Pcm won't communicate to pass Texas State Inspection

My check engine light was on three weeks ago. It was code po440. I replaced the gas cap and air filter. My neighbor replaced the o2 sensor and purge solenoid on the advice of a Shop. The light hasn't come back on. I took the car to Firestone to have it inspected on Wednesday. The brake and parking light was out. They were going to fail it and give me fifteen days to fix it, but they couldn't get the rest of the test completed because the car wouldn't communicate with the state inspection tools. I spent three hours replacing the brake light because the light would work until I snapped it back into the lens cover then it would go off. The car battery died and I had to get Auto Rescue to give me a jump. The next day two people said the lights were working so I took it on Saturday to another Firestone who had the same problem. The test was aborted and they didn't charge me. Inspection is due this month. Otherwise the car runs fine except one morning this week I had to push the gas pedal to keep it running before backing up. Two years ago I had the crank position sensor, coolant sensor, spark plugs, wires, and one other sensor replaced because it would turn over and catch and then die before I could get it in gear. . Last year the check engine went on and I threatened to sell it and it then went off. I need the state inspection passed this month of May. Is there something simple that can be done to reset or fi x this communication problem? Also the car rattles when the fan is on full speed in the dashboard and it makes a ticking or thumping type noise at the passenger side sometimes when first driving the car at city speeds.