05/09/2026
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...NY STATE INSPECTION. This will be a rather long post so please read all. For over a decade NY state has had it where our vehicles won't pass if the check engine light is on. But for some reason vehicles continuously come into the shop with the light on when they are here for an inspection and not a diagnosis. So I'm saying this as bold, maybe even slightly, hurtful to feelings. You cannot expect a shop to always diagnosis your check engine light when you only have a booked time slot for an inspection, as there are other vehicles with booked time slots. We all know the reason for the light, could be simple or more complicated, so DO NOT wait until last minute to get your problems resolved. And don't be upset when #1, your old sticker is expired and has to be scraped and the vehicle failed. #2 you have to be rescheduled for diagnosis, which can be days to weeks at peak times of the season. Also when a customer says they can leave it, doesn't always mean it will be looked at that day, it is at that point a fill in at the next available time. Lastly, when the code is finally resolved and computer is cleared, the vehicle has to go through potentially a few drive cycles to get the system monitors ready. So again, what may seem quick and simple to people can actually take more time. So the moral of the story is- don't wait until the last minute to have the light resolved or think that it's always something simple.
