What to Do When a Vehicle Fails the Annual Exhaust Emission Test?
1 Answers
When a vehicle fails the annual exhaust emission test, it is advisable to clean the carbon deposits inside the engine and consider replacing the oxygen sensor and the three-way catalytic converter. Every vehicle is equipped with a three-way catalytic converter, which is installed at the front section of the exhaust pipe and is designed to purify exhaust gases. There is an oxygen sensor in front of the three-way catalytic converter and another one behind it. The front sensor primarily measures the oxygen content in the exhaust gases, sending this signal to the ECU (Engine Control Unit), which then adjusts the air-fuel ratio based on this signal. The rear sensor is mainly used to detect whether the three-way catalytic converter has failed. If both oxygen sensors send the same signal to the ECU, it indicates a malfunction in the three-way catalytic converter, and the malfunction indicator light on the dashboard will illuminate. Prolonged use can cause the three-way catalytic converter and oxygen sensors to fail. Over time, oxygen sensors may suffer from lead poisoning and severe carbon buildup, preventing them from transmitting accurate data to the ECU.