Air Care News
January 1999
State Gets Tougher on Cars, Light
Trucks
Carbon monoxide emissions standards for all 1982-94 model cars
and light trucks registered in the six-county Denver-metropolitan area have been tightened. This round
of changes to the standards in the enhanced program are the final phase in changes designed to bring the
area into compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
It is expected that the changes will raise the overall carbon
monoxide failure rate for 1982-and -newer cars from 7.6 percent to around 11 percent. The failure rate
for pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles is projected to increase from 6 percent to 14
percent (please see chart). This will increase the number of vehicles that fail the emissions test from
the current 46,750 to 89,050 annually.
The Federal Clean Air Act, which outlines steps to be taken toward
meeting the federal air standards, stipulates that a 31 percent reduction in vehicle carbon monoxide
emissions in Denver be achieved by 2001. Current Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE) numbers indicate that a 25 percent carbon monoxide reduction was being achieved with the old
vehicle emissions standards.
The new standards are expected to result in the removal of 42 tons
or 5 percent more carbon monoxide from Denver air in the year 2001.
The original set of I/M 240 vehicle emissions standards was
implemented in January 1995 when the current emissions program was launched, replacing the tailpipe
testing program that had been in place since 1981. Standards were tightened in January 1997, resulting
in an overall increase in the carbon monoxide failure rate from 5.6 to 7.6 percent.
Hydrocarbon standards also were tightened. Nitrogen oxide standards
remain unchanged.
Dr. Jerry Gallagher, the director of the CDPHE's Mobile Sources
Program, said a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Study showed that fuel mileage can be
expected to increase an average of 12.6 percent on a vehicle repaired to meet the new emissions standards.
With the average repair cost per vehicle estimated at $201.42, the resulting fuel economy is expected to
save the motorist $145.45 over the two-year span of the emissions sticker, thus reducing the net
out-of-pocket expense for the required repairs to $55.96.
View emission standards for passenger cars.
View emission standards for light trucks.
View emission standards for heavy trucks.
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New Emissions
Limits Impact Repair Industry
by Gary Cagle, Ph.D.
New emissions standards should
have a substantial impact on the service repair industry.
The repair industry should see an increase in emissions repair
business because more vehicles are predicted to fail with the tighter limits.
Increased diagnostic time
Diagnostic time (and repair costs) potentially will increase.
Vehicles that fail often will require more time to diagnose. Typically, these vehicles have
multiple problems which may require multiple parts to be diagnosed and replaced.
Adjustments to diagnostic procedures
Repair facilities will need to evaluate their diagnostic equipment
and the need to modify (or adjust) their diagnostic process.
Monitoring the Repair Effectiveness Index (also known as the
report card)
Repair facilities are encouraged to track their repair
effectiveness by returning the vehicle for the retest, making sure the lane inspector records the repair
data found on the back of the initial Vehicle Inspection Report form and making a copy of the after-
repair test results. If the consumer is retiring the vehicle, repair facilities should consider some
type of customer incentive (i.e. repair coupon) to get a copy of the after repair results.
Non-typical Drivability Issues
Vehicles that fail the tighter emissions limits may NOT exhibit
typical drivability symptoms. In fact, these failing vehicles may drive just fine and have fairly good
fuel economy. These tighter cut points identify vehicles that have had normal deterioration of engine
and emissions control components, such as the catalytic converter. Therefore, the fix may be as simple as
the replacement of these deteriorated, worn out components.
Gary Cagle is an environmental protection
specialist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Division, Mobile
Sources Section.
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Motorists
speak out on emissions program
Envirotest and the State of Colorado got an earful last September.
Two focus groups, one of motorists and one of service advisors,
spent a couple hours each discussing the Colorado emissions testing program, voicing their
opinions and suggestions for improvement. The motorist group responses are highlighted here.
The nine men and three women all had 1993-or-older vehicles that
had failed an emissions test and obtained repairs. All but one of the participants in this group believed
the I/M 240 test is necessary.
"I think Denver is on the right road," said a woman who
lives part-time in England.
"Over there (Europe), I can't see that they have any
(pollution control programs), or if they do, they're terrible. I think cleaning up the air is very
important, and I think working on the cars is going in the right direction."
Another said he thought the test should be even stricter.
However, despite the support, there were some complaints.
Most believed that ten days is not enough time for a repair
facility to get parts and fix vehicles. They also agreed that ten days is not enough time to get
the money together to pay for the repairs.
Mistrust of repair facilities, service advisors and technicians
was another common complaint. The women in the group were especially suspicious.
"Every time I walk in, I know I'm being taken," said one
woman.
"They look at me and they say, 'I'm really going to get her,'
because I'm a woman and I'm old," said another.
Another common complaint was lack of instruction. Most said
they received the Emissions Repair Guide but found it difficult to interpret. All said they
would have liked more advice from inspectors.
Several changes have begun in order to address these issues and
to promote mutual understanding between motorists and repair technicians -- Stay Tuned!
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