Chrysler is randomly soliciting Challengers to perform mandated emissions tests. Your car will be picked up and tested on a dyno for 80 miles, over a 30-day span. For all this, Dodge will give you $250! You can't even buy a MOPAR CAI for that!! Any takers? Here are the testing details: Emissions Test Program using Customer-Owned Chrysler Vehicles The Federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the California Air Resources Board (CARB), require vehicle manufacturers to perform emissions tests on customer owned and operated vehicles that are 1-2 years old (between 10,000-50,000 miles) and 3-4 years old (over 50,000 miles) to verify the long term robustness of their exhaust emissions systems. This required test program is called the In-Use Verification Program (IUVP). Chrysler works with Roush Industries and Automotive Testing & Development Services (ATDS) to procure and test customer-owned vehicles for IUVP emissions testing. The government has guidelines on how to do an IUVP program that all the automotive companies must adhere to. Below is a summary of the Chrysler process: 1) Chrysler downloads mail lists containing the owners for each engine/vehicle test group near a test facility, then using a random number generator, assigns random numbers to each. Roush or ATDS sends mailings to the customers with the lowest random numbers. 2) Roush or ATDS collects the customer reply information and sends it to Chrysler, who then determines their eligibility and the order in which to call the replying customers for procurement, based on their random numbers. 3) Roush or ATDS contacts the customers and goes through a telephone questionnaire (if applicable), arranges for their rental vehicles, and sets up the pickup location, date and time with each customer. Note: Vehicles must be tested in as-is condition. Therefore, if there is a safety issue with a vehicle, it is usually rejected from the program. 4) Roush or ATDS meets with the customer at the appointed time and location, inspects their vehicle, and transports the vehicle to the test site. The customer is provided a rental vehicle with a full tank of gas. 5) There are currently four locations at which Chrysler IUVP emissions testing is performed: Chrysler Chelsea Proving Grounds (CPG), in Chelsea, Michigan Chrysler Technology Center (CTC), in Auburn Hills, Michigan Environmental Testing Corporation (ETC), in Aurora, Colorado Automotive Testing & Development Services, Inc. (ATDS), in Ontario, California Note: For customer-owned vehicles in the California area, some are emissions tested right at the ATDS facility in California and others are procured by ATDS, then shipped to the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan for testing, then shipped back to California when done. If customer vehicles are shipped, they are shipped in an enclosed car hauler (looks like a semi-truck with sides and a roof to protect the vehicle). 6) Emissions testing consists of prepping the vehicle, securing it on a dynamometer and connecting an exhaust gas analyzer to the tailpipe. The vehicle’s tires rotate on the dynamometer rollers as the vehicle is “driven”, simulating both city and highway driving. 7) Some vehicles are also selected for passive evaporative emissions testing (ex. tires and plastics give off small amounts of various gases). These vehicles are put into a sealed room for 2 days, while the air quality is periodically monitored. They are also ORVR tested (On-board Refueling Vapor Recovery). For this test, the vehicle is in a different type of sealed room, where the air quality is continuously monitored while the fuel tank is being filled. This tests how well the canister in the vehicle prevents gasoline fumes from escaping into the atmosphere when refueling the vehicle. 8) Once all testing is completed, the vehicle is picked up by Roush or ATDS, who cleans it and fills the gas tank, then returns it to the customer and picks up the rental vehicle. An incentive check is given to the customer at that time.
