Bill Ball

I was ready to go into the smog shop, when I felt the idle was as smooth as it should be, so rather than waste another $25-30 to fail for some reason, I decided to spend a bit more time making sure everything is really tip top before I go back to the smog guys. I have what feels like an irregular slight miss at idle and just off idle with no load, but it could be my imagination. Anyway, it may not visit the smog shop till Monday.

eijun

Wait, you dont get a free retest after you fail?

Bill Ball

It varies. Some of the more expensive ($75-80) shops offer that, maybe once. Some places don't specifically offer it, but if you just barely fail, they will let you take the car out and really heat up the cats and come back for a retest at no extra charge. The place I go is the cheapest ($25) I could find in the local area, but they don't further discount a retest.

Bill Ball

Just a little parenthetical report.

I've been stopped twice before by local police because my registration sticker is out of date (expired Oct. 2012). I have paid the registration renewal fee, but you know I've been fighting a battle to get the car to pass smog. Both times, the police questioned why my registration was out of date, I told them my tale of smog woe and they simply said, "Have a nice day". So, I (mistakenly) concluded that as long as the registration was verified as paid, there did not appear to be a big problem. I had a lot of other priorities, so I put off getting the smog done after 3 earlier tries (October, December, January).

So, tonight, I'm cruising along, planning on taking the car for its next smog test on Monday, when a CA Highway Patrol cruiser pulls up alongside, then moves behind me and pops on the red lights.

I thought, no problem, I just have to repeat my tale of woe one more time. The lady CHP wasn't real happy that I'm driving around like this and announces she can ticket me and impound my car. I actually suspected as much, but when the previous two officers made no mention of this, I thought perhaps I was wrong. Anyway, what she said made more sense, but I got kinda upset because the previous two officers didn't say a word. She really wanted to impound the car because it had been so long, but I managed to get away unscathed.

So, I gather the officers generally cut you a break, but that doesn't mean you can let it slide. I probably would have been done awhile back if I hadn't run into this latest roadblock with the aftermarket cats. Anyway, one way or another the car is going to get tested on Monday and it better pass.

Charley B

Thanks for that clarification Bill. I have two that I have paid the fees on but haven't obtained the smog checks yet. One because it failed and one I just haven't gotten to yet.

Like you, I thought I could probably slide since the fees were paid. Guess I better be cautious until I get them smogged.

bronto

6 months is the impound threshold.

Bill Ball

The latest officer didn't mention any particular limit. She did however ask to see documentation of repairs I had done. She asked why I hadn't taken it to a Porsche dealer. That led to an interesting back and forth. She asked who my mechanic was. I said "me" and tried to get her to understand why that was. Anyway, if I had concentrated on getting this fixed and passed, had I understood the urgency, I'm sure I could have gotten this accomplished in a few weeks at most, but I let some "life changes" push this aside after being lulled into a false sense of security by the first 2 police stops, the first of which was actually rather hilarious. I may describe that later.

Landseer

You could train Porsche techs.

California must have a lot to offer.

Although, reality is, any/every state will be led down this path with time with respect to federal emmisions compliance.

Good luck, am sure you will succeed.

Might want to look her up again to share the numbers? Or might that lead to a whole 'nuther set of inquiries about methods and sourcing? Jeez.

Bill Ball

PASSED with a borrowed cat. Update here:
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-try-next.html


So, I have two sorta CARB-approved cats for sale.

Ducman82

YAY!