News Release 191

GATEWAY VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM
COMPLETES SIX MONTHS OF TESTING

Volume 36-191

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 10, 2008 -- Since Oct. 1, licensed inspection stations have performed more than 350,000 on-board diagnostics emissions tests at 729 testing locations in the St. Louis nonattainment area as part of the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program.The nonattainment area includes the city of St. Louis and Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties.

The state's contractor, SysTech International LLC, continues to provide technical support to all participating shops. The biggest challenge for shops so far has been the use of the fingerprint scanner. The typical environment of an auto shop in some cases has affected the equipment’s ability to clearly read fingerprints so an employee can log in the system to begin testing. Inspectors are required to use the scanner to ensure that qualified employees are performing the emissions test. A simple wipe of the thumb prior to using the equipment has in most cases resolved this issue.

The biggest motorist challenge has been readiness monitor resets after vehicle repairs. A vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostic system uses various readiness monitors to determine whether any problems are occurring that could require the malfunction indicator lamp to illuminate and a diagnostic trouble code to be stored in the system.  Setting the monitors to completed or ready can usually be accomplished through a combination of city and highway driving over a three-to five-day period. For more information about readiness monitor resetting, see the On-Board Diagnostics Fact Sheet, check the owner’s manual or consult a repair technician. If the readiness monitors are not set after this period of time, the vehicle may need additional diagnosis or repair. The functionality of the readiness monitors is essential to maintaining the effectiveness of the vehicle’s emissions-control system.

Motorists with questions about their test are encouraged to contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 314-416-2115 or 800-361-4827 or by e-mail at imunit@dnr.mo.gov.
Auto shops that encounter technical problems are encouraged to contact SysTech by calling
1-866-OBD-TEST (623-8378). SysTech personnel will determine the best course of action for each situation. Upon notification on its hotline, SysTech will make every reasonable attempt to repair or replace hardware within an average of four business hours. At a minimum, these repairs will occur within the first weekday after notification.

Participating station information can be found on the program’s Web site at www.GatewayVIP.com. Each station's name, location and phone number have been added to the Web site. Motorists can also look for an auto shop near them with the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program blue reflective sign displayed with the yellow Missouri Official Vehicle Inspection Station sign. They can also call
1-866-OBD-TEST (623-8378). When searching the Web, motorists can choose a shop list by zip code or by city. The Department of Natural Resources recommends motorists call an inspection station prior to visiting the station.

Local auto shops are testing 1996 and newer gasoline-powered vehicles and 1997 and newer diesel-powered vehicles registered in the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area using on-board diagnostics equipment. Model year vehicles 1995 and older are exempt from the emissions testing requirements, as they do not contain the On-Board Diagnostic equipment necessary for testing. However, safety inspections are still required biennially for all model years.

The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program is jointly administered by the Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The program is a key component of the ongoing effort to improve air quality in the St. Louis region.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

###