HELP! Illinois emissions tryin to take my drivers licence!

[SSlick406]

I'm getting desperate! Along with my '92 explorer I have a '88 monte SS with a 406 SBC. If I don't take/pass the test by March they are going to suspend my drivers licence:mattmoon:. I do still have the cat but, I really don't think it would pass the Illinois emmissions test. What are ways around this test? Iv'e heard of titleing it as a showcar or racecar, but don't know what's involved. PLEASE HELP!

 

[jimbo74]

contact your state dmv regarding emissions regulations.....

 

[section525]

They can suspend your license if one of your vehicles doens't pass smog!? wtf?!

 

[c4m4r0]

im sure there is bound to be a shop that will let you skate by...

 

[SSlick406]

Look at this BS!
Dead Link Removed

 

[MO_GUY]

umm....are you sure you heard them right? i dont see how they can take away driving privledges just because you cant pass smog tests.....try and register it as a show car if you can....but im sure you'll have to passs smog sometime or another

 

[Ray Lobato]

Try getting a tune-up first and remember to make sure that your vehicles have been running for while so that everything is hot when you take it in for the smog check.

 

[SteveVB]

Have you had it tested yet? Before trying to get around the test see how far off you are, and what you need if you are missing pieces. If its stock stuff in my state( MD, which seems to be second to CA in its smog laws- at least around DC) , if you put so many dollars into fixing it and it still doesnt pass you get an exemption. I think its $400 or so. If its modified and illegal then... well... skys the limit - and you are breaking the law and need to get into compliance. With all the aftermarket help available shouldnt be any reason to run an illegal vehicle on the street - plenty of emmision compliant mods available.
If its illegal then take the plates off it and trailer it to the track or trail if it cant get through smog.

Good Luck

PS I just checked your link and you have the same exemption for repairs - limit 450.00. So it shouldnt really be a problem.

 

[RFR2212]

All I can say is, yes they can and will suspend your plates for sure. It's happened to a buddy of mine.

 

[99exEB1]

I dont know anything about other than it is supposed to work, but they make this stuff, dump it in your tank and they gaurentee it will pass, try looking for it on the net. Good luck.

 

[Alec]

Just to build on this, I think we're talking about license plates, not driver's license.

SSslick, why do you think your explorer isn't gonna pass? Let's deal with that first, then the other car.

 

[Bill Kemp]

The State giveith and the State can takeith away. The State has all the power to do any damn thing they want to do.
What is the problem with your X? Have you had either veh. tested yet? Have you done anything to these veh. that make you think they wont pass?

 

[SSlick406]

They can and will take my drivers license b/c of the fact that I failed before and have yet to go back in due to the fact that my Monte is in storage for the remainder of winter. I did send them a notice of this but I guess they never got it. If you look up at my last post there is a link to the Illinois State EPA webpage under "driving privileges." My explorer most likely wont pass either but I'm talkin about my '88 monte SS. The engine in it is a fresh swap, done right before I put it away for the winter. It's a bone stock (for now) '71 400sbc bored .030 over making it a 406. I do have the cats and IM gonna try leaning out the carb and putting some bald tires on the rear wheels for the test. I was just looking for input on other little tricks and loopholes you guys know for emissions tests. For all of you that have been helping me out your information is invaluable to me and much appreciated! thanks a lot everyone!

, Dan

 

[A Wise Guy]

What's the deal with putting bald tires on the rear? Unfortunately now in Illinois the emision test is changing a bit. It used to be some punk sticking a probe into your exhaust and taking a reading. Now they do a OBD test and only use the probe if the computor says something is malfunctioning. The punk with the probe could easily enough be paid off. In the past I have known quite a few muscle cars that made it through this way. Now they don't even trust you if your car is registered as a diesel, they actually want to see it for themselves. So much for those big blocks and the mid '80s Cutlass.

 

[BigDave]

They will suspend your Driver's License (not the plates)...I waited until the last minute to get my X checked last time. I don't know what the deal is with modified vehicles, but you can make it show car. It'll probably cost some bucks to re-register it, but then you are exempt, the only catch is that I think the vehicle has to be a certain age to be a show car or antique.

Another way around it is to get it registered away from the big cities, or in another state that doesn't have the smog issues, or is at least less stringent...

Dave

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Remind me to never move to IL. Sorry no offense to those that live there, but that is a bunch of crap.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally posted by SSlick406
Look at this BS!
Dead Link Removed

That's ridiculous!

 

[PUR PONY]

dont buy that stuff that you put in your tank that says you’ll pass or your money back!!! thats a joke!...

Here is what you do!!! go to a parts store ( i went to napa) and buy/order 2 gallons of air brake antifreeze (better known as menthol alcohol.) dump the 2 gallons into a 1/4-1/2 tank of fuel. That should help out A LOT!!!!!

- My friend, myself, and my cousin all passed CT emission this way without a problem.

My friend has a 95 Mustang with a brand new custom built 347 stroker running a wild lift cam and he failed the first 2 times.

My Supercharged explorer failed 3 times in a row. I couldn’t get it to pass at all. I had my cats in at the time but they were/are shot.

My cousins 85 monte failed twice.

We all used the methanol and went right through with no problems…… One of my readings that was super high on the first 3 was almost NOTHING with the alcohol.

Use the alcohol and any other tricks you can…..
Good luck

 

[james t]

i have heard the methanol trick really works... although i have never tried it. no testing done here. also try a hot thermostat (195 if you are running a 180). make sure the car is fully up to temperature before they sniff it. also, de-carbing the motor will help some too, along with a fresh set of plugs one heat range hotter than you have now. just change back to the cooler plugs after the test.

BTW- how the f**k do they justify taking away one's DRIVERS LICENSE?!?!? because your car failed, you cant drive someone else's??? this is the craziest thing i have ever heard...

 

[PUR PONY]

yup- the methnol works awesome. The just closed all the CT emissions stations... hopefully it stays that way. They are planning on having indepentant garages start doing the testing but i dont know if that is ever going to happen. It should be either ALL states do testing or NONE.......
If they do start emissions again and my mustangs are finished and on the road i am either going to have to reg. them in florida under my fathers name or buy lots of methnol to pass- LOL