johnf95111

Last year I had to take my GT to a smog-only station because of it's age. The test came back clean. The guy running the test thought I rebuilt the engine because it ran so cleanly. It passed with flying colors.

This year, in order to register my car, I have to take it to a smog-only station again. WTFO??? Is some fat b@stard up in Sacramento F'ing with me? The usual requirement for smog is every two years, and I'm told the smog-only requirement is a random selection. BS!

I think our state officials need to fall prey to natural selection.

Harumph!

Rob Edwards

If you go to:

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/vehtests/pubtstqry.aspx

and put in your VIN or plate #, what is your "Test only directed status"? Mine is 'NO" for both my cars, and I have been having to smog them at whatever station I like every 24 months. I did get sent to a test-only place for my BMW in 2004 and passed, so in 2006 I took it to my local guy (and passed).

Now that CO2 is officially a pollutant, (Hey you, STOP exhaling!), it'll be fun to see how often these old 'polluters' get tagged for testing.....

johnf95111

I went to the site and it says I'm directed to go to a smog-only station. I'm wondering if it is because I recently moved 12 miles south from San Jose to Morgan Hill; still in Santa Clara County.

I'm going to drop by DMV on Thursday to get the what' up.

Thanks,

Jim bailey - 928 International

This says it all..... "High Emitter Profile - The majority of vehicles directed to Test-Only stations are selected by application of the High Emitter Profile (HEP), which identifies the vehicles most likely to fail their Smog Checks. The High Emitter Profile (HEP) uses data from several different sources. Some of it comes from the state Vehicle Identification Database (VID), which collects data from each Smog Check performed in California. The VID is used by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), BAR, and other government agencies. In addition, general vehicle data such as make, model-year, vehicle miles traveled, and engine size help define the HEP.

This information is used to determine which vehicles are most likely to fail their Smog Checks, especially at Gross Polluter levels--at least two times the emissions level allowed for a particular vehicle. No single factor identifies a vehicle for a Smog Check to be done at a Test-Only station. The data is weighted and vehicles selected using this computer profiling of vehicles most likely to fail their Smog Check. DCA/BAR has gradually increased the number of vehicles directed to Test-Only stations to meet the air quality improvement goals of the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP is a blueprint outlining the methods California will use to meet federal air quality standards.

Two Percent Randomly Selected - As required by State law, two percent of the vehicles in the Enhanced Areas are also directed to Test-Only stations for their Smog Checks. These vehicles are selected randomly to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Smog Check Program." So NO IT IS NOT RANDOM for MOST ...sports cars are BAD !!!

johnf95111

My Smog Footprint (an Al Goreism) was extremly low last year, why wouldn't they take that into account? Now they are wasting my time and money when they should be targeting someone else. Friggin' Greenies!

I've already shown my GT to be a good vehicular citizen.

Cheers,

Jim bailey - 928 International

government - Logic ....Logic - government ... not compatible ! But you do have an OLD, big engine, high performance , limited production sports car ! Good thing they have their eyes on you ! any moment now you might bolt on the blower and X pipe ....

SharkSkin

Was the car ever tagged as a gross polluter? If so that might explain the extra attention you are getting.

Bill Ball

Damn!

johnf95111

As far as I know, it's always been clean and never earned the GP tag.

With the attention they are giving me, I hope someone else can take advantage of this by being able to leave their SC bolted on for another year. I'll be the martyr so others can BWAAAAAAA.

Cheers,

Bill51sdr

If this were the case he would be smogging the car annually. Jim B. is correct about the HPE thing, it's nothing personal. Just all those OB's out there burning our eyes, that's all!

bcdavis

My Euro was directed to a test-only station every time...

They said it was because it was a euro.

SharkSkin

HPE explains test-only, but it doesn't explain the yearly check-ups. Both of my vehicles are HPEs and so far the smog comes due only every other year.

rixter

smog test? what's that????
hahahahahaha
all 928s are exempt in NC

Bret928

I have the same problem with my 78 MGB.

Now I ran my plate throw the DMV/BAR website linked above but despite the fact that it says that my vehicle isn’t required to go to a Test Only station, save the first year I owned her, I've had to take it to the Smog Check only station every two years. So if Jim is correct my MG is probably flagged each time because its considered a high risk of failure.

Super annoying – because the old girl passed every time with only one failure early on due to the fact that the stupid test tech didn't know what he was doing. While I didn't get into the "Gorse Polluter" category (passed tail pipe test) it failed because the guy didn't follow the directions when he tried to read the timing. After that each year the car passed without any problems.

I was told that there is appeal process but knowing this nannyish state – I suspect it’ll be long & painful.

dr bob

So what's the big deal with going to a test-only station? So it's an extra $10 every two years. In return, you don't have some two-bit mechanic wannabe drooling over the car and your wallet, trying to fail it. I maintain a great relationsip with my smog guy. Former 928 owner, BMW enthusiast, a car guy. Willing to work with the car (like do the 25mph rolling test in 2nd) to help it pass, kinda nice. Find a smog guy and take care of him like you do your mailman and your favorite server in your favorite dining place. It pays off big time!