CA smog check vs test only (25 Viewers)

[Terrax]

I have a 1976 FJ40 that I need to smog before the 18th of June and the DMV paper work says "test only". Can I take it to a regular smog check place instead? I don't see why not? Can anyone chime in?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BlkWgn]

if it says test only then it has to go to a test only center. you can have anywhere do a "pre test" to make sure it will pass, but the system will not let any smog place do the official test. Just one of the many joys of California

 

[pavieSD]

So I happened to be talking to a fellow car buff about the Cali smog laws, and they mentioned that starting next year there is going to be NO visual inspection for smog, only a OBD test and/or a tail pipe test. Now this is only hearsay on my part as I didn't do any more research, but if this is true then it seems that this will make it a lot easier to pass smog in the future for older rigs. I'm wondering if anyone else has heard anything similar. I personally avoided buying a post 75 rig specifically for this reason, but would be interested to know if any fellow cruiserheads in California know anything more about this.

 

[Pin_Head]

I would believe it when I see it. The historical trend is to make it harder and harder to pass to get more old trucks and cars off the road.

The party line on "Test Only" stations is that they did a better job of doing a correct test than the test and repair shops. More likely, the test only lobby paid off the legislature for a law that would steer more business to them. That is the way we roll in the People's Republic of California when it comes to the environment. Show me the money. That's what Green is.

 

[pavieSD]

I would believe it when I see it. The historical trend is to make it harder and harder to pass to get more old trucks and cars off the road.

The party line on "Test Only" stations is that they did a better job of doing a correct test than the test and repair shops. More likely, the test only lobby paid off the legislature for a law that would steer more business to them. That is the way we roll in the People's Republic of California when it comes to the environment. Show me the money. That's what Green is.

Okay, so I did a web search and found this. Looks like it only applies to 2000 and newer vehicles.

SmogTips.com - AB 2289 - Smog Check Law California. No more tailpipe smog test. Elimination of tailpipe smog check testing for 2000 model vehicles and newer.

That's a shame, as it would simplify things greatly if you only had to pass the tail pipe test for an older rig. Oh well, guess I should have just searched first.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Mine just passed, but only just and I used a gallon of e-85 with a couple gallons of gas. I think it would have been easier with smaller tires.

They're going to force me to convert it to diesel, which will not make it cleaner. It just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Terrax]

So if I go to regular smog check shop they will tell me they can't do it and that I have to take it to a "test only" shop? A cruiser friend of mines neighbor is they the guy that does the smog at the "non test only" and I want him to test it. Fxxx!! I'm always getting the short end of the stick. Anyone know or had a good experience at a "test only" shop in the SF Bay area?

 

[Pin_Head]

I feel your pain. It is the main reason I sold my '76. ( Sniff. Sob.)

 

[Terrax]

I feel your pain. It is the main reason I sold my '76. ( Sniff. Sob.)

AB 2683 (Lieber) Clean Air: Smog Check: Requires all 1976 and later cars to pass a smog check for their model year, reducing cancer and asthma-causing particulate matter in California’s air by 10+
tons per day by 2015. Approved by the Legislature and the Governor.

Sally Lieber, the former mayor of Mt. View, CA is the **** who sponsored a requirement for cars more than 30 years old to start getting smog checks and a bill to raise the minimum wage. The so-called "rolling smog check extension" passed, although Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the minimum wage bill. Sally received death threats over her smog check legislation, but stuck with it and got it passed.Too bad she didn't get whacked.

 

[splib]

What kind of problems do you foresee in getting your 40 to pass smog? (hi CO, etc)

 

[Terrax]

What kind of problems do you foresee in getting your 40 to pass smog? (hi CO, etc)

My problem is the visual part of the test, when they test the EGR valve with the hand held pump. The technicians don't know how to test it and this has been a problem twice in the past, I even put a brand new factory EGR which probably has less than 5K miles. I'm running the factory 2F, rebuilt a 3K miles ago, Downey legal smog header with CARB sticker, it has passed in the past. Just paranoid about the technicians ignorance with an old vehicle.

 

[AdamKFarmer]

Are the limits stricter in Cali as opposed to Co? I just reinstalled all my smog components on my 81 and it passed, even though they weren't all working correctly.

 

[Terrax]

Are the limits stricter in Cali as opposed to Co? I just reinstalled all my smog components on my 81 and it passed, even though they weren't all working correctly.

We are the Nazi state with a bunch of douchebags in charge.

 

[splib]

What part of the bay area are you in?

 

[Terrax]

What part of the bay area are you in?

SF Peninsula, on the coast.

 

[Fast Eddy]

So if I go to regular smog check shop they will tell me they can't do it and that I have to take it to a "test only" shop? A cruiser friend of mines neighbor is they the guy that does the smog at the "non test only" and I want him to test it. Fxxx!! I'm always getting the short end of the stick. Anyone know or had a good experience at a "test only" shop in the SF Bay area?

Yes, they are different. It's to keep the testing stations honest. There's no particular reason for a test-only station to be extra strict since they won't be making money on repairs.

Here's the guy I use. He's great. Try to go 1st in the am, at 9, or in the middle of the afternoon.

The Smog Man Test Only - San Jose, CA
Smog Check San Jose Test Only Smog Check

My problem is the visual part of the test, when they test the EGR valve with the hand held pump. The technicians don't know how to test it and this has been a problem twice in the past, I even put a brand new factory EGR which probably has less than 5K miles. I'm running the factory 2F, rebuilt a 3K miles ago, Downey legal smog header with CARB sticker, it has passed in the past. Just paranoid about the technicians ignorance with an old vehicle.

If he's not busy, Justin will run it on the dyno and let you know where you stand, however he is also fair to the state and won't let you get away with anything shady.

As far as I know they no longer test the EGR individually like you are describing. Your tune-up, plug wires, cap and rotor, new oil change and air filter will all make a difference. The test includes your fuel cap and evap system.

If you get the smog manual for your model year you can test the individual components including the emissions computer. If it all works, it will pass. My computer doesn't work perfectly. I arranged the vacuum hoses so that the EGR was always on, which you can do with the early EGRs that don't have a modulator, without much effect. I squeaked by within 5% of the maximums in all categories with about 35% E-85, I'd run a higher percentage of it next time. I felt like smaller tires would have made a difference.

 

[AdamKFarmer]

We are the Nazi state with a bunch of douchebags in charge.

Haha, okay I purchased mine out of Cali and the guy had some shady deal to get it passed the visual inspection.

I have an 81 emissions manual on PDF. I don't think that would help.

 

[Terrax]

Fast Eddy, I sent you a PM. Thanks!

 

[Fast Eddy]

I have an 81 emissions manual on PDF. I don't think that would help.

Totally, totally different. They got much more scary in '79 and later. The computer does more 'stuff' and there are more vacuum hoses.

 

[Terrax]

Great News!! It passed the smog test!! I took it to my cruiser friends non-test station where his next door neighbor is the smog technician, he verified he couldn't do it, he recommended another shop. Went to the other and shop spoke with the technician, he popped the hood and immediately asked me where my sticker is for my smog legal header? It's been so long I could have sworn it was under the hood but it wasn't, I had one for the Accel supercoil and that's it. I looked in glove compartment and found an old smog test result from 1995 and we went with that. The test took 2 hours between other customers interruptions and him not being able to find the timing mark location till he asked me. This is the kind of stuff that worries me with technicians not being familiar with an old vehicle. The guy was cool and now he'll remember me for next time. Just got back from the DMV with my stickers. Thanks to all who helped!!