Hey guys, I currently live in NC but there is a chance I may have to move to the Northern Virginia area for a job. I actually grew up there but moved before I ever got into cars. Now I am wondering how much of a bitch the cops and inspection stations will be. In NC it's pretty much a joke. They don't require sniffer tests and some places don't even bother to look for a cat on old cars.

I presume that smog tests are still required for our cars in that area? I'm talking Fairfax and surrounding counties. I've got an 88 T2 with a T04S and full emissions removal. Are they strict on the visual inspections? Can I just get a cat and hook up an airpump straight to it (which should hopefully work) to pass? Or even better, are there any places that can be "convinced" to be a bit lenient (PM me about this)? How tough are the cops on modded cars? I have an RB exhaust and the car basically looks stock except for a FMIC and some 17 inch 5 spoke wheels.

 

Funny. I was thinking of getting the hell outta here for Raleigh or Durham. I thought the counties that those places are in required emissions up to 35 yr old vehicles, similar to NoVA's...




NoVA, if your vehicle is 1996 or later, they OBD2 scan it for emissions...

If your vehicle is 1995 or earlier up to 25 years old, there is the old fashioned test. This involves a simple visual inspection to see that the following is present:

Visible Smoke
PCV system
EGR system
Air injection system (If applicable. I believe for the catalytic converter air pump and ACV.)
Evaporative Svstem (Charcoal Canister, purge valve, etc.)
Catalytic Converter
Thermostatic air cleaner system (If applicable. Yes on 1st gen RX-7s)
Fuel tank cap pressure test (Done by machine)
Evaporative system purge and pressure tests (If applicable. I don't think so for RX-7)
OBD Fault Codes (If applicable... No for RX-7)

The computer will tell the inspector what to look for and what the car won't come with stock.

Additionally, they run the car on a dyno at 25 then 15 MPH with a probe in the tail pipe. There is a 15-20 sec precondition time once the vehicle is up to speed to, but before the actual test starts... I believe this is to warm up the catalytic converter but I'm not sure...

They read HC ppm (Hydro Carbons), CO% (Carbon Monoxide percentage), NO ppm (Oxides of Nitrogen), Dilution (How much added air is in the exhaust to catch leaks and cheaters.), and finally RPM (Read via induction coil on the ignition system. To see if someone's running 25 MPH in 1st gear or something to force a pass or fail. Helps spot shady mechanics who fail the inspection then charge for repairs.)

AWD vehicles that can not be disabled are tested at idle only, as there are no AWD dyno's.

After it's all done, it's uploaded via modem to the DMV and DEQ mainframes and a printout is given to you listing the results, the inspector, and station's information.

You need the emissions inspection to renew your registration.

 

all that visual stuff is on the books in NC but it's not enforced in a lot of places. the inspectors don't know wtf they are looking at when you pop the hood on a rotary. And when they used to do sniffer tests here (up through '05) they just tested it at idle, and the sniffer seemed to somehow accidently find itself in the tailpipe of, say, an unmodified Ford Ranger.

 

VA is a police state, they will ticket you for anything you could possibly think of here.

They will smog test you on the rollers here, its pretty much impossible to get past it.

 

I would highly suggest against daily driving your car in the NoVA area. Make it a track car and drive it slowly to and from and you might not have any issues. Theres speedtraps everywhere, my dad got a ticket for 40mph in a 30 because he was going downhill and didn't watch his speed. My friend with a GLI Jetta:

got a ticket for his stock looking exhaust (not loud at all), and I've been ticketed for my RBs (see sig) twice. In the same stop he also received a tint and a front tag ticket. Its something you have to get used to up there...

 

Ummmm everything fun is illegal in VA, and strictly enforced. My buddy had his supra impounded for street racing. Because the cop saw him and a mustang revving at a light and take off. By the time he hit 70 in a 55, he had lights in his mirrors. Ive been pulled over for aftermarket exhaust. They love to ticket for front plates. I didnt pass inspection because my head light lenses didn't say DOT. The mechanics still dont know what they are looking at when they open up a rotary, so they will let it sit there and idle for 15 minutes until they get a clue. Stay away from the area....it sucks.

 

Yeah, not a car enthusiast friendly area at all. Down south its much better from what I've heard. The traffic is horrible, the speed limits are rediculous, radar detectors are illegal. About the only good thing would be that Summit Point Raceway is an hour away and VIR is only a few hours away. If you don't mind getting nervous everytime you see a cop at a speedtrap or driving around you then feel free to move here, haha.

 

So you're saying NO roller tests in Wake or Durham county?

 

Well from what I've seen is a hit and miss when it comes to e-test. Some station will look for EVERY sigle emission related parts on your engine; while others will strap the car to the dyno and perform the test (as long as ther is no visible smoke and exhaust leak)

As far as cops pulling people over; yes it is true, speed traps everywhere, everyday. Try not to get their attention, and you will be fine

 

It kind of depends on what you consider to be Northern Virginia. Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax, and Arlington/Alexandria all have emissions, where as Fauquier, and Culpeper counties have no emissions test. I always ran the risk of having my wife tend to my car when I went overseas, so I just registered and garaged it at my parent's house in Culpeper. Thus I have no worries when it comes to emissions.

It just depends on what county you plan to live in. Fauquier and Culpeper are not far from being lumped into the NOVA bracket, at least from what I have seen.

Mike

 

Here is info on emissions:

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/mobile/homepage.html

No emissions where I live (central VA)... just safety insepection

 

Your main problem is NOT emissions.

Your main problem is the ridiculous enforcement and penalties for speeding.

Just don't move to NOVA at all - it sucks.

 

It is a nice area minus the rediculous police enforcements, however if you have to move to this area I might suggest doing so on the MD side.

 

just get an 83 or older and you're money.

 

Actually, My last three tickets in VA have been in Madison, Orange, and Shenandoah counties on back country roads. One on State route 29 in Madison. One on State route 20 in Orange. (En route to the court trial for the previous one.) and one on Interstate 81 in Woodstock (Shenandoah County.)

I regularly ran 80+MPH on I-95/I-395 or 495 to D.C. through Prince William, Fairfax, and Arlington Counties and Alexandria City to get to work for the past two years... Haven't had a ticket in NoVA for five years prior.


I actually racked up over $600 in tickets in ONE stop in Maryland... Prince George's County to be specific, on 495 near Branch Ave.

It all depends on how you run. Once you get used to the NoVA police, they're easy to work around. Once you get used to NoVA police, you get a bit too confident and forget you're on foreign territory when you go to Maryland or South/West VA.

NoVA might be a police state, but hiding spots for the cops are few and far between on the highway... And they get a good bit of revenue from the HOV enforcement, so they don't watch for speeders as much.

 

The main problem I have around here is emissions. Suprisingly I have not been pulled over for BS stuff like my illegal tint and exhaust. I have been ticketed for the front plate thing which is BS, you can duct tape it on, take a photo and bring that to court and your good to go.

 

NoVA is super strict. But soon as you go south, everything is way way more relaxed. Northern Virginia is like it's own world, and the cops are really strict and abundant. Where I live I know almost all the cops or their families and most of them like cars too and are pretty willing to cut a guy a break. If you've gotta work in NoVA one thing to make sure of is your exhaust, they will fail you at emmissions if you have an exhaust that's been modified at all. VA is cool though, I've lived a lot of different places and VA is all right.

 

None in the whole state to my knowledge. In fact, when we had tailpipe tests back in the day they never had a roller dyno that I can remember... they just tested at idle. Depending where you go, they will roll you in there, check your horn, lights, and your wipers, and maybe look under for a cat. Emissions for pre 96 cars are a joke like I said. Just don't go to a chain place.

 

arghx, that is called a safety inspection....not emissions. Emissions tests for pre 96 cars have to go on a roller for 15 and 25mph tests....unless you own an awd car then you just get the idle test. The emissions hassel around here is one of the main reasons my car is now for sale! I hate NOVA....

 

Not true at all, never had an issue with the 91 when it had a RB ehader & HKS cat back; and haven't had any issues with the current RB DP & SSautochrome single catback.

 

What is wrong with your car & e test? Is it bridgeported?

 

Brent, According to the North Carolina DMV, it's done both at the same time.

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_ser...uirements.html