Is There an Issue with Displaying Emission Exceedance?
3 Answers
Displaying emission exceedance may result in fines and penalty points, as urban roads generally have varying requirements for emission standards. Emission Exceedance: Excessive tailpipe emissions are the most common issue encountered during annual vehicle inspections and also the most penalized. Statistics show that most privately-owned vehicles nationwide fail tailpipe emission tests during annual inspections. If a vehicle's tailpipe emissions are found to be non-compliant during random inspections, the relevant authorities will temporarily confiscate the vehicle's registration certificate. The owner must carry out repairs and rectifications within 7 days and can only retrieve the registration certificate upon presenting proof of passing a re-inspection. Reasons for Exceedance: Emission exceedance may be caused by poor-quality gasoline, a damaged catalytic converter, a faulty oxygen sensor, or malfunctions in certain sensors near the engine. The proper functioning of a car's engine relies heavily on sensors. There are numerous sensors around the engine, such as the oxygen sensor, camshaft position sensor, intake air flow sensor, intake air temperature sensor, and coolant temperature sensor. If certain sensors are damaged, it can lead to abnormal engine operation.
Last time I drove my old Jetta, the emission light also came on. This issue really can't be delayed! When blue smoke came out of the tailpipe, I knew something was seriously wrong. Inspection showed the catalytic converter was clogged like a beehive, and the oxygen sensor had carbon buildup thicker than a chimney. The mechanic said urban short-distance driving is most prone to this, especially with cold starts in winter that stall immediately - the exhaust system simply can't burn cleanly. With annual inspections being so strict now, exceeding emission limits gets you a direct red card penalty. My old buddy cost over 3,000 yuan to fix. Had I addressed the oxygen sensor two months earlier, a few hundred yuan would've solved it. My advice: when the dashboard yellow light comes on, immediately read the trouble codes - excessive emissions will also make fuel consumption skyrocket!
Yesterday, my neighbor Xiao Wang asked me about this issue! His hybrid Corolla suddenly triggered an emission warning, and upon disassembly, it was found that the EGR valve was stuck. This component is responsible for recirculating exhaust gases back into the cylinders, and when blocked, the engine struggles to breathe, making the throttle feel sluggish. Interestingly, even a loose fuel cap can trigger the alarm, as the abnormal fuel tank vacuum pressure causes the computer to misjudge. If emission issues aren't resolved, a China-6 vehicle's annual inspection exhaust values could exceed standards by five to six times. I've seen cars at the dealership with severe carbon buildup—during emission tests, the fumes made the mechanics cough. Also, a reminder: continuing to drive with such a fault may damage the particulate filter, and replacing it could cost over ten thousand!
