I just got the paper in the mail today. I have to take my 94 to the Maryland emissions test. I thought they forgot about me. I had to take it in spring 98, but it is supposed to be every 2 years. I'm sure it will pass, that's not the problem. The problem is that damn treadmill. Sure, running the car on a dyno isn't really bad, but when I went last year to test another car of mine, I saw a late 80's C4 in the other lane. The kid who was testing it mashed the gas (understanably, after testing hundreds of SLOW cars), and the car just jumped and bounced over the rollers, front wheels first, then rears. It was not the kind of driving you want to see with YOUR C4 corvette. I asked the other tester if you could do a tailpipe test only on a C4, but he said no, only the NEW vettes get to bypasss the treadmill test. He said the C5 is too low, the C4 is not. I got lucky the first time, in 98. It was early on a Saturday morning, the manager came out, looked at the car, and said "just give this one the tailpipe test, we don't want to make any expensive mistakes today". The question is, who here (in Maryland) works for or knows somebody who works for an emissions test facility? I don't want to pollute the air, and like I said, the car should have no problem passing the test, but I don't want to see it abused. Hell, I wouldn't even mind if a tester/fellow vette owner drove it for the test. Somebody in MD please help!!
By the way, does the C5 have less ground clearance than the C4?
Thanks for any help.

 

Hi polo, I work with emission testing in NJ. I don't know exactly how they do it in MD, but here's my suggestions. When you arrive at the place, don't get in line...park in their lot, and go ask for the manager/supervisor. Then either request that their most experienced person do the test, OR, b.s. a bit, and say that you just had a new non-stock air dam installed underneath to assist in cooling (everyone knows vettes run hot), and that you don't think it will make the clearance as its being lowered. I don't think too many people would be able to tell the difference. Also, don't wait until the last day; as a matter of fact, I would go see the manager a few days before I was actually going to bring it in. If you approach them with enough desperation, and a sense of humor, you should get what you want. Let me know how it goes! PS, it doesn't hurt the car sliding around on the dyne, it just looks scary. (Unless of course the tires start rubbing on the side of the dyne housing.) :seeya

 

Well here’s a coincidence for you Polovette94-- I just got my Maryland emissions notice on Saturday too. I understand your concerns; I’m not thrilled about letting some yahoo take control of my car. Luckily Maryland allows you to sit in the passenger seat during testing, which is exactly where I’ll be during the entire process.

This topic was discussed a while back but I couldn’t find it in the archives. There were several Marylanders whose C4s got treadmill waivers because they were too low and/or because they had traction control. I think the advice from ladyinblack is good and that’s what I plan to do: stop in the office before testing and tactfully let the supervisor know that I have serious concerns about my (rather expensive) car and that I would like to have an experienced person do the testing. I will also make him aware of the fact that the car sits very low, has traction control, has a very expensive-to-repair 6-speed manual transmission, has an unusual emergency brake, and has a hood that should not be slammed shut lest it crack (assuming that anyone can figure out how to release the hood support in the first place). Oh, and I will try to make it clear that I won’t appreciate any scuff marks on my still original Goodyear GS-Cs. I don’t expect to get a waiver but I at least want to voice my concerns for the record in case anything goes wrong. Having said that, my experience with the treadmill test and emissions testing personnel has been pretty good and I really don’t expect any problems.

 

Treadmill? Ya gotta be kidin?
Here in the PRC they just pipe your car, no revving the motor, no treadmill.
The front of my car is less than 3" high. :mad

 

I'm still dreading the day I get my little letter in the mail. I hate letting chuckleheads like them drive my car. Just a little while ago, one of those guys got out and didn't set the parking brake. About three feet later he got back in and set it. I almost crapped my pants! :eek:

 

I take mine to a private garage, sure it cost me $67, but at least teh guy knows what he's doing. I passed with flying colors.

 

You can do that???

 

Sure thing, the shop has to give their ID and they are hooked up to some kind of network to discourage cheating. My car was unbelievably clean, I couldn't believe the #'s.

 

Is that just a NJ thing, or can everybody do that? I guess it could help since the guy would know exactly what to do to give you the best chance at passing. Instead of the moron just mashing the gas...

 

Here in Louisiana they don't do any of that mess. Just license, registration, and proof of insurance. They didn't even look at my car this year, just handed me the sticker and told me to put it on my self. They are supposed to drive your car here but they never have even mentioned it. I feel for you guys....

 

Just wait, Daniel. You will be able to enjoy this as well.

:p:

 

Took mine to the station in Glen Burnie, I was pulled out of line an given the waiver automatically. I live in Harford Cty. and other people in know have had their C4s put on the treadmill. It may be worth a trip to Glen Burnie. Just my .02
:flag

 

That's where I went in '98, Glen Burnie. That's where they looked at it and said they didn't want to make any expensive mistakes, and gave it the tailpipe test. Looks like that's where I'll be taking it again. Did they give you the tailpipe test, or just a waiver?




[Modified by POLOVETTE 94, 7:34 PM 3/14/2002]