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Prius can't pass Georgia emissions test

Drew Dowdell

By Drew Dowdell
in Toyota

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Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

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Prius can't pass Georgia emissions test

Eco-conscious drivers in Georgia are finding out that the grass isn't necessarily greener on their side of the fence. 2007 is the first year drivers of the 2004 Prius are required to get their cars tested for emissions. You'd think the clean-running hybrid would have no problems breezing through the exam. But, as CNN reports, no matter how many times Georgia drivers try to test one, they all fail. Huh?

Well, sorta. It's more like the Prius refuses to take the test. When the Prius is set to idle at 2,500 rpm on the tester, it does what it's supposed to do. It shuts off the engine to save fuel. Georgia's pre-hybrid equipment issues a failing grade because of an incomplete test.

Instead of just acknowledging its system is outdated, Georgia still requires Prius owners to pay the $25 testing fee for an "aborted test." That allows them to get a failed certificate from the tester which car owners must take to one of five waiver centers (M-F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) to be granted permission to buy a license plate. Don't ya love bureaucracy?

As one man in the CNN video says, "They say no good deed goes unpunished." Ain't that the truth.

:lol: :lol:

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Paolino Apprentice

Paolino

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Wouldn't the simple solution be to deplete the battery to a point where the engine starts so they could perform the test? Several things cause the car to engage the engine. If it's below a certain temperature, the engine is on to warm up the car and provide heat. If the a/c is on while the car is only running on battery, it drains it quickly.

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BrewSwillis Newbie

BrewSwillis

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Toyota might need a software flash to put the car in like a "test idle" mode or something?

This isn't the tester's fault. They have made a standardized test for all vehicles, and it's not their fault the Prius won't idle. The Prius should be able to idle somehow to get approved by the government.

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JT64 Newbie

JT64

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The idea that the engine needs to turn ON to test "2500 rpm idle" is twisted.

The Prius is delivering the truth.

At idle, it produces ZERO emissions. And that should be recorded as the official test result.

Because the engine does turn off.

Because it really produces ZERO emissions at idle.

In any case, all cars have diagnostic modes.

The prius does already have an engine always-on diagnostic mode.

No patch needed.

Emissions shops just need to know how to turn on diagnostic mode.

It's the standard hit the brakes a couple times, put car in park, hit brakes more, yadda yadda... *pop* enter Diagnostic Mode.

So a good thing to do, would be for state law or federal law to mandate car companies to provide shops with easily accessible info on how to turn on diagnostic modes.

Edited by JT64
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Sixty8panther Newbie

Sixty8panther

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Buying a Prius is NOT a good deed!!! :mellow:

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Hudson Newbie

Hudson

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the fact that we have to put our heads together to figure out how to get this test to work on this car is pathetic considering toyota's engineers should be doing that.

is that MOVING FORWARD? no.

This is ABSOLUTELY NOT Toyota's problem. The Prius shouldn't have to pollute just to match Georgia's test.

I know you guys like to poke holes in other automakers' products, especially Toyota's. But find something much more substantial than this (and you guys have). Actually thinking Toyota is at fault here is just clutching at straws and makes you guys look like you're trying to defend someone (GM) who needs excuses. You and I know that's not the case.

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Drew Dowdell Grand Master

Drew Dowdell

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This is ABSOLUTELY NOT Toyota's problem. The Prius shouldn't have to pollute just to match Georgia's test.

I know you guys like to poke holes in other automakers' products, especially Toyota's. But find something much more substantial than this (and you guys have). Actually thinking Toyota is at fault here is just clutching at straws and makes you guys look like you're trying to defend someone (GM) who needs excuses. You and I know that's not the case.

I don't think anyone in here was defending GM. This is mostly about making fun of the state of Georgia.

This post sums it up best.

There are no standardized tests and Toyota can't incorporate a testing routine for every state. The Prius is OBDII compliant. Unfortunately Georgia isn't.

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