Repair Info - Emissions Repair Explained
Overview | Vehicle Emissions Performance WarrantiesVehicle Manufacturer Warranties
If your vehicle has failed its AirCare inspection, the repair may be covered under the manufacturer's emissions control warranty. This section explains warranty provisions as they apply to AirCare.
When a vehicle is new, the manufacturer certifies that it complies with all relevant standards for the jurisdiction where it will be sold. That includes safety and emissions compliance. Warranty provisions ensure that it will continue to operate as designed and comply with applicable standards for a certain period of time after it is sold and put into use.
Prior to the 1998 model year, minimum warranty provisions were not mandated in B.C. Each vehicle manufacturer could provide different coverage, however, competitive factors resulted in similar provisions for most vehicles.
For 1998 and newer model year vehicles, British Columbia law requires minimum warranty provisions for all vehicles. The manufacturer can still exceed these minimum provisions if they choose. You should always refer to your warranty documentation to be certain.
Types of Warranties
In B.C. there are two types of emissions warranties that apply to 1998 and newer vehicles: the Emissions Defect Warranty and the Emissions Performance Warranty. These minimum warranty requirements are specified in the Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Warranty Regulation [external link] under the Environmental Management Act. For vehicles built prior to 1998, warranty coverage may be similar but was not a legal requirement in B.C.
Emissions Performance Warranty
The Emissions Performance Warranty covers the failure to pass a provincial emission inspection within 2 years or 38,624 km (24,000 miles). The warranty states that if a vehicle fails to pass the emissions test, the manufacturer will pay for all costs associated with bringing the vehicle up to applicable emission standards.
Emissions Defect Warranty
The Emissions Defect Warranty provides coverage for all emission control components for a period of at least 2 years or 38,624 km (24,000 miles). In addition, major emission control components including the catalytic converter, the on-board computer, and the on-board diagnostic system are covered for 8 years or 128,748 km (80,000 miles).
Note that the descriptions above are minimum warranty requirements beginning with the 1998 model year. However, similar provisions may exist for older vehicles, and for some vehicles the duration of the warranty may be longer. You should check your warranty documentations for your specific vehicle to determine the applicability.
Applicability to AirCare
Emissions warranty documentation may make reference to a state emissions test, or a provincial emission test, or a short test. All of these phrases are general terms that refer to a test that's used by a governing authority to determine compliance with in-use vehicle emission standards. In British Columbia, this means an AirCare inspection.
Basically, if a vehicle is within the specified emissions warranty coverage period and fails AirCare, the defect that caused the vehicle to fail the test should be repaired free of charge.
More Information
You should always refer to the warranty documentation that came with your vehicle for specific details such as what is covered and for how long.
British Columbia has enacted the Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Warranty Regulation [external link] under the Environmental Management Act. Note that this regulation applies to 1998 model year and newer vehicles only.
Vehicle Parts Warranties
Individual replacement parts, whether manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer or an aftermarket parts manufacturer, often come with their own warranty provisions guarding against defects. While usually of a short duration, in some cases the period of coverage may be longer, sometimes "for the life of the vehicle".
Details of the warranty coverage should be specified on the warranty documentation that came with the replacement part.
