 Air Care News
July 2000
Top Techs earn recognition for
achievements
In March, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE) unveiled its new Top Tech Program to recognize technicians for outstanding emissions repairs on
vehicles that have failed the I/M 240 test.
Gary Cagle, training and outreach coordinator for CDPHE, said the
award will be given weekly, but only if there is a technician who performed a repair that meets the
program's criteria. To be considered for Top Tech status, both the shop and
 the technician must be registered with Air Care Colorado. The registered
facility must submit the appropriate paperwork and the technician must achieve "significant"
emissions reductions.
CDPHE's Gary Cagle
congratulates Top Tech Rodney
Scohy at Rodine's Auto Service.
"Not every repair, no matter
how well done, qualifies a technician for the Top Tech award," said Cagle.
"For example I got a submission just today where the
emissions went from 225 grams to 20 grams. I consider that significant," Cagle said, "however,
if the reduction was 22 grams to 14 grams, no."
Also, any missing information on the form will disqualify the
repair," Cagle said. The format he is looking for should be standard practice for any shop that
does emissions repair.
The paperwork must include readable copies of the following:
 Initial VIR (Vehicle Inspection Report)
Repair order, detailing the diagnosis and
repair
Vehicle Repair Form (back of VIR);
Re-inspection results (VIR retest form)
Customer's phone number
In addition, there is a one-page form that asks the technician to
record the significant reductions in hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide or nitrous oxide.
It also asks for the customer's name and phone number so CDPHE
can ensure that customer satisfaction has been met, Cagle said.
The Top Tech Program is the only one of its kind in the United
States and has four main purposes: to recognize repairs that gained significant emissions reductions in
grams per mile of pollutants, to recognize outstanding customer service during an emissions repair, to
enhance the public image of automotive technicians, and to promote the self-esteem of automotive
technicians.
"Top Tech" honorees receive an Air Care Colorado nylon
jacket, golf shirt and attaché case.
Photos and short bios of all top techs can be found at
www.aircarecolorado.com/repair/toptech.htm.
You'll find the current crop in the article below.
To receive an application form and list of criteria, call
Dave Moreau at 303-692-3233. Entries can be faxed to 303-782-5693 or
mailed to:
Dave Moreau
Colo. Dept. of Public Health & Environment
APCD-MS-B1
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO
80246-1534.
This article was written with help from Andy
Dalzell of Parts and People.
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In the first few months of the new "Top Tech" program,
the following technicians have been honored for their excellent emissions repairs. Congratulations
Top Techs!
 Myron
Novacek & Dave Hansen
Myron has been with Seyfer Automotive in Wheat Ridge for eight
years. He is trained in FIRST (Fundamental Inspection and Repair Service
Training) and EDGE (Emissions Diagnostic
Graduate Education) and his specialties include
vehicle diagnostics, driveability and restoration.
Dave has been a technician for more than 10 years and has worked
for Seyfer Automotive for the last two years. He specializes in driveability and he is FIRST and EDGE
trained.
Fritz Hout
Fritz has 23 years experience as an automotive technician and for
10 of those years he has specialized in emissions repairs. He is presently conducting emissions-related
diagnostics and repairs for South Federal Automotive in Englewood.
 Rodney Scohy
Rodney is an ASE master technician who specializes in
emissions-related diagnostics and repairs. He has been a technician for 20 years and has worked at
Rodine's Auto Service for the last seven.
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Test gas caps
before sending emissions repairs for retest
by Tom Myrsiades
 Denver area emissions testing centers recently began
failing vehicles for leaky gas caps. Previously, the gas cap test was "advisory only," meaning
motorists were informed of the defective cap when they received their emissions test results but this
did not result in an emissions test failure. (Motorists whose vehicles do not have a gas cap at all
have failed the emissions test since 1995.)
The gas cap regulations have been made mandatory by the state
because the Denver-metropolitan area is in danger of violating federal and state ozone pollution
standards. Although the area currently complies with the standards, a summer of high ground-level ozone
readings could earn the area "nonattainment" status from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and trigger costly pollution control requirements.
To raise public awareness of the gas cap’s role in air pollution
and to help mitigate ozone pollution during the critical summer months, emissions testing centers will
be distributing free gas caps to motorists whose vehicles fail the gas cap pressure test from
June through September. This project is being co-sponsored by the Regional Air
Quality Council, the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment, the Colorado Department of Transportation,
Envirotest Systems and
NAPA Auto
Parts.
Repair shops will now need to get in the habit of checking the
"evaporative systems" box on the Vehicle Inspection Report for vehicles
brought in for emissions repair. If there is a "fail" in that box, the vehicle will need a
new, tight-fitting gas cap before retesting.
Getting a new cap could be a problem for some marginally-passing
vehicles that fail the gas cap pressure test. Replacing the cap will seal the evaporative control
system, and that could cause just enough of a change in the emissions reading so that the vehicle fails
for emissions on retest.
Mike Knarr is the repair industry coordinator for Envirotest
Systems. He can be reached at 303-456-7021, or
mike.knarr@co.etest.com.
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Most repair facilities are aware of the Garage Repair Act found
in the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Provisions of this law outline the requirements repair facilities
must comply with when repairing motor vehicles. Unfortunately, the Colorado Department of Revenue still
receives complaints regarding documentation, notification, issuance of a written estimate, and
recommendations for repairs from customers who are seeking repairs for emissions failures.
If you are reading this article, I am confident you may be
surprised to learn that some repair facilities will still suggest a "tune-up" when a vehicle
has just failed an emissions test due to excessive carbon monoxide readings.
Recently, a customer took his 1991 Chrysler to a repair facility
after an emissions test failure and requested repair. The facility performed an emissions failure
diagnosis costing $75 and suggested an engine tune-up to include new spark plugs and wires costing an
additional $125. The next day, the customer took the vehicle back for a retest and failed with almost
identical numbers.
During the next three weeks, the customer returned to the
facility three more times. Hard to believe but true, the same process was played out -- more repairs
for more money ($675) -- and basically no change in emissions readings.
The very frustrated customer filed a complaint with the DOR and,
with assistance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Emissions Technical
Center, the vehicle was correctly diagnosed as having no electrical power to the fuel control computer.
After a minor repair the vehicle passed emissions, leaving the customer with questions concerning the
need for the $875 in repairs.
Suggesting or performing emissions repairs, when those repairs are
not needed, is a violation of the Colorado Garage Repair Act, which could result in criminal charges.
The errant repair shop in this case was asked to refund the cost
of those inappropriate repairs. The money was refunded and criminal charges were not filed.
While this situation is not widespread, cases like this are
reported every month. Our program has come a long way with some very proficient repair facilities out
there. Hopefully, their success will rub off on those not so proficient.
The Garage Repair Act is found in Colorado Revised Statutes,
42-0-101 through 42-9-113. For questions concerning the Garage Repair Act or any emissions law or
regulation, contact the Colorado Department of Revenue at 303-205-5603. For technical questions
concerning emissions repairs, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's
Emissions Technical Center at 303-744-2442.
Tom Myrsiades is an Emissions Compliance
Supervisor with the Colorado Department of Revenue.
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