Hi all ... the little bug I'm trying to buy (78 Volks Bug Convertible) failed its emissions test today. My Hydrocarbon (is that right?) was too high (reading was 1747, limit is 400) and my Carbon Monoxide was too high (reading of 6.72, limit is 4.0).

What now? Does this sound like a really bad thing to fix, or is this common on old VWs? New buddy David (aka RetBugtech), is this something you can fix if I bring you the car? Or is it a major ordeal?

I actually haven't paid the owner for the car yet -- we agreed on a price, but then found out that the car did in fact have to go through emissions (we thought it didn't b/c it was more than 25 years old -- nope), so we were waiting to make sure it passed.

Help! Thanks in advance!
Deborah (the rookie) :wink:

Deb, you will probley never get it to pass. You have a carb and not fuel Inj. as your car is suppose to have . Antique Tag ?   Car has be 25 years old, Yours is 28 years old. One time buy about $35. They say you have limited miles to drive a year. Who's watching

We don't pay state income taxes but have the highest sales tax on groceries in the country.  They are talking about fixing that in the state legislature but who knows when that will happen.  We run antique tags on two of our cars now and haven't had a problem.  Saves you the $10.00 per year on the emissions and renewal of the tag every year.  Their loss our gain.  

There is this stuff at your local FLAPS (Friendly Local Auto Parts Store), I can't remember the name of it, but it GUARANTEES you to pass emissions or your money back.  Just ask for it.

As far as changing your carbuerator back to fuel injection, I don't think that is in the fine writing of the guarantee. :lol:

A trick they use out in the land of fruits and nuts (a.k.a. California) is to pass emmisions with one engine and then swap it out with their "real" engine.  Or, you could move south of the border (into GA) and not have to worry about it . . . yet.  It's probably coming soon.

It seems like there is some type of car gathering every day of the week these days so you should not ever have any problem with being on your way to one if you were to ever get pulled over.  Have fun!!!  

unfortunatley I live in a city full of the second type.

:thumbs-up: Way to go!! Another bug hits the roadway!!!

As a retired "law enforcement officer" let me chime in here. I am not familiar with the laws of your state except as you stated here. Let me put it in my terms "How Stupid Is That Law"??? How in Gods name do they expect it to be enforced?? Do the "minds" at the legislature that came up with this really think that an officer is going to stop every vehicle displaying an "antique" tag and verify they are going to a show, a club function, etc?? Jeeze give me a break. If someone was stopped how are you going to verify it??? Follow them to the show, the meeting? Duhhh!!  :roll:  The author of that section of the registration law is brain dead. :withstupid:

 If Georgia had a law like that and I was still active in enforcement, the odds of me stopping some one are "Slim To None" and Slim is out of town. I mean the car registered, it is mechanically safe, it has insurance and the driver is licensed. Why take any action?? Trust me I was a "Traffic Nazi"   :twisted:  no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I loved traffic enforcement period!!  My motto was, " Take no guff, cut no slack, hook em and book em and don't look back." And if I would not stop someone then the law must really suck in my opinion. Now I am not telling you to "break the law"   [-X  but I personally think the laws of average are on your side that you will never be stopped. I think most officers would feel  the importance of enforcement of this law is very very low. And as some of the others said there are some  in uniform that would be an exception. OK I'm off my soapbox.


(Makes note to pick up some doughnuts on the way home)