Here you go, this explains it more: OBD Testing & Readiness

 

Drive cycle procedure:
General Motors Driving Cycle

Good luck!

 

Gotta love PA. They check to see what the CEL is before failing. Even then, 99% of the time you get passed. Plus, no sniffer test. Cats are only visual inspection, unless you know who to go to then you don't need them at all. Here, they care more about safety than emissions. Then again, I do live in the middle of nowhere.

 

"Middle of Nowhere", I think I've been there. Isn't that right after you get to the Boonies, then turn left?

 

So you've been there? Impressive. Most can't find us. It 'tis a peaceful little "city".

On another note, you live in Cali. I'm surprised they pass anything that doesn't get 35+ mpg and isn't a 4 cylinder.

 

^ Does Californi do it differently? Here, your car is tested based on the emissions specs & regulations the car had to adhere to "back in the day".
The older cars don't have to comply to current car standards.

 

I'm not sure. I just know that California is super, super strict with their emissions. With the average guy who owns a Prius, it's not a problem. I would assume that it would apply to back in the day...I mean what else could you honestly do to make those cars any more restrictive!

 

Yes cali works the same way but they are very sensitive about how stuff works. Pretty much anything aftermarket is illegal. Even a k&n intake cant pass at some shops. It really depends on shop sometimes. If you have a sports car the you can only go to a approved by state shop. Some cars need to be smogged every year. As long as the car is stock you have no problem. They dont allow high flow cats even if they pass and if the cat is moved 1/4" from stock location because you had to replace it or whatever most wont pass it. You cant buy used cats legally and some cats cost $1500. That is why there is such a high theft rate for trucks with stolen cats. Long tubes are just plain illegal no ifs or buts. Engine swaps are a pain because if you something like say a 95 and get a 96 engine then you need to covert to ob2. Cali sucks.

 

Even within PA there is a lot of variation in emission laws. Pittsburg and Philly have had sniffers since the late 80's and can be tuff to get anything NOT stock through. PA is kind like small version of the US, big cities on each end and a whole lot of nothing in between. And yes I have lived in the nothing for a lot of year

 

Stiffer test is no to hard to pass unless you have no cat or a cam. Last week I passed q Monte Carlo with a bad cat that din't have a code.