The forwarding order from our previous address expired some time ago. I thought I had updated the address at all pertinent places, apparently not.
Last Saturday my FIL noticed that the license plate sticker/registration on our minivan expired 7/08. I don't pay attention to those stickers - should, but don't.
I took the registration with the old address to the state's DMV and tried to get a new sticker. Apparently I could not renew my plates until my car passed the vehicle emissions test.
The car went to the vehicle emissions place and FAILED! Not surprising - it is a 1998 Ford Windstar and the engine light has been on for eons. It passed last time by some fluke. I am not happy that I am polluting the air, but it isn't one of my high priorities.
There was a print-out with the error codes that should fix the problem.
$688.00 later, my car should be ready for a retest. Mind you, I have expired plates. Granted I am armed with all of my ammunition - proof of test failure - registrations - receipt for work done, etc. Now I am supposed to drive the car another 50 to 60 miles before it is retested. That will take me over a week - my plates are still expired.
Lesson learned: Be diligent about sticker deadlines. Had I been timely, I wouldn't have had to jump through these hoops and I would be $688.01 richer. At least I am living by the law of the land and am no longer contributing to the pollution in my state.
No win situation ...
September 18th, 2008 at 05:05 pm
September 18th, 2008 at 05:50 pm
I guess the air filter on your vehicle is a much more expensive part, because I think mine was *only* a couple hundred dollars.
Cars - gotta love them - can't live without them (at least not people who have to drive 10+ miles to work everyday!)
September 18th, 2008 at 05:58 pm
frugaltexan: cars can fail emissions for many different reasons. Mine was a "small leak detected in the fuel evap system" This is most often caused by a loose or bad gas cap. Not in my case. You can also have the leak detection pump go bad and that's what I had replaced. Light stayed on. You could have a leak. Nope. You name it, it was checked. There was NOTHING wrong with the fuel evap system. I just don't miss that car.
September 19th, 2008 at 05:29 am
The issue was the air intake manifold which needed to be reworked ($400 parts, $200 labor). I did have an oil change too while it was up.
Hopefully it will pass this time (after driven 50 to 60 miles). If it doesn't, I do qualify for a waiver because repairs were over $450.