Wish me luck!

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Brentbba

Brentbba

Former Golfer
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Headed to my friendly Smog Test Only station after work today. Two years ago when I went to see him was when I was having all the 'fun' with the HG (original shop) and a tampered with MAF. Failed smog miserably until Yotamasters adjusted the tampered MAF to something more reasonable.

Subquent to all that 'fun', I've replaced the MAF with a factory sealed unit from a parted '94 and had John work his magic with a new HG and head down at SD Trux. Engine has been running like new ever since.

My smog guy, who I've gotten to know so well as a small little test only station, had offered to let me drop by for a quick 'off the grid' test after all the work, but I never took him up on the offer. I've now received my two year plate renewal saying I was due for smog again at a test only station as a gross poluter. I don't think I've got a thing to worry about after all of SD Trux work, but I won't know until we run the test.

At what age are vehicles in the PRK exempt from smog or become subject to maximum repair bills for age?
 
Thanks to the Governator, the rolling Smog exemption was axed. Originally it was 20 years ( I believe ) but now it is anything 75 and older.

And you have to pay for all smog repairs. According to the BAR website, there is a Consumer Assistance Program that you can apply for which will pay up to $500 of emissions related repairs done at a Gold Shield certified smog station.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARResources/01_CAP&GoldShield/Factsheets/English RA FAQs.pdf

Good Luck!!
 
Good Luck! Hopefully you won't need any luck and it will simply pass with flying colors. I do remember your 'fiasco' last time........
 
I just smogged mine on Weds. I passed with flying colors. I am sure you will be fine. Good luck.
 
We'll see soon.

I'm just a little paranoid about it. There was the whole drama surrounding the HG two years ago and another time early on iin the trucks life where 'somehow' two of the wires to the inboard O2 sensor got sliced! All it took was a good solder job and all was well, but it took failure on oxygen during a routine smog check to discover it. I'd had a CEL too during that episode and had the sensors changed then. IIRC I 'think' the original dealer I was going to at the time buggered the wires and wouln't own up to it. It was a different dealer I went to after not getting what I felt was a 'reasonable' story that found the wires. Hell, I've now changed the sensors a couple of times and dont' know how any 'competent' mechanic could have missed it.

Shorter story - I've failed smog on oxygen twice and '94's are notorious for eating O2 sensors for a snack! She's labeled a 'gross polluter' for this reason and I have to go to a test only station as a result.

Cos - good/bad info to know - I was too lazy to go to the DMV site to find out myself! Thanks!
 
Whew!

After all the issues 2 years ago, she passed with more than flying colors. Thanks John and SD Trux for such great work!

%CO2 was 14.8 at Idle and 2500 RPM
%O2 was 0 and .1 at Idle and 2500 RPM
HC was 26 and 16 at Idle and 2500 RPM - max is 100 and 180, respectively
CO % was .04 and .7 at Idle and 2500 RPM - max is 1.0 and 1.1, respectively

She couldn't be much cleaner. Even the new gas cap I had to buy after the last test passed. Should have...the first one lasted 16 years!
 
Congrats!
 
Good for you Brent! I have 2 "gross polluters" that always pass with with flying colors. My "secret" is to always make sure they're warmed up first. I got this from a smog check certified buddy of mine.

Strangely enough, it looks like I don't have to go to a test only station this year. Anyway, back to where I was... Unless you drive a Prius, I recommend this: even if the smog station is a block away from you, make sure you get on a freeway and head out for like 5 miles and turn around in time to be at your smog shop 5-10 minutes before they're open. That way you should be first and everything will be baking hot, especially your cats. My LC actually failed it's first check but luckily I was at my buddy's shop and he let me drive it a while and retest. In short, until everything warms up, your rig might not be ready to be properly put to the test...

Oh yeah, and I always bring the gas cap from the other rig in case " hey maybe you didn't screw that on right, why don't you try it again" (bad day with a Prelude taught me that)
 
Steve - I've done the get it as hot as possible for years now. Had the truck at work Friday, so minimum of 15 miles freeway/surface to the smog station. I also go with a full tank of gas so the nitrogen leak down test on the fuel system doesn't take so long.
 
Change your oil right before the test. This helped me pass on my AE86 which failed due to HCs. However, the PCV system is different on the 4AGE (just a short piece of hose from valve cover to intake manifold, no PCV valve) compared to the 1FZFE so YMMV.
 
1FZj80 said:
Are our LC's really considered 'gross pulluters'? I have always passed whithout issue and thought all vehicles after certain age requuired test only stations, or is it vehicle specific.
Click to expand...

My FZJ80 can be smogged at any station. You get tagged for test only if you've failed as a gross polluter. I know there is other criteria, just not sure what it is. Probably on the DMV/BAR website
 
I have been tagged with Test Only stations too and I too thought it was after a certain vehicle age.
Because mine has never failed but strangely enough it was tested 4 years in a row but I think that's when the truck changed hands.

Vehicle Information
Test Only Directed Status Program Area
NO Enhanced
Number of Tests Found = 8
Test Records
Make Model Year Date / Time Pass / Fail Certificate
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 08/31/2011 10:39 a.m. P WZ017768C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 09/05/2009 10:59 a.m. P WD273861C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 11/02/2007 12:30 p.m. P VL368912C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 05/09/2006 09:23 a.m. P GD824025C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 08/22/2005 10:33 a.m. P FW562325C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 07/13/2004 01:17 p.m. P FM503682C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 08/31/2002 10:12 a.m. P ES727710C
TOYOT LAND CRUISER 1996 08/16/2000 03:18 p.m. P DX289700C

Anyway you can check your vehicles history here by VIN or License Plate. Very handy when buying a vehicle.
Vehicle Test History
 
I failed early on in the trucks history when the wiring loom on one O2 sensor got buggered up. Truck was labeled a gross polluter then and status has never changed even tho when fixed, it is super clean.
 
Once a gross polluter always a gross polluter. So says the state at least. Once you're tagged as that it's never gonna change back
 
OK, i had to post my test results from last week. I was so nervous that it would not pass and i was stunned to see how clean it is running. All smog equip is orig (cat, O2, etc). Seems almost seems too good to be true for a almost 20 year old vehicle:

 
Here is mine from the last smog. Seems pretty clean.

 
SoCal_80 said:
Damn. I thought mine was running clean. Gotta give it up toToyota!
Click to expand...

It is clean! I think part of the issue is that being full time 4wd, the smog shops cant use the full dyno and have to run a limited set of checks. That's what I heard, not sure if it's true.

It seems the state is looking for every opportunity to get older cars off the road. Brent's truck is probably cleaner than most vehicles that age (and newer!) and is still considered a "gross poluter" based on one small issue that was resolved.
 
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