Vehicle emission testing is a regular part of any Georgia car owner’s year. Every year, we’re required to take our cars in and have them tested for emissions as part of our annual registration. But what are vehicle emissions and why are they important?
What are Vehicle Emissions and Why Are They Important?
Vehicle emissions refer to the colorless, odorless gases produced by your vehicle during normal operation. Emissions are the result of an incomplete combustion of gasoline or diesel and air. Emissions contribute to pollution and smog, which you can often see over the Atlanta skyline, especially during the summer.
Newer cars have on-board computers known as Emissions Control Systems, which are designed to optimize the air-gas consumption ratio. This feature not only improves fuel economy, it reduces the amount of emissions produced by the vehicle, which in turn means less exhaust and a cleaner environment.
The government has established air quality standards that all vehicles must meet. Cities and states have further varying requirements that are regularly checked by way of vehicle emissions inspections. Air pollution can be greatly decreased when all vehicles are operating within these standards.
Why do Cars Fail Emissions Tests?
Despite all the technology that goes into vehicles to keep them running as cleanly and efficiently as possible, cars sometimes fail emissions tests. There are many reasons that this can happen.
Common causes of emissions test failures include:
- Malfunctioning oxygen sensor
- Malfunctioning EGR valve
- Poorly-fitting or broken fuel cap
- Leaks in the vehicle’s vacuum system
- Misfiring spark plugs
- Dirty air filters
- An illuminated ‘Check Engine’ light
Emissions inspectors check for several different things during a vehicle emissions test. Generally, they will look at the gas cap, any dashboard warning lights, leaking fluids, and any smoke produced by the vehicle. In addition to these, they will test the engine itself to determine whether the vehicle is operating within regulated standards.
An emissions inspection usually takes less than half an hour. The exact process depends on the year of your car, and new technology is changing the way that testing is done every year.
Cars older than 1996 are lifted onto a specialized ramp to simulate normal driving while a sensor is inserted into the tailpipe. The engine is revved, and within a few minutes, the computer inside the center has enough information to determine whether the car passes or fails the test.
Cars newer than 1996 can often be plugged directly into a computer system, no lifting onto a ramp or engine revving required. The computer system is scanned to detect whether any of the control components within the vehicle are functioning incorrectly, and if these components lead to excessive emissions output. This process takes less than ten minutes.
Have Your Engine Checked at T3 Atlanta Before Your Emissions Test
If your car has recently failed a vehicle emissions test, or if your registration renewal is coming up and you want your car to pass with flying colors, make an appointment with T3 Atlanta. We are Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, and Infiniti specialists in Atlanta. We’ll inspect your vehicle and ensure that your engine is in top condition so your car will pass emissions testing with ease.
Normal: ‘Normal’ or ‘standard’ spark plugs are generally tipped with a copper coating. These wear down fairly quickly, with an average lifespan of 20,000 – 40,000 miles. The biggest benefits of copper-tipped spark plugs is that they are affordable and run at cooler temperatures than spark plugs with exotic metal tips.
If you don’t have an owner’s manual, you can always find the specifications at your auto parts store. You will need to know the following information:
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You may know the Toyota Prius, which is the car that started the hybrid vehicles revolution, but you probably don’t have a clue about the 
One of the changes being made to the 
An even bigger deal is the mechanical differences, especially when it comes to engines. The funny thing is there’s little difference, if any at all, in Lexus vs Toyota reliability. Both brands are safe bets if you want to own something that will last a long time without needing repairs constantly. This fact alone is one of the big draws to either option. The reliability for both brands is partly because certain engines are used in Toyota and Lexus models. The Toyota Avalon and Lexus ES are powered by the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine, which is also used in the Highlander, Camry and Lexus RX. The 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain is the exact same as well.
Plenty of people choose to purchase a Lexus and never have any real complaints. They’re highly reliable and are packed with incredible luxuries like soft leather upholstery, seat heaters/ventilation, and wood inlays, to name a few. Lexus has a tremendous reputation for making cars that run smoothly, and interiors that are supremely quiet.
Toyotas are popular for some pretty compelling reasons. Reliability is obviously one, and so is great value retention. Toyotas are plentiful, so you can usually find just the right one without too much hassle. Because they’re popular, it isn’t difficult to find parts, servicing or aftermarket add-ons.
First off, you should look for a Lexus certified collision center. They’re not on every street corner, so that eliminates quite a few options. You wouldn’t want to take you beloved car to a hack, or someone who says they can fix it, but in reality doesn’t know how to do it. Lexus body repair can be a tricky job even if you’re doing it correctly, so this kind of work should only be reserved for highly trained and seasoned technicians.
Body repair is a horse of a different color when compared to other types of car repairs. With dealerships, they’re under extreme pressure to boost profits. You might think this is no big deal, but it changes things. This push for bigger profits is being driven by the fact that how much a dealer makes from new vehicle sales is decreasing. You’ve probably noticed that dealerships talk up their service department more than ever, and this is why.
Some dealerships don’t even do body repairs themselves. Instead, they outsource to an unnamed shop, so your car goes to a place you don’t know. One would hope they do good work, but with an emphasis on profitability at dealers, this sadly isn’t the case far too often.
flip side, several Mercedes models have been called out by the organization for some of the highest costs of ownership. 
publications have confirmed this fact on a number of vehicle comparisons throughout the years. Forbes, a respected business magazine, took a look at the cost of ownership difference between the Lexus RX 350 and Mercedes GLK. Both sell for pretty close to the same price, but they’re anything but equal when it comes to the 5-year cost of ownership. 
We realize you have a busy schedule so let us keep track of your maintenance and service needs for your Lexus. You can depend on T3 Atlanta to keep in contact with you for service reminders. 
Once at our shop, our Service Technician will thoroughly inspect your Lexus and determine what it needs. Our technicians are highly-trained and experienced in Lexus service. 
Even though Atlanta doesn’t have winters like the Northeast, it’s important to winterize your vehicle. The weather can be very unpredictable, and some winters are harsher than others. It’s best to be prepared just in case!
Atlanta may not have snowstorms like the Northeast, but ice storms can be just as dangerous. Checking that your car is winter-ready on an annual basis will help make sure that you are not left out in the cold with a preventable situation!
Don’t be left out in the cold this Fall or Winter! You’ll help prevent a major headache later by making sure that your vehicle is winter-ready now. Call us at one of our two convenient Atlanta-area locations – 
T3 Atlanta Locations
