Why did my vehicle fail its emissions test?
April 6, 2025
We all want to breathe clean air and keep our planet green. One of the ways to do that is by requiring all vehicles with internal combustion engines to pass an emissions test. That’s because these vehicles can be big polluters.
Everyone wants their car to pass the test so they can continue their day-to-day driving routine. But then comes that one day when they tell you your vehicle has failed. Why does that happen?
One of the most common reasons is that your gas cap is leaking or loose (or maybe you don’t even have one on your vehicle!). The gas cap is supposed to seal in vapors, but sometimes its seals or gaskets dry out or crack. Replace it, and you’re good to go.
Another common reason your vehicle failed the test is that your catalytic converter isn’t doing its job. It is supposed to convert toxic gases from your engine into ones that don’t pollute the air. There are many reasons the catalytic converter may not be working. It may be physically damaged, or the steady flow of exhaust gases has fouled the converter.
You may have a bad oxygen sensor. It’s supposed to measure how much oxygen is in your exhaust. This can cause the air-fuel mixture to be too rich, resulting in too many hydrocarbons in the exhaust. Your ignition system may also have problems, such as worn-out spark plugs. Dirty fuel injectors can contribute to excess emissions.
Believe it or not, a dirty engine air filter may be the culprit. If it hasn’t been replaced for a while, your vehicle may be emitting too many hydrocarbons - something that will cause your vehicle to fail the emissions test.
You can usually avoid a failed emissions test by maintaining your vehicle regularly. The best way to do that is by bringing it to our trained technicians, so your vehicle gets the service it needs, scheduled and non-scheduled. Plus, you’ll be doing your part to keep our air clean.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
A Most Important Part (Serpentine Belt Replacement)
December 7, 2025
Your vehicles engine is an engineering work of wonder with many complex parts working in harmony to get you down the road. One of those simple but important components is called a serpentine belt. It is driven by a pulley on the engine and transfers that power to many of your engines most importa... More
No Fueling Around (Fuel Filter Replacement)
November 30, 2025
A driver called in to the shop the other day saying his European sports sedan had an odd problem. He was driving when his car started to slow down. Applying more throttle didn't help. He pulled over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and waited a few minutes before starting it up aga... More
Giving CV Joints the Boot! (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)
November 23, 2025
Ever wonder how your vehicles transmission is connected to your wheels? After all, when you hit a pothole or some other uneven part of a roads surface, there has to be something that can maintain the connection between the transmission and the wheel yet keep everything moving at the same speed. ... More