NJ Inspection Question

[ft86Fan]

I have a car that needs to be inspected but I'm not too sure whether it will pass inspection. Should I first take it to a state inspection station and see if it passes and if it doesn't then take it to a private station or should I take it to a private station first? I guess my main question is that once a state inspection station fails you, would it then be more difficult for a private station to pass you even if they would have in the first place? Thanks.

[hyper4mance]

Always best to try it for free. They only test for emissions now so unless you have all the cats removed and a check engine light on, I don't think it will be an issue. The private places charge for a reason, they will give you a pass for a fee from what I've heard.

[cnk]

Just keep in mind that a lot of private shops won't reinspect you if you failed the state inspection facility.

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[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by hyper4mance

Always best to try it for free. They only test for emissions now so unless you have all the cats removed and a check engine light on, I don't think it will be an issue. The private places charge for a reason, they will give you a pass for a fee from what I've heard.

Thanks. My car is stock except for a different ECU that has a tune. When I hooked up my OBDII reader it shows that 2 of the monitors were not ready. Not sure why.

I guess my question is more of a generic question whether if the state inspection fails you then it is more difficult for the private station to pass you for a "fee".

[hyper4mance]

ooh good to know cnk.
maybe try flashing it back to the stock tune before trying to inspect? I'm not really sure what else to do either.

[Foobar]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

Thanks. My car is stock except for a different ECU that has a tune. When I hooked up my OBDII reader it shows that 2 of the monitors were not ready. Not sure why.

I guess my question is more of a generic question whether if the state inspection fails you then it is more difficult for the private station to pass you for a "fee".

NJ will pass you with two OBD2 statuses in a pending state. Any more than that and it's a fail.

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by Foobar

NJ will pass you with two OBD2 statuses in a pending state. Any more than that and it's a fail.

Thanks. Thats good to know. I thought they only allow one monitor that is not ready.

[Foobar]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

Thanks. Thats good to know. I thought they only allow one monitor that is not ready.

2 is what I heard from someone who went through the process a couple of years ago, if it has changed since, I'm not sure. Admittedly, I can't find the rules online - still looking though.

Yep, you fail if you exceed 2 not ready monitors for model years 2001+ - http://www.nj.gov/dep/aqm/OBDadoption.htm

New York will fail us at 2 or more, so New Jersey is more lenient.

[cnk]

Did you just flash the ECU? If so, it can take some miles before all the checks are completed.

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by Foobar

2 is what I heard from someone who went through the process a couple of years ago, if it has changed since, I'm not sure. Admittedly, I can't find the rules online - still looking though.

Yep, you fail if you exceed 2 not ready monitors for model years 2001+ - http://www.nj.gov/dep/aqm/OBDadoption.htm

New York will fail us at 2 or more, so New Jersey is more lenient.

Thanks for the research. Really appreciate it. Makes me feel better bringing the car in for inspection.

Originally Posted by cnk

Did you just flash the ECU? If so, it can take some miles before all the checks are completed.

I swapped my original ECU with another ECU from the same model car that already has the flash and that was years ago. Battery was also never disconnected and I never cleared the ECU. Thats why I'm not sure why I would get the 2 monitors not ready.