Toyota Prius can't pass Georgia's emissions test(because the state is ignorant)

[IChing]

Eco-conscious drivers in Georgia are finding out that the grass isn't necessarily greener on their side of the fence. 2007 is the first year drivers of the 2004 Prius are required to get their cars tested for emissions. You'd think the clean-running hybrid would have no problems breezing through the exam. But, as CNN reports, no matter how many times Georgia drivers try to test one, they all fail. Huh?

Well, sorta. It's more like the Prius refuses to take the test. When the Prius is set to idle at 2,500 rpm on the tester, it does what it's supposed to do. It shuts off the engine to save fuel. Georgia's pre-hybrid equipment issues a failing grade because of an incomplete test.

Instead of just acknowledging its system is outdated, Georgia still requires Prius owners to pay the $25 testing fee for an "aborted test." That allows them to get a failed certificate from the tester which car owners must take to one of five waiver centers (M-F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) to be granted permission to buy a license plate. Don't ya love bureaucracy? >>>>>snip

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/16/prius-cant-pass-georgia-emissions-test/

[ThomCat]

1. Idiocy knows know limits.

:(

[fryguy]

2. bass ackwards - n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

3. *sigh* I'm sure this will happen other places besides GA. Stupid is everywhere.

[hobbit709]

4. What would Georgia do with an all-electric?

There's not even an exhaust pipe to connect to on something like the Tesla.

[Benhurst]

6. Probably rig it up to power "Old Sparky," the state's electric chair.

[AndyA]

5. When it comes to government, stupid is the norm. n/m

[IChing]

7. Georgia leading the way on technological energy advances

We have no problems in California getting these cars passed and we have
the toughest laws and tests in the nation.

[Buzz Clik]

8. I guess my bicycle would fail the GA emissions test, too.

Asshats.

[TexasProgresive]

9. You could fuel the engine with legumes and cabbage!

Don't make me tell you where they would put the sample tube.:rofl:

[Buzz Clik]

10. Hmmm.... I thinking that failing the emissions test would be certain.

[skids]

11. Well, how to pass that test then...

You can probably get the motor to keep running if you turn on ALL the appliances -- MAX the AC, defogger coils, headlights, and plug some things that sap a lot of juice into the cigarette lighter jacks like tire pumps etc.

There may also be one of those "easter egg" codes to make it stop doing that (and then turn it back on) if you call the dealer. Prius has a lot of those, which involve turning various things on and off in weird sequences.

[IChing]

12. Well, that sounds pretty complicated turning on things

for a smog technician in Georgia. You are right the engine will kick in
and there is also a test mode on the for the car

It's call the 'inspection mode'. One of its main purposes is just for emissions inspections. Basically you stomp on the accelerator twice while in park, twice while in neutral, then twice again back in park while in Ig-On mode, then put the car in READY mode. Ig-On mode is where the power button is pressed twice without pressing on the brake which is much like having the key in a conventional car in the ON position but not having started the engine yet.

Once in inspection mode, the ICE will idle at 1000 RPM, then increase to 1500 RPM if you press on the accelerator a bit, then increase to 2500 RPM by pressing the accelerator more than 60%.

[skids]

13. Cool. How do you get it back out?

Or does it pop back out when you start moving?

I love the weird "key combos" they come up with.

I'll have to try that on mine just for fun.