CA. smog question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,367
Likes: 0
From: East Oakland CA
CA. smog question
so i failed smog twice already n was told that if it passes the state is going to send me a letter asking for proof of what was done to the car to make it pass...is this true?
any info is welcome but ill be better of to hear from ppl in cali. that were in my situation
TIA
any info is welcome but ill be better of to hear from ppl in cali. that were in my situation
TIA
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
To be sure, call the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) at (800) 952-5210. I have never heard of this requirement, but it does make sense if the state suspects that there are still back-alley smog shops in operation.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,367
Likes: 0
From: East Oakland CA
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
I haven't looked into the code in a while, but a quick search popped up this from the CA "Health and Safety Code" ....
You can search the CA codes yourself at ....
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Are you performing the "repairs" yourself ??? Not allowed under the law unless you're a qualified smog technician and you are working at a licensed smog check station.
The state has these requirements so that you "supposedly" can't fool the system with some kind of "temporary" fix ..... the state wants the car fixed permanently to not pollute.
You need to be REALLY careful .... two failures of a smog test is getting you into territory where you are looking at fines and other problems. You have to have a seriously modified C5 to fail the CA smog test ..... to do it twice (the state ain't entirely stupid) means you have a car that YOU have modified and made illegal.
You need to pull the mods and get the car legal .... a third failure is not what you want.
Good luck.
44032. No person shall perform, for compensation, tests or repairs
of emission control devices or systems of motor vehicles required by
this chapter unless the person performing the test or repair is a
qualified smog check technician and the test or repair is performed
at a licensed smog check station. Qualified technicians shall
perform tests of emission control devices and systems in accordance
with Section 44012.
of emission control devices or systems of motor vehicles required by
this chapter unless the person performing the test or repair is a
qualified smog check technician and the test or repair is performed
at a licensed smog check station. Qualified technicians shall
perform tests of emission control devices and systems in accordance
with Section 44012.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Are you performing the "repairs" yourself ??? Not allowed under the law unless you're a qualified smog technician and you are working at a licensed smog check station.
The state has these requirements so that you "supposedly" can't fool the system with some kind of "temporary" fix ..... the state wants the car fixed permanently to not pollute.
You need to be REALLY careful .... two failures of a smog test is getting you into territory where you are looking at fines and other problems. You have to have a seriously modified C5 to fail the CA smog test ..... to do it twice (the state ain't entirely stupid) means you have a car that YOU have modified and made illegal.
You need to pull the mods and get the car legal .... a third failure is not what you want.
Good luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
No person shall perform, for compensation,
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
If you failed the sniffer, you can add a 15-20% mix of xylene to your gas. It will clean it right up. After the test, put some good gas in there.
My 944 failed miserably. When I ran the xylene, it was a "raised eyebrow" because it was so clean. (technically, it went from 1200 ppm, to 80 ppm... passing was 750 ish)
PM me if you want the charts and details.
My 944 failed miserably. When I ran the xylene, it was a "raised eyebrow" because it was so clean. (technically, it went from 1200 ppm, to 80 ppm... passing was 750 ish)
PM me if you want the charts and details.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Just so you know and I passed smog TODAY and have the results in front of me, the requirements in CA now are 100 PPM at 2500 RPM and 130 I'm pretty sure at idle!
I don't know if the standard has gone up but I'm sure that's what it is as of today.
Your car should pass man, just either get a really good tune REAL quick or put the exhaust manifolds/cats back on the car and just keep it legal. BlackZ06 is dead on right!
DZ
I don't know if the standard has gone up but I'm sure that's what it is as of today.
Your car should pass man, just either get a really good tune REAL quick or put the exhaust manifolds/cats back on the car and just keep it legal. BlackZ06 is dead on right!
DZ
Last edited by 00Corvette; Aug 1, 2008 at 01:33 AM. Reason: proper grammar
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Just so you know and I passed smog TODAY and have the results in front of me, the requirements in CA now are 100 PPM at 2500 RPM and 130 I'm pretty sure at idle!
I don't know if the standard has gone up but I'm sure that's what it is as of today.
Your car should pass man, just either get a really good tune REAL quick or put the exhaust manifolds/cats back on the car and just keep it legal. BlackZ06 is dead on right!
DZ
I don't know if the standard has gone up but I'm sure that's what it is as of today.
Your car should pass man, just either get a really good tune REAL quick or put the exhaust manifolds/cats back on the car and just keep it legal. BlackZ06 is dead on right!
DZ
Unfortunately for the OP he's in an "enhanced program" area because ....
44003. (a) (1) An enhanced motor vehicle inspection and maintenance
program is established in each urbanized area of the state, any part
of which is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a
serious, severe, or extreme nonattainment area for ozone or a
moderate or serious nonattainment area for carbon monoxide with a
design value greater than 12.7 ppm, and in other areas of the state
as provided in this chapter.
program is established in each urbanized area of the state, any part
of which is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a
serious, severe, or extreme nonattainment area for ozone or a
moderate or serious nonattainment area for carbon monoxide with a
design value greater than 12.7 ppm, and in other areas of the state
as provided in this chapter.
A stock C5 is VERY clean ... it is well within the limits (like 10 percent of the limits) for NOx, HCs and CO ..... so you have to REALLY screw the car up to get it to fail.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area California
On topic, the OP may consider contacting the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) at (415) 771-6000. They are the local agency that adopted and require this tailpipe emissions test. Their office should have a staff person that can accurately answer your original question regarding any requirement to specify what was done to pass the test after two failures. Out of curiosity, what part(s) of the two tests conducted have you failed?
FYI, you can pay for and have a "pre-test" performed at a smog test station. This may prove useful in determining if whatever improvements you make have been successful. The price is less than a full test AND most importantly, the results are not electronically transmitted to the authorities. Trust this is helpful...
A1
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Here's the strange part:
The state has been LOWERING the max HC emissions over the years!
How can they do this?
See
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1703300
The state has been LOWERING the max HC emissions over the years!
How can they do this?
See
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1703300
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
Not in a small amount like that, and you're only running it for a very limited time. It is also used as an octane booster. There are 'home grown' octane booster recipes all over ls1t.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
Here. I dug up my old post about this. This chart was on my 944 which failed miserably. As you can see, the "after" was much cleaner. The two other things that were done at the time (although I doubt it needed to be done) was 1) I changed the oil. and 2) I got the engine good and hot by unplugging one of the two fans.
