
310 CHAPTER 24
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FIGURE 24–5 Trace showing the Inspection/Maintenance 240 test. The test duplicates an urban test loop around Los Angeles,
California. The first “hump” in the curve represents the vehicle being accelerated to about 20 mph, then driving up a small hill to
about 30 mph and coming to a stop at 94 seconds. Then, the vehicle accelerates while climbing a hill and speeding up to about
50 mph during this second phase of the test.
I/M 240 TEST The I/M 240 test is the EPA’s enhanced test.
It is actually a portion of the 505-second FTP test used by the
manufacturers to certify their new vehicles. The “240” stands for
240 seconds of drive time on a dynamometer. This is a loaded-
mode transient test that uses constant volume sampling equip-
ment to measure the exhaust emissions in mass just as is done
during the FTP. The I/M 240 test simulates the first two hills of the
FTP drive cycle.
FIGURE 24–5 shows the I/M 240 drive trace.
OBD-II TESTING In 1999, the EPA requested that states
adopt OBD-II systems testing for 1996 and newer vehicles.
The OBD-II system is designed to illuminate the MIL and store
trouble codes any time a malfunction exists that would cause
the vehicle emissions to exceed 1 1/2 times the FTP limits. If
the OBD-II system is working correctly, the system should be
able to detect a vehicle failure that would cause emissions to
increase to an unacceptable level. The EPA has determined that
the OBD-II system should detect emission failures of a vehicle
even before that vehicle would fail an emissions test of the
type that most states are employing. Furthermore, the EPA has
determined that, as the population of OBD-II-equipped vehicles
increases and the population of older non-OBD-II-equipped
vehicles decreases, tailpipe testing will no longer be necessary.
The OBD-II testing program consists of a computer that
can scan the vehicle OBD-II system using the DLC connector.
The technician first performs a visual check of the vehicle MIL
light to determine if it is working correctly. Next, the computer
is connected to the vehicle’s DLC connector. The computer will
scan the vehicle OBD-II system and determine if there are any
codes stored that are commanding the MIL light on. In addition,
it will scan the status of the readiness monitors and determine if
they have all run and passed. If the readiness monitors have all
run and passed, it indicates that the OBD-II system has tested
all the components of the emission control system. An OBD-II
vehicle would fail this OBD-II test if the following occur:
The MIL light does not come on with the key on, engine off.
The MIL is commanded on.
A number (varies by state) of the readiness monitors have
not been run.
If none of these conditions are present, the vehicle will
pass the emissions test.
REMOTE SENSING The EPA requires that, in high-
enhanced areas, states perform on-the-road testing of vehicle
emissions. The state must sample 0.5% of the vehicle popula-
tion base in high-enhanced areas. This may be accomplished
by using a remote sensing device. This type of sensing may be
done through equipment that projects an infrared light through
the exhaust stream of a passing vehicle. The reflected beam
can then be analyzed to determine the pollutant levels coming
from the vehicle. If a vehicle fails this type of test, the vehicle
owner will receive notification in the mail that he or she must
take the vehicle to a test facility to have the emissions tested.
RANDOM ROADSIDE TESTING Some states may imple-
ment random roadside testing that would usually involve visual
checks of the emission control devices to detect tampering.
Obviously, this method is not very popular, as it can lead to
traffic tie-ups and delays on the part of commuters.
Exhaust analysis is an excellent tool to use for the diagno-
sis of engine performance concerns. In areas of the country that
require exhaust testing to be able to get license plates, exhaust
analysis must be able to do the following:
Establish a baseline for failure diagnosis and service
Identify areas of engine performance that are and are not
functioning correctly
Determine that the service and repair of the vehicle have
been accomplished and are complete