The Carfax report shows that the emission inspection failed on 5/22/06 at 30k miles. Then they went back for another inspection the next day on 5/23 after driving the car for 60 miles. It initially reported failed then on the next line it says passed. The dealer's explanation on this was that the car has been sitting idle for too long. After driving some highway miles the next day, it passed because it cleared up the exhaust pipe. He will make sure that tomorrow's inspection will pass for me before I pick up the car.

Is this something worthy to be concerned about?

 

doesnt seem like a big deal.What year Accord is it ?

 

2003 Coupe V6.

 

when the car sits idle for a long time, i mean months...it won't pass smog cause the sensors aren't up and running...that happened to my sisters prelude, all you really have to do is drive it for a while and put new gasoline in the car...basically get all of the systems up and running...don't worry about it, you didn't get ripped off.

 

It's true about a car idling for too long while waiting in line to get emission tested. I know of instances of if your waiting 15 or more minutes to get on the rolllers, your engine loses the heat it needs to burn up all the nox that's created. That's why they tell you to highway drive the car before to make sure the engine is nice and toasty to burn up all the nox.

 

Need the catalytic converter to warm up with some driving, it makes sense to me.

 

Both the engine and catylic converter need to be at normal operating temp. to get the best emessions/mpg/power out of them.