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Emissions testing for Gen III - just got a notice it's due for one

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by phoenixgreg, Feb 9, 2015.

  1. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    So what exactly will they do to emissions-test a G3 Prius? I was told by a friend that our testing stations now have a specific line for hybrids. Other that hooking up to the OBD port and maybe checking the gas cap, what else would there be? There's no guarantee the ICE will be running long enough to measure anything from the tailpipe. Has anyone been thru this with a G3? It's a $27 rip-off in my opinion.
     
    #1 phoenixgreg, Feb 9, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2015
  2. situationalawareness

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    I agree, while I haven't been through with my Prius I can't speak about that but I can speak about motorcycle. Up until this year or last (I forget exactly), you had to take your motorcycle in for emissions testing as well. They jam a stick in your exhaust and have you rev the engine and if your not spouting black smoke pretty much your going to pass, since you'll never reach car emissions. I'm interested in knowing this about Prius emissions as well, since (maybe) I'll have my car that long to need it.

    EDIT:
    now that I think about it, I'm wondering if they're implementing wheel load chocks? Not sure the technical name, but when I lived in Maryland they loaded your front (or rear) wheels onto dual drums and the drums simulated road load on your drive train as they had their tester stuck up your cars butt.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    in ma, they just hook up to your obd, engine doesn't have to warm up any more, all the info is recorded in the black box. takes two minutes and your off.
     
  4. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    I read somewhere that the exemptions for hybrid emissions testing ended on 12/31/2014 so I guess many of us with the older G3s will be getting notices on plate renewals that emissions testing is required. It's $27 every 2 years in AZ.
     
  5. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    In California, Pruis were exempt from smog testing, don't know about now, but I'm sure they have to be tested so somebody can make some more money off of us.