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Drive Clean makes a difference Ontario’sDriveCleanprogramisreducingsmog- causingpollutantsfrombothlight-dutyandheavy- dutyvehicles.Theprogramisconcernedwith helpingusmakesmartchoicesaboutthewaywe maintainanddriveourvehicles.Drivingcleancan saveyouupto10percentinannualfuel per. a p consumptionandprolongthelifeofyourvehicle. ste a w Butmoreimportantly,youwillbedoingtheright mer u s thingfortheairwebreathe. on c st- o Program Areas p % 0 0 1 n o d e nt Pri d. e ertifi c o g o L o c E e ar Light-dutyvehicle Heavy-dutyvehicle er p programarea programarea a p d n a g n nti Pri 8 0 e 7 1 7 3 FormoreinformationonOntario’sDriveClean,call: S Ontario’s Drive Clean B 1-888-758-2999 PI M 5 orvisit 7 A Mandatory Vehicle www.driveclean.com 08 09/ Emissions-testing Program RevisedSeptember2008 d e s vi e R Copyright Provisions and Restrictions on Copying: This Ontario Ministry of the Environment work is protected by Crown copyright (unless otherwise indicated), which is held by the Queen's Printer for Ontario. It may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes if credit is given and Crown copyright is acknowledged. It may not be reproduced, in all or in part, for any commercial purpose except under a licence from the Queen's Printer for Ontario. For information on reproducing Government of Ontario works, please contact ServiceOntario Publications at Smogisaserioushealth-relatedprobleminOntario andmotorvehiclesare the single largestdomestic source ofsmogandasource ofseveralothertoxic contaminants. Smogisbadnewsformanypeople,particularly children,the elderlyandthose withrespiratoryand cardiovascularillnesses.The OntarioMedical Associationestimatesthatsmogisresponsible for more than5,900premature deaths,about17,000 hospitaladmissionsandmore than60,000emergency departmentvisitseachyear. ThroughDrive Clean,vehicle ownershave an Light-duty vehicles opportunitytomake apositive contributiontothe qualityofourairthroughgoodvehicle maintenance TheLightDutyDriveCleanprogramrequiresmost andbyidentifyingemissionsproblemssothatthey passengercars,vans,lighttrucks(under4500 canbe corrected. kilograms)andsportutilityvehiclesregisteredin The advancedemissionscontroltechnologyin theDriveCleanprogramareatobetestedinorder today’svehiclesandthe developmentofhybridsand torenewthestickersontheirlicenceplates.Light- alternate fuelvehicles,alongwithcleanerfuels,are dutyvehiclesthatare1988modelyearandnewer sharplyreducingharmfulemissions.However,there requiretestingeverytwoyearsbeginninginthefifth willbe vehiclesonthe roadwithoutthatadvanced calendaryearaftertheirmodelyear. technologyformanyyearsandeventhe more Ifyourvehiclerequiresanemissionstest,youwill advancedvehiclesrequire regularmaintenance to receiveareminderaspartofyourvehiclelicence keepthemoperatingcleanly. renewalapplicationfromtheMinistryof Awell-maintainedvehicle thatisusinglessfuel Transportation. savesusmoneyatthe gaspumpsaswellasemitting Note:Ifyourplateexpiresandyoudelayrenewaluntilthe fewerpollutants.Earlyidentificationofemissions nextcalendaryear,anemissionstestwillstillberequired. problemscanalsohelpavoidmajorrepairbillsand give usvehiclesthatare more reliable,runmore Anemissionstestisrequiredforaresalevehicle smoothlyandwilllikelylastlongeronthe road.See beinglicensedfortheroadforvehicleswithamodel the brochure “10 Tips for Driving Clean”for yearolderthanthecurrentcalendaryear.Thisisan more informationonhowtosave money,helpreduce importantconsumerprotectionmeasuretohelp pollutionandprotectthe qualityofourair. ensurethatconsumersdonotunwittinglypurchase 2 3 ausedvehiclewithemissionsproblems.More Light-duty vehicle1 model years informationisavailableontestingforresale requiring tests: vehiclesintheDriveCleaninformationcard, ModelYearofVehicle ModelYearofVehicle “BuyingorSellingaUsedVehicle.” 1989 1988 Motorhomesregisteredtoaddressesinthelight- N N N N I I I I 1991 1990 dutyvehicleprogramareaalsorequireemissions G G G G N N N N tests.Theyareclassedwithlight-dutyvehiclesand I 1993 I I 1992 I T T T T thereforerequiretestingeverytwoyears.However, S S S S E 1995 E E 1994 E thesizeandweightofthesevehiclesmeansthat T T T T theyrequiretestingatDriveCleanFacilities RE 1997 RE RE 1996 RE I I I I accreditedtoperformheavy-dutyvehicletests. QU 1999 QU QU 1998 QU E E E E R R R R (cid:2) 2001 (cid:2) (cid:2) 2000 (cid:2) 2003 2002 2005 2004 1Alight-dutyvehicleisonethatweighs4,500 2006 kilogramsorless,whileaheavy-dutyvehicle weighsmorethan4,500kilograms. How is the Drive Clean test done? The Ontario Drive Clean emissions test can only be performed at an accredited Drive Clean facility by a certified emissions inspector. Light-duty vehicle exemptions: Most light-duty vehicles are tested on a • Allhybridvehicles(thosepoweredbya dynamometer, a treadmill-like device. The vehicle combinationofinternalcombustionenginesand is warmed up to normal operating temperature. A electricmotors) gas analyzer, connected to the vehicle through a • Vehiclesofthe1987modelyearandolder probe in the tailpipe, then measures the • Allvehiclescurrentlydesignatedas“historic” concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), undertheHighwayTrafficAct hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) • Light-dutycommercialfarmvehicles while the vehicle is being “driven” on the • Kitcars dynamometer and again when the vehicle is idling • Motorcycle at the end of the test. 4 5 An Emissions Warning Ifthe“CheckEngine”lightonyourdashboard comesonandstayson,yourvehicle’sonboard computersystemhasdetectedanemissions relatedproblem.Makesurethegascapisnot looseormissingasthiswilltriggerthe“Check Engine”lighttoilluminate.Ifthelightremains onhaveyourvehicleservicedsooninorderto preventexcessiveemissionsandavoiddamaging theengineoremissionssystem.Ifthe“Check The test results are compared by a computer to Engine”lightisflashing,theproblemiscritical emissions standards for the vehicle and its model andyoushouldhaveyourvehiclelookedat year, with an allowance for vehicle age and wear immediatelybyaqualifiedrepairtechnician. and tear. Some vehicles cannot be tested on a dynamometer. In these cases the vehicle will be given a two-speed idle test, again with a probe inserted in the tailpipe – to measure HC and CO only. Somecommonexamplesofenginewarninglights Ifyourvehiclehasatest-relatedsafetyproblem, amissingcatalyticconverter,orreleasesvisible What happens after smokefromthetailpipe,itcannotbetesteduntilit my Drive Clean test? hasbeenrepaired.SuchproblemscouldharmDrive Youwillreceiveacomputer-generatedreportthat CleanFacilitystaffandresultindamagetothe willtellyoutheconcentrationsofpollutantscoming vehicleormalfunctioningofthetestequipment. fromthetailpipe.Ifyourvehicledoesnotmeet If the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL), also emissionsstandards,youwillalsoreceiveafact known as the “Check Engine’’ light, on the sheetdescribingthemostcommonreasonsfor dashboard remains illuminated in 1998 and newer vehiclesfailingthetestandinformationonwhatto model year vehicles, the owners will be advised donext. that it may indicate a malfunction of the vehicle Vehicleswithemissionsfaultsshouldbefully emissions system. repairedandpassaretesttoensurethatharmful pollutantsarenotbeingemittedintotheair.Drive Cleanrecognizes,however,thatthisisnotalways 6 7 possibleandhasestablishedaconditionalpassfor Vehicle emissions history light-dutyvehicles. Toobtainaconditionalpass,avehiclemustcomply Usethe“VehicleEmissionsHistory”searchonthe withtherequirementsoftheRepairCostLimit DriveCleanwebsitetofindouttheresultsofyour (RCL),whichputsacapontheamountthatmustbe vehicles’previousemissionstest(s).Simplyenter spentonemissions-relatedrepairsbeforeavehicle theVehicleIdentificationNumber(VIN)andclick canberetested.Aconditionalpasscannotbeused the“WhenwasmyVehicleTested”button. totransferownershipofavehicle. ForcompletedetailsonConditionalPassesandthe What if I disagree with the test RepairCostLimit,consultthebrochure“Whatisthe results or repairs? RepairCostLimit?” Ifyoudisagreewiththeresultsofthetestorthe TheDriveCleanpassreportforyourvehiclemaybe repairsperformedataDriveCleanfacility,youcan usedforregistrationrenewalsandownership contacttheDriveCleanCallCentreat1-888-758-2999 transfersforupto12monthsfromthedateofthe forassistance.Ifadisputecannotbesettled,you test.Thepassmustbevalidontheexpirydateof andtheotherpartymaybereferredtoan thelicenceplates,oronthedateofthelicence independentdisputeresolutionprocess.This transactioninthecaseofalaterenewalor disputeresolutionprocessisonlyavailableifyou ownershiptransfer. dealwithaccreditedDriveCleanfacilities. Whiletestresultsareautomaticallyrecordedinthe province’svehicleregistrationdatabase,vehicle ownersareadvisedtohaveacopyoftheirpass reportavailablewhenrenewingvehicleregistrations ortransferringownership. 8 9 Drive Clean’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program Heavy-dutydieseltrucksandbusesmustpassan emissionstestthatmeasurestheopacityofthe exhaust:theamountoflightthatisblockedbythe particulatematterintheexhaust.Thisappliesto heavy-dutyvehiclesregisteredanywhereinOntario. Thisparticulatematterisasourceofconcern becausethemicroscopicparticlesresultingfrom incompletefuelcombustionareeasilyabsorbedinto ourlungs.TheemissionsstandardsinOntarioare amongthemoststringentinNorthAmericaand The Environmental Protection Act includespecialrequirementsforheavy-dutydiesel schoolbusestohelpprotectthehealthofchildren. AllvehiclesonOntario’shighways–whether registeredinOntarioorfromout-of-province–are Non-dieselheavy-dutyvehiclesthatareregisteredin subjecttotheprovincialEnvironmentalProtection thelight-dutyvehicleprogramareaaresubjecttoa Act(EPA).Theactprohibitsexcessivevisible two-speedidletesttomeasurecarbonmonoxide exhaustemissionsandthealterationorremovalof andhydrocarbons.Thesevehiclesrequireannual emissionscontrolequipment.Thisappliesto testsandcannotqualifyforapassexemption. vehicleseveniftheyhavepassedaDriveCleantest. MoreinformationonDriveClean’sheavy-duty Inaddition,theEPAmakesitanoffencetobeinvolved vehicleprogram,includingavoluntaryincentive intheproductionofafalseDriveCleanpassortotry programtoencourageevenbetteremissions touseoneforavehicleregistrationtransaction. performancefromdieselvehicles,isavailable inthebrochure,“Drive Clean’sHeavy-Duty Vehicle Program”. 10 11