What are the odds of a NY car passing CA emissions

[demarpaint]

I'm tossing the idea around of shipping my 00 Century to California from NY to help out a family member. The car would be registered in CA. What are the odds of a good running 00 Buick Century passing CA emissions? The car has 123,000 miles on it, no CEL, all safety items are in top condition, the front end and brakes were just redone. The car was tuned up about 35K miles ago, and is running great. It has a slight oil leak.

 

[Mr Nice]

As long as the emission system and the Cat / O2 sensor functional it should pass no problem. Once engine is warmed up to normal operating temp you shouldn't have any problems.

I gave our 1999 Civic with 220K mikes to my nephew and it passes CA testing no problem.

 

[demarpaint]

Good to know, everything is functioning as it should, nothing was altered or tampered with.

 

[JHZR2]

is there an age limit or phasing to the emission specs?

 

[spackard]

After some number of years you get put on a list where you pay twice the price to get tested at a "Test Only" station.

No, no rolling exemption. Legislation gets introduced for a 25 year rolling exemption, but never passes.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
is there an age limit or phasing to the emission specs?


I have no idea. The cost to send the car is about $1,100, and I'd hate to find out once it gets there that it won't pass. I called CA and asked and they said the only way to know is to check the car. LOL That told me nothing. I was hoping to hear from someone that did it recently like Mr.Nice for some reassurance before we go through with it.

 

[sciphi]

Check the emissions label under the hood. If it specs CA emissions package and passes the enhanced NYS emissions that you are subject to, it should pass no problem. If it's federal emissions, forget about it. The car is new enough that it won't be able to be registered at all.

 

[Olas]

If all the systems are working correctly it should pass fine.
Check coils, plugs, injectors, FPR, cat, O2, MAF, CTS etc and youll be golden

 

[NMBurb02]

I wouldn't worry. The LG8 has the LEV designation so it should pass the CA sniff test. From http://m.smogtips.com/moving_to_california.cfm

Quote:
If you've heard about California's strict smog laws there is no need to worry.

The fact is there is difference with California legal and Federal legal emission requirements, and for the most part, California is stricter. However, a used vehicle which is equipped with the necessary Federal Emission components is eligible for California registration as long as the vehicle's exhaust emissions fall within California's limits. It's true, in some cases Federal cars have different emission components but this does not ban them from being registered in California.

Also, no need to worry about brakes, etc., as CA does not require a safety inspection. All we are about is the air, not the safety of the people breathing it.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Check the emissions label under the hood. If it specs CA emissions package and passes the enhanced NYS emissions that you are subject to, it should pass no problem. If it's federal emissions, forget about it. The car is new enough that it won't be able to be registered at all.


I popped the hood and found this: THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO US EPA NLEV REGULATIONS AND CA REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO 2000 MODEL YEAR NEW LEVEL PASSENGER CAR OBD II.

 

[andyd]

I would be making inquiries to the CA DMV before I shipped the car.The problems you will encounter are of a legal nature, not what comes out of the tail pipe.

 

[DuckRyder]

Does the emission label say it is 50 state certified?

Edit:

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
.
I popped the hood and found this: THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO US EPA NLEV REGULATIONS AND CA REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO 2000 MODEL YEAR NEW LEVEL PASSENGER CAR OBD II.



So the chances are good.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: andyd
I would be making inquiries to the CA DMV before I shipped the car.The problems you will encounter are of a legal nature, not what comes out of the tail pipe.

I called them and they said if it passed their emissions testing it was GTG. That wasn't much help.

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Does the emission label say it is 50 state certified?

Edit:

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
.
I popped the hood and found this: THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO US EPA NLEV REGULATIONS AND CA REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO 2000 MODEL YEAR NEW LEVEL PASSENGER CAR OBD II.



So the chances are good.


No mention of 50 states.

 

[DuckRyder]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: andyd
I would be making inquiries to the CA DMV before I shipped the car.The problems you will encounter are of a legal nature, not what comes out of the tail pipe.

I called them and they said if it passed their emissions testing it was GTG. That wasn't much help.

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Does the emission label say it is 50 state certified?

Edit:

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
.
I popped the hood and found this: THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO US EPA NLEV REGULATIONS AND CA REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO 2000 MODEL YEAR NEW LEVEL PASSENGER CAR OBD II.



So the chances are good.


No mention of 50 states.

 

[supton]

used to be, back when tdi's were not 50 state compliant, one had to wait until 7,500 miles before you could import into CA. I would not worry, unless if they still do sniffer testing. If it is just obdii I think you are all set.

You could just leave the NY plates on and "loan" the car. Not sure the laws on that.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I popped the hood and found this: THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO US EPA NLEV REGULATIONS AND CA REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO 2000 MODEL YEAR NEW LEVEL PASSENGER CAR OBD II.
Says right there it has CA emissions so you should be fine.

 

[Chris142]

Not an issue as long as it has not been tampered with.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Should be fine since The People's Republic of NY has adopted CA emissions

 

[slacktide_bitog]

NY has followed California emissions for quite some time, so most NY cars are safe to use in Cali.

 

[RedOakRanch]

Remember the golden rule of CA DMV, if you don't like what they say go to a different office and they will give you a different set of requirements. It's amazing how inconsistent they can be.