nosnow

This is just a vent but damn it I am getting very tired of CA

Got my license renewal a few days ago for my 89 S4 and it stated a STAR smog was required even though I had one last year. I had some time today so I stopped at my usual smog shop and got treated to the equivalent of a rectal exam. The car got put on a lift they traced every emission line and tried to figure out the vacuum lines. The guy was very nervous speaking with me and when he finally handed me the report and relaxed a little I found out that I was put into the High Emitter Profile which I can only assume means I get the special treatment from now on.

The car passed with flying colors but I am still very irritated. I would be interested to hear if other CA 928 owners are also getting hit with this.

Jim Devine

When they were doing the cash for clunkers, the 928 was on the list. My Lincoln- same year- with 300k on the clock wasn't. Makes no sense.

docmirror

Now you've done it. I used to have several cars in the HEP deal. Just make sure that all the junk that was on the car when it left the factory is present. Here's how the state BAR explains it:

FROM BARS WEBSITE AT WWW.BAR.CA.GOV

Directed Vehicle Selection Methodology

Each month, BAR uses the High Emitter Profile (HEP) to assign each vehicle due for a biennial Smog Check a failure probability. The failure probability determines which vehicles are most likely to fail their next Smog Check and is ultimately used to identify vehicles required to obtain a Smog Check at a STAR station. The HEP derives failure probabilities from the initial failure rates of similar vehicle groups. A vehicle's failure probability is based on four levels of factors.

Level 1

At the first and most sophisticated level, a vehicle's failure probability is based on the following factors:
Model-year, make, model, body style, engine displacement, and transmission type;
Previous initial Smog Check result for each vehicle;
Elapsed time since each vehicle's last Smog Check certificate; and
The last Smog Check odometer reading for each vehicle (only applicable to vehicles with a six digit odometer).
Level 2

However, if too few vehicle tests exist containing all the information in factor 1 above, a statistically significant failure probability for a given vehicle group cannot be generated. In this case, vehicles are grouped at a secondary level with fewer factor 1 items in order to maintain statistical significance. An example of this would be a particular vehicle group with previous initial Smog Check results from only fifteen 1992 Chevrolet Astro vans with a 4.3 liter engine and an automatic transmission. Since 15 vehicles would not be statistically significant, these results would need to be combined with other 1992 Chevrolet 4.3 liter engine vehicles similar to the 1992 Chevrolet S-10.
In this second level group, factor 1 no longer includes body style and transmission type. However, factors 2, 3, and 4 still apply.

Model-year, make, model, engine displacement;
Previous initial Smog Check result for each vehicle;
Elapsed time since each vehicle's last Smog Check certificate; and
The last Smog Check odometer reading for each vehicle (only applicable to vehicles with a six digit odometer).
Level 3

If too few vehicle tests exist at the secondary level to achieve a statistically significant group, further simplification of factor 1 items would result in combining vehicles with the same model-year and make. For example, the 1992 Chevrolet Astro in the example above would be combined with all other 1992 Chevrolets, without looking at the model, body style, engine displacement, and transmission type. In this third level group, factor 1 only includes the model-year and make. Factors 2, 3, and 4 still apply.

So, yes - you can thank the CA legislature for being chuckleheads. I had a guy looking at a 1965 Rambler Marlin with a V8. It was a gross polluter, and failed every year. They checked everything, every year and it always failed tail pipe. I then get the waiver and go on for another year, then take it back to the same STAR location, and same inspector. After 4 years, he got tired of seeing it.

XS29L9B

Wonder how many were scrapped?

I remember some amazing cars were turned in for cash in that program.

At the time, we had a 1998 5.9K Grand Cherokee Ltd. And tried to get it through the program. In the end, sold it for more. So one more gas guzzler on the road

XS29L9B

https://jalopnik.com/5365954/ten-most-exotic-cars-destroyed-by-cash-for-clunkers/


https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a-tally-of-interesting-cars-killed-by-cash-for-clunkers

XS29L9B

Looks like six (6) 928 cars, including two (2) s4 models were trashed

https://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/

Nicole

Dear Paul: It's not you... it's me, too!

I always have to go to a STAR station, and found that many can't even test cars before a certain model year. But my 928 has never failed, so I just look at it as a means to verify that all works properly.

nosnow

It isn't the Star smog, every Porsche I've owned always gets assigned a star smog. My complaint is that they have appeared to tag me with annual smog checks.

I do wonder how smog will be handled on these old cars in a few years as the technicians have no clue about these older cars and their emmission systems. When I brought my wife 2011 Pilot in they hooked up the computer to the ODBII PORT and $48 later I had a cert in hand with no roller test or visual inspection needed.

Nicole

It seems to be random with me. Sometimes they let me skip, while other times I have to redo it after a year. Not sure how they determine that - could have to do with the annual mileage I usually drive (which is usually in the low 4-digits, if not in the 3-digits)

The Forgotten On

I get stuck in STAR stations as well. I get it done every 2 years, this depends on your area code BTW if it is every 2 years or 1.

I was tempted to get a PO box in Clearlake County and never have to smog the cars again. I have friends that have done this with no problems.

My 81 has always passed with very low scores according to CA, but the S4 has failed in the past, it passes fine now with scores around the averages. Both get the same treatment.

Nicole

That's interesting, because Paul and I are "almost" neighbors - he is just one ZIP code area away from me (even though the actual ZIP number differs by 24).

BC

I don’t think I would continue the test if he looked that closely. Don’t need the hassle. I’d find another place. It seems there is enough variability in smog techs and how they do things you could find a lazier one.

dr bob

My car earned STAR status for the last several years of its Cali residence. It's a profile thing not specific to your particular car. It costs a little more, but otherwise was not a whole lot different from taking it to the "regular" test guy except that the STAR guy was better educated in the systems. As mentioned elsewhere, my most recent experiences with the STAR tech included interpreting the air pump and vacuum diagram, explaining that the timing is not adjustable, and that the cats are right there above that metal tray. Oh, and that he didn't have a way to check the tank seal at the gas cap.

Best guidance I can share is to keep everything at least looking original. If it's a car that has some obvious modifications, figure out how to fit the engine cover from a later Panamera or Cayenne so the mods are hidden. Won't help with kompressor cars, since those pieces are pretty big. It does keep prying eyes out of pretty much everything on top though. Whatever you have, be ready to explain with confidence how it it was all stuff from Porsche.

Tony

its now about the $48 and the people the system employees.

polecat702

Agreed!

We have classic plates, no smog test, and pay an extra 20 bucks, smog test is almost the same price. Ether way the state gets the vig.