Auto Tests Toughen

When New York State announced it would phase in a stricter auto-emissions test at the beginning of this year, it appeared that many service station owners, not willing to ante up the $45,000 for the new equipment required, would drop out of the program, leaving motorists in a bind.

However, although the Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association urged a boycott and challenged the new requirements in court last year, a survey of local repair shops shows that most will continue to offer inspections.

"Either you're going to spend the money to stay in business, or you're not," said Jack Van Kovics, the owner of the Harbor Heights Mobil station in Sag Harbor, who decided to continue doing inspections.

Many Will Fail

When the system is fully operational by the end of the year, it will be much harder to pass. It has been estimated that over 20 percent of cars now on the road will fail.

"They're going to get all the junk off the road," said Peter Rucano Jr., who runs inspections for Marshall and Sons in Montauk. Motorists whose vehicles fail will be required to spend up to $450 on emissions-related repairs before they can qualify for a one-year waiver.

"And that's only a one-year waiver," said Vinnie Balcuns of Balcuns Service Center on North Main Street in East Hampton, who is also continuing the tests. "The second year, you'd have to spend the $450 again. It won't make a lot of sense."

No Cheating

Motorists who want to be certain their cars pass should continue to do preventive maintenance to their emissions system, have scheduled oil changes, and replace air and fuel filters regularly, Mr. Rucano said.

Under the system, repair shops that do inspections have been required to order new computerized equipment, which ties in directly to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The computers and the software to run them are supposed to be in place by April 1. Inspection stations will be equipped with a digital camera, which will take random photographs during the inspection to eliminate cheating.

The new test costs car owners $35, almost double last year's $19 fee.

Nitrous Oxide

By November, each station will be equipped with a dynamometer, a machine with rollers that can simulate the conditions of a car at various speeds.

When the dynamometers arrive, mechanics will be required to test autos for nitrous-oxide emissions, which are only released when a vehicle is in motion, as well as residual oxygen left from the internal combustion process.

The test will also measure hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, as it does now.

Inspections will continue to provide some allowance for older cars that were built to lower emissions standards, but the new equipment will more accurately measure exactly what comes out of the tail pipe.

Computers In Control

"We used to control the inspection," said Mr. Racuno. "Now the computer will tell us what to do and print out the sticker."

"A lot of people who were talking about dropping it because of the expense are now ordering the machines," said Bob Bowman of B&B Auto in Montauk. He, too, will continue to offer inspections.

The late orders caused a run on suppliers, overwhelming their ability to deliver the equipment.

"When I bought the machine, they said it would arrive sometime in January," said Mr. Van Kovics. "I'm still waiting."

Metropolitan Areas

"They're being rolled out on a daily basis," said Ernest Kitchen, the D.M.V.'s deputy commissioner for safety, consumer protection, and clean air. The number of service stations ordering the equipment "has been a pleasant surprise for us," he said. "There was some organized resistance to it."

To make it easier, the state has offered stations grants of up to $5,000 and waived sales tax on the equipment, Mr. Kitchen said.

He pointed out that the strict emission test, required in New York City, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, was mandated by Federal clean-air standards for metropolitan areas, a law adopted in 1992.

Cars in other parts of the state must pass a less stringent test.

A Respite

Stations that have signed up for the program but have not received their new equipment will be allowed to continue offering the same test they did last year, albeit at this year's price, providing car owners with a respite.

Although most repair shops surveyed, including the Amagansett Mobil, Sam's Auto in Springs, and the Georgica Getty and North Main Citgo stations in East Hampton, will continue to do inspections, a few have dropped them.

"It's a little too pricey for me right now," said Bill Vorpahl, the owner of T & B Auto in Amagansett. "I'll see how it goes for six months. If it looks like I'm going to lose a lot of business, I'll probably have to buy the equipment."

Although repair shops will collect a higher fee, Mr. Vorpahl said their costs for electricity and computer telephone lines would increase as well. "And you have to pay the guy who's running the machine," he added.

Space And Expense

Nancy Ialacci, the owner of the Sag Harbor Getty, said she too had dropped out of the program, partly because of the cost and partly because of space limits.

"The equipment will take up a whole bay," she said. "I only have a two-bay station. If you do the inspections, you'll need the space to do the repairs. It's a catch-22."

But Dennis Kromer, who owns Kromer's Auto and Marine in Springs, said he saw no choice.

"It's a convenience for your customers," he said. "And it does bring in some work during slow periods."