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Most states require cars to undergo a car emissions test every few years. However, things are a little different in Indiana. We'll get into it a little deeper below, and we'll also talk to you about when you should head to the Acura dealer for a checkup on your emissions system. more How Often Do You Need a Car Emissions Test in Indiana? Emissions tests aren't mandatory in the vast majority of Indiana. Only the counties of Lake and Porter have mandatory emissions testing. Those tests must take place every two years on cars that weigh less than 9,000 pounds and that were manufactured after 1975. If you keep your car out-of-state a lot of the time, then it's a good idea to get it tested early, as that may be more convenient for you. For example, if your next test is due in December 2025, but you won't be in Indiana at that time, then you can get the car tested early if you wish. You're allowed to get your car tested as early as October of the year before your next test is due. When You Should Head to Your Acura Dealer to Get Your Emissions System Checked Out Even though emissions testing isn't mandatory in most of Indiana, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your emission system to make sure it's in good condition. If it's not working properly, then your car might break down at a really inconvenient time. There are a couple of indicators that let you know when your emissions system is failing. Emissions Light Your Acura might have a warning on your dash telling you to check the emissions system. Even if your car seems like it's running fine, it's best to go to the dealer ASAP when this light comes on. You'll probably start noticing issues pretty soon, so it's best to get the car checked out before the problems get too bad. Lower Gas Mileage If your fuel level is dropping much faster than expected, then something has likely gone wrong with the car. Your exhaust might not be expelling dangerous gases properly, and that can impact your engine's performance. If your engine has to work harder to keep the car going, then it's going to use more gas. Bad Smells If you can smell gasoline or exhaust fumes in your cabin, even if the smell is subtle, then you have a problem. You need to get to the dealer as soon as you can. Make sure to drive with the windows rolled down, as inhaling these fumes can be deadly. Stop by Ed Martin Acura if your emissions system is faulty. You may not need to get an emissions check if you're not in Lake or Porter, but you should still make sure your emissions system runs smoothly so your car can remain in great shape.

Regular preventative maintenance appointments keep your Acura running as the manufacturer intended. Fortunately, your Acura dealer offers services to make this as simple as possible. This makes it easy to experience benefits like a more fuel-efficient car and helps prevent expensive repairs. more 1. Prevent Expensive Repairs A great Acura technician will check the vehicle over when it's brought in for regular maintenance. This gives them a chance to spot problems early on. For example, they might notice a faulty part that has become weakened. They can replace this before it fully breaks and causes damage that would lead to expensive repairs. 2. A More Fuel-Efficient Car Regular maintenance optimizes your Acura, so it runs more efficiently. When a vehicle's tires are underinflated, the car has to work harder to keep the vehicle moving. If oil filters are clogged, the vehicle has to work harder to push oil through the filters. The harder a car has to work, the worse the vehicle's fuel economy will be. Acura's that are brought in for regular service appointments run cleaner, smoother, and are more fuel-efficient vehicles. This leads to savings at the gas pump and a lower carbon footprint. 3. Retain Your Car's Value With Service From Your Acura Dealer The technicians at the dealership are highly trained in Acuras. This means they have intimate knowledge specifically of what the manufacturer intended for Acuras. They perform maintenance and repairs with those specifications in mind, keeping the vehicle in excellent condition. Used car buyers are looking for a great vehicle that's in top condition and has a full-service history. Bringing your Acura right into the dealership for service appointments will give you a higher chance of achieving the best resale value possible. 4. Improved Safety Acuras have a very strong reputation for building safe cars with strong body structures. It's important to keep all of the vehicle's parts well-maintained in order to keep them as safe as possible. For example, regular maintenance will include tasks like replacing worn-out brake pads. This keeps your vehicle stopping in time to prevent collisions. Services like tire rotations, oil changes, and replacing timing belts will also reduce the chances of a vehicle breaking down. 5. Save Time Major repairs are not only expensive, they are a huge hassle that cost drivers a lot of time. Often, major repairs will mean that drivers have to rent another vehicle and plan their days around the repair schedule. Regular maintenance appointments prevent these kinds of major repairs and can be handled quickly. In fact, at Ed Martin Acura, we provide our customers with an Acura Accelerated Service program. Customers who use this program are in and out of our dealership within 60 minutes. Our team of technicians provides comprehensive services to keep your Acura in top condition. Visit Ed Martin Acura now to learn more about our service center.

When you fall in love with your 2023 Acura MDX, you will want to do everything you can to take care of it and protect its value. One thing you can do to protect your car is to get an extended warranty from your Acura dealer. Learn more about the benefits of extended coverage and how a longer warranty can help you in the future. more Extending your warranty coverage for a new Acura means that you are adding to the bumper-to-bumper coverage from your factory warranty. On a new Acura, the factory warranty will cover the first four years or 50,000 miles of car ownership from the date of your vehicle purchase. Extending your coverage can make this warranty last for eight years or up to 120,000 miles, starting from the date when the vehicle was first made. The Acura Care Vehicle Service Contract for a new Acura will cover major systems such as the engine, transmission, air conditioning, steering, fuel delivery, electrical, brakes, drive axle, cooling, suspension, and rear differential. This warranty will also cover some accessories, such as the navigation system and the audio system. Some additional benefits of this coverage include: Roadside Assistance Acura offers 24/7 roadside assistance for drivers who have extended coverage. Roadside assistance can include towing services for a repair that is covered under the warranty, lockout assistance, tire changes, fuel deliveries, and jump-start assistance if your battery dies. Trip Interruption If your Acura breaks down while you're traveling, Acura will cover certain expenses. As long as you are more than 100 miles away from home, Acura will provide up to $100 each day for three days to cover lodging and food expenses. Rental Reimbursement If your Acura is stuck in the shop for repairs, your extended coverage will also provide reimbursement for a rental car. You can use this benefit to get up to $270 (or $45 a day) reimbursed for the cost of a rental car. Concierge Service Finally, if you need assistance away from home to book an airplane ticket home, or you need emergency cash, Acura will also provide concierge services. These services can help you file your insurance claim as well. Do You Buy Extended Coverage From an Acura Dealer? Generally, one of the easiest ways to activate extended coverage for your car is to contact your local dealership. The dealership can walk you through different Acura Care Vehicle Service Contracts, so you can understand individual plans and deductible costs. You can also purchase extended coverage directly from Acura online. Extending the coverage for your warranty is one way you can protect your Acura and get peace of mind if your car needs repairs. To learn more about your coverage options, contact Ed Martin Acura in Indianapolis, IN.

The catalytic converter on your Acura reduces pollution. It does this by converting dangerous chemicals from combustion into less harmful ones. The conversion process uses heat, high pressure, and chemical reactions. Over time the heat and pressure can damage the converter, or it can weaken due to age. As your Acura dealer, we'd like you to know a few signs that you need to visit us for a repair or replacement converter. more Black Exhaust Smoke Black smoke from the tailpipe is a sign that your converter is damaged and may need replacement. Black smoke has a toxic stench due to the large amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other dangerous chemicals. Under normal conditions, these chemicals are rendered harmless by your converter. The lack of conversion could be caused by a faulty oxygen sensor supplying incorrect information, a fuel-rich engine, or failed converter. In all these cases, the toxic gases from combustion forced out of the engine will cause your car to fail an emissions test. These gases will also cause long-term damage to your engine. Our technicians will find the cause of the problem and repair it. Your Engine Starts and Then Dies Starting problems are usually caused by a problem with the battery, the alternator, or the starter motor. If your engine starts and then dies very quickly, this usually means your converter is blocked. As the converter works, carbon can build up inside it. As time passes, this carbon buildup can block the exit of the converter and prevent exhaust gases from escaping. The exhaust gases that can't escape will be drawn back into your engine. These gases increase the pressure in the engine and also increase the fuel-to-air ratio. This combination of events shuts down the combustion process and causes your engine to stop. We'll examine your converter and clear any blockages we find. Once the converter is unblocked, your engine will work normally again. Rattling Noises A rattling noise from under your car is a sign that something is loose. It could be one of the brackets that supports the exhaust has failed, or your converter may be damaged. If the rattling continues when you're driving at speed, the most likely cause is a damaged converter. The rattling noise is made by broken pieces of the honeycomb inside the converter. Converters have a honeycomb interior to maximize gas conversion. The heat and pressure can create cracks in the honeycomb. This will cause pieces to break off and rattle as your car moves. We can't repair this damage, but we can replace your converter. If you suspect a converter problem, call us right away at Ed Martin Acura. Image courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels