Old & New

That which you endure out there in CA sounds horrible to me. I guess the liberals should be thanked for creating another monster. We are not far behind here, but at least '82 model years and before are still exempt. If things get too tough, I'll pick up an OB and update the drivetrain. Technically, the testing would be required of a car configured that way, but who would know?

bcdavis

I don't really mind smog checks.
But I think they should all be tailpipe tests.
Let people put a jet engine in their VW bug, as long as it runs clean...

What bugs me is their obsessive-compulsive, overly strict enforcement of making sure *nothing* is changed from stock...

I say let people take off their cats, as long as the car runs clean.
An engine in perfect tune, is low emissions.
And engine that has problems, like burning oil, or is running too rich, will be high emissions...

I just wish they wouldn't have a sh1tfit if they see you have a crankcase breather or something...
Heaven forbid I do not want to pump oil vapor into my intake!

Gross polluters, yes, get them off the street.
If my tailpipe emissions are noxious, and bad, and awful, then get me off the road until I fix it.
But most cars in good tune are not smog problems...

I see cars all the time, burning oil, dumping smoke, etc...
Get *those* guys...

TJQuill

As stated above, test only is random selection for most (I think 5% each year) and is mandatory for all time for any car that has ever been declared a gross polluter. My car wound up in that category after some moron put on the wrong cat and it failed a few times in a row while the PO was trying to figure out the problem. So now I trot off to test only each time.

The good news is - if you fail after being required to go to a test only station - the state picks up the first couple of hundred dollars of your repair bill. Got to love California socialism in action - I was pissed beyond words to discover that no matter how much you make, if you got tagged for test only the tax payers pay your repair bill. And equally ticked to find out that if you are "poor", the taxpayers will also pick up the repairs.

How about if you are too poor to maintain your car, you take the bus?

Rant over.

If you are in or near West LA, there is a test only station with a very cool guy on Westwood Blvd on the east side between Santa Monica and Pico. I've never had any issues, he knows the 928, runs it on the rollers to get it up to operating temp before he starts the test, etc...

Lorenfb

TJ, don't give away our secrets. That guy is my last hope for my
older cars.

See ya
Loren

OrionKhan

I had to get a smog test yesterday. My car is in the Test Only catagory too. I made sure the car was good and warm when I took it in. I didn't have them run the 25mph in 2nd like Dr. Bob did. They'd probably would have if I had asked them to. It passed, but was close on the nox. The guys at the shop seemed more concerned with talking to me about how fast the car was than actually finding anything wrong.

The shop is in up in the Valley. (6933 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda) They seemed like good guys that want your car to pass. For whatever that's worth....

pig4bill

I thinks it's for all cars. It will be harder to pass, plus the shops are raising prices to pay for all the new equipment they had to buy. My local el-cheapo guy that used to charge 15 bucks will be charging $100 for the dyno test.

I wonder how much a "vacation" home in El Dorado county would run...

morganabowen

Hey Wade,
If that is the shop behind the Enterprise Rent a Car, I had mine done there last year, and my 82 passed with out a problem. The guy commented to me that the 928's are easy to pass

Porsche930

Hi folks,
Could one of you experts please advise a shop for smog test in the Bay Area? I need to get mine done and registration renewal now. Thanks in advance.

Tony

mark kibort

there are two types of tests now that DMV is requiring. more likely to not passs, have one test and the rest is any old testing station. My question, I just got the notice from DMV for renewal for any old test station. does this mean it wont have the rollers???? or do they ALL have the rollers now and the other testing station is the state certified station.(probably less flexible there)

any "leanient" stations in the bay area????? wanna email me personally ?

thanks,

mk

Nathan Valles

My understanding is that ALL CARS in LA Basin and along the coast down to San Diego, California's Central Valley, already need to be tested on the rollers.

As of October 1st the greater San Francisco Bay Area will be smog tested on the rollers. As of December 1 the El Dorado County area will also be tested on the rollers.

Current Map
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/ftp/pdfd...p-May_2003.pdf

Added October 1
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/ftp/pdfd...y_area_map.pdf

Added December 1
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/ftp/pdfd..._Final_web.pdf

Robert_H

Hey Tony (Porsche930),

I don't know if this is too far away for you, but I have had mine done twice now by the "Smog Station" in Dublin. MY '89 S4 passed with flying colors and they are also some good guys to talk to. They like Porsches !

Rob

OrionKhan

Yeah, that's the same shop. They seemed like good enough guys. They told my they did a 944 Turbo the day before they did mine. If someone is in the Valley, I would recommend them.

Porsche930

Rob-thanks for the info. Where specifically is this smog station in Dublin? I am near Pinole but I don't mind to drive to Dublin for the cool folks there. Have you had any mods to your 89?

Nathan-I appreciate the hyperlink to the pdf map on timeline of the new test. I will definitely schedule to get my done before October.

Tony