Yep, and it doesn't have to cost much. If you have a smartphone, look at getting the Torque App and an OBDII -> Bluetooth adaptor from Amazon/Ebay.
They're both cheap and will tell you as much about your Jeep as the pro kit.
Being a 96, it should be OBDII but do check for the socket first.

 

Emission testing isn't that bad if it runs right. My latest MOT had amazingly clean emissions on Petrol and the Jeep doesn't run on petrol 99% of the time. Unless that is why it was so clean.

 

But why should you have to have it tested at all? It's nothing but a nuisance, and a way for the government to collect taxes.

 

Florida tried it for a while...caused way to many problems both on the taxpayer and the State. I always thought it was ridiculous that all the buses, gas or diesel, big trucks, older vehicles were exempt. Always liked watch the big black cloud coming out of a F250 going past the inspection station. But not to ignore the original poster, you may want to try to steam clean the inside of your motor... https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f30/st...-4-0-a-226299/
doesn't cost anything and it might get it to pass emissions.

 

If you rev your engine does the cat sound like a gumball machine? If so, it's toast. It could be choking the exhaust if some of the loose internal structure is piling up inside at the exhaust end of it.

Just for grins I'd like to see if my 96 would pass that emissions test. I've replaced only the aft O2 sensor when I replaced the cat and muffler about a year ago. As far as I know, the other sensors, aside from the CPS I changed two years ago, have yet to be changed.

 

agreed and the BAFX will work on an OBD2 '96..other cheap ones may not

If the Cat is stuffed, it will may/should throw a P0138 code..which did not illuminate my Engine Check light, but would return straight after clearing (until I replaced the Cat, it started rattling)

To my understanding, the Cat reduces NOX by using certain rare metals as catalysts..they become depleted over time

 

I seem to have it lucky... My state says if it was original equipment you are required to have it on the vehicle.... They don't even test it... I have a cat housing on my exhaust but i am pretty sure it is empty inside...

 

Did the spark plugs yesterday and replaced the cat. Plugs all looked fine. Going to test it again sometime this week so wish me luck.

 

You will get increased NOx with carbon build up in the combustion chambers. There is a fairly simple and cost effective way of reducing these deposits.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/cle...t-free-226313/

 

Just platinum, I believe.

 

I agree with that to a point... and that line for me is while I think on older vehicles it should be more lenient... I don't think any of us want a ton of Uncle Buck style land yacht's putting out more smoke than an old coal fired locomotive rolling down the streets... LOL

 

Having lived in NJ, where inspection rules used to be crazy with safety checks, I don't mind checking for emissions. My grandfather once failed inspection (under the old rules, about 20 years ago) for a wiper blade going bad (some of the end rubber had started to tear. I once failed because I picked up a nail in the tire on my way to inspection. I pulled back into line and threw the spare on to go through. I then failed because they said my odometer was not working, since it had not changed since I was last there. I politely asked for the manager, who upon realizing that my prior visit was less than 30 minutes before, had a good laugh and passed it through.

I do think that they should check for emissions, but perhaps relax standards for older vehicles. I also have seem some people who try to get by with a mad max style death trap that should not be on the road. The standards are there because there are too many idiots who do not take care of the vehicle other than putting gas in it.

 

Good luck.

 

Living in a city that has a brown cloud over it in the summer, I'd prefer we do emissions inspections here.

But I also think it's reasonable for cars over 25 years old to be at least partially exempt. At that age, probably 90% or more of the cars have been scrapped so there aren't that many left to be contributing to the cloud. I'd support a more lax standard being applied to vehicles 25 years and older because replacement emissions parts are very hard to find. I wouldn't support a no limit standard. Maybe set a "gross polluter" level to keep the really bad vehicles in check. And have it be a tail pipe sniff only. No visual inspection. As long as you're running clean, who cares how you get there?

 

This thread kinda went off in a totally pointless inspection rant direction. To the OP, add a can of Seafoam for a tank or two and also what does your air filter look like.