I'm Screwed!!! Need advice.....
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
I'm Screwed!!! Need advice.....
I bought my vette back in January. The guy I bought it from gave me a smog test paper that said that it had passed and that I wouldn't have to worry about it anyway because after 30 years in CA a car becomes smog exempt. After I got the call from the mechanic, I did some checking around the forums. The 30 year thing ended in 2005.
About 3 weeks ago it developed several major leaks, a headlight actuator went out, and a door handle broke. I took it to a local shop to have it checked out and they gave me a call the next day telling me that the car has no smog emission equipment on it whatsover.
The short of it is I have an estimated $2600 in repairs to make, and then I have another $2500 to pay to get the smog equipment put back on before January 2008.
Anyone have ay advice on what to do?
About 3 weeks ago it developed several major leaks, a headlight actuator went out, and a door handle broke. I took it to a local shop to have it checked out and they gave me a call the next day telling me that the car has no smog emission equipment on it whatsover.
The short of it is I have an estimated $2600 in repairs to make, and then I have another $2500 to pay to get the smog equipment put back on before January 2008.
Anyone have ay advice on what to do?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
Originally Posted by KALAWAY
I've seen the smog pump and the entire smog system on ebay for much less than $2500. Why so much?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Originally Posted by Runnik
That's just what the mechanic told me.....He probably included labor in the cost as well...
Do you have the cat in place, or did someone dual out the exhaust and remove it? If so you are looking at some money to get your emission system back in order.
I was going to dual mine out and install 2 cats but my exhaust guy didn't recommend it. Gave me a bunch of huey about the cats don't getting hot enough to do their job etc etc etc. So I installed a "High Flow" and got rid of that ancient pancake.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Go test it and fail..then see a referee and get a two year waiver...check into this..it may be just what you need to "buy" some time...
"Repair Cost Waiver"
The Repair Cost Waiver allows a vehicle to be registered without passing its Smog Check inspection, as long as the vehicle owner first makes at least $450 in emissions-related repairs to the vehicle at a licensed test and repair station.
After emissions-related repairs have been performed, the motorist must take the vehicle and any repair invoices to a Consumer Assistance and Referee Center, where the vehicle may be inspected. Once the Referee determines that the vehicle meets the criteria, the Referee will issue a waiver. The vehicle can then be registered, and the owner has up to two years to make additional repairs to bring the vehicle into compliance with emissions standards.
The Repair Cost Waiver may only be used once by an owner during his or her ownership of a vehicle.
"Repair Cost Waiver"
The Repair Cost Waiver allows a vehicle to be registered without passing its Smog Check inspection, as long as the vehicle owner first makes at least $450 in emissions-related repairs to the vehicle at a licensed test and repair station.
After emissions-related repairs have been performed, the motorist must take the vehicle and any repair invoices to a Consumer Assistance and Referee Center, where the vehicle may be inspected. Once the Referee determines that the vehicle meets the criteria, the Referee will issue a waiver. The vehicle can then be registered, and the owner has up to two years to make additional repairs to bring the vehicle into compliance with emissions standards.
The Repair Cost Waiver may only be used once by an owner during his or her ownership of a vehicle.
Last edited by rihwoods; Jun 15, 2006 at 11:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Go test it and fail..then see a referee and get a two year waiver...check into this..it may be just what you need to "buy" some time...
"Repair Cost Waiver"
The Repair Cost Waiver allows a vehicle to be registered without passing its Smog Check inspection, as long as the vehicle owner first makes at least $450 in emissions-related repairs to the vehicle at a licensed test and repair station.
After emissions-related repairs have been performed, the motorist must take the vehicle and any repair invoices to a Consumer Assistance and Referee Center, where the vehicle may be inspected. Once the Referee determines that the vehicle meets the criteria, the Referee will issue a waiver. The vehicle can then be registered, and the owner has up to two years to make additional repairs to bring the vehicle into compliance with emissions standards.
The Repair Cost Waiver may only be used once by an owner during his or her ownership of a vehicle.
"Repair Cost Waiver"
The Repair Cost Waiver allows a vehicle to be registered without passing its Smog Check inspection, as long as the vehicle owner first makes at least $450 in emissions-related repairs to the vehicle at a licensed test and repair station.
After emissions-related repairs have been performed, the motorist must take the vehicle and any repair invoices to a Consumer Assistance and Referee Center, where the vehicle may be inspected. Once the Referee determines that the vehicle meets the criteria, the Referee will issue a waiver. The vehicle can then be registered, and the owner has up to two years to make additional repairs to bring the vehicle into compliance with emissions standards.
The Repair Cost Waiver may only be used once by an owner during his or her ownership of a vehicle.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
move down south or sell it to someone who does not live in comunist California. give me a break theese laws are crazy. theese cars are over 25 years old. how much of percentage are they of the cars on the road? do you think it will make that much of a difference? I would be pissed if I had an exemption and then they revoked it. 
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Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces NM
Originally Posted by Runnik
I bought my vette back in January. The guy I bought it from gave me a smog test paper that said that it had passed and that I wouldn't have to worry about it anyway because after 30 years in CA a car becomes smog exempt.
The short of it is I have an estimated $2600 in repairs to make, and then I have another $2500 to pay to get the smog equipment put back on before January 2008.
Anyone have ay advice on what to do?
The short of it is I have an estimated $2600 in repairs to make, and then I have another $2500 to pay to get the smog equipment put back on before January 2008.
Anyone have ay advice on what to do?
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Runnick,
I'm taking the Y pipe & cat off my '75, in fact the whole exhaust sytem and switching to true duals. I've got the air pump and mounting bracket too. You're only about 170 miles away. If you can use them, they're yours.
Do you still have the correct intake manifold and exhaust manifolds?
Greg
I'm taking the Y pipe & cat off my '75, in fact the whole exhaust sytem and switching to true duals. I've got the air pump and mounting bracket too. You're only about 170 miles away. If you can use them, they're yours.
Do you still have the correct intake manifold and exhaust manifolds?
Greg
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Speaking of that smog certificate you got...that could also raise some issues for the previous owner if he did what I think he did...and the associated smog station,as well...
Forging or faking a smog certificate is a serious charge...
At any rate,there is another option...you can also get a waiver(for test) if you indicate (on DMV forms)that the vette is "out of state"..you must have a legit address in that "state" as they will mail your tags,registration there..if it is not a real address,the registration will be sent back to Sacramento....this is a little known loop hole (legal) as you can only smog test a "California" car in California...get it..?? The state realizes they can't restrict a persons right to be out of the state with their car...so it appears you have two options dealing with DMV..by the way,the one about claiming residence in a Non-test county/city is not a good one...or least,I would not recommend that..know a guy going thru this right now...
Forging or faking a smog certificate is a serious charge...
At any rate,there is another option...you can also get a waiver(for test) if you indicate (on DMV forms)that the vette is "out of state"..you must have a legit address in that "state" as they will mail your tags,registration there..if it is not a real address,the registration will be sent back to Sacramento....this is a little known loop hole (legal) as you can only smog test a "California" car in California...get it..?? The state realizes they can't restrict a persons right to be out of the state with their car...so it appears you have two options dealing with DMV..by the way,the one about claiming residence in a Non-test county/city is not a good one...or least,I would not recommend that..know a guy going thru this right now...
Last edited by rihwoods; Jun 16, 2006 at 12:55 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Fremont,CA
Originally Posted by Runnik
I bought my vette back in January. The guy I bought it from gave me a smog test paper that said that it had passed and that I wouldn't have to worry about it anyway because after 30 years in CA a car becomes smog exempt. After I got the call from the mechanic, I did some checking around the forums. The 30 year thing ended in 2005.
About 3 weeks ago it developed several major leaks, a headlight actuator went out, and a door handle broke. I took it to a local shop to have it checked out and they gave me a call the next day telling me that the car has no smog emission equipment on it whatsover.
The short of it is I have an estimated $2600 in repairs to make, and then I have another $2500 to pay to get the smog equipment put back on before January 2008.
Anyone have ay advice on what to do?
About 3 weeks ago it developed several major leaks, a headlight actuator went out, and a door handle broke. I took it to a local shop to have it checked out and they gave me a call the next day telling me that the car has no smog emission equipment on it whatsover.
The short of it is I have an estimated $2600 in repairs to make, and then I have another $2500 to pay to get the smog equipment put back on before January 2008.
Anyone have ay advice on what to do?
"I would take the car and the smog certificate provided by the seller to the mechanic/shop who signed off on it. Tell them to fix it, or you will turn them in to the state for smogging a car that wasn't smoggable. The one thing Calif. hates more than old cars is crooked smog techs."
I would also contact the DMV and get their input. I believe a seller has some responsibility when he provides a "bogus" smog cert....
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces NM
The problem is seller will claim the smog equipment was present on the car when he had it smogged and sold it. Smog tech will say it was legally equipped when he smogged it. But, depending on how you approach the "crooked" smog tech, you might have some recourse.
Note to Californians and others similarly situated: Add "smog test" to your pre-purchase inspection portfolio.
Note to Californians and others similarly situated: Add "smog test" to your pre-purchase inspection portfolio.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
THERE IS NO ROLLING SMOG EXEMPTION IN CALIFORINA.....cars built before july 1975 are smog exempt....YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD......I don't want to there of this california rolling crap anymore.....
I spent over $800.00 getting my 76 car to pass
I spent over $800.00 getting my 76 car to pass
Last edited by luerja; Jun 16, 2006 at 12:58 AM.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Originally Posted by Nacho_Libre
The problem is seller will claim the smog equipment was present on the car when he had it smogged and sold it. Smog tech will say it was legally equipped when he smogged it.[/i]
This is true and hard to prove different.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
Originally Posted by Greg
OR........you can simply register the car in an area of California where they don't smog test.
Easy fix.
Easy fix.
I know this for a fact...as my brother lives in Sonora and do not have to smog their cars. I also know someone who has their motorhome registered there...well, that is what I heard anyway... (about the latter) .
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
Originally Posted by Greg
OR........you can simply register the car in an area of California where they don't smog test.
Easy fix.
Easy fix.
Originally Posted by Nacho_Libre
Depending on how you approach the "crooked" smog tech, you might have some recourse.