My car just flunked AZ emissions!

Zona

Active member
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Location
Mesa, AZ
TDI
2011 Golf TDi sedan
My 2011 Golf TDi apparently didn't know it was being tested! It blew a 67.9 opacity. The std. is 20.
Also the state of AZ is not giving free passes to VW's. If the car doesn't pass, they will not renew my registration.
I called my dealer and he said the station that I used "hates diesels" and they have customers failing there all the time. They do use some pretty crappy looking equipment there, and looked like they were doing an unfamiliar procedure.
I'm not wasting more time and $ on a retest, proceeding with accepting offer letter tomorrow.
The service rep. said I could be out of pocket for certain emissons parts required to fix my car. I thought all emis. was under warranty for 5-10 years. :mad:
 

TomB

Veteran Member
Joined
May 1, 2003
Location
Cle Elum, Washington/Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2015 Audi TDI Prestige Sport
What brand of diesel you using? Any additives? How many miles? Using Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for on road use too, right? Reputable station?

I used to get name brand diesel and add an additive or Biodiesel to it to clean up the results.

Also driving it like a bandit for about 30 minutes BEFORE the test can clean out the crap.

Have you modified the car in ANY way?

Also, testing stations can purposely make the diesel smoke as much as possible through bad procedure.

Also, has your car been fully maintained by VW the whole time? Right oils used?
 
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Zona

Active member
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Location
Mesa, AZ
TDI
2011 Golf TDi sedan
Always Shell or Fry's. No additives.
57k miles.
No mods. Dealer service until my first oil change a month ago. Castrol Edge Synth. and VW filter.
I decided to use my free retest today, at a different station, after running the car 3000-3500 rpm for about 20 min. highway and similar abuse in town. I idled about 15 minutes in line, but the car passed. What a relief!
I have to renew the registration next week, so we'll just keep driving it til a fix is announced, or a good deal on a replacement comes along.
Thanks.
Jeff
 

CT_Gman

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Location
AZ
TDI
2016 Jetta Sport, 2011 Golf TDI 6MT 2 door - GONE, 2013 Passat DSG SE w/sunroof - GONE
Always Shell or Fry's. No additives.
57k miles.
No mods. Dealer service until my first oil change a month ago. Castrol Edge Synth. and VW filter.
I decided to use my free retest today, at a different station, after running the car 3000-3500 rpm for about 20 min. highway and similar abuse in town. I idled about 15 minutes in line, but the car passed. What a relief!
I have to renew the registration next week, so we'll just keep driving it til a fix is announced, or a good deal on a replacement comes along.
Thanks.
Jeff
Good deal. I live in Pinal County, so no tests for me. Using the same reasoning you have, I bought my replacement in August when they had a blow-out sale on Jettas. Hope you find a replacement that works for you. Keep in mind that it could take a couple of months from when you submit to when you get cash in your pocket.
 

Zona

Active member
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Location
Mesa, AZ
TDI
2011 Golf TDi sedan
How do you like the Jetta? Guess it has the same drivetrain & brakes as the entry level Golf?
I really don't want a new car, the way they build them now. I don't need 10 airbags and 3 computers to get groceries....
 

tsingtao

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2004
Location
Phoenix, AZ
TDI
2016 Mazda 3 Hatchback 2009 Jetta TDI--Bought back 12/21/16
I had my 2009 fail at 60% and then the supervisor came out and retested it and got a 0%. Some of these guys at the test stations have no idea what they are doing.

Last March, same thing. Supervisor came out and the car tested just fine. He (the supervisor) told me to always ask for a supervisor as it was something in their system that makes this happen with the CR TDI's.

I still have all the test sheets showing fails and then a pass 5 minutes later.

I'm scheduled to take mine in for buyback in 1.5 weeks so I won't be going through a test again.
 

tsingtao

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2004
Location
Phoenix, AZ
TDI
2016 Mazda 3 Hatchback 2009 Jetta TDI--Bought back 12/21/16
Also the state of AZ is not giving free passes to VW's. If the car doesn't pass, they will not renew my registration.

Just have to point out that AZ only tests diesels for opacity. A TDI with a properly functioning DPF should get a 0%, way under the 20% maximum in Maricopa County (I think Pima County areas allow 30%).

The emissions scandal was never about opacity; it was all about NOx, which is not tested in diesels in AZ.
 

Powder Hound

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 25, 1999
Location
Under a Bridge, Crestview, FL, USA
TDI
'00 Golf 4dr White 5sp, '02 Jettachero 5sp, Wife's '03 NB Platinum Gray auto(!)
Having seen this very thing, I would recommend making a video of the test procedure, then telling the operator that you will be happy to make this part of a class action law suit against the testing company. Those tester guys have no idea what they are doing, and they are ripping people off. They need to heat up the detector in the main office before they run the test. The detectors won't function when they're cold.

Cheers,

PH
 

tsingtao

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2004
Location
Phoenix, AZ
TDI
2016 Mazda 3 Hatchback 2009 Jetta TDI--Bought back 12/21/16
Having seen this very thing, I would recommend making a video of the test procedure
After the debacle the first year (2015; there is no test required for the first 5 years) I told the tester I would be taking a video. He said it was prohibited and I asked him to show me where there was signage stating that. He then huffed off and got his supervisor. Supervisor tested it and just told me to always ask for a supervisor in the future.
 

Coal Roller

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2015
Location
The "North Coast"
TDI
2014 Jetta TDI Premium DSG Reflex Silver
Using Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for on road use too, right?
I have it from a very reliable source that ALL diesel fuel being refined currently is "Ultra Low Sulfur". The difference being between "off road" and "on road" is just the dye package to see if you've paid the "road use tax".
 

compu_85

Gadget Guy
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
... None :S
Does your car still have its DPF? Is the tail pipe sooty? There's no way a DPF vehicle could have 70% opacity.

-J
 

Zona

Active member
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Location
Mesa, AZ
TDI
2011 Golf TDi sedan
Yes, the car is totally stock.
Tailpipe is not especially sooty.

FYI:
The opacity "sniffer" on the passed test was identical to the failed test unit and was not preheated.
 

CT_Gman

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Location
AZ
TDI
2016 Jetta Sport, 2011 Golf TDI 6MT 2 door - GONE, 2013 Passat DSG SE w/sunroof - GONE
How do you like the Jetta? Guess it has the same drivetrain & brakes as the entry level Golf?
I really don't want a new car, the way they build them now. I don't need 10 airbags and 3 computers to get groceries....
My Jetta has the 1.8L gas "gen3" motor. It is a stroker design with peak torque at 1500 rpm. Very nice motor. Mine does not have all the driver aids (lane departure, blindspot, automatic braking, auto parking, etc) for the same reason you state; I don't need that crap!
 

GWbiker

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Location
Arizona
TDI
2015 Golf S TDI 4dr.
Test

When i first arrived in Tucson, I had to get my BMW R75/7 with 165K miles emission tested. Local BMW motorcycle dealer did the "sniff test" and the bike passed. So, off I went to the emission test station. Tester (female) asked me how many cylinders the bike had? Uh, two, I said. She asked me does the bike burn oil (two stroke)? Uh, no, I said. Bike passed and I got out of there.

Was the first and last time I had the bike emissions tested as the law was changed. Also, Diesel testing is not necessary in Pima County.
 
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