GENERAL
§ 177.201. General requirements.
I/M emission tests, OBD-I/M checks, evaporative system function tests, gas cap tests and visual inspections shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1) Vehicles shall be tested in as-received condition. A vehicle capable of operating on gasoline and other fuel is subject to testing and shall be tested while operating in the gasoline mode.
(2) An initial test is the emission test that occurs the first time in a test cycle. The initial test shall be performed without prior repair or adjustment to the subject vehicle at the emission inspection station, except as provided for in the evaporative system integrity test. An emission inspection performed after the initial test in a test cycle shall be considered a retest.
(3) An official test, once initiated, shall be performed in its entirety regardless of immediate outcome except in the case of an invalid test condition, unsafe conditions or fast pass/fail algorithms.
(4) Tests involving measurements shall be performed with approved equipment that has been calibrated according to the quality control procedures contained in 40 CFR Part 51, Subpart S, Appendix A (relating to calibrations, adjustments and quality control), which is adopted by reference, or as specified in Appendix A (relating to acceleration simulation mode: Pennsylvania procedures, standards, equipment specifications and quality control requirements).
(5) Vehicles may not be tested if the exhaust system is missing or leaking, or if the vehicle is in an unsafe condition.
(6) Alteration of a vehicle’s configuration so that it changes from a certified to a noncertified configuration is prohibited. In the inspection process, vehicles that have been altered from their original certified configuration shall be tested in the same manner as other subject vehicles, in accordance with the following:
(i) Vehicles with engines other than the engine originally installed by the manufacturer, or an identical replacement engine shall be subject to the test procedures and standards for the chassis type and model year, including visual equipment inspections for components that are part of the original certified configuration and part of the normal inspection.
(ii) Vehicles that have been altered from an engine of one fuel type to another fuel type that is subject to the I/M program, for example, from a diesel engine to a gasoline engine shall be subject to the test procedures and standards for the current fuel type, and to the requirements of subparagraph (i).
(iii) Vehicles that are altered to a fuel type for which there is no certified configuration shall be tested according to the most stringent emission standards established for that vehicle type and model year. Emission control device requirements may be waived if the Department determines that the alternatively fueled vehicle configuration would meet the new vehicle standards for that model year without these devices.
Source The provisions of this § 177.201 amended November 21, 2003, effective November 22, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 5706. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (235265) to (235266).
Cross References This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 177.51 (relating to program requirements).
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