to actually diagnose the codes, you need to bring it to someone who does and pay them for their knowledge.
Artistic_Bit_4665@reddit
Funny how they have a big display of oxygen sensors right at the front of the aisles.... at least they did when I had a shop.
fishin413@reddit
Haha yeah how do you think they support their "free" code scan service? It's by selling a massive volume of cheap, unnecessary parts with huge markup to people who think a code scanner is a magic tool that replaces actual knowledge. I bet the CEO of Autozone has a 150 foot yacht named "Code Scan" or some shit lol
Artistic_Bit_4665@reddit
He has 2 yachts. Free Diagnostic and Free Diagnostic II.
cheff1616@reddit (OP)
So you’re saying there’s someone out there that can figure this out? Maybe my mechanic doesn’t know squat
fishin413@reddit
Any halfway decent repair shop can diag a check engine light on a camry.
Swamp_Donkey_7@reddit
State Inspection Officials hate this one trick!!!
Short of fixing the car, there is a way to take advantage of a little loophole in the sense that CT is allowed 1 incomplete monitor.
I'm guessing here that since the CEL is delayed in coming back, it's a code related to one of the monitors. They usually require a period of time to reset before the ECU marks them as incomplete and triggers a CEL.
You will need a code reader however. Cheapo Amazon $20 one will suffice. WHat you need is one that will read monitor readiness or have a state OBD2 check function like the one below
https://a.co/d/1FtneOR
Reset the codes and then go into your monitor readiness screen. You will likely have a bunch that say N/A and after a reset 5-6 will say incomplete. CT allows for 1 incomplete, and the rest must say complete.
Your goal here is to drive around and watch these monitors complete. Most will be quick. 10 mile drive, prolonged idle time, stop and go traffic should do most of them. The EVAP monitor is usually the one that takes forever to complete. I bet you can get all of them to say complete and yet EVAP will still say incomplete.
When you get to this point with ONE monitor showing as incomplete, and all others showing complete (or N/A) RACE to the nearest inspection station and go get your sticker.
CEL will likely come back on soon after, but now you have a year to fix it. Or just rinse and repeat next year. And yes...i have done this to get a car to pass.
tads73@reddit
Register your car at a family/friend's house in Massachusetts. After 15 years, no emissions, no reading of the computer.
cheff1616@reddit (OP)
Looked into it. In order to register your vehicle in MA I need to pass an emissions test which is easy bc vehicles older than 15 years simply require a visual test to detect smoke coming from exhaust. BUT I also would need to show that my address is MA on my license. And provide proof of insurance from MA licensed insurer. And payment of excise tax (annual local tax on cars garaged in MA). I don’t think I can swing that. My license says CT
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
Post your codes.
cheff1616@reddit (OP)
Good call. My mechanic ran the codes so I don’t have them. I could call but idk if they save them
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
Then get it scanned for free at a local parts store and post them.
Or buy the most useful tool every car owner will ever own: a scan tool. And use it.
cheff1616@reddit (OP)
Brought it to auto zone. It said gas cap. Bought new gas cap, engine light stayed on
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
P0442 small evap leak.
On a 2006 I'd suspect a rotted rubber vent tube has a crack and is leaking.
Smoke test the fuel tank to pinpoint the leak.
cheff1616@reddit (OP)
Can I do this at home
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
If you can: a) jack it up, b) put the rear on stands, c) rent or borrow a smoke machine, and d) and learn how to use it (watch a video)... Yes. "C" will be the hardest part for most folks.
Otherwise a good mechanic can do it for an hour or so labor diagnosis fee.
cheff1616@reddit (OP)
Okay I’ll buy a scanner and post the codes. What price should I pay for one?
imprl59@reddit
There is this one simple trick that all the emission testers HATE. You can get the car fixed...
If AutoZone is saying gas cap then one of your issues is a small evap leak. That's sometimes a gas cap but usually it's not. A good mechanic can put a smoke machine on it and find the leak. That system is usually pretty dang easy to test if you're taking it to a mechanic that's good at diagnostics. If you're taking it to parts changer up to the Firestone Boys then not so much...
We'd need to know the other codes to offer any advice on those.
FrostyMission@reddit
There is no trick. You need to address the codes. Just buy yourself a cheap code reader