I just took my 1994 Volvo 850 to get it smogged and it fail because the engine lights doesn't turn on before start and when the engine is running, I changed the bulb on the dash and, after I installed the new one the engine light is still off. Someone told me that if I have a 1994 Volvo 850 or older that they can pass the smog, because it's older and it has a conflict with the transmission engine lights on? Is this a correct info? or the guy that failed my car just doesn't know what he's doing?

 

Welcome to the Forum. I have not heard of this loop hole that your friend is talking about but I would think each state is different. As for the CEL not lighting up when you put the car in the on position without the engine running, try this. Check to see if the OBDI box under the hood is working and also see if you can read codes from the OBDII port under the coin tray in the car. If you can't, that is not good.

 

Hello FCPGroton, thanks for the info. I have to check my Haynes book about the OBDll under the coin tray. Because in my Haynes book the OBDll is only on 1996 Volvo 850 New models I think?, I have to recheck that. On my notes before, I forgot to mentioned that My 1994 Volvo can pass the smog without the Check Engine Light on before the car is actually running. The guy that I took my car before told me that I needed to have the Check Engine light on before the car is actually running or otherwise it's a fail. The second guy that I went to said that if my car is 1994 or Older, the guy that actually put my car on the smog test should had passed it because my emission is very low for him to fail me just because of the Check Engine light not turning on before the car is actually running. I hope I stated this clear.

 

Hello FCPGroton, I just check my Haynes Repair manual and it stated that: In 1996 and later models equipped with OBDll, the fault codes must be retrieved with a scan tool. I have a 1994 Volvo 850 and my OBD is in the engine compartment.