Provo Emission Test

Cougar Tire & Auto is Provo’s go-to shop for emissions tests and on-the-spot registration renewals. Vehicles registered in Utah are required to pass an emission test every other year upon renewal of your Utah vehicle registration until the vehicle is six years or older. After six years emissions are required every year.

Vehicles manufactured in even-numbered years need an emission test in even-numbered years. Odd-numbered models are required to have emissions tests in odd-numbered years. For example if your car was manufactured in the year 2020, your vehicle would need an emissions test in 2022, 2024, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, etc. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1968 are not required to pass emission tests for registration.

Utah Valley Emissions Test in Provo

All combustion engine motor vehicles release emissions out into the environment. When you get an emission test at Cougar Tire in Provo, our licensed emission technicians perform an emission test by connection your car to Utah State Emission Test Diagnostics System. Specialized emissions testing equipment performs what is called an OBD test, which stands for On Board Diagnostics by connecting a specialized computer system to your vehicle’s electrical system. This test is also known as a DSL test and it effectively measures the efficiency of the vehicle’s Engine Control Module or ECM.

The ECM must be functioning correctly to continuously check the exhaust system and monitor the catalytic converter while the car is in operation. It also monitors other important functions such as transmission, engine, and fuel system to make sure it is operating within State and Federal tolerances. OBD tests do more than just check emissions. It evaluates daily driving history, detects poor performance, bad fuel economy, and high emissions.

Our emissions technicians also place an exhaust line gas analyzer directly into the tailpipe of your vehicle to measure exhaust gases. The exhaust gases are comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen oxide. Diesel exhaust gas analyzers also measure soot emissions known as particulate matter.

What if my vehicle doesn’t pass an emissions test?

While it’s never good news when your vehicle fails a State emissions test, there are several potential mechanical or electrical issues that can cause vehicles to fail an emissions tests and just as many ways to fix those issues without necessarily breaking the bank. Here are a few common problems we’ve seen here in and around Utah Valley:

• Faulty Fuel Injector: A worn out or bad fuel injector can lead to reich fuel meaning a fuel mixture with either too much or too little air in it. This can lead to high levels of carbon dioxide pollution.
  

• Bad Air Injection System: Air injection systems are made to force fresh air directly into the fuel and exhaust system. If your vehicle’s air injection system isn’t working properly, an emission test may reveal high levels of carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons.
• Oxygen Sensor: Another common issue we’ve seen that makes cars fail emissions test in Utah is a faulty oxygen sensor. Other related issues include ignition system or vacuum leaks in the fuel and exhaust system.
  

• Catalytic Converter Issues: Your vehicle’s catalytic converter performs a crucially important job. It takes the emissions produced by your engine and chemically converts toxic gasses that are harmful to public health into less-toxic chemicals. With a faulty catalytic converter your vehicle will most certainly fail emissions tests since the test equipment is testing for theses chemicals. Typically, replacing a faulty catalytic converter can be expensive because they are made of precious metals like platinum and other costly materials.
  

• Leaking Gas Cap: A bad gas cap can also be the culprit of failing an emission test. A leaking gas cap makes it difficult to recover the emissions that come from fuel evaporating into your fuel tank. Fuel evaporation is natural, but sucks the fuel out of your tank and can prevent you from being able to use that fuel for driving.
• Worn Spark Plugs: Faulty or worn out spark plugs can lead to increased emissions due to incomplete combustion. This is usually a fairly inexpensive fix if your car fails an emission test for this reason.
• Dirty Air Filter: A dirty or clogged air filter can cause high levels of hydrocarbons and can also be responsible for a failed emissions test. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing your car’s air filter once every twelve months or 12,000 miles. If you can’t remember the last time you had your engine air filter changed, it might be a good idea to do so before an emissions test.
• Check Engine Light: If the Check Engine Light is on in your vehicle it will fail an emissions test immediately. The most common reason a check engine light comes on is due to a bad or faulty oxygen sensor. If your check engine light is on, do have our technicians diagnose the problem prior to an emissions test.

Cougar Tire & Auto Can Help

Our highly trained and licensed emissions specialists can perform an emissions test on all makes and models and can help diagnose any possible issues you might have if your car fails the test. We are the best option for emission tests in Provo, Utah with the best service and most thorough attention to detail.

Stop in any time during normal business hours and we’ll get you in and out in no time.

One-stop shop for emissions and registration in Provo

1. Emission Test: We’ll perform your emission test within about 20 to 30 minutes while you wait, or you can take one of our loaner cars if you prefer to leave the shop and come back after the test.
2. Utah On-the-spot Renewal: Want to skip the line at the DMV? We’ll renew your registration right here on the spot for an additional $10. It only takes a few minutes and we can have you out the door with emission test certification and new license plate stickers in no time.
3. Annual Reminders: We will also insert your email into the Utah State On-the-Sport renewal system for you so you can get email reminders each year from the State when your need to re-register your vehicle.

Emissions FAQs