passing CA emission standards

[joaks]

Yesterday I had a job interview in California. Nothing has been offered yet but I think it went well. Which brings me to my question of the emissions test in CA.

The car in question is the one in my signature. I have lost track of the exact mileage on the engine but I will guess I have 30k or less on it (it is a reman). The exhaust looks fine from the outside, but I have not replaced anything in the 3 years I have owned the car. The check engine light is not illuminated.

How stringent is this test? I assume it is the same for all passenger cars regardless of year? Is there any way I could test before I would move? I think most shops would lack the equipment to perform the test. I thought about seeing if a local municipality does a smog check and I could go there (?).

 

[crazyoildude]

c.a. is one of the worse i believe

 

[CKN]

I believe there are concessions for cars coming in from out of state. But the car still has to be at a certain level pollution wise.
Your best source is here-
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv

 

[The_Jeff]

What's your emissions sticker say? It'll say OBDII, CATALYST, and either Federal or Cali emissions.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: CKN
I believe there are concessions for cars coming in from out of state. But the car still has to be at a certain level pollution wise.
Your best source is here-
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv


+1

 

[joaks]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
What's your emissions sticker say? It'll say OBDII, CATALYST, and either Federal or Cali emissions.


I think it says "catalyst" and "federal". Not sure because I am still in CA and the car is home in SC. What would this mean?

 

[spackard]

Smog website is different: http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/

You're pretty close (actually, probably are) to having a car so old that it will be put into the "test only" classification anyway, mostly meaning it'll cost you about $50/test, every 2 years.

Test for everyone is on a rolling surface (yes, full-width steel rollers are installed at every testing station). Tests at 15mph and 25mph. If you have a station around you that does this test then they could test your car, no problem.

Visual inspection also, meaning all emissions-related devices have to be present and have to be OEM. I failed once when I replaced a vacuum delay on a Ford, very prone to breaking off at the nipple, with a part identical in delay but different in looks. Had to junkyard the part and put it on long enough to get through the test. Was a pain to find at the junkyard because they were very prone to breaking off at the nipple.

 

[totegoat]

Suggest you stop at a smog shop while you are here. Prices vary. My vehicles have never been put on rollers.

My advice is to not worry about it. Once you move here, it will work out and not break the bank.

 

[Chris142]

As long as there's no cel and it passes the visual it "should" pass the sniffer test. You won't know until you have it tested and they take your cash either way.

 

[Lyman]

Ca is the worst when it comes to this subject. It's all about power and control in this state. Power to tell you how to live your life and enough control to pull it off.

 

[simple_gifts]

Originally Posted By: Blkstanger
Ca is the worst when it comes to this subject. It's all about power and control in this state. Power to tell you how to live your life and enough control to pull it off.


Or its about clean emissions from vehicles.


Many other states have adopted their standards.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: joaks




How stringent is this test? I assume it is the same for all passenger cars regardless of year?
wrong. The test is based on the year,weight of the car etc.

 

[Chris142]

An 89 1/2 ton pickup has to pass a much more stringent test than a 3/4 or 1 ton even though the engines are identical.

 

[bdcardinal]

Also going on rollers depending on the county you are in. Santa Barbara County does the Two Speed idle test. Also unless something huge changes, vehicles with AWD do not get a dyno test because you would need an AWD dyno.

 

[paulo57509]

I currently have two vehicles that were purchased out of state and registered in CA.

Registration in CA is fairly painless unless the emissions equipment has been altered or tampered with. As others have mentioned, the vehicle will have to pass both a visual and a sniff test. Whether or not the sniff test is done on the dyno or not depends on the county where the car will be registered.

When I registered the Lumina (originally from TX) and the Legend (originally from WA), I just brought the vehicle to a state-licensed smog test shop, told them what I'm doing and they do the tests. Next, a trip to the DMV with the pink slip (or lien), current out of state registration, money and the DMV will issue you new plates, registration stickers and paperwork and you're done.

The test shop will charge you a fixed amount for the inspection "certificate" (it's really just electronically sending the test results to Sacramento) and whatever labor they can get away with.

At the DVM, they will want to look at your vehicle. Not to inspect anything but to just verify the VIN.

Good luck. If you do accept an offer, I hope you'll enjoy living in CA. If you don't mind me asking, where in CA is the potential new job?

 

[bdcardinal]

The shops get charged by the state for the certificates, kinds weird how it works. The usually have an electronic transmittal fee to round it up to an even $10

 

[joaks]

The job is in la jolla.

Thanks for all of the replies so far!

 

[bdcardinal]

La Jolla is nice, I stayed at the Beach and Tennis Club once with a room on the beach. Good luck, hope you get the job. You will Enjoy La Jolla, it is 70F there right now.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
An 89 1/2 ton pickup has to pass a much more stringent test than a 3/4 or 1 ton even though the engines are identical.


The emission standards are much tighter for lower GVWR trucks. (My cousin's 1990 GMC service truck had a carb'd 454 with no catalysts.) Ford built motorhome chassis without catalytic converters into the early 90's!

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: joaks
The job is in la jolla.

Thanks for all of the replies so far!



That offer will have to be REAL FAT to live a decent life in La Jolla!