Dear Insighters:
Beginning this fall, my two counties of "Travis" and "Williamson" in Central Texas will require air checks to pass inspection. I found out from the dealership that the "official" rules are that the Engine Check light MUST be off in order to pass inspection. The exhaust isn't even checked for quality, just a quick peek (and $$$) to see if the Engine Check light is on.
For those of you with older cars, you might find it difficult to bring the engine exhaust up to standards. Then again, if you go into an inspection with a lighted Engine Check light, a note is made on the official report which will require these modifications in order to register the vehicle.
I am not advocating anything illegal, but in Germany all the air check inspection required was a chemical wipe of the external three cm of the exhaut pipe. The solution for older cars was to cut off two inches and weld on a new two inch pipe segment. The inspectors would wait while the shop made this modification to the tail pipe.
Remember, Engine Check lights do burn out.
Sincerely,
Ali Fant