new to MA - emissions fail + indy (or not) service repair (mechanic) options

[lswing]

What caused the fail? Scan the car with VCDS, any CEL recently? Was it a tailpipe sniffer and maybe you're running rich?

[tantheman]

What caused the fail? Scan the car with VCDS, any CEL recently? Was it a tailpipe sniffer and maybe you're running rich?

the report says "emissions: failed". do not have a VCCDS (I know I should have one) and yes there was a CEL recently that we erased and it had not come back since last week. Not sure about what test run.

[lswing]

the report says "emissions: failed". do not have a VCCDS (I know I should have one) and yes there was a CEL recently that we erased and it had not come back since last week. Not sure about what test run.

There's one problem, you need to drive 200-300 miles for the ECU to reset after clearing faults. You really need to know what threw the CEL. So scan with VCDS. Fix the issue and then drive a while and you should be good. You can't clear the CEL without fixing the issue basically, if you want to pass.

[tantheman]

There's one problem, you need to drive 200-300 miles for the ECU to reset after clearing faults. You really need to know what threw the CEL. So scan with VCDS. Fix the issue and then drive a while and you should be good. You can't clear the CEL without fixing the issue basically, if you want to pass.

I completely agree... I am hoping to put the inspection behind me as quickly as possible and then attend to the CEL in case if it comes back. The car feels strong so I would like assume the CEL will not come back.