Texas Car Inspections: What Can Cause My Car To Fail an Emissions Test
Your Texas Auto Inspection Made Simple at Driver’s Edge
Passing your Texas car inspection is vital to receiving your vehicle registration each year. However, some drivers are unaware that their vehicle is about to fail. Some vehicles may fail for reasons as small as a loose gas cap, while other vehicles may require professional repair services to get back on the road.
At Driver's Edge, we've worked closely with Texas drivers for generations, helping to keep vehicles in their best mechanical condition so that they can pass their Texas vehicle inspections with ease. In this guide, explore a few reasons that can cause your vehicle to fail a Texas car inspection, and trust Driver’s Edge to help your vehicle pass the inspection with flying colors.
What Is a Texas Vehicle Inspection?
A Texas vehicle inspection is an annual inspection required by the Texas Department of Public Safety to ensure that each vehicle meets the state's safety and emissions standards. This annual inspection includes inspecting vehicle components to ensure each critical component is operational and that the vehicle is safe to drive on the road.
Seventeen Texas counties also require vehicles to meet clean air standards. This means that some drivers will require an emissions test to ensure that each vehicle's emissions components are up to standards. If your vehicle were to fail, you would not be able to receive a new inspection sticker — meaning you would not legally be able to drive it on the road. Here are a few components that will be inspected each year during a Texas vehicle inspection:
- Brake system
- Tires
- Emission components
- Catalytic converter
- Horn
- Windshield wipers
- Side view mirrors
- Seat belts
- Exhaust system
If a vehicle were to fail a Texas car inspection, the driver would have to perform necessary repairs on their vehicle before they can retake the test for their vehicle to pass. At Driver's Edge, our mechanics are experts at diagnosing and repairing vehicles of all makes and models. If your vehicle were to fail, our mechanics can easily perform the necessary repairs.
Why a Vehicle May Fail Its Annual Inspection
There are a number of reasons that a vehicle can fail a Texas car inspection. Here are a few common reasons why a vehicle may fail its inspection:
Check Engine Light
A check engine light is an automatic failure for a Texas car inspection. This light indicates that there is a mechanical malfunction somewhere in your engine and that your vehicle is not performing according to its original design. A check engine light can come on for any reason, ranging from a simple oxygen sensor failure to something more serious, such as a malfunctioning catalytic converter.
Clogged Air Filter
Your vehicle uses two oxygen sensors to determine how much air and fuel should be fed into your engine. For your vehicle to run efficiently, the perfect mixture of air and fuel must be delicately calculated by your vehicle. A clogged air filter means that your engine may be starved of oxygen, and it may overcompensate by adding more fuel into the engine, making it “run rich.” While a clogged air filter may or may not cause your check engine light to come on, it can certainly cause your vehicle to produce more emissions and fail a Texas car inspection.
Loose Gas Cap
While a loose gas cap sounds like the silliest reason to fail a Texas vehicle inspection, it actually happens more than you think. A loose gas cap can create a vacuum leak with your fuel system, which can trigger a check engine light. Because a check engine light is an automatic failure, a loose gas cap can cause your vehicle to fail.
Emissions Testing
Because 17 counties in Texas require an emissions test, problems with your emission system would easily cause your vehicle to fail your Texas car inspection. Problems with your emissions system will almost certainly cause your vehicle’s check engine light to illuminate, which is an automatic failure.
Parked Too Long
If your vehicle has been parked for an extended period, it can cause your vehicle to produce an increased amount of emissions for a period — even if no warning lights have illuminated.
Pro tip: If your vehicle has recently been sitting for an extended period, we recommend driving it for about 50 miles to allow carbon buildup and other contaminants to burn off before taking your vehicle in for a Texas car inspection.
Brakes
Because your vehicle's brake system is a critical component to your vehicle and necessary for safety, your brake pads will be inspected when you bring your vehicle in for its Texas car inspection. Ensuring that you have sufficient pad thickness is key to passing this part of the test. However, most vehicles don't have a sensor or gauge that tells drivers the thickness of their brake pads. Performing a pre-inspection check with a professional from Driver's Edge is key to passing this part of the inspection.
Tires
Low tire tread can easily cause your vehicle to fail its Texas car inspection. However, some drivers are unaware of whether or not their tires have sufficient tread.
Pro tip: Perform the penny test.
The Penny Test
To perform the penny test, take a regular penny and stick it in the groove of your tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your tires are considered unsafe, and you will likely fail your Texas car inspection.
Never Fail Your Texas Auto Inspection at Driver’s Edge
Whether your vehicle is in tip-top shape and you'd like a professional to perform a pre-inspection check-up to ensure that you will pass, or your vehicle has known issues and you'd like to have these repairs completed, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at Driver's Edge.
Our mechanics are experts at helping vehicles pass the Texas car inspection with ease. We’re a certified service center that performs the Texas state inspection. Our ASE-certified mechanics are capable not only of performing the inspection but also of preparing your vehicle with the necessary maintenance or repairs to ensure that it can pass.
Schedule an appointment today, and see for yourself why Driver's Edge is the first choice among drivers looking to pass their Texas vehicle inspection.
