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In Northeast Ohio, if your vehicle is a certain make, model and year, your vehicle may be required to undergo an E-Check, in accordance with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. E-Check is a vehicle inspection that was created in an effort to reduce the volume of motor vehicle pollutants in the air. That means if you attempt to renew your vehicle registration or complete a plate transfer, and your car requires E-check, you will not be able to do so until the inspection has occurred.
The test itself can be completed at a number of E-Check inspection stations throughout Northeast Ohio, and usually takes only a few minutes. If your car passes E-Check, you will receive a printed test receipt. If your car does not pass E-Check, you will need to take your vehicle to an Ohio E-Check certified repair shop, like Rad Air.
If your car doesn’t seem to have any issues, but it fails E-Check, you might be confused by what went wrong. The reality is that there are a variety of reasons why your car failed E-Check. Here are a few common problems, as well as issues that may contribute to a failed test.
Your car’s emissions control equipment, such as the catalytic converter, is faulty or missing. This is a definite concern for the Ohio EPA, as your car may be leaking or emitting pollutants. If your car’s emissions control equipment is not intact and functioning properly, your vehicle will fail the E-Check.
Your car has drivability problems. This could include anything from a rough idle, poor performance and/or reduced fuel economy. These types of issues, even if they seem minor, could be contributing to an emissions control issue. You will need to have your vehicle serviced to correct any drivability problems before your vehicle will pass e-check.
You have not had regular car maintenance. To ensure your vehicle is running properly and performing well, you need to have regular checkups and preventative maintenance completed. If you have not kept up on regular maintenance, such as oil and filter changes, fuel and air filter changes and regular scheduled maintenance as outlined in your owner’s manual, your vehicle will be more likely to fail an E-Check inspection.
You frequently “top off” your gas tank. Once the gas nozzle automatically clicks off, you should never keep “topping off” your tank. Doing so can cause fuel to get into your evaporative emission system and contribute to an emissions problem. This habit may be hard to break, but resist the temptation and increase your likelihood of passing E-Check.
When your car fails E-Check, call the expert team at your local Rad Air. Because we are Ohio E-Check certified, all of our technicians have received special training to properly diagnose and repair any issues with your vehicle’s emission system. Schedule your appointment online today!