7 Del. Admin. Code § 1126-4.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 1, July 1, 2024

Section 1126-4.0 - Vehicle inspection requirements

4.1 General provisions.

4.1.1 Each vehicle subject to this regulation not otherwise exempted under Section 1.0 shall be inspected at least once every two years at an official inspection station operated by the Division.

4.1.2 All subject fleet vehicles shall be inspected at an official inspection station operated by the Division or at an alternate inspection station approved by the Director.

4.1.3 HC, CO, CO+CO2 (or CO2 alone) emission standards shall be applicable to all vehicles subject to these requirements (e.g. 1995 and older vehicles) and if a vehicle fails any applicable emissions standard, repairs shall be required for failure of all any emissions standards.

4.1.4 Initial tests (i.e., those occurring for the first time in a test cycle) shall be performed without repair or adjustment to the vehicle being tested at the inspection station, before or during the test.

4.1.5 An official test, once initiated, shall be performed in its entirety regardless of intermediate outcomes except in the case of invalid test condition, unsafe conditions, fast pass/fail algorithms, or, in the case of the on-board diagnostic (OBD) system check, unset readiness codes.

4.1.6 Tests involving measurements shall be performed with equipment that has been calibrated according to the quality control procedures established by the Department.

4.1.7 After an initial failure of any portion of any exhaust emission test in the LEIM program, all vehicles shall be retested automatically. Both initial and automatic retest shall constitute Test 1. After failure of Test 2, prior to Test 3, proof of appropriate repairs must be submitted indicating the type of repairs and parts installed (if any). This shall be done by completing the "Vehicle Emissions Repair Report Form" as developed and provided by the Division.

4.1.8 Any vehicle entering the inspection lane while smoking excessively or with coolant, oil, or fuel leaks, or any other such defect that is unsafe, shall be rejected from the testing area.

4.2 Exhaust emission testing procedures and standards. Exhaust emissions which include 1968 to 1995 model year vehicles subject to exhaust emission testing under this regulation shall be equal to or less than the rates specified in Table 4-1; determined in response to the following idle test requirements:

4.2.1 The motor vehicle associate shall insert a probe at least 10 inches into the exhaust pipe.

4.2.2 Genuine dual exhaust vehicles shall be tested with a dual exhaust probe.

4.2.3 The analysis of exhaust gas concentrations shall begin 10 seconds after the applicable test mode begins.

4.2.4 Exhaust gas concentrations shall be analyzed at a minimum rate of two times per second. The measured value for pass/fail determinations shall be a simple running average of the measurements taken over five seconds. The vehicle shall be tested in as received condition with the transmission in neutral or park and all accessories turned off. The engine shall be at normal operating temperature and idle speed.

4.2.5 The test shall immediately end upon reaching the overall maximum test time of 145 seconds.

TABLE 4-1 EXHAUST EMISSION STANDARDS ACCORDING TO MODEL YEAR (1968-1995)
Group	Auto/Station Wagons (passenger vehicles)	Pickup/Van under 8501 pounds	Hydrocarbon (HC) Limit (ppm)	Carbon Monoxide (CO) Limit (%)
1	1968-70	1970-72	900	9.00
2	1971-74	1973-78	600	6.00
3	1975-79	1979-83	400	4.00
4	1980	(none)	220	2.00
5	1981-95	1984-95	220	1.20

4.3 Evaporative emission procedures and standards. 1975 through 1995 model year vehicles shall pass the gas cap test pursuant to the following requirements:

4.3.1 The motor vehicle associate shall perform a visual check of the gas cap for proper fit and installation. The gas cap shall be checked to ensure that it is properly, but not excessively tighten, and shall be tighten if necessary. If the gas cap is missing or damaged, the gas cap shall fail the visual inspection.

4.3.2 The motor vehicle associate shall locate the correct gas cap adapter model for the gas cap. The gas cap will be tested (pressurized) using the adapter to determine the effectiveness of the gas cap and identify significant leaks. If significant leaks are identified, the gas cap shall fail the gas cap testing procedures.

4.3.3 This completes the gas cap testing procedures.

4.4 On-board diagnostic procedures and standards

4.4.1 The following vehicles shall be subject to OBD II tests pursuant to the following procedures:

4.4.1.1 Model year 1996 and later model year gasoline fueled vehicles weighing up to 8,500 GVW;

4.4.1.2 Model year 1997 and later model year diesel fueled vehicles weighing up to 8,500 GVW; and

4.4.1.3 Model year 2008 and later model year gasoline and diesel fueled vehicles weighing 8,501 -14,000 GVW.

4.4.2 Test procedure

4.4.2.1 The motor vehicle associate shall locate the Diagnostic Link Connector in the vehicle and insert the on-board diagnostic connecting cable. The vehicle's emission control device information from the vehicle's computer shall be transmitted to the DMV on-board diagnostic equipment for the test to be completed successfully.

4.4.2.2 The motor vehicle associate shall observe the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp) when the ignition key is in the on position and then when the engine is turned on and running.

4.4.3 Vehicles shall fail the OBD test if any of the lowing conditions exist:

4.4.3.1 Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is not lit during key on, engine off check of bulb;

4.4.3.2 MIL lit (or commanded on) for any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) during engine on mode;

4.4.3.3 Data Link Connector (DLC) is damaged, missing, tampered or obstructed by an after-market device;

4.4.3.4 More than two unset readiness codes for model years 1996-2000; or

4.4.3.5 More than one unset readiness code for model years 2001 and newer.

4.4.4 1995 and newer light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks not equipped by the manufacturer with certified on-board diagnostics systems with the exception of tampered or removed systems shall be required to undergo the curb idle test.

4.5 Visual equipment inspection standards.

4.5.1 1975 through 1995 model year vehicles shall pass a visual inspection of the catalytic converter.

4.5.2 Visual inspection of emission control devices shall be performed through direct observation or through indirect observation using a mirror. These inspections shall include a determination as to whether each subject device is present.

4.5.3 Vehicles shall fail visual inspection of subject emission control devices if such devices are part of the original certified configuration and are found to be missing, modified, disconnected, or improperly connected.

7 Del. Admin. Code § 1126-4.0

26 DE Reg. 598 (1/1/2023) (Final)