Emissions is the Devil

Okay, so I have this fear of missing my emissions testing deadline and therefore not being able to renew the registration on my car on time. I have a legitimate reason for this fear. You see, a couple years ago, when we moved into our house, something went awry with the mail system and my vehicle registration renewal never made it to me. So, unbeknownst to me, I drove around for about nine months with an expired registration. You can imagine my confusion when I got pulled over, on my way to court (for work), when I didn't think I had been speeding or otherwise breaking the law. The not-so-friendly sheriff asked me if I had my registration, etc. So, of course, I got it out of my glove box and handed it to him, along with my insurance card and driver's license. I timidly asked him if he could explain what I had done to warrant being pulled over. He told me that my tags were expired. I proceeded to tell him that I have never not paid my registration, and that apparently, I didn't receive it in the mail. He didn't seem to think that was a good excuse. He asked me if I had looked at my plates, lately. Okay, now, come on! Who do you know that, when getting in their car to go somewhere, walks around to the back just to check their license plate tags?!! Well, the point is, I ended up having to pay a hefty fine, in addition to my registration renewal, only to have to pay the renewal again when it was due, again, a few months later. Now, every January, I make it a point to write "Rach's registration due!" on the calendar.



Being a responsible driver and car owner, I try very hard to make sure that I am ahead of the game. I received my registration renewal in the mail the last week of December. As usual, I am required to have an emissions test. Fine. Well, it would be fine if my "check engine" light would go off. It was my understanding from a mechanic that checked out my car a couple years ago, that there really isn't anything wrong with my car, but for some reason, the check engine light won't remain off. The mechanic actually told me to just bring it back and he'd "clear the code" to make the light go off, before taking it to emissions. So, last year, we just had the code cleared and it passed through emissions.



This year is a different story. Last week, I had the code cleared and I took my car to emissions. It got rejected... not failed, not passed, but rejected. Grr! The lady said that if I have had any work done or had my oil changed recently, that could cause the problem. Apparently, my "OBD" wasn't ready to be read. Something about the computer having not reset itself. Well, my hubby had changed the oil a few days before, so I took the lady's advice and took my car for a "drive cycle" to give it a chance to reset the computer. The next day, my hubby tried it again. Rejected again!! Double Grr!!! The following day, I made my way to the stinkin' emissions place and yet again, REJECTED!!! Triple GRR!!!! Each time, we were told that the computer in my car hadn't reset itself. How far must I drive the car for it to reset itself!? Have you seen the price of gas lately? Do you understand that I have a baby who doesn't want to drive all over the countryside all day, everyday, just so the computer can, hopefully, reset itself!??!!!

So, my ever-more-mechanically-inclined husband decided that he would replace my EGR valve. I don't even know what that means, but it apparently is some part of my car that was okay, but could stand to be replaced. So, we ordered a new EGR valve and my hubby installed it today. We drove across town, to ensure that my car's computer had reset itself since having "work done" on it. Then....hubby took it to emissions and guess what!! It was REJECTED for a fourth time. Tears, frustration, anger, despair. More than GRR!!!! So, there is supposedly nothing wrong with my car, according to the little gadget that reads the "what's wrong with your car" codes. Yet, my car is still being rejected.



My sweet husband says not to worry about it and says he'll take care of it. He says it isn't something I need to worry myself with at all. But, I am still aggravated and frustrated and so tired of dealing with emissions. The man who tried to conduct the emissions test the third time said I could go to the DMV and get an extension on my registration, since I could prove that I had tried to get my car to pass already. And, I thought to myself, "that sounds like so much fun!" As if this emissions testing/rejection crap isn't exciting enough, I could take my baby with me to the DMV and spend hours there trying to get an extension....just to have to go through this emissions stuff again! We all know that the DMV is the most pleasant place to be... and with a baby who likes to eat and nap and who gets cranky when he doesn't get to do those things, no less. Sure, sounds like a great time to me. Sign me up!

GRRR!!!!!!!!!