EMISSIONS
INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an inspection of
your vehicle's emissions control
system. Failure to pass could prevent
vehicle registration.
For states that require
an Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M), this
check verifies the
“Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL)” is
functioning and is not on when the
engine is running, and that the OBD II
system is ready for testing.
Normally, the OBD II system will be
ready. The OBD II system may not be
ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, recently had a dead battery or
a battery replacement. If the OBD II
system should be determined not ready
for the I/M test, your vehicle may fail the
test. Your vehicle has a simple ignition
actuated test, which you can use prior
to going to the test station. To check if
your vehicle's OBD II system is ready,
you must do the following:
1. Cycle the ignition switch to the ON
position, but do not crank or start the
engine.
Note: If you crank or start the engine,
you will have to start this test over.
2. As soon as you cycle the ignition
switch to the ON position, you will see
the “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)”
symbol come on as part of a normal
bulb check.
3. Approximately 15 seconds later, one
of two things will happen:
The MIL will flash for about
10 seconds and then return to being
fully illuminated until you turn OFF the
ignition or start the engine. This means
that your vehicle's OBD II system is not
ready and you should not proceed to
the I/M station. The MIL will not flash at all and will
remain fully illuminated until you place
the ignition in the off position or start
the engine. This means that your
vehicle's OBD II system is ready and
you can proceed to the I/M station.
If your OBD II system is not ready, you
should see your authorized dealer or
repair facility. If your vehicle was
recently serviced or had a battery failure
or replacement, you may need to do
nothing more than drive your vehicle as
you normally would in order for your
OBD II system to update. A recheck
with the above test routine may then
indicate that the system is now ready .
Regardless of whether your vehicle's
OBD II system is ready or not, if the MIL
is illuminated during normal vehicle
operation you should have your vehicle
serviced before going to the I/M station.
The I/M station can fail your vehicle
because the MIL is on with the engine
running.
110
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
